Bloated belly – causes and treatment

Bloated belly due to increased gas accumulation

With a bloated abdomen, those affected suffer from a feeling of fullness and a bloated stomach , possibly in connection with pressure pain and increasing winds. The symptoms mentioned are not the only problem that plagues the patient. The fear of not being able to control the flatulence in public or at the workplace is often an additional burden. A bloated stomach is therefore not only uncomfortable, but also sometimes an embarrassing matter.

Home remedies for flatulence

Flatulence can be very uncomfortable. These home remedies can relieve a bloated stomach and bloating.

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Table of Contents

• Bloated belly due to increased gas accumulation
• How a bloated stomach develops
• How much bloating is normal?
• Common cause: bloating foods
• Bad food order
• Sugar substitutes as the cause
• Bloated stomach due to intolerance
• Cause histamine intolerance
• Gluten allergy / celiac disease
• Bloated stomach due to chronic bowel diseases
• Dysbiosis in the intestine
• Cause medication
• Bloated belly during pregnancy
• Hormone changes
• Psychological factors
• Possible therapies
• First aid for a bloated belly: soothing herbal tea
• Home remedies for bloated stomach

How a bloated stomach develops

A bloated stomach is usually something harmless. However, this can significantly reduce the quality of life in the event of frequent occurrence and prolonged duration. The bloated stomach is caused by too much gas in the intestine. These are formed, for example, by eating flatulence-promoting foods such as onions, legumes, types of cabbage, raw vegetables and whole grains.

A bloated stomach is often related to eating certain foods. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

If carbonated drinks are added, the flatulence is often preprogrammed. Alcohol, nicotine, coffee also support the formation of intestinal gases. Chewing gum where more air is swallowed can also cause this.

The trigger can be a dysbiosis in the intestine, in which there is an imbalance between the “good” and “bad” intestinal bacteria. Other possible causes of a bloated belly are a vegetarian diet, lack of exercise and underlying diseases.

How much bloating is normal?

Outgoing winds are completely normal to a certain extent. From when a bloated belly falls out of the norm is not clearly defined. The information about the gas content in the intestine is different. An amount of 100 to 150 milliliters is considered normal. The normal number of wind exits per day is given as around 15. A temporary bloated belly, for example after a meal with plenty of flatulent vegetables and / or legumes, is also a very common phenomenon in people with a healthy intestine.

Common cause: bloating foods

Certain nutritional components can cause a bloated stomach. This includes in particular fiber, which humans cannot use as an energy source. Whole grain products contain insoluble form, while vegetables, fruits and legumes contain soluble fiber.

The soluble ones, such as the pectins in apples, ensure a softer stool and a healthy intestinal flora. On the other hand, the insoluble ones, for example cellulose, increase the volume of the stool and thus stimulate the intestinal peristalsis.

Generally fiber is important and healthy. They have a positive effect on the intestinal flora, lower cholesterol and counteract the development of diverticulitis . On the other hand, the soluble fiber contributes to an increased formation of intestinal gases.

Bad food order

In sensitive people, the “wrong” order of the food can lead to a bloated stomach. Therefore, the things that are digested fastest are always eaten first. Fruit comes first, followed by lettuce, rice, cheese and meat.

It is advisable to eat the fruit with the largest amount of water first. A melon should therefore not be served as a dessert, but rather as an appetizer. Starch-containing foods come before protein-containing foods in order.

Drinking during the meal is not a healthy habit. This can also cause a digestive disorder and possibly an uncomfortable bloated stomach.

In some people, certain combinations of foods, such as bread and jam, cause the belly to bloat. (Image: stu12 / fotolia.com)

Different food combinations can quickly lead to increased gas accumulations with increased sensitivity. Examples are sweets and coffee, bread and jam, cereals and fruits or cereals in connection with milk products. Hasty food and inadequate chewing also promote the development of flatulence.

Sugar substitutes as the cause

Sugar substitutes such as sorbitol, mannitol or xylitol are sweet-tasting compounds that can be used instead of sugar. The substances are obtained from fruits and vegetables, among other things, but are not as harmless as one might think. Because they can cause a bulging belly and lead to diarrhea .

Sorbitol is found, for example, in diet and light products, sugar-free chewing gum, gummy bears and candies. But it also occurs in many fruits and especially in stone fruit. A particularly high proportion can be found, for example, in pears, plums, apples and apricots. The substance is broken down by the intestinal bacteria and sometimes causes symptoms such as a bloated stomach, nausea, abdominal pain , constipation or diarrhea.

The sugar substitute mannitol is often used for reduced-sugar foods. In nature it occurs for example in figs, algae, mushrooms and olives. Eating mannitol-containing foods can cause bloating and other complaints such as headache, heartburn , abdominal pain , nausea and vomiting .

Bloated stomach due to intolerance

Intolerances such as fructose and lactose intolerance are relatively common. Such a food allergy can cause a bloated stomach and a number of other complaints.

With lactose intolerance (lactose intolerance) there is a lack of the enzyme lactase. This has the task of splitting the milk sugar. The causes of intolerance are mostly innate. In many people, however, the amount of this enzyme decreases in the course of life.

This causes a bloated belly, digestive problems such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting directly or some time after the consumption of milk and foods containing milk sugar.

Fructose intolerance has become one of the most common food intolerances. It can be congenital or acquired during life and is characterized by the fact that those affected can only tolerate fructose (fructose) to a limited extent or not at all.

As a result, bulging of the abdomen, bloating, feeling of fullness, diarrhea and nausea often occur shortly after eating foods containing fructose. Other possible complaints include abdominal pain, constant regurgitation , heartburn, frequent urination and increased urge to stool.

Apples contain a lot of fructose. Therefore, they are often poorly tolerated in the case of fructose intolerance. (Image: Brent Hofacker / fotolia.com)

Fructose occurs naturally in fruits and many types of vegetables, especially high in apples and cherries. Bananas, apricots and berries, on the other hand, are fruits with less fructose and are therefore well tolerated by many people with intolerance.

Warning: fructose is also contained in many processed foods such as honey, dried fruit, soft drinks, apple herb and many “light” products. Common table sugar is half fructose, so all foods and sweets sweetened with it can cause discomfort.

Cause histamine intolerance

A so-called “histamine intolerance” is possible, which is an intolerance to the natural substance histamine. The reason for this can be, for example, a deficiency in the histamine-degrading enzyme diamine oxidase.

Certain foods contain a lot of histamine, which can lead to severe gas accumulation in the intestines, headaches or even a racing heart. The particularly histamine-rich foods include red wine, aged cheese, smoked meat and tomatoes or tomato products. Furthermore, fermented foods such as sauerkraut often lead to severe complaints in the case of histamine intolerance.

Gluten allergy / celiac disease

Various diseases can lead to a bloated stomach. This includes, for example, gluten allergy , which is also known as “celiac disease” or “indigenous sprue”. Here the body develops an intolerance to the gluten of various types of cereals, such as rye, wheat, oats and barley. Sprue is an autoimmune disease because the immune system produces antibodies against both gluten and the body’s own tissue.

Symptoms of celiac disease include bulky stools, feeling of fullness, nausea, bloated stomach, vitamin deficiency and weight loss. Often sufferers suffer from abdominal pain, loss of appetite and persistent diarrhea, which can occur in the form of fat stool (steatorrhea) due to disturbed fat digestion . The physical complaints are often accompanied by increased irritability , depression and depressed moods.

Bloated stomach due to chronic bowel diseases

Inflammatory bowel diseases , such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, can be accompanied by a bloated stomach. Crohn’s disease is an intermittent inflammation of the intestine that can spread to the entire digestive tract from the oral cavity to the anus. In addition to flatulence, those affected suffer from cramping abdominal pain, fatigue , diarrhea, weight loss, nausea and vomiting.

In ulcerative colitis, the main difference to Crohn’s disease is that the disease usually affects only the colon and rectum. In addition to the symptoms already mentioned, there is typically blood in the stool and slimy diarrhea, in the worst cases up to thirty times a day.

Other possible causes include diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome or rheumatism , surgery or narrowings in the small or large intestine.

Dysbiosis in the intestine

In intestinal dysbiosis there is an imbalance of the bacteria found there, in favor of the “bad” intestinal germs. This can develop due to improper, sugary diets, pollutants in the diet, toxins, stress and taking antibiotics.

Some people don’t even notice the imbalance. However, symptoms such as general malaise, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, headache and a bloated stomach often occur. With a suitable intestinal rehabilitation , in which an attempt is made to eliminate the “bad” intestinal germs and to settle and feed the “good” ones, the symptoms mentioned can disappear. Such a milieu restoration is often prescribed for allergies and immunodeficiency with recurring infections.

Certain medications, such as antibiotics, can cause side effects such as gas, bloating and indigestion. (Image: grafikplusfoto / fotolia.com)

Cause medication

The discomfort may occur in connection with some medications. These include antidiabetic, antibiotic, lactulose and diclofenac. The additive mannitol is added to some drugs. This can also lead to bloating.

Bloated belly during pregnancy

In the first months of pregnancy, the hormone progesterone is primarily responsible for the woman’s bloating. This hormone maintains pregnancy and relaxes the muscles. It slows digestion so that the child can be optimally supplied with nutrients. As a result, there is a feeling of fullness and a bloated stomach. In the last months of pregnancy, bloating usually results from the baby’s pressure on the digestive organs, which causes them to work more slowly and gas accumulations develop.

Hormone changes

Puberty and menopause are times of hormone changes in the body. The changes in the hormonal balance can cause digestive problems and bloating. A change in diet can often serve well here.

Psychological factors

Psychological factors such as stress , fear and special mental stress in life can lead to complaints in the gastrointestinal tract. Physical reactions to the stressful circumstances can include feeling of fullness, nausea, constipation, diarrhea and a bloated stomach.

Incisive experiences “beating” or “are difficult in the stomach”, sentences like “I can not digest this” show how difficult it can be to deal with difficult situations or conflicts. If the psyche is unable to cope with something, this is reflected in physical complaints, for example, when gases accumulate and cause bloating.

Possible therapies

Of course, treatment focuses on the therapy of the underlying disease. Depending on the symptoms, various examinations such as ultrasound, stool diagnostics, blood count, gastrointestinal surgery, CT or MRI are necessary to find out the cause.

With the help of extensive stool diagnostics, the intestinal milieu is examined in terms of quality and quantity of the intestinal bacteria located there. Pathogenic germs, fungi and possibly occurring parasites can also be identified. If something is wrong there, an intestinal rehabilitation is usually the method of choice. Because an imbalance in the intestine is often the reason for a bloated stomach.

“Lots of air in the stomach” is a common “diagnosis” by doctors. (Image: snyggg.de/fotolia.com)

A wide variety of preparations and therapeutic approaches exist for treatment. Often, the intestine is first freed of the pathogenic germs by suitable means in order to then be able to rebuild the intestinal flora . In the course of this, the diet should definitely be illuminated. White flour and sweets should be avoided if possible in the case of a disturbed intestinal flora, especially if a fungus colonization is involved.

First aid for a bloated belly: soothing herbal tea

A tea blend with various medicinal plants can serve well for a bloated belly. The infusion not only tastes delicious, but experience has shown that it works quickly for most patients.

Home remedies for bloated stomach

Warmth usually helps with acute complaints, because it has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and thus relieves pain. The classic hot water bottle or a grain pillow is easy to use. Soothing first aid is provided by moist, hot wraps that are placed on the stomach for around 30 minutes.