I hate being bloated. Like its not bad enough suddenly looking pregnant, but it’s really uncomfortable too! There is usually a reason for the bloating, although I never really understood it till now. This is one health lesson you too will hopefully understand as I’ve figured out why bloating occurs! Here are the top ten reasons, and what to do to stop the bloating.

1. PMS

Photo Credit: ~*Leah*~

If its close to your period, this could be why you are feeling bloated. While there are more then 150 symptoms of PMS, this is one of the most common. It’s normal for the hormones at this time of the month to cause your waist and chest to swell a little, which can lead to your trousers feeling a lot tighter then normal. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about the swelling, so plan your wardrobe around this and invest in some gorgeous floaty materials.

2. Salt Overload

Photo Credit: kevindooley

Salt is in almost everything we eat, including naturally in most fruits and vegetables, and added to salads and ready meals. It’s a great preservative, but it’s not too great for us, and the daily guideline is currently 6g a day. Too much salt causes the body to retain water, meaning you get uncomfortable bloating and puffiness too. I find it really hard to cut down my salt, I love chips, but I noticed straight away when I did!

3. Wheat Intolerance

Photo Credit: Claudio.Ar (not too much online)

While it is important not to cut wheat out completely if you don’t have an intolerance, this is something that is definitely worth thinking about and getting tested for. More and more people are diagnosed with wheat intolerance each year, and it prevents the body from regulating salt and water correctly. This leads to severe bloating, and if you are intolerant, cutting it out could make a huge difference. You can get a finger prick test done at health shops or your doctors, which will tell you if you are or not. If this is a possibility, definitely get tested!