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4 surprising causes of belly bloating

Learn how to ease bloating and flatten your belly.

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Feeling a little puffy? There are myriad causes of belly bloating—from premenstrual symptoms, to overeating, to simply eating too quickly—but fortunately, bloating rarely signals something more serious. You can get relief, and assurance that you’ll be able to button your jeans again, by avoiding these unexpected sources of gas and bloating.

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Swallowing Extra Air

Just like eating too quickly, everyday habits that force you to gulp down excessive air can make your gut feel like a beach ball. And you’re probably doing it without even realizing: drinking through straws, chewing gum or talking while eating allows excess air to enter your mouth and travel toShow More

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Feeling Stressed

Stress has many unpleasant side effects like headaches and chest pain, but it can affect digestion, too. The digestive tract is sometimes called “the second brain” because it contains so many nerves that regulate digestion. When you’re feeling stressed, those nerves feel it, too, which can leadShow More

kale
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Eating Cruciferous Vegetables

Incorporating more cruciferous veggies like kale, cauliflower and broccoli into your diet is a great way to get your daily dose of vitamins C, K and E, and fiber. Unfortunately, these nutrient-dense veggies also contain difficult-to-digest fiber and a sugar called raffinose. Humans can’t digestShow More

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Taking Antibiotics

A course of antibiotics can sometimes disrupt the balance of bacteria in your digestive system, too. Encourage the growth of “good” bacteria and restore the balance by pairing your antibiotic treatment with a probiotic. Unfortunately, scientists aren’t certain which type of probiotic works best forShow More

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