From barbecues to pool and beach days, bring on the warmer weather! Time to enjoy sun-drenched-fun-filled days, yummy food, and refreshing cocktails. And time to pull out the summer wardrobe. Hello shorts, tanks, little dresses, and bikinis. And let’s not forget boardshorts for the gents.
When you feel good in your body, it not only helps with that summer wardrobe but also allows you to really enjoy all of the fun to the fullest.
But what do you do when bloat decides to rain on your sunny day parade? The kind of bloat that makes you look five months pregnant, aannnd your not. We’ve all experienced the incredibly yucky and uncomfortable feeling, and sometimes downright pain, of bloating. And no matter how you slice it…being bloated just makes you feel self-conscious. The struggle is real.
But fear not, there are ways to battle the belly bloat so can you feel good in the clothes you’re wearing – or not wearing, but let’s keep it PG here folks! So, let’s go over how to get rid of stomach bloat and get you some relief with simple ingredients that may already be stocked in your kitchen.
What Causes Bloating?
It’s important to point out that being bloated is totally different than having excess fat. Bloating is caused by excess fluid or in most cases, excess gas, which explains why it can be so painful. That’s also why when you’re bloated you can look like your pregnant one day and the next day your stomach looks totally flat.
All kinds of things can cause bloating to rear it’s ugly head. Digestive disorders, an imbalance in healthy gut bacteria, insufficient enzymes or hydrochloric acid, fluid retention, dehydration, a toxic lymphatic system or liver, constipation, hormonal changes, hard to digest foods, excess salt and additives, food intolerance/allergies, overeating, and stress for example. In some cases, it could be a sign of a more serious health condition, in which case it’s a good idea to have some tests run by your doctor.
How to Get Rid of a Bloated Belly
Some of the more basic lifestyle changes that can improve the situation include drinking enough water, eating nutrient dense foods rich in probiotics, fiber, and digestion promoting herbs and spices, avoiding processed foods, exercising regularly, and reducing stress.
And when you need relief on the spot, these 7 natural fixes can help get rid of stomach bloating:
Lemon and Apple Cider Vinegar Cocktail
One of the best ways to get rid of stomach bloating is to drink 1/4 to 1/2 cup room temperature water with 1 teaspoon raw apple cider vinegar and half a lemon first thing in the morning. The fermentation of the apple cider vinegar produces healthy bacteria and enzymes to support digestion and the alkalizing benefit of lemon wakes up your digestive system. Chase it with a big glass of water for extra hydration, and you’ve got yourself a super simple and super killer bloat flushing cocktail.
Tip: I love the taste of this, but if you’re not a fan, try adding a little honey to sweeten it.
Chia Fresca
Lemon water has been mentioned a lot here on the blog because it’s simple and one of the easiest ways to get rid of bloating. The alkalizing effect of lemon when metabolized in the bloodstream is cleansing and again – helps keeps things moving (if ya know what I mean:).
It can be as simple as a cup of room temperature or warm water with half a lemon squeezed in it or if you really want to have some fun, some try chia fresca. Either one of these is a refreshing remedy anytime of the day you feel bloated.
Here’s how to make chia fresca…
- Fill a jar or glass with 2 cups water (I like a jar with a lid so you can shake it to break up any little clumps of chia seeds)
- Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of chia seeds, shake or stir well, and let sit for 10 minutes for chia seeds to swell
- Add half to a whole lemon or lime and sweetener, all to your taste (I like 1/2 tablespoon honey or maple syrup), and shake or stir well to enjoy
Cucumber Water
For a cleansing “de-bloater” fill up a few mason jars with water and cucumber slices and let them infuse in the fridge for at least an hour to overnight.
Set them out so they can reach room temperature (cold drinks put out your digestive fire, which is counterproductive to eliminating bloat), and drink up! Cucumber is a natural diuretic that helps to reduce bloat.
You could also make this into a chia fresca too, just like above.
Herbal Tea (Fennel, Peppermint, Ginger and Chamomile)
Fennel tea – The volatile oils in fennel seeds are antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial, which are all beneficial for the digestive system and helpful in eliminating gas, stomach cramps, and bloating, by relaxing the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. Fennel tea is also a mild diuretic.
Peppermint tea – The carminative effects help to move gas through the body as it accumulates, and the calming effects on the intestines and smooth muscles of the digestive tract help relieve gas, bloating, cramping, and stomach discomfort.
Ginger tea – A well known anti-inflammatory for all sorts of stomach discomfort, including gas, cramping, nausea, and bloating.
Chamomile tea – The calming effect helps to soothe the abdominal muscles and move gas through the body, along with anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties to help relieve cramping and bloating.
Tip: To relieve bloating, try 1 to 2 cups per day of this easy DIY remedy
- Add boiling water to a cup
- Add 1 tablespoon fennel seeds and a few slices of ginger
- Cover the cup and let ingredients steep for a couple of hours
- Strain the water and drink it
Detox Juice
It’s no secret how detoxifying green juices are. We’ve already mentioned lemon, ginger and cucumber, add to that the diuretic benefits of celery and parsely in this Delightfully Detoxifying Green Juice, and that’s a whole lotta bloat fighting power going on in one glass. Same thing with this refreshing ABC Anti-inflammatory Juice. Sip on that!
Black Lemonade
This concoction combines activated charcoal which is excellent for clearing out debris from the digestive tract and getting rid of belly bloat, and lemon (see the theme here?!), the ultimate cleanser. There are a few things to keep in mind when drinking black lemonade.
If you are taking medications, it’s best to drink it at least two hours away from them, or it can make them less effective. In order not to miss out on benefits of healthy foods and supplements, the same rule of thumb applies. It’s also important to follow up with a glass of water right afterwards and to continue to drink plenty of water. Done right and used when really needed, this is an awesome remedy.
To find out how to make black lemonade, get the full recipe here.
Asparagus
Asparagus battles the bloat by supplying soluble and insoluble fiber to aid in digestion and regularity, as well as the fiber inulin which is a prebiotic that promotes healthy gut bacteria. Also a cleansing diuretic, asparagus helps rid the body of excess salts and fluids, so eat up! Fight the bloat with this delicious and powerful Asparagus Detox Soup.
Well, what do think of these belly bloat fixes? Are there any that do the trick for you? Let’s hear about it!