Why you feel MORE bloated in the heatwave – and 6 ways to ease it
BRITS have basked in glorious sunshine over the past week or so and many have taken the opportunity to enjoy sipping on their favourite drinks outdoors.
Thunderstorms are on the way this week but the warm weather is here to stay and if you've noticed your stomach looking a little rounder during the heatwave then you're not alone.
Searches on Google for "foods that make you bloated" have doubled in the last week in the UK, while searches for "what causes bloating in women", have also gone up by 60 per cent.
The heatwave over the weekend has left many feeling a little puffy and experts say that our stomachs can often be the first part of the body to react during warm weather.
Certified holistic nutrition consultant Stephanie Papadakis and founder of said the hot weather can cause dehydration - which in turn leads to bloating.
In hot weather we all sweat a little bit more than usual and as this happens the body is trying to lower its internal temperature.
Stephanie says that during this process you lose vital water and electrolytes and because of this your body can try to retain what it has left if it loses too much.
This can then lead to digestive bloating, which Stephanie said can leave you feeling uncomfortable, tired, dizzy and lethargic.
But how can you beat the bloat during hot weather?
1. Stay hydrated
If you're feeling bloated the last thing you might be thinking of doing is drinking more fluids.
Sipping on water throughout the day will help prevent dehydration and will help you avoid downing pints of water when thirst hits.
If you're already dehydrated then your body could be lacking naturally occurring electrolytes (potassium), experts at state.
Drinks that include added electrolytes can help offset the symptoms.
These include pressed coconut water, milk or sports drinks.
Some coconut waters even include high doses of Vitamin C such as Vita Coco Pure which gives you 113 per cent of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin C, while drinks such as milk can help boost your calcium levels.
2. Know your trigger foods
Foods that are rich in fibre such as broccoli and cauliflower can cause discomfort and trigger bloating.
Beans, lentils and drinks that include caffeine can also lead to discomfort.
Unfortunately alcohol and fizzy drinks can also cause bloating so if you still want to enjoy a drink it might be best to stay away from ciders and beers.
Nutritionist says switching your diet up could help if you opt for foods that have a naturally high water content such as spinach, avocado and yogurt.
3. Put packaged foods down
Lisa Borg, nutritionist at says packaged foods such as your lunch time meal deal may be causing your stomach to bloat.
"Packaged foods that have a long shelf life are loaded with preservatives and are no longer real foods per-se, and should be avoided to help metabolism.
";Avoiding them as well as sugars and processed foods will only have an effect if you add in healthy, clean foods that are organically produced and high in fibre like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds (metabolism can slow as a survival response where toxins are high)."
4. Ditch dairy
Most dairy products contain lactose which the body finds difficult to digest.
If you want to beat the bloat you should avoid products such as ice cream, cheese and milk.
Luckily it’s 2020 and there are a range of dairy free products that are available on supermarket shelves.
Swapping to soya based products may help stop the bloating.
People who are lactose intolerant do not have enough enzymes in their body to break down the sugars that most dairy products produce.
High dairy products can also settle for a while in your stomach and can cause unwanted stomach fat.
5. Forget fried foods
If you're trying to lose weight you should probably stay away from fried foods anyway.
The coronavirus lockdown has meant more people are eating takeaways at home rather than going out for dinner.
Most fried foods are fast foods.
Fried foods manifest in your stomach and are packed with sodium and trans fats.
These usually create a build up of fat in your stomach.
6. Relax your gut
Emily Rollason, nutritionist at Holland & Barrett said stress can trigger digestive health issues.
She said: "This is because gut health is closely related to emotions so worry and anxiety can upset the stomach.
"Being stressed can speed up digestion which can cause diarrhoea or slow it down, which can cause stomach pain and constipation.
“In some cases, it can worsen stomach ulcers and aggravate irritable bowel syndrome."
She said that to avoid this - you need to find ways to manage your stress levels.
"Take some time to practise self-care, exercise and cut back on unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol, which can further exacerbate these concerns.”
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When to get help
While most of us can beat the bloat with simple at home remedies, it can also be the cause of other issues.
Dietitian Sophie Medlin says that if you're experiencing bloating that isn't linked to eating, or you have it first thing in the morning then you should see your GP.
She advised against taking intolerance tests online and added that they can sometimes do more harm than good.
"Typically, they’ll show that you’re ‘intolerant’ to the foods you normally eat because the foods you eat are being detected.
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"This can mean that you cut things out unnecessarily or are not able to make the changes recommend because you can’t eat any of your normal foods."
She added that people who are concerned about their bloating should seek help from a registered dietitian.