Summertime and the living is easy…except when you feel like a little blimp right before you slide on that bikini. So fun #AMIRGHT? Over the years I’ve learned some tips and tricks to fight the bloat and I’m sharing them here before the Fourth of July rolls around!
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Know your foods
What I mean is increase your knowledge and understanding of what foods tend to bother your stomach. Listening to your body is one of the best ways to eliminate the problem. My diet is pretty much the same each week , so this allows me to pay close attention to how my body responds to what I eat–new or old! Personally, I know bananas and pineapple do not agree with my stomach so you will not be seeing me housing any of those bad boys before it’s time to go out on the boat! Slowly adding in foods or removing them one by one can help you identify some of the culprits if your diet isn’t as consistent as you’d like it to be!
2. Drink your water
When it’s hot you tend to retain water and in order to flush it out you need to drink more of it! Keep a water bottle next to you, add some fresh lemon/lime and maybe throw in some mint which is also good for the stomach! I aim for a gallon a day, which is 128 ounces, so if your water bottle holds 32 ounces try and drink 4 of those!
Aside from water, I also drink ginger lemon tea that my cousin Gina introduced me too! I’m not as consistent as I used to be with it but I would usually have it right before bed and wake up feeling very pleased. You can easily drink it in the AM in replace of coffee or pour it over ice during lunchtime. It helped minimize the bloat and overall made my stomach a happy guy.
3. Eat natural diuretics
There are a lot to choose from but my fave is asparagus! Learn to love it because not
only are the nutritional benefits great, the fact that it acts as a natural way to remove water from your body is a solid plus. Wrap up some asparagus in tin foil, season with some black pepper and lemon juice, and then throw it on the grill at your next BBQ! If a grill isn’t an option, the stove top or oven is a perfectly fine go to (I also tend to use the microwave cuz I can be a lazy girl, but I won’t promote it hehe).
4. Essential Oils
I literally have an oil for digestion and I take it everywhere with me. It helps with bloating, stomachaches, nausea, you name it. I throw this guy on at night or in the AM with a little bit of coconut oil to act as a carrier. 1-2 drops is all you need! My bottle is by Young Living, but I’m sure other companies carry something similar!
5. Fiber
I mean, somebody has to ask it—are you going to the bathroom regularly!? Getting in enough fiber (women around 35g a day) and pairing it with a protein (recently read up on this) will help keep everything moving in the right direction. Making sure to stay regular is not only important for your general health, but it will also help remove some of that bloat!
Summer is meant to be fun and enjoyed, not stressing over if we feel comfortable in a bathing suit. Try out some of these tips and let me know if they help! Have a great holiday, enjoy yourselves, and be safe!!
Till next time!
–Lauren