Five Bloat Busters

There are few feelings that are more uncomfortable than being bloated. Pants don't fit right, there's some unidentified pressure emanating from somewhere behind your belly button, and even sitting can be unpleasant. But it doesn't have to be this way. Here are five ways to banish the bloat.

Get Moving
You may not exactly feel up to it, but a brisk around the block can help you digest, said Stacy Baker, co-writer of "Your Best Body Now." Just 10 minutes of cardio can get your metabolism moving. A recent study conducted at MIT found that a small bout of exercise can boost your metabolic rate for nearly an hour. Make it better and start bouncing. Jumping jacks, skipping or even running up and down a flight of stairs can help stimulate the lymphatic system, which is responsible for removing excess water and fluids from the body.

Squeeze Citrus
"Lemons are alkalizing," which means that they help equalize the nutrient balance in the body, said Jessie Zalla, a Pilates instructor based in Brooklyn. Lemons are high in potassium, a necessity for steadying salt levels and vitamin C that can help detox the body. Squeeze the juice of one half of a lemon into water and sip throughout the day. Other citrus juices, including watermelon and orange, can help flush excess fluids. In addition, pineapple juice contains the enzyme bromelain, a nutrient that has been linked to alleviating digestion according to a study in the Alternative Medicine Review.

Grab a Mint
A slew of studies have linked the ingestion of peppermint to alleviating indigestion and aiding in digestion. Sucking on a candy cane or hard peppermint candy may immediately ease discomfort. Just don't overdo it; some experts blame bloat on too much sugar intake. Better yet, reach for a cup of warm peppermint tea. The trace of caffeine acts as a diuretic to eliminate excess fluids, said Baker.

Drink Up
"People mistakenly believe that water causes them to bloat, but the truth is that your body functions more efficiently when it's hydrated and water helps flesh out sodium, extra fluids, etcetera, quickly," said Baker. She suggested aiming for drinking half your body weight in ounces of water every day. Add a twist of lemon for a bigger bloat-busting boost.

Do the Twist
Performing gentle spiral stretches can massage the internal organs and literally ring the organs out, said Zalla. The action helps the abdominal muscles to relax, while simultaneously flooding the area with fresh blood to alleviate discomfort. According to some yoga practitioners, twists also promote emotional balance. To do: Sit on the edge of a straight-back chair with feet on the floor, hip-distance apart. Interlace your hands behind your head and keep elbows wide. Take a long inhale to grow taller, and on an exhale twist to one side as if you could wring all the air out of your lungs. Note: Keep your knees and hips still. Return to center as you inhale filling the lungs; exhale twisting to the other side.

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