When bloating becomes a bother

I have tried many diet plans and programs. Calorie counting and a food diary are a great way to analyze and evaluate your eating habits to make lifestyle changes.
I have a small calorie counting book in my purse and a nutrition scale on my counter in the kitchen. I try not to make a big task of it but this exercise has been very helpful to keep me focused by following a diet plan.
I am amazed at all the info I can obtain very quickly from my nutrition scale. I paid $75 for mine and it is worth every penny.

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Lactose intollerance is a common culprit and so easily missed. You can be tested easily by asking your doctor for a hydrogen and glucose breath test. If you are intollerant, the tiniest bit of lactose can cause serious pain and symptoms.

If your not allergic to lactose and nothing you do seems to help, try eliminating gassy foods like lettuce (green) or raw apples, apple juice, etc.

Try eating 4-6 small meals rather than the usual 3 meals a day. I have Gastroparesis, IBD and GERD so I know what you are going through.

Good Luck!

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When I feel bloated, I have a cup of green tea, then I have about three HUGE glasses of water that I gulp within an hour. The bloat goes away. =)

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Drinking lots of water is the best (and easiest) thing you can do to alleviate bloating. It inhibits the secretion of ADH, a hormone that prevents your body from excreting water. It sounds counterintuitive, but there is valid science behind it. Water encourages diuresis, and the bloating goes away. Plus most people would probably benefit from drinking a little extra water anyway. Or at the very least it wouldn't hurt.
And lactose intolerance is pretty common. If you find that you are bothered by GI syptoms after dairy intake only occasionally, try to link it to other factors. Many people experience a temporary lactose intolerance following an illness, which depletes the enzyme that breaks down lactose (lactase). If you find your symptoms are more closely linked to stress, you may have IBS. This is a very common but unfortunately not very treatable condition.
Other thoughts:
Most lactose intolerant people do not experience symptoms after ingesting yogurt. In fact, eating live culture yogurt can actually alleviate symptoms. There are many alternatives for those who are lactose intolerant. If you think you are, just try using lactose-free products for a week or so, see if things improve. If you have IBS, or basically any sort of bowel condition, start taking fiber. There are supplements now that do not have the extra-gas side effect. I had GI issues for years (probably more on the IBS than lactose intolerance side) and I started taking fiber regularly a few years ago. Now I almost never have problems.

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Not only lactose intolerance, but other food allergies and intolerances can cause bloating as well. If you can't pinpoint what's causing you gastrointestinal distress, you might want to get tested for gluten intolerance (a surprisingly common condition) and go to an allergist to get tested for other common allergies.

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Resveratrol can help you to lead a long and healthy life so says Dr. Oz.

Resveratrol Supplements can help you control your weight naturally
by increasing energy, reducing cravings, and limiting your appetite.
According to Wikipedia, Consumer Lab, an independent dietary
supplement and over the counter products evaluation organization,
published a report on 13 November 2007 on the popular resveratrol
supplements. The organization reported that there exists a wide range
in quality, dose, and price among the 13 resveratrol products
evaluated. The actual amount of resveratrol contained in the
different brands range from 2.2mg for Revatrol, which claimed to have
400mg of "Red Wine Grape Complex", to 500mg for Biotivia.com Transmax,
which is consistent with the amount claimed on the product's label.
Prices per 100mg of resveratrol ranged from less than $.30 for
products made by Biotivia.com, jarrow, and country life, to a high of
$45.27 for the Revatrol brand. None of the products tested were found
to have significant levels of heavy metals or other contaminants.

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