Why Am I So Bloated?

Most of us have been there before, some more than others. That uncomfortable feeling of your stomach being distended and many times without a clear reason as to why? Not only is feeling bloated uncomfortable, but it is a clear sign of your body trying to communicate a message(s) to you. Below are some of the most common root causes to that “bloated” feeling:

Gut Dysbiosis

in our body we have good and bad bugs. When the bad bugs overrule and become more prominent than the good bugs, we can become VERY bloated. “Bad bugs” can be in the form of yeast/candida, bacteria, parasites and or viruses.

Hidden Food Allergies

when we consume a food or beverage that our body is sensitive and or allergic to, our body will produce an inflammatory response. Commonly, in the gut.

Dehydration

we need half our body weight in fluid ounces of water daily and for every ounce of caffeine, another ounce of water. Anything less than that can lead to stomach bloat.

Eating Standing

when we sit down and eat our food, our body goes into a parasympathetic mode which is essential for proper digestion and the natural secretion of digestive enzymes. Eating while standing puts our body into a sympathetic mode which hinders the proper breakdown of food.

Stress

you can eat and exercise perfectly, but when you are chronically stressed out, stress hormones become over secreted, our stomach pH can become thrown off, as well as hydrochloric acid and other digestive juices and enzymes creating a perfect environment to feel heavy, dense and easily bloated.

Out Of Balance Macros

ensuring you are receiving the correct cocktail of macronutrients for your unique body and lifestyle needs can help to GREATLY lower any feelings of feeling bloated. Our macronutrients – calories, fat, carbs, proteins, etc. directly impact our weight, digestion, immunity, hormones, blood sugar, mood and more. Eating too much or too little of any macronutrient (calories, carbs, fats and proteins) can make you more prone to that bloated feeling.

Gut Deficiencies

being deficient in digestive enzymes, hydrochloric acid, the proper gut flora and healthy probiotics can directly impact your overall health as well as leave you feeling chronically bloated.

Holding Onto Emotions

a wise man once said that we hold our emotions in our gut! Just as important as it is to heal our physical body with the proper foods and exercise, nurturing our emotional body and healing from and letting go of what no longer serves us, will greatly help to reduce stress, improve digestion as well as lessen that distended bloated feeling. Another emotional component to feeling bloated is over extending yourself – saying yes when you should say no, giving more than receiving, etc. Our physical body is a representation of our emotions and when you are chronically bloated and distended you could be giving out more energy than you are receiving. 

Consistent Quality Sleep

when we lack sufficient sleep, the next day our stress hormones rise, in particular, cortisol. Inadequate sleep can leave us feeling not only tired, moody, but also incredibly bloated! Get your Z’s for a lighter overall feeling in your stomach and entire body.

To help learn more about what to eat for your specific body, the health of your gut flora, hidden food sensitivities, etc. please see our Nutrition Coaching, NRT as well as Functional Lab Testing information on our website or give us a call to schedule an appointment! For help with emotional balance and stress reduction, we LOVE Emotion Code and offer this modality in office as well as virtually for clients.