The Actual Cause Of Feeling Bloated Is The Digestive System And Not Your Reproductive System
According to Dr Penelope Law, a consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at the private Portland Hospital, the uterus contracts in a very subtle manner every day. As you get closer to your period, these mild contractions, which usually happen at the upper end of your uterus, gradually move down to the cervix with an increased frequency of about every 40 minutes. This becomes more intense by the time you get to your period and can be responsible for the pains some women experience during their period. Although period bloating is linked to these contractions, Dr Law explains that the actual cause of feeling bloated is the digestive system and not your reproductive system.
During your period, the bowel becomes slow as the increased contractions of the uterus slow down the speed of food through the bowel . This process creates the swollen feeling many women experience during their periods and this can also be linked to constipation during menstruation.
How To Make Your Period Go Away
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Periods are your body’s way of showing you that your reproductive system is working properly, and not getting your period at all is usually a sign of illness or an unhealthy lifestyle. However, there are ways to make a normal, healthy period last a shorter amount of time. To make your period go away faster, you can use heat, exercise, and other habits that speed the flow of blood while also changing your diet to keep yourself hydrated and maximize your vitamin C intake. Certain medications, like birth control, can also change your cycle and shorten your period long-term.
Dont Sleep Immediately After A Meal
Going to sleep immediately after a meal doesnt allow your body any time to process the meal, says Dr. Sonpal. He recommends going for a walk after eating in order to produce the energy needed to digest the food. Going to bed right after eating cripples your digestive process, slowing down the breakdown of your food, he says.
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Causes Of Period Gas Pain
Period gas pain is caused by a buildup of gas in your gastrointestinal tract. The gas produced from the digestive process travels along with the food as it is digested. Since your digestive system has slowed down, the food you eat doesnt travel as fast as it usually does through your system.
Gas is also the result of swallowing air from eating and drinking.
If you tend to eat or drink more during your period, you might be swallowing more air. This, combined with gas from digesting, can cause pain if too air much accumulates.
What Is Period Bloating
Period bloating is one of the common PMS syndromes that occur around one to two weeks before your period starts and vanishes after a few days on your period. Period bloating is when a woman feels her abdomen is heavy and swollen just before and at the start of her period. When you get this it may make you feel like youve gained weight or feel that other parts of your body are swollen or tight. Although you might not be able to completely prevent or stop bloating, there are some things you can do to reduce it.
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What Causes Bloating During Your Period
Bloating in general can have a number of causes.
Perhaps you had too many carbonated drinks. The bubbles can get trapped in your stomach making you feel like a balloon. Maybe you ate a huge, super-fatty meal . Fats move through your system slowly, making your belly feel bigger for longer.
Period bloating is an entirely different beast. Its most commonly reported one to two weeks before you bleed. This is classic PMS territory.
Between 5% and 8% of women experience severe PMS, but as many as 75% have some mixture of the most common symptoms.
During PMS, your body goes through a rollercoaster of hormonal changes to prepare for a possible pregnancy. The most influential hormones are estrogen and progesterone, which are produced in your ovaries.
Rapid fluctuations in your estrogen and progesterone levels can cause you to retain excess water. This is the chief cause of bloating during your period.
Dont Eat Too Much At A Time
Being stuffed can feel like being bloated, but the problem is that you simply ate too much.
If youre eating big meals and tend to feel uncomfortable afterward, then try smaller portions. Add another daily meal if necessary.
A subset of people who experience bloating dont really have an enlarged stomach or increased pressure in the abdomen. The issue is mostly sensory .
A person with a tendency to be bloated will experience discomfort from a smaller amount of food than a person who rarely feels bloated.
For this reason, simply eating smaller meals can be incredibly useful.
Chewing your food better can have a two-fold effect. It reduces the amount of air you swallow with the food , and it also makes you eat slower, which is linked to reduced food intake and smaller portions .
Summary
People who experience bloating often have increased sensitivity to food in the stomach. Therefore, eating smaller meals can be very useful.
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Changes In Levels Of Progesterone And Oestrogen Levels
Period bloating may occur as a result of changes in levels of progesterone and oestrogen levels. The change in the balance of these sex hormones, which occurs about a week before your period starts, causes the body to retain more water and salt/ As a result of this, the bodys cells become swollen with water thereby giving you that feeling of being bloated.
Sowhat Helps Pms Bloating
The good news: There are some seriously easy steps you can take to de-bloat during your period. Switching up the foods you eat, like swapping in more potassium-filled foods and nixing the caffeine for a few days, can do some serious remedying to your bloated belly.
You can also consider even simpler fixes, like getting more sleep or cooking at home more often. Just scroll though the options belowthere’s definitely a remedy in this list that will work for you.
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Pack In The Potassium
Like magnesium, potassium is an electrolyte that helps keep sodium levels in check and encourages the body to release excess water.
Most of us dont get as much as we need, so hitting the recommended amount of 2,600 mg daily is a good habit to get into.
Bananas are a pretty good source, but youll actually get more bang for your potassium buck from dried fruit, lentils, acorn squash, and potatoes.
Menstrual Bloating Remedies To Feel Better Fast
When bloating comes on strong and all you want to do is live in yoga pants and stay in bed, there are things you can do.
Here are four natural remedies to help you get back to your life, bloating be gone:
1. Make Some Diet Modifications: The power of nutrition is incredible, and with just a few dietary modifications prior to and during your period, you may be surprised at how much less bloated you feel. Here are some nutrition hacks to beat period bloating.
2. The Power of Plant-Based Healing: We cant downplay just how amazing Traditional Chinese Medicine and potent, healing herbs are for countless ailments and symptoms like period bloating. And Elix can help with your menstrual bloating. Our Cycle Balance formulas not only help balance hormones and help get to the root of all your symptoms, but the herbs in our formulas can help reduce the water retention that often leads to that uncomfortable bloated feelingso you can feel better, faster.
In need of a natural remedy right away? Try using a chasteberry tincture or sipping on some chasteberry tea. Studies have found this berry to be incredibly beneficial for easing PMS symptoms including water retention and even cravings.
Dandelion leaf tea can also be great for period bloating. It acts as a natural diuretic to help reduce some of that uncomfortable fluid retention while also giving the body a little extra potassium boost.
Know When to See a Doctor
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How To Beat The Bloat: Ways To Reduce Period Bloating
Now that youve understood the factors behind period bloating, how do you tackle it? Fortunately, there are different ways to reduce bloating during your period. As you explore these different methods which we will discuss in details, we encourage you to seek medical advice from your doctor especially when the bloating continues to happen after your menstrual flow. Since the causative factor of bloating dwells more on the digestive system, a review on your eating habits or the type of foods you eat can go a great way to reduce your bloating.
Avoid Excessive Alcohol Consumption
There are so many reasons why this is a bad thing. But for the purposes of this article, it is about overeating. A study published in the journal Current Obesity Reports found that limiting alcohol intake is an obvious means to reduce total energy intake for those who wish to lose weight. It makes sense. Alcohol is associated with feasts and celebration but it also makes you want to eat more. Another study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior found that the effects of wine on appetite are immediate, and stimulate food intake early in the meal. If you are going to drink, know that it may be a trigger for overeating and try to stay mindful as you eat. Also avoid drinking too much without food which can make you extra hungry or cause you to binge eat.
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Side Effects Of Abdominal Bloating
Some of the side effects and complications of a bloated abdomen that call for immediate medical attention include:
- A pain or pressure in the chest
- Breathing difficulty
- Vomiting blood or some black substance
- Severe and intolerable abdominal pain
- Rapid pulse
- Signs of jaundice such as yellow skin or eyes
If you experience any of the above-mentioned side effects, visit your doctor immediately. This is because it can have a serious impact on your health if left unattended for too long. However, for mild to moderate cases you can go ahead and try out these effective home remedies for bloated stomach. And yes, do let us know if this article helped you by posting in the comments section below.
What Is Gas Pain During Your Period
Hormones wreak havoc on a womans system during menses. Progesterone is a hormone that slows down your digestive system, especially during the latter half of your period. Many women begin to bloat a few days before their period even begins.
During this already painful time, gas can build up in your digestive tract and cause you to hurt even more. This is incredibly common: nearly 55% of women report gastrointestinal pain during their period.
There isnt much you can to control the hormonal turmoil within your body, but there are several steps you can take to reduce the extra pain that is caused by gas.
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Understanding What Bloating During Period Really Is
Period bloating may seem like some kind of dark magic that makes you gain 2-5 pounds of weight overnight. But once you understand the mechanisms behind it, youll realize it isnt as mysterious or sinister as you think. Occasional bloating often occurs as a result of excess gas and disturbances in digestion. Some people find that certain foods always cause them to become bloated afterward.
But period bloating is a little bit different from regular diet-related bloating. For most women, that unmistakable period-related bloated feeling usually happens a few days before menstruation. It is a common PMS symptom that can sometimes cause discomfort and embarrassment. Some women only experience minimal bloating, while others may get so bloated that they find themselves wearing sweats and yoga pants because they cant fit into their jeans until the bloating subsides.
So, lets dive into the nitty-gritty of what causes period weight gain and bloating. It turns out the same primary culprits are responsible for your menstrual bloating, period cramps, menstrual bleeding, and other fun monthly symptoms. Thats right, your hormones are primarily to blame for that sloshy way your belly feels right before and at the beginning of your period.
How Can You Get Rid Of Period Bloating
If bloating before and/or during your period is an issue for you, try to avoid foods that are known to cause or increase the frequency and severity of bloating. If you do need a salty snack, try to consume those foods in moderation. Reducing salt intake can decrease water retention, and the body will respond with a diminished sensation of feeling bloating,Dr. Karen Patrusky, MD, tells Woman’s Day.
Instead, Patrusky says you should eat foods that are high in potassium, like bananas and avocados, as well as foods that are high in magnesium, like nuts and seeds. Foods that are natural diuretics like asparagus, cucumber, ginger, and watermelon can also help relieve uncomfortable bloating. And, of course, drinking plenty of water can help flush out your kidneys and improve your period symptoms.
Patrusky also suggests you get your sweat on to reduce bloating, even if you’re feeling less than up to it. Exercise can improve energy and mood by increasing endorphins, she says. Exercise also induces sweat, encourages hydration, and makes us more mindful about what foods we put into our bodies.
If that isnt working, you can also try your hand at a few over-the-counter medication. If your symptoms are notable, they may warrant a medication, such as Midol Complete, which provides multi-symptom period and PMS relief including cramps and bloating, Dweck says. Birth control pills have also been helpful for some women to minimize PMS symptoms.
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Flush Out Sodium Bloat
Its no secret consuming too much sodium can make you gain water weight. Studies have found a high sodium diet can lead to excessive bloating . And with many people over-consuming processed foods that are high in sodium its no wonder why so many of us are getting bloated bellies.
Avoiding processed foods is key to lowering your sodium intake. Next time youre about to microwave a processed food check the nutritional label for the sodium content. Its most likely sky-high in sodium. Eating more healthy foods like vegetables, lean meats, and good fats is key to balancing your sodium levels.
Consuming more potassium will help to balance out your sodium levels . If your body is low on potassium then your body will not want to flush out your water weight. Your body will have a hard time pumping out sodium from your cells if there isnt enough potassium there to flush it out.
Your stone age ancestors consumed 16 times as much potassium as sodium. Today in the modern world the average person is consuming double the sodium they are compared to potassium. This is why its a good idea to take a daily electrolyte thats high in potassium. I also like to drink potassium-rich coconut water when I want to drop water weight fast.