Carbs making me bloated?!

Jay9201

So I've been to my doctors twice about my issue with carbs, I find when I eat too much I get seriously bloated. What I mean by too much is if 2/3 of my meals is starchy carbs I get bloated. My stomach is sensitive I react to foods so quickly anything gives me an upset stomach.

I was told because I spent two years on a seriously low carb that my body isn't used to eating carbs above 50g again. I know you will ask how I weighed 50g but most of this 50g was fruit and veg. But I don't know what to do I've had a full blood count test I've had my liver and thyroid check my health overall is fine.

But I can't eat carbs? I've tried cutting out wheat for 1 month and the bloating was reduced and I mentioned all this to the doctors but it wasn't a valid reason enough to be tested for celiac disease as I'm not showing the classic symptoms.

My stomach swells up because I get that bloated.

Any ideas how to reduce this issue? Yes I am aware less carbs but I don't know if playing around with carbs is healthy.

aeloine

Try seeing if a good sweat session helps. I get a little bloaty with carbs (especially greasy or salty ) but a good run usually does the trick.

Drink lots of water, and don't be afraid of playing around with your intake. Figuring out what your body likes and doesn't like it pretty essential to successful weight loss/muscle gain.

LivingtheLeanDream

Certain carbs make me bloat, particularly white bread/pasta or anything with a lot of sugar in.. maybe its the same with you, could you identify which foods/carbs might cause you to bloat more than others? Drinking water helps.

Jay9201

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

Certain carbs make me bloat, particularly white bread/pasta or anything with a lot of sugar in.. maybe its the same with you, could you identify which foods/carbs might cause to to bloat more than others? Drinking water helps.

Yes! Things like white bread, crisps , pasta. Pasta is the worst I'm starting to see salty snacks make me bloated like crisps - not that I eat them a lot but if I do I'm in agony. But I just feel I can't eat carbs without getting bloated

LivingtheLeanDream

So its refined carbs that are the problem. You either put up with the bloat or you keep them to a minimum. How long has this bloat been happening? you could find that your body will adjust to them when you keep eating them.

janejellyroll

Jay9201 wrote: »

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

Certain carbs make me bloat, particularly white bread/pasta or anything with a lot of sugar in.. maybe its the same with you, could you identify which foods/carbs might cause to to bloat more than others? Drinking water helps.

Yes! Things like white bread, crisps , pasta. Pasta is the worst I'm starting to see salty snacks make me bloated like crisps - not that I eat them a lot but if I do I'm in agony. But I just feel I can't eat carbs without getting bloated

If the issue is things like white bread, crisps, and pasta, there probably are a lot of carbohydrates you can eat without being bloated -- things like fruits, vegetables, beans, and possibly whole grains. How do those things impact you?

shaunshaikh

For every 1g of carb you eat, it bonds with 2-3g of water. Therefore if you're used to a very low carb diet, you may have gotten accustomed to not holding that extra water.

The hydrating/bloating effects of carbs are one reason why people get big initial weight drops when they switch to low-carb diets.

https://8fit.com/nutrition/glycogen-gluconeogenesis-and-water-weight/

Jay9201

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

So its refined carbs that are the problem. You either put up with the bloat or you keep them to a minimum. How long has this bloat been happening? you could find that your body will adjust to them when you keep eating them.

I'm coming up to a year with this problem and i can't deal with it anymore.

Jay9201

janejellyroll wrote: »

Jay9201 wrote: »

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

Certain carbs make me bloat, particularly white bread/pasta or anything with a lot of sugar in.. maybe its the same with you, could you identify which foods/carbs might cause to to bloat more than others? Drinking water helps.

Yes! Things like white bread, crisps , pasta. Pasta is the worst I'm starting to see salty snacks make me bloated like crisps - not that I eat them a lot but if I do I'm in agony. But I just feel I can't eat carbs without getting bloated

If the issue is things like white bread, crisps, and pasta, there probably are a lot of carbohydrates you can eat without being bloated -- things like fruits, vegetables, beans, and possibly whole grains. How do those things impact you?

I eat fruit and veg quite a bit so I'm ok with that. Whole grains to be honest I only eat quinoa as whole grains.

Jay9201

shaunshaikh wrote: »

For every 1g of carb you eat, it bonds with 2-3g of water. Therefore if you're used to a very low carb diet, you may have gotten accustomed to not holding that extra water.

The hydrating/bloating effects of carbs are one reason why people get big initial weight drops when they switch to low-carb diets.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/309135-can-a-high-carb-diet-cause-you-to-retain-water/

Understood I have been trying for a year to start eating "normally" instead of low carb as the side effects were too much for me but finding it difficult.

LivingtheLeanDream

Jay9201 wrote: »

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

So its refined carbs that are the problem. You either put up with the bloat or you keep them to a minimum. How long has this bloat been happening? you could find that your body will adjust to them when you keep eating them.

I'm coming up to a year with this problem and i can't deal with it anymore.

Bloating is no joke that's for sure. Thankfully I only get it now and again. Maybe you'd need to go see your doctor again, you could be gluten intolerant...or something else. Persistent bloating should always be checked out.

Also you could try cutting out the foods you know definately cause it, and then re-introduce them in very small amounts to see how that goes.

shaunshaikh

Yea, it also could be a gluten sensitivity or something like that. I'm no doctor so I won't pretend to diagnose.

tinkerbellang83

My mum had great success with the FODMAP Diet when she was trying to find out what foods triggered her IBS. Might be worth discussing with your doctor, that or a similar restriction diet where you slowly re-introduce foods and see which cause the issues can be helpful when trying to figure it out.

MelodiousMermaid

To be honest, this isn't something I know much about, but I've had other issues with food digestion these have helped, and figured it wouldn't hurt to throw it in an idea.

Have you tried a digestive enzyme supplement? How about probiotics? Either might be worth looking into, but if the problem is primarily with processed foods, I might suggest trying a good enzyme supplement as directed for several weeks to see if it makes a difference for you.

Best of luck in getting this figured out!

Jay9201

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

Jay9201 wrote: »

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

So its refined carbs that are the problem. You either put up with the bloat or you keep them to a minimum. How long has this bloat been happening? you could find that your body will adjust to them when you keep eating them.

I'm coming up to a year with this problem and i can't deal with it anymore.

Bloating is no joke that's for sure. Thankfully I only get it now and again. Maybe you'd need to go see your doctor again, you could be gluten intolerant...or something else. Persistent bloating should always be checked out.

Also you could try cutting out the foods you know definately cause it, and then re-introduce them in very small amounts to see how that goes.

I've gone to two different doctors and both saying the same thing .

Jay9201

blomsj wrote: »

To be honest, this isn't something I know much about, but I've had other issues with food digestion these have helped, and figured it wouldn't hurt to throw it in an idea.

Have you tried a digestive enzyme supplement? How about probiotics? Either might be worth looking into, but if the problem is primarily with processed foods, I might suggest trying a good enzyme supplement as directed for several weeks to see if it makes a difference for you.

Best of luck in getting this figured out!

blomsj wrote: »

To be honest, this isn't something I know much about, but I've had other issues with food digestion these have helped, and figured it wouldn't hurt to throw it in an idea.

Have you tried a digestive enzyme supplement? How about probiotics? Either might be worth looking into, but if the problem is primarily with processed foods, I might suggest trying a good enzyme supplement as directed for several weeks to see if it makes a difference for you.

Best of luck in getting this figured out!

I did try digestive enzymes actually and it gave me the runs ( tmi I know sorry!) I've tried cutting out wheat for a month in the past and bloating was reduced I mentioned to my doctor still didn't send me for further testing

ZeetaFit

Jay9201, If you cut out gluten and got good results the carbs may not be the issue.

Your symptoms seem similar to the reaction I was getting. I was diagnosed as gluten sensitive - not celiac disease. I would get gastric bloating that I didn't love but could deal with. It was when my lower legs started swelling up and made it difficult to walk, I new I had keep seeing doctors until they figured out what it was. I was drinking at least a gallon of water a day because I was told I was 'retaining water'.

It took 2-3 weeks for the gluten to leave my system. After a month of totally gluten free, I can now have gluten occasionally in small amounts without side effects. Maybe use brown rice (gluten free) as your carb instead of bread or pasta and see how it goes?

Good Luck!

Jay9201

ZeetaFit wrote: »

Jay9201, If you cut out gluten and got good results the carbs may not be the issue.

Your symptoms seem similar to the reaction I was getting. I was diagnosed as gluten sensitive - not celiac disease. I would get gastric bloating that I didn't love but could deal with. It was when my lower legs started swelling up and made it difficult to walk, I new I had keep seeing doctors until they figured out what it was. I was drinking at least a gallon of water a day because I was told I was 'retaining water'.

It took 2-3 weeks for the gluten to leave my system. After a month of totally gluten free, I can now have gluten occasionally in small amounts without side effects. Maybe use brown rice (gluten free) as your carb instead of bread or pasta and see how it goes?

Good Luck!

Oh wow! Thank you all for your help

SCoil123

I'm gluten free because I have a wheat allergy. I could technically eat barley and rye I just choose not to. If you suspect gluten issues do a test run going 100% gluten free for at least 2-4 weeks.

I had that painful bloating and distended stomach along with a burning rash for years before changing my diet. At first changing your eating is difficult but it gets easier. I eat rice or quinoa as my carb sides now and on occasion still splurge and get a gluten free treat - the Katz donuts are a weakness of mine

That said if after a few weeks you still have symptoms you will have to go back to the drawing board with your doctor