Health Tips for November 6

Health Tip: Triggering Abdominal Bloating

When your belly feels bloated, uncomfortably tight and full, your doctor may refer to it as abdominal bloating. The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of common causes: Swallowing air. Being constipated. Having too much gas in the bowels. Having lactose intolerance or other food intolerance. Eating too much. Having irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Having a partial bowel obstruction. Having too much bacteria in the bowels. Having, in rare cases, a tumor. Health Tip: Bloated and Gassy? The need to burp and pass gas is normal. But some people feel like they're frequently bloated and gassy. The U.S. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse offers these suggestions to help reduce uncomfortable gas: Cut down on foods known to cause gas, such as beans, dairy products, bran and whole wheat foods. Limit gas-causing vegetables such as onions, broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts, and fruits such as peaches, apples and pears. Avoid sugary fruit drinks and carbonated soft drinks. Instead, drink water. Avoid swallowing excessive air by eating slowly and chewing thoroughly. Keep a diary of foods that cause gas for you, and try to avoid them.