You’re not pregnant and you haven’t gained weight, but your
jeans are straining at the waist. So what’s going on?
The slow digestive system is the one to blame about the
puffy midsection, which can be a result of bloat, instead of fat, especially in
women over 40. Here are the most common causes…
Possible Causes of a Bloated Stomach
- Digestive Disorders
Most people dealing with various functional
gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, ulcerative colitis, and celiac
disease have bloating, gas, distension and other symptoms.
- Fluid Retention
Sometimes bodily fluids can be stored around the body,
including near the abdomen or pelvis area, which causes excess bloating and
temporary weight gain. You might also notice jewelry and clothes becoming
tighter, extra swelling, and pain around joints or tightness in the skin. This
can be due to a liver disease in some cases or rarely even from
cancer.
- Dehydration
Ever notice the day after you’ve been eating salty foods or
drinking alcohol that you become dehydrated and bloated as a result? It might
seem counterintuitive, but the more water you drink (or consume in water-heavy
foods) and better you stay hydrated, the less bloating you’re likely to
deal with. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances both halt digestion
and make it hard to “stay regular.”
When your body tries to recover from you being dehydrated,
it holds on to excess water to prevent the situation from happening again —
plus you might find yourself becoming constipated. This means when you do
finally drink more fluids, you’re likely to store them around your midsection
and feel extra puffy.
- Constipation
This might be the most obvious reason you have a bloated
stomach — you need to go to the bathroom! Constipation can cause stool to
remain in the intestines, leaving you with a hard-feeling stomach, pain,
discomfort and gas. The biggest reasons for constipation include eating too
little fiber, not drinking enough water, being too sedentary/avoiding physical
activity and stress.
- Food Allergies or Sensitivities
Often, food allergies, sensitiveness or intolerances
(like lactose intolerance) are common reasons for gas and bloating. There are
dozens of other possible food allergies (like shellfish, nuts, eggs), but
you’re likely to know if this is what you’re reacting to since symptoms are
usually more noticeable.
You’re not pregnant and you haven’t gained weight, but your
jeans are straining at the waist. So what’s going on?
The slow digestive system is the one to blame about the
puffy midsection, which can be a result of bloat, instead of fat, especially in
women over 40. Here are the most common causes…
Possible Causes of a Bloated Stomach
- Digestive Disorders
Most people dealing with various functional
gastrointestinal disorders like IBS, ulcerative colitis, and celiac
disease have bloating, gas, distension and other symptoms.
- Fluid Retention
Sometimes bodily fluids can be stored around the body,
including near the abdomen or pelvis area, which causes excess bloating and
temporary weight gain. You might also notice jewelry and clothes becoming
tighter, extra swelling, and pain around joints or tightness in the skin. This
can be due to a liver disease in some cases or rarely even from
cancer.
- Dehydration
Ever notice the day after you’ve been eating salty foods or
drinking alcohol that you become dehydrated and bloated as a result? It might
seem counterintuitive, but the more water you drink (or consume in water-heavy
foods) and better you stay hydrated, the less bloating you’re likely to
deal with. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances both halt digestion
and make it hard to “stay regular.”
When your body tries to recover from you being dehydrated,
it holds on to excess water to prevent the situation from happening again —
plus you might find yourself becoming constipated. This means when you do
finally drink more fluids, you’re likely to store them around your midsection
and feel extra puffy.
- Constipation
This might be the most obvious reason you have a bloated
stomach — you need to go to the bathroom! Constipation can cause stool to
remain in the intestines, leaving you with a hard-feeling stomach, pain,
discomfort and gas. The biggest reasons for constipation include eating too
little fiber, not drinking enough water, being too sedentary/avoiding physical
activity and stress.
- Food Allergies or Sensitivities
Often, food allergies, sensitiveness or intolerances
(like lactose intolerance) are common reasons for gas and bloating. There are
dozens of other possible food allergies (like shellfish, nuts, eggs), but
you’re likely to know if this is what you’re reacting to since symptoms are
usually more noticeable.