Ask the Experts

A: There are countless reasons why people experience digestive discomfort with meals. Let’s review three ways to naturally address gas and abdominal bloating.

Identify food sensitivities

Many people consume foods on a daily basis that their body doesn’t tolerate well. An IgG food sensitivity blood test may help pinpoint aggravating foods. Once these foods are identified, they can be removed from the diet for a trial period. It’s usually recommended to slowly reintroduce these foods once symptoms have completely resolved.

Re-establish a healthy gut environment

High levels of stress, overuse of medications, and a sugar-packed diet can easily disrupt the gut environment. To restore adequate “friendly” bacteria in the intestines, consider a daily dose of probiotics.

A high-potency enteric-coated supplement containing a variety of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains is often recommended. Since bacteria cannot survive the highly acidic stomach pH, a specially coated capsule is thought to work to protect the bacteria and keep them alive until they arrive in the intestines. Food sources of probiotics include yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut.

Ensure adequate digestive enzymes

Enzymes are necessary for optimal digestion and are naturally found in a variety of foods, particularly fermented foods and raw fruits such as pineapple and papaya. And since abdominal bloating is quite common, an enzyme formula before meals combined with a nutritious diet and probiotics may be all that is needed to achieve a healthier, happier gut!