Bloating

[Cola bear]

No matter what I eat my stomach tends to bloat. Sometimes its slightly painful. I don't really eat a great deal and would be fairly healthy. My stomach makes wierd groaning sounds for ages as well. For the last few weeks no matter what I eat I bloat then need to use the loo almost immediately but the bloating never really goes down. The only time I don't have bloating is when I get up in the morning. Can anyone help me find a cure?????

[Ethel]

Could be Irritable Bowel Syndrome but lots of things to consider:

swallowing air - caused by chewing gum, eating too quickly, drinking through a straw or sports bottle, habit, fizzy drinks.

food intolerance - keep a diary and see if you can identify triggers.

diet foods and drinks - many of these contain sorbitol (even the sugar free gum) and this will cause bloating and diarrhoea.

It could equally be because you are not eating enough. Malnutrition can give you a bloated stomach, especially if you are severely lacking protein. It is a condition called kwashiorkor and is often seen in the third world starving.

So lots of suggestions, but impossible to give a definite without knowing a lot more about you.

[rebecca321]

I find my tummy bloats if i eat foods that are high in starchy carbs (Bread, pasta, potoes) so maybe cut down on them. If you're worryed about your tummy do sit ups in the morning and before you go to sleep. It takes a week or two to start seeing results but it is worth it

[irnbru666]

I never knew about the drinking through a sports bottle or straw part, does that really have such a big effect? It's just at the gym every night I use sports bottles when running.

I wouldn't say my stomach is bloated but it's never been flat, not so much that I'd mind wearing shorter tops =(

I cut out fizzy drinks and crisps a few years ago now and that made a big difference, I just wonder if sit ups work to get a completely flat stomach, as I do these once or twice a week at the gym along with my regular routine, but I don't see a difference.