Six Habits That Cause A Swollen Belly

Many people think that a fat, swollen belly can only be caused by a build-up of fat.

While fat may indeed be one of the main culprits, there are many other factors that can influence the size of the abdomen.

For example, excessive consumption of salt can cause fluid retention, which can lead to inflammation in the body more quickly.

If you suffer from a certain intolerance, there may be indigestion and other problems in the digestive tract. As a result, you look much heavier than you actually are, which can be very unpleasant.

That’s why it’s important to be aware of some of the habits that can cause abdominal bloating and how to avoid it in the future.

Learn about the habits that cause a swollen stomach

1. Eat a lot of dairy products

In this case, the swollen abdomen is caused by a lactose intolerance. Lactose is a natural sugar that begins to ferment in the colon when your body does not naturally produce enzymes that can digest it.

When lactose is poorly absorbed by the body, you experience intestinal gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea and even problems with constipation.

2. Eating too fast

Eating too quickly or not chewing properly can cause indigestion as too much air enters the stomach.

When you eat in a hurry, you swallow a lot of air, which eventually leads to a swollen belly.

3. Consuming Too Much Salt

Excessive salt intake is one of the most common causes of fluid retention, high blood pressure and inflammation in body tissues.

We cannot deny that salt gives our dishes a wonderful taste. However, we have to admit that too much salt in our body can have a lot of harmful side effects.

As consumers, we must therefore be aware that we do not only get salt through the dishes we make ourselves. The ingredient is already present in most processed foods that we consume every day.

4. Chewing gum

If you’re used to chewing gum daily for stress, this may be why you’re struggling to get a flat stomach. When you chew gum, a lot of air enters your body, which can make your stomach bloated.

5. Drink carbonated drinks

The high sugar content, together with carbon dioxide and artificial sweeteners, can cause  unwanted reactions in the digestive tract. That can make the bloating in your stomach worse.

So that bubbly that you love so much is actually the cause of that bloating and heavy feeling that you hate so much.

6. Skipping meals or eating too little

Skipping meals or eating too small portions is not the right way to reduce your calorie intake or lose weight .

For a long time, many people thought that this was a good option to lose weight. In recent years, it has been shown that these kinds of habits increase the chance of gaining weight again.

Eating less than five times a day makes it difficult for your body to digest food. This will also make you more hungry. You will gradually notice that your body stores more fat around your waist.

A seriously bloated stomach is a symptom that you should not ignore. Therefore, be sure to visit your doctor first.