Foods that Cause Bloating and What You Can Eat Instead

With so many contradictory claims when it comes to eating healthy, it can be hard to know what to eat and what to avoid.  This confusion leads so many to throw their hands up altogether and feel those feelings of “why even try?!”

Even foods touted as healthy can still cause you discomfort.  Bloating is our bodies attempt to let us know it disagrees with something we gave it and can be a big clue to the types of foods you should cut down on or avoid.

Here are a few of the main culprits when it comes to foods that can cause bloating…

1. Beans

Beans are great for protein and good carbs, but many of them contain a type of sugar in the FODMAP group (fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides, and polyols). If you have digestive issues, beans can cause gas as they digest which gives you that unpleasant, bloated belly. Soaking the beans can usually help, but if you’re in a hurry, choose pinto or black beans as they’re easier to digest. You can try my Nightshade-free Chili as an optional way to enjoy chili without the beans or allergens.

2. Lentils

Another high protein legume with loads of fiber, lentils can also bring on the bloat. Choosing the light-colored lentils is a better option for keeping that bloating under control.

3. Wheat

Whole wheat has always touted as a healthier alternative, but it doesn’t sit well with a lot of people due to the gluten and/or fructan it contains. If you have a sensitivity to gluten, your gut will show it by bloating after consuming wheat products. Wheat also has FODMAPs, as we discussed above, so if you’ve shown a tendency to bloat after eating wheat products, you should look for gluten-free options like quinoa, buckwheat, pure oats, or things made with almond or coconut flour.

4. Cruciferous veggies

While cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are incredibly healthy, they can lead to stomach inflation. Cooking them makes them much easier to digest, but if that still doesn’t seem to help, focus more on spinach, lettuce, zucchini, cucumbers, and sweet potatoes.

5. Garlic and onions

These two are great for flavoring just about anything you can cook up in your kitchen. If eating either of them raw causes intestinal issues, you should make sure they’re cooked first.  If that still doesn’t do the trick, you should try swapping them out for fresh herbs like thyme, basil, chives, or parsley to keep your dishes flavorful.

6. Dairy Products

If you’ve noticed bloating coming on after eating yogurt, cheese, butter, or drinking milk, switch to alternative products to get all the flavor without the agony.  Many people cannot process dairy well, as it can be very inflammatory. Milk, in particular, has many other alternatives like almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or cashew milk. Try out this dairy-free, gluten -free lasagne recipe.

Just because certain foods are healthy doesn’t mean they are helping you out. If you frequently bloat after eating, keep a journal of what you eat and write down when you get bloated. You’ll be able to identify the offender, learn more about your body and the best foods to feed it. You can make the change to eating the foods that meet the needs of your unique biochemistry, without any negative digestive responses with the New-Trition Prescription program. It’s the sensible way to healthy eating and effortlessly lose weight!