When it comes to the size of your belly, we are sure that every inch matters, right? But don’t worry, because we’ll tell you which habits you should stop doing to reduce your belly size in an instant.
Your belly might be because of too much drink, excess air trapped in the digestive tract, or from your favorite steak. But, regardless of the reason, you will feel various advantages if you reduce the size of it or even get rid of the feeling of a bloated stomach.
Fast Eating
Fast eating means swallowing air that produces gases, which leads to an increased size of your stomach. The air which is trapped in the digestive tract causes slower digestion and a feeling of a bloated stomach.
The nutritionist Stephanie Middleberg, RD, from New York explains why this is happening. When we eat quickly, we don’t chew the food properly, so larger pieces of the food will sit in the gut and wait to be completely digested. Moreover, it prevents keeping track of the amount of food we have consumed so we will eventually eat more than we should. To avoid all this, eat slowly!
Soda Addiction
Although sodas are sweet and truly refreshing, the bubbles it creates makes your stomach swell. Diet sodas with artificial sweeteners don’t give a different effect. In fact, they are even worse because the artificial sweeteners in their content cause your stomach to drastically swell.
To avoid this, try cutting down or even better stopping the consumption of sodas. If you can’t resist them, add ice cubes to the soda and wait several minutes until you drink it.
Packaged Foods
Packaged foods contain a lot of sodium, which is bad for your belly and overall health if taken in excessive amounts. It is also contained in processed foods and preservatives, including your favorite chips. Moreover, even foods like salad dressings, soups, and cereals can contain large amounts of sodium.
According to the Philadelphian nutritionist Janet Brill, Ph.D., RD, author of the book “Blood Pressure Down”, it is most likely that every packaged food contains large amounts of sodium and we probably don’t even taste the salt. To avoid this, start consuming organic foods, and cut down on processed foods. Grains, fresh vegetables, and fruits don’t contain sodium, or if they do, it’s in low amounts.
Eating Close to Bedtime
If you eat your dinner an hour or two before going to bed, your belly will probably be bigger in the morning. The reason for this is that digestion is slowed down when we sleep. The spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Alissa Rumsey, RD, explains that the ability of the body to quickly break down the ingested food is hindered when we are in a lying position. This does make sense, as sleeping requires less energy than our daily activities.
To prevent this, have your dinner at least 3 to 4 hours before you go to bed. But if you don’t have another option but to go to bed after you have eaten your dinner, take yogurt or a piece of fruit. The next morning you can have a larger breakfast.
Food Allergy
You might have some food allergies although you aren’t aware of that, as they also cause increasing the size of the belly. Those allergic to wheat may not be able to digest gluten, resulting in increased belly size, bloating, and other digestive problems. It’s the same case with lactose-intolerant people.
To avoid this, do a test on food sensitivities and allergies. If you discover you are allergic to some food, avoid it at all costs.
Via TOI