I can finally take a breath!

Do you ever feel like you have a balloon in your gut that you just wish you could pop?

That's what it can feel like to live with bloating. 

Sixty million people in the U.S. or about 1 in 5 of your friends and family are living with chronic bloating. It is one of the most prevalent symptoms that we endure - when you wake up, after each meal, and getting worse and worse throughout the day.

The digestive system isn't the sexiest of systems in the body, and people are embarrassed to talk about it. But the chronic symptoms that so many people are living with can be changed!

I lived with IBS and bloating for years. It is the reason I chose to study nutrition. I never got answers, no one had a solution for me. Not only did I regularly feel physically uncomfortable; it was embarrassing! The desire for stretchy pants that put no pressure on my gut; I often felt like I wanted to just pop the balloon in my gut to release the constant pressure of bloating. One client of mine described the relief in this way,

"I can finally take a breath!"

The pressure of constant bloating made her feel like she could never really breathe deeply. The changes to her diet and healing her gut not only allowed her to breathe, the IBS was gone and she lost weight too!

Why does bloating occur?

There are many reasons why you might experience it:

• food sensitivities causing chronic inflammation
• a damaged gut preventing nutrients from being properly broken down and absorbed
• "Standard American diet" - too much food high in sugar, fat, and salt
• highly processed foods containing ingredients that are difficult to digest
• eating meals very fast
• bacterial overgrowth

There are solutions that can work for you starting today!

1. Slow down. Just slowing down your eating can help to reduce air you are taking in while you eat. I recommend taking 3 deep breaths before you begin eating. And after every bite or at least every few bites, set your fork down and take another breath or two before you begin eating again.
2. Standard American Diet. By simply cleaning up your diet - eliminating highly processed foods, slowing down, and nourishing your body well can solve the problem. I recommend eliminating sugar as your first step. Step two is to clean out your kitchen and get rid of anything that has ingredients you can't read or understand.
3. Stress. Today, stress is not an occasional occurrence. It is what many live with 24/7. Stress absolutely can go to the gut. It may create a symptom and it may create long term damage. Stress may not be avoidable, but it can be managed well with relaxation, meditation, and simply breathing! I recommend the Meditation Alchemy with Lauren Bear podcast.
4. Gut damage. If damage to the gut has occurred a healing protocol is required. This will include an anti-inflammatory diet protocol, but also may include nutrients specifically beneficial for healing the gut tissue. Start by including anti-inflammatory foods like salmon, walnuts, and avocados.
5. Bacterial overgrowth. Bacterial overgrowth may be balanced with a diet including prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, and fermented foods). But it also may require medication to heal before a nourishing diet and stress management can create the right balance.
6. Food Sensitivities. Each individual is different so, of course, the solution will be unique to each person. When someone lives with a multitude of symptoms and may also have IBS, food sensitivity testing with the creation of an individually tailored anti-inflammatory diet is extremely effective (I use the MRT test). Once the body is not constantly being bombarded with inflammatory foods it can begin the healing process.

There can be more serious conditions related to bloating, so talking with your doctor is important. But when you have eliminated all other causes, it's time to dig deeper. Stop living in discomfort.

On the other side - you can breathe!

If you need help getting to the other side of bloating, schedule a free call. 

Avocado Salmon Salad, serves 4

• 2 avocados
• 2 TB lime juice
• 4 5 oz. cans boneless, skinless salmon, drained
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
• 2 TB red onion, minced
• 1/2 tsp. salt, to taste

Mash the avocado and lime juice together with salt. Add tuna, cilantro, onion, and celery. Stir together. Adjust salt and lime juice to taste.