The bloating may be coming from your plate. Sometimes a few simple dietary changes can effectively reduce the feeling of a bloated belly.
Bloating is caused by a buildup of gas in the intestines. When these gases are not eliminated, they cause a bloated stomach and sometimes abdominal pain. Bloating is accompanied by gurgling sounds and sometimes smelly flatulence. While these digestive mechanisms are common, they are often exacerbated by the consumption of certain specific foods that promote fermentation. Among the most common culprits, we find a very specific category of vegetables.
“This is particularly the case for sulfur-containing vegetables, rich in sulfur and fermentable dietary fiber.Sophie Pihan, naturopath, immediately explains to us. Sulfur-containing foods can be problematic for sensitive people because they promote intestinal fermentation.” Among them: “Cabbages, such as red cabbage, Chinese cabbage or even broccoli, are foods to limit in the event of sensitivity in the digestive tract.” Onions and garlic, especially raw, also promote fermentation, bloating and gas production in cases of digestive sensitivities. But they are not yet the worst vegetables…
If we had to point out the vegetable that makes you feel bloated the most, you’d say it’s “the classic white cabbage is the most concentrated in sulfur, especially when eaten raw”. The worst thing for your swollen belly is raw white cabbage. “Raw white cabbage in salads, such as Japanese salads, is less digestible than cooked cabbage, although it is not easy to digest in either form”specifies Sophie Pihan.
Also, if you have a swollen stomach but you like vegetables like white cabbage, the most digestible way to consume them is in lacto-fermented form. These forms use fermentation processes with lactobacillus bacteria. Foods in this form somehow predigest dietary fiber and promote the development of probiotics. “The products can be lacto-fermented at home or purchased in an organic store in a jar, in the form of cooked sauerkraut, rinsed and without heavy accompaniments such as sausages” illustrates our specialist.
In case of a swollen stomach, she generally advises making simple dishes: “The simpler it is, the easier it is to digest”, she recalls. She also recommends chewing each bite thoroughly. Certain drinks are known to reduce bloating and lighten the stomach. The key to a flat stomach and newfound comfort lies in the simplicity of meals and careful chewing, proving that the way you eat is just as crucial as the contents of the plate.
