Looking in the mirror in the morning and then again in the evening can feel like a Jekyll and Hyde situation.
Our stomachs are much slimmer without the daily offenders we put in our diet.
So if you want to keep that tummy from fighting our button then stay away from these six foods that are likely bloating culprits.
1. Dairy
After having one too many slices of pizza you may have noticed you feel exceptionally full and that you went up two sizes in the matter of minutes.
The calories aren’t the only thing to blame. Dairy contains a natural sugar called lactose that is difficult for the human body to digest.
Some handle it better than others, with 30-50 million Americans suffering from lactose intolerance, according to a report by Cornell University, which means they don’t have the appropriate enzymes needed to break down the sugar.
Dairy products include cheese and milk which is a staple for many diets in this nation.
Thankfully, there are a lot of dairy substitutes on the market that are easily accessible, such as those made from soy or almond.
2. Cruciferous Vegetables
Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts are all part of the cruciferous vegetable family.
These delicious vegetables could be considered some of the most healthy food available, as Mommy Underground has previously reported, but they certainly have their downside- especially if you are eating them on date night in your little black dress.
Cruciferous vegetables are fermented by bacteria, and our body lacks the enzyme to break down the carbohydrate raffinose that the group of vegetables contain, thus providing a recipe for disaster when it comes to keeping a comfortable waistline.
3. Alcohol
Yahoo reports:
“Alcohol also dehydrates your body and causes it to want to retain more water.”
Water retention leads to puffiness and bloating which nobody likes.
Drinking a glass of water before and after an alcoholic beverage will help keep the bloating at bay, but consuming too much alcohol will leave you wishing you said no to that third glass of wine at the family night out even into the next day.
4. Watermelon
Watermelon is a great outdoor snack during the warmer months when you don’t have to worry about the trail of red juice streaming from every child’s mouth.
“Watermelon contains fructose, a natural sugar that our bodies have difficulty absorbing,” reports Yahoo.
While bringing a bowl of watermelon to the beach for the kids is fun, you may want to hold off eating the fruit until you are out of your bathing suit.
5. Legumes
The high fiber and protein in a legume make it a great addition to a healthy plant-based diet, but timing could be everything.
A legume is a plant that grows fruit in pods, such as beans, peas, lentils, and soybeans.
Our bodies can’t absorb the high fiber content so our gut bacteria has to do all the heavy lifting causing gas and bloating.
Soaking beans overnight will help break down the fiber so you can keep a flat tummy throughout Taco Tuesday lunch with your friends.
6. Onions
“Onions surprisingly have the same carb as grains, fructan,” shares Yahoo.
Fructan attacks your flat stomach on two fronts.
First, it is hard for your body to absorb, and secondly it causes water to be stored in the intestine.
So you can blame any extra mid-day wiggles on that onion and pepper omelette you had earlier that morning.
Keeping a flat stomach should never take precedent over a healthy, complete diet, but eating foods that cause bloating in moderation can make you feel more confident and comfortable.
Besides, you haven’t been saying no to dessert every night for nothing. Seeing your fitness results is a great motivator to keep up the hard work.