Bloating & Distention

foraubs

I get a significant amount of abdominal bloating and distention with most everything I eat, regardless of whether or not I eat a large or a small meal.
My BMs are not "regular" (at the risk of full disclosure): Often labourous and infrequent.
A dietician suggested more fibre ... check.
A doctor told me it was OK to use Restoralax regularly ... no bueno.
I don't know if I have a sensitivity to certain foods, because I've never actually eliminated anything from my diet.

Basically, what I am asking is: Is there a certain food, combination of foods that will assist in the relief of bloating and/or distention? I'd like to do my best to diminish/control it naturally.


DISCLAIMER: I'm not looking for a "quick fix" or a "fad." I've changed my lifestyle with the assistance of MFP over the past 21 months and have learned a great deal. I just can't find anything that works in this regard.

hwoeltjen

You haven't ever eliminated anything from your diet?

Well you may want to start...right there.

Start eliminating things from your diet.

What does your diet look like?

rachelhughes167527

Have you ever been tested for Coelics disease or lactose intollerance?

foraubs

You haven't ever eliminated anything from your diet?

Well you may want to start...right there.

Start eliminating things from your diet.

What does your diet look like?

eggs
milk, mostly in cooking only
bread
lots of vegetables, mostly green
lots of beans
cereal - oatmeal, bran flakes, special k
cheese
fruits, not a wackload
water+++++++
meat - mostly white, 2-4x week
potatoes
butter
pasta
salsa
grains - rice, couscous, quinoa
soup
chips
candy here and there
yogurt

... i could go on and on: what are we trying to identify here?

SLLRunner

When I was eating lactose, I got really bloated and distended. The only thing that is not lactose free that I can have is Dannon yogurt. All other yogurts give me a tummy ache and make be bloated. So, I would cut out he lactose and look for lactose free products in their place.

jonnythan

You haven't ever eliminated anything from your diet?

Well you may want to start...right there.

Start eliminating things from your diet.

What does your diet look like?

eggs
milk, mostly in cooking only
bread
lots of vegetables, mostly green
lots of beans
cereal - oatmeal, bran flakes, special k
cheese
fruits, not a wackload
water+++++++
meat - mostly white, 2-4x week
potatoes
butter
pasta
salsa
grains - rice, couscous, quinoa
soup
chips
candy here and there
yogurt

... i could go on and on: what are we trying to identify here?

Dairy. Wheat. Eggs. Beans.

There are a lot of elements in your diet that commonly give people gastrointestinal issues. The obvious move here is to start eliminating things in your diet, one or two at a time, then waiting a couple of weeks to see if your symptoms improve.

Personally I'd start with dairy and wheat. Zero dairy and zero wheat for a few weeks and see what happens.

maracuya23

Gluten intolerance (Celiac's, or just intolerance) can definitely also cause bloating, distention, generalized intestinal distress, and your diet has lots of wheat-based foods in it.

I am not at all a fan of fad diets, and am a passionate foodie, so am the last person to want to give up any kind of food. I had the same symptoms you describe for years (I thought that bloating and discomfort was just what happened when I ate, a normal part of digestion.). Turns out I'm allergic to gluten. As long as I don't eat it, no bloating, no looking like I'm six months pregnant with distention, everything moves along normally.

Might be worth trying systematically eliminating specific foods just to see.

hwoeltjen

Going to go with Jonythan on this. Cut out dairy and see if that helps. If that doesn't fix it...you may have a problem with gluten. Cut out wheat products.