Above: Sheetal Rawal, scientist (human genetics) & founder of Apsara Skin Care
By: Marty S.
Being bloated is an uncomfortable sensation. When your stomach feels full and it looks bigger than it normally should be, that can disrupt your normal routine. And while you’re not technically sick, bloating may sometimes cause you to feel sluggish, gassy, and a little nauseous. For some people, their bloating is temporary, often the result of a large meal. However, for others, their bloating could be caused by a change in their lifestyle and thus could last for a while. When this happens and your body starts retaining more water, your skin may begin to look duller, puffier, and more lackluster.
Even if you eat at a normal pace and watch your salt intake, you could still be prone to bloating. Though your diet is a big factor in how you develop bloating, it can also be a big factor in how you get rid of it. Keep reading to learn 5 foods you must add to your diet if you want to reduce bloating. Not only can these foods minimize your discomfort, but they may also help your skin look more vibrant and stunning.
1. Vegan Yogurt
One of the reasons why you could be bloated is poor gut health. Because your gut helps your body digest food and your gut contains about 100 trillion bacteria, any dramatic change in your gut might lead to bloating as well as stomach aches, constipation, and even lackluster skin. Yes, you read that right! Poor gut health often translates into higher levels of inflammation, which can impact the glow and vitality of your skin.
To get your gut health back on track and minimize bloating in the process, one easy food to add to your diet is vegan yogurt. Vegan yogurt is a probiotic; it contains live cultures of good bacteria that are meant to support the bacteria in your gut microbiome. Thus, consuming more probiotics like vegan yogurt regularly can translate into better gut health, less bloating, and stunning skin. Just make sure that when you purchase vegan yogurt, it contains the phrase “live cultures” or “active cultures” on the label so that you know it is a probiotic.
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2. Quinoa
If your bowel movements have become irregular lately and your visits to the bathroom have been less than satisfactory, you might be constipated. Constipation can disrupt your digestion and cause more bloating. In order to eliminate constipation, you should add more fiber-rich foods to your diet. Fiber improves digestion by cleaning your gut and helping push out waste from your intestines.
There are two caveats with fiber, though. First, you shouldn’t try to eat a lot of fiber at one time. Dramatically increasing your fiber consumption is a lot for your body to get used to and may make your bloating worse. Second, there are fiber-rich foods that contain gluten, and if you are gluten intolerant, consuming gluten may lead to more bloating. Therefore, we recommend eating quinoa to reduce bloating because quinoa is gluten-free and full of fiber. Plus, quinoa is a great source of protein, which your skin needs if you want it to look youthful.
3. Oranges
When it comes to deciding between snacks, fruits are an excellent healthy option. All fruits are packed with vitamins and nutrients, and they are certainly capable of satisfying a sweet (or sour tooth). However, though all fruits are good for you, some may be causing your bloating. Apples, for example, are a good source of nutrients like antioxidants and fiber, but they are also rich in fructose and sorbitol, two fruit sugars that can impede digestion and lead to more bloating. An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but it won’t necessarily stop the bloating either.
Luckily, not all fruits are high in fruit sugars like fructose and sorbitol. There are plenty of fruits that possess a low amount of fructose, such as oranges. Plus, oranges contain a lot of water. Since water retention and bloating often coincide, drinking a good amount of water every day and eating a lot of hydrating foods like oranges can lead to less water weight and hopefully more hydrated, glowing skin.
There are also foods you can add to your diet to get stunning, flawless skin. Listen to this episode of the Apsara Skin Care Podcast to find out more. Enjoy and please leave us a review on our iTunes podcast page!
4. Ginger
Ginger is an Ayurvedic herb that has been used for thousands of years due to its healing properties. Nowadays, we only use a little bit of it in our cooking because of how potent its taste and smell are, but even that amount is enough for it to work its magic. Ginger contains an enzyme called zingibain, which helps your body digest food and relieve pent-up gas. Over time, consuming ginger can stop constipation and bloating. How you take ginger is entirely up to you; you can add a few small pieces of ginger to a recipe or perhaps brew some into ginger tea.
5. Chamomile Tea
If you are experiencing any bloating, your first instinct might be to drink something that will ease your discomfort. That is a good instinct to have, and the first drink you should brew is chamomile tea. The smell of chamomile tea is sweet and refreshing to the senses, and the drink itself can reduce your bloating. Chamomile tea is thought to minimize inflammation in your intestines as well as any abdominal pain. Plus, with a soothing cup of chamomile tea at your side, you might be able to experience a more restful night of sleep, and that could, in turn, lead to more youthful skin and gorgeous hair.
If you don’t have chamomile tea on hand, a good substitute is peppermint. The candy itself will likely not be beneficial to your gut (given the amount of sugar found in it), but the tea has similar properties to chamomile tea. Peppermint tea can improve your digestion, relax your intestinal area, and reduce any cramping.
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Go natural. It is good karma!
