Does trapped gas in your belly feel like a balloon under your clothing?
In addition, do you find it painful to eat, sleep, or zip your jeans? Plus, are your “rock hard abs” instead just a rock hard lump of hot air?
Although gas, burping, and flatulence is the butt of endless jokes, trapped gas is no joke to those with gut issues. Learn about 8 causes of a gassy stomach plus 5 hacks to fix; detailed in this blog.
1. Foods that May Cause Gas and Bloating
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Cruciferous Vegetables–Foods that Cause Gas
Surprisingly, certain foods you choose may cause trapped gas. For instance, cruciferous veggies, such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel spouts and cabbage can create trapped gas. Avoid them while you are healing your gut. For detailed no-bloat diet guidelines, I have created a the Diverticulitis Diet, especially for those with sensitive bellies, and gut issues in general.
Artificial Sweeteners Can Also Cause Trapped Gas
Artificial sweeteners such as xylitol, sucrose, and annuluses cause trapped gas. These can cause severe gastrointestinal distress and serious health issues outlined in the European Health Journal, 2024 An article by Martin Witowski, reports that Xylitol can cause cardiovascular issues such as heart attack or stroke, if consumed too often.
If you keep Xylitol in your pantry, beware, as Xylitol can be lethal for pets. Because of this and more, I advise using monk fruit. Find our favorite brand, Purisure, on my Happy Gut Tribe Facebook page, where we feature gut-healthy brands and products.
High Fiber Foods Can Cause Trapped Gas
Finally, foods that create gassy stomach, high fiber diets can cause trapped gas as well. Trendy foods like chia and flax swell and become baseball-sized balls of glue in the gut. These can ferment and cause flatulence. The result is trapped gas, and potentially enlarge diverticulosis and diverticulitis pockets. Also, these foods also cause trapped gas: brown rice, wild rice, wheat, soy, and corn. Also included, is processed soy foods like tempeh and vegan proteins such as the Impossible Burger—impossible to digest. Hello, gas attack—ouch.
2. Low Stomach Acid Contributes to Trapped Gas
Inadequate hydrochloric acid (HCL) prevents proteins from being fully assimilated during digestion. This is where gut problems start. Do you wonder why you begin to bloat the moment you take one bite of food? It is likely due to low HCL in your stomach.
Enzyme Energy has the potential to change the hydrochloric acid balance in your gut. With one simple supplement, reclaim the ability to enjoy delicious dishes you’ve missed. I do not leave home without Enzyme Energy which also protects from bugs, bacteria, and parasites by destroying them on contact. HCL is a basic for gut defense, and the top bloat buster.
3. Gall Bladder Problems Can Cause Trapped Gas
If you do not have a gall bladder, you may experience significant bloat when you eat fatty foods. Even healthy ones, like avocado and ghee or butter, may not digest properly due to lack of enzymes. In this case, add an ox bile supplement to your meals, along with Enzyme Energy.
4. Improper Hydration
Hydration is critical. However, over-hydrating during meals dilutes those precious digestive enzymes. Also, this creates gas, bloating, and can even lead to acid reflux. A few sips of water is fine, but wait 30-45 minutes to enjoy a mug of tea or cup of coffee. if you must chug water, save big glasses of water for in between meals. And, be sure to add sugar-free electrolytes. Also, this ensures you are assimilating the water, instead of just losing the water in elimination.
5. Stress and Cortisol
When stressed, some people may unconsciously gulp air. Also you may find that you are panting instead of breathing. We call state, “fight or flight.” Even without food in your stomach, you can experience immediate bloat and gas. Take deep, slow breaths. Go for a walk. Put one hand on your chest, and one hand on your belly, and practice “box breathing.”
Box breathing done by inhaling deeply, counting slowly from one to four. Then, slowly exhale, to the count of four. Repeat this twice. Here’s another de-stress hack: apply an ice pack on your chest, neck and arms to reduce stress and panic. This simple exercise cools and calms the vagus nerve. I keep ice packs in the clinic for stressful days. This protocol really works.
6. Gut Problems—SIBO, Yeast, Parasites
Bugs, bacteria and parasites cab cause gas and bloating, constipation and gastrointestinal distress. Sadly, Eventually, if left to run rampant, parasites may cause malnutrition, as well as major fatigue and sugar addiction. A biannual parasite cleanse with Bugs Be Gone can eliminate these nasty critters. To support your parasite cleanse, Bugs Be Gone is 20% off in October and November.
7. Late Night Eating
What time do you normally eat dinner? Are you often plagued with ‘the munchies” later on in evenings? The habit of nibbling throughout the night may contribute to your gas and bloat. Try shifting your dinner earlier than 7pm. This will improve your sleeping and healing at night as well.
However, if you cannot resist a snack or two, as you relax with a movie, choose a protein drink or a hot cup of bone broth, or herbal tea over a dish of ice cream. Late-night eating not only causes bloat and gas, but acid reflux as well. Plus, it is major contributor to weight gain, inflammation, and constipation. Learning when to eat is critical in controlling gut and overall body inflammation.
8. Overlooking Proper Food Combining
Protein and carbohydrates do not digest together. Yet, Cuisines all over the world are created from mal-combined foods: Spaghetti and meat sauce; tortillas and ground beef or chicken; fish and chips, eggs and toast; turkey or tuna sandwiches. Holiday meals can be a digestive train wreck! Practicing proper food combining can reduce gas, bloat, support balanced blood sugar, and boost energy, mental clarity and weight loss. Countless best-selling diet books use the concept of proper food combining as their foundation. The Beverly Hills Diet and Fit For Life are two of them.
Download the Food Combining Chart above. One idea is to. tape it to your refrigerator. Once you begin using food combining techniques, you may feel so illuminated that there is no going back. That’s how it was for me. I first tried using proper food combining in my 20’s, and have been practicing and teaching these principles for nearly 50 years. If you combine your foods properly, you will never need to count calories or “diet’ again.
Someone Take Out the Garbage, Please
Properly combined fresh food is one of the easiest ways to attain and maintain the perfect shape and weight. I never had a flat belly before I started proper food combining. Try Happy Gut Cleanse, 1-2 capsules nightly, and follow up mornings, if needed, for waste removal.
Think of the colon as a garbage can that requires emptying. When full, the contents ferment —especially when not emptied after a weekend of cooking. In fact, you might haul it outside quickly, holding your nose due to rotting food odors. The same can occur in the colon if not emptied often enough.
If You’ve Tried Everything and Nothing’s Working, Time to Try Gut Health Coaching
This is a lot of information and you are likely to be overwhelmed. To see how these principles specifically apply to you, try a coaching call with me. Changing how you eat and live is a big undertaking. If you don’t know where to start, I completely understand. For example, I feel hopeless and helpless when i find myself staring at instructions for assembling a newly purchased item from a box if pieces. And, I just want to sit down and cry. I feel paralyzed and stupid. Building items is not my gift so I ask for help.
However, asking for help is not a sign of weakness. On the contrary, recognizing that you need support is a sign of strength and self-respect. Allow me to create a workable, practical daily plan and walk with you, step by step, through your healing process. Give yourself the gift of professional coaching.
Five Bloat Busters to Handle Trapped Gas
In case your belly is a painful, swollen balloon, call in these bloat busters below:
HEATING PAD
Apply a heating pad directly to your belly for 30 minutes and enjoy relaxing with soothing warmth.
HOT RICE SOCK
Pour 2 cups dry rice into a sock. Microwave for 90 seconds and lay over your belly for instant relief. Release any gas you feel moving.
ACTIVITATED CHARCOAL
Try 1-2 capsules when feeling gassy, for food poisoning, or consuming food you find disagreeable to soak up toxins.
CASTOR OIL PACKS
Apply a castor oil pack to belly for relief of inflammation & gas. If you have not tried castor oil, look for Queen of Thrones on Amazon.
GENTLE EXERCIZE
Try easy yoga stretches and gentle bouncing on a rebounder all move gas. And, just get moving.
New Sugar Flush Supplement
Have you tried Sugar Flush yet? My new formula to balance blood sugar, stop sugar spikes, and aid weight loss is getting rave reviews. You may be able to avoid taking a GLP1 weight loss drug with this natural product, made from the mineral, silica. And, if you are enjoying the rewards of a GLP1,Sugar Flush is the perfect formula for your transition.
Low-Cost Resources that Won’t Break the Bank
Are you in a food rut? My Happy Gut Tribe FaceBook page is filled with recipes, gut-healthy products, and brands to spice up your pallet (sans bloat or pain). Enjoy learning new options for gut-friendly foods and desserts. Nicole, our Facebook page co-creator—our Gut-Wise Martha Stewart—will recreate recipes you love as gut-healthy. Just post on Facebook, and ask her for the “gut-health version.. No deprivation or denial necessary. Living sugar, gluten and diary-free does not mean taste-free. Join us on the Happy Gut Tribe FaceBook page for gut-friendly recipes more products, brands, and recipes.
Finally, I would like to invite you to my free ASK JULIA TikTok and YouTube live calls Saturdays and Sundays at 4 pm PST. Meanwhile, breathe deeply. Keep moving. Do one thing everyday that brings you joy. Trust that your body will heal.
In Love and Gratitude,
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