Bloating & Distention

foraubs
foraubs Posts: 263 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
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.

Replies

  • hwoeltjen
    hwoeltjen Posts: 199 Member
    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
    rachelhughes167527 Posts: 4
    Have you ever been tested for Coelics disease or lactose intollerance?
  • foraubs
    foraubs Posts: 263 Member
    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
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    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
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    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
    maracuya23 Posts: 122
    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
    hwoeltjen Posts: 199 Member
    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.

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