To avoid abdominal swelling it is also useful to chew slowly. The problem is often linked to an alteration of the bacterial flora
Il abdominal swelling it is a symptom as common as it is annoying, which mainly affects women but does not spare men either. In addition to causing an unsightly increase in abdominal circumference, visible especially in the hours after meals, abdominal swelling is associated with a sensation of fullness, tension and sometimes pain.
What are the most common causes of a swollen belly?
«The causes may be different, but nutrition has a crucial importance – stated Alessandro Repici, director of the Gastroenterology department of the Humanitas Clinical Institute and professor of Gastroenterology at Humanitas University -. Unbalanced diets, excess foods rich in fermentable sugars and bad eating habits, such as chewing too quickly, can promote disorders. The main factors that contribute to bloating are represented by the production of intestinal gas during digestive processes, the content of water and mineral salts in the intestine, the state of the bacterial flora as well as motility and visceral sensitivity. All these factors can in turn be influenced by diet, stress and unhealthy lifestyle habits. Abdominal swelling may be linked to an alteration in the intestinal bacterial flora, following the intake of antibiotics used to treat an infectious disease. In these cases, the swollen belly is a transitory phenomenon, however sometimes the discomfort is persistent and struggles to resolve. In this hypothesis, abdominal swelling could be a sign of conditions that require specific evaluation, such as lactose intolerance, celiac disease, slowed down canalization or irritable bowel syndrome.”
How can abdominal swelling be combated?
«Proper nutrition is always fundamental in managing abdominal swelling. For this purpose, a balanced diet is recommended, which includes a reduction in the consumption of “gas-forming” foods and an increased intake of liquids. Furthermore, it is important to try to chew more slowly and reduce the effect of stress on the intestine, for example through diaphragmatic breathing techniques.”
4 maggio 2024
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