Beat The Bloat

Do you struggle with bloating? Do you also suffer from other digestive symptoms, like constipation, diarrhea, gas, or nausea? If so, you are not alone. 

More than half the clients that come into my practice report struggling with bloating or digestive distress. Sadly, most have accepted it and have learned to tolerate the discomfort.

Chronic bloating is not normal. It’s your body’s way of saying there is an underlying imbalanced that needs to be addressed. The majority of these clients come to me for another reason but we also address digestive issues as part of a holistic approach.

The clients with bloating also report a long history of digestive distress despite having already tried a handful of diet and supplements—apple cider vinegar, digestive enzymes, probiotics—with minimal success. These things can be helpful but they fail to identify and address the underlying root cause of the bloating, diarrhea, and/or gas. 

As a root cause practitioner, my goal is to get to the root cause of the issue and formulate an appropriate protocol to address the cause of the dysfunction and not just the uncomfortable symptoms.

Read on for a list of the most frequent causes of bloating that I see in practice:

1. Constipation

The most common cause of bloating I see in my practice is constipation. When you are constipated, waste matter is not being cleared from the colon regularly which leads to discomfort and bloating. The longer the stool sits in the colon, the more time the bacteria have to ferment which leads to gas production. Bacterial fermentation and gas production lead to bloating and often, flatulence as well. 

Many clients do not even realize they are constipated because they have lived this way for so long. You can have a daily bowel movement and be constipated, as you may not be fully emptying your bowels with each bowel movement. Common signs of constipation include:

• Not having a bowel movement every day

• Stools that are hard or pebbly in appearance

• Stools that feel incomplete (e.g. you feel like you could go again)

• Stools that are painful or difficult to pass
  

2. Dysbiosis (parasites, SIBO, and more)

Dysbiosis is an imbalance in the types or amounts of bacteria and other micro-organisms present in the digestive tract. Dysbiosis presents in many forms: an overgrowth of certain micro-organisms in the large intestine, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), parasites. The bacteria in our gut ferment the food we eat. This fermentation process produces various gases. If there is an imbalance in the type of bacteria present, bloating can occur due to excess production of gases. Certain types of bacterial overgrowth in the digestive tract can also lead to constipation, which further fuels the bloating-constipation cycle.

3. Autoimmune Disorders

Various autoimmune disorders have been associated with bloating; these include Celiac, Crohn’s, and autoimmune thyroid disease. All of these conditions impact the digestive tract in various ways which can make the individual prone to bloating and abdominal discomfort. Certain autoimmune disorders co-occur, so it is not uncommon to be treating an individual with both Celiac and Hashimoto’s.

4. Food Sensitivities

Food sensitivities are commonly associated with bloating, and in many cases, clients have already identified and eliminated the  foods that trigger their symptoms. The most common food sensitivities I see in clients are sensitivities to alcohol, dairy, dried fruits, eggs, sugar alcohols (xylitol and sorbitol), and histamine-containing foods such as aged cheese and cured meats. 

Some clients react to certain types of short-chain carbohydrates known as FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols). A FODMAP sensitivity means you are particularly susceptible to bacterial fermentation when consuming these types of carbohydrates and the result is gas and bloating.

5. Endometriosis

Endometriosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows in other parts of the body, such as in the abdominal cavity or in the bowel. Common symptoms include heavy, painful periods, painful intercourse, painful bowel movements, and even infertility. 

One lesser known symptom of endometriosis however is endo-belly—a term used to refer to the bloating many women with endometriosis experience. This bloating is typically worse in the week or so leading up to the woman’s period and often resolves within a day or two of the onset of menstruation. Bloating associated with endometriosis can be severe and highly uncomfortable.

Pre-menstrual bloating is not restricted to women with endometriosis. Many women without endometriosis also experience bloating before or during their period. This bloating often co-occurs with symptoms like constipation (pre-period) and diarrhea (with the onset of the period).

If you’re struggling with bloating, it is important to work with a qualified healthcare practitioner who can assess your health history, your symptoms, and help you identify and address the root cause.