For some it is just an accepted part of their day. They often wake up feeling ‘flat’ and as the day goes on they feel full and this can be accompanied by a physical distension. For others it is more problematic as it comes with pain and discomfort, sometimes resulting in food avoidance as eating generally seems to trigger the symptoms. Bloating occasionally may be of no real concern, but if it is something you are experiencing regularly, it is worth looking into it.

It can feel like a balloon being pumped inside of you and in fact it may be due to too much gas. We can take in air when we are eating and some foods can cause a more gassy feeling others but it is important to note that we do not, in ourselves, produce gas; it is our microbiome ( the bacteria that lives largely in our gut – I have spoken about this in previous posts). Some foods, like beans or pulses, result in a little extra gas production but it should not lead to huge discomfort.

If there is a notable level of discomfort, it indicates a possible imbalance in the microbiome in favour of groups of bacteria that do naturally produce more gas. Constipation can also cause that full, bloated feeling, as well as IBS and an imbalanced microbiome could be a contributing factor to these too.

In a consultation, we will want to go upstream of that and look at possible reasons for imbalance. I will look at the make-up of the diet, possible digestive issues and other factors, like certain medications that can impact the microbiome. In Nutritional Therapy we always want to look at why you are experiencing any issue.

Depending when and where the bloating occurs, this will tell me a bit about what is going on. There are tests available that analyse the make-up of our individual microbiome and look at digestion. This can really direct where we go to address issues such as bloating.

It is important to note that bloating can be a consequence of more serious issues.  So it is always advisable to go to your GP in the first instance to get their opinion. Once this is done, looking at dietary choices and digestive function can be way to make a difference.

Any thoughts or questions on bloating are, as always, welcome.