Bloating

There are those foods that help slim your middle and those that make you feel like a bloated balloon. A bloated tummy isn't only reserved for women during that time of the month. Sometimes it's the foods we eat that can cause that overly full, gassy feeling. Here's a list of foods that may be contributing to that swollen tum tum (so you may want to think about limiting or avoiding them). 

Dairy products

Lactose intolerance can range from mild to severe, but either way, gas is usually a symptom. Try limiting the amount of milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream you eat and see if that helps. If it does, you don't have to ditch dairy altogether. Drink lactose-free milk or take Lactaid pills to help your body digest milk products.

Apples and pears

These fruits contain about 4 grams of fiber per serving so they're an excellent source of soluble fiber but they can also wreak havoc on sensitive tummies. Don't avoid them entirely though! Apples are a favorite on-the-go snack of mine. However, if you’re concerned about feeling bloated, try eating just half or a quarter of these fruits.

Beans

This magical fruit contains oligosaccharide, a type of sugar which is not normally digestible by our bodies. When this sugar reaches your large intestine, the bacteria go to town eating it up and the gas you produce is an unfortunate byproduct.

Broccoli, cabbage, and asparagus

These highly nutritious veggies are often avoided because many people don't appreciate the odoriferous outcome. The reason these veggies cause gas is due to raffinose. This sugar goes undigested until it reaches the large intestine, where it's fermented by methane-producing bacteria. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to cut down on the gas they produce but eating them in moderation and with other foods should help prevent a bloated tummy afterward.

Fatty foods

Fat slows down digestion, which can be used positively in your daily diet but unfortunately this also gives food more time to ferment and cause you to be gassy.

Salty foods

Sodium may not cause gas but it definitely makes you retain water. Cut back on the salt you add to foods and be a label reader to **make sure you're not exceeding 2,300 mg a day.

Gum and hard candy

I really enjoy chewing gum BUT when you chew gum or suck on hard candy you end up swallowing more often, which means you're probably swallowing more air.

Carbonated beverages

Bubbly drinks such as soda and beer release carbon dioxide which does cause you to bloat.