Abdominal bloating is a common issue, with one in 10 people reportedly affected. The uncomfortable and sometimes painful feeling can be caused by various factors, many of which are related to our eating habits and digestive processes.
According to a Clicks article compiled by Meg de Beer, bloating can result from:
- Overeating:
- Eating too quickly: This can lead to swallowing excess air, which gets trapped in the digestive tract.
- Gases in the intestines: The gases come from air thats swallowed or from the digestion of certain foods.
- Stomach acid mixing with bile: This can cause gas production.
- Bacterial fermentation: Some foods, especially dietary fibre and carbohydrates, ferment in the gut and release gases.
- Rich, fatty meals: These types of meals slow down stomach emptying, leading to bloating.
- Irritable bowel syndrome: For people with IBS, bloating can be triggered or worsened by stress or anxiety.
Other causes of bloating
Johns Hopkins Medicine also lists lesser-known causes of bloating, aside from constipation:
Gut sensitivity : Individuals with IBS can be particularly sensitive to gas, which might lead to pain, cramping and diarrhoea.
