Our obsession with gut health means we’re always on the hunt for new tips on how to beat bloating.
While fermented foods never fail, if you don’t have time to pop out and grab some kombucha here are a few quick tips for home remedies you can find in your pantry or fridge.
1. Apple cider vinegar.
The IQS Team swears by this stuff. It makes for the freshest salad dressings, and, if you’ve overeaten at dinner or feel gassy after a meal try this trick: Drink one tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water.
Our in-house nutritionist and recipe developer Meg says: “Apple cider vinegar stimulates acid secretion in the stomach, which help breaks down your food and absorb nutrients. “
2. Gelatin.
Our gelatin is Gut Lovin’ by name and nature. That’s because the glycine in gelatin can help your liver detox and may reduce bloating. Why don’t you try out this gelatin-rich recipe for Snickers Slice from the I Quit Sugar: Mini Book of Gut Lovin’ Gummies. You know, just to double check…
3. Strawberries.
Suffering from a peeving tummy ache, one night Sarah resorted to a little Googling and discovered that apparently strawberries can help beat the bloat. Your average (raw or frozen) strawberry is packed with fibre and also has a high water content, making it perfect for digestive health.
Other innovative tricks to try.
- Activated charcoal. Take on an empty stomach with lots of water. The charcoal enters the gut and counteracts gas.
- Digestive enzymes. You can grab these at the chemist of they can be found in kiwi fruit or papaya. These are needed if you aren’t producing enough digestive enzymes in your body already, or have another underlying digestive problem. It’s best to talk to your local naturopath about this one before supplementing.
- Aloe Vera. Helps soothe your digestive system and acts as a stool (read: poo) softener to help move things through the gut, preventing bloating. Aloe also contains enzymes, which help break down leftover food in your gut.
- Peppermint tea. Peppermint is an anti-spasmodic herb. It relaxes the muscles and allows painful digestive gas to pass.
- Chew on raw fennel seeds. This is a tip from Ayurvedic medicine. The compounds in these seeds relax muscles in your gut and allow trapped gas to slip out.
- Chew your food to mush. This is the most simple, but probably the most effective tip. Slow down and chew each mouthful of food thoroughly. This stimulates digestive enzymes and preps your gut for the food about to enter.
- Stop drinking with your meals. Gulping down water or any other liquid when eating can dilute stomach acid needed for proper digestion. Keep drinking to 30 minutes before or after meals.
We originally published this article in November 2014. We updated it in May 2016.
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