Gas And Stomach Bloating Relief

Is There A Remedy For Stomach Bloating After Meals?

Gas and stomach bloating are relatively common discomforts that occur to all of us at one time or another. Gas and stomach bloating are especially prevalent during the holidays when we tend to eat and drink more than we should. Most of the time, gas and stomach bloating after meals is harmless, but there are times when these complaints can signal more serious stomach problems. For more information on gas and stomach bloating as a symptom, click on bloated stomach pain.

The goal of this page is to list and describe the options for getting rid of stomach bloating after meals.

When you need a remedy for stomach gas and bloating, there are usually three options: time, antacids, or certain herbs. Time is usually the least favorite option. If you wait a couple of hours, your digestive system will cope with whatever food (or combination of foods) is causing your bloating.

Antacids for gas and stomach bloating

Antacids are often effective for gas and stomach bloating because they're designed to undo some of the bad chemistry that's causing the problem. Antacids neutralize certain acids by using, in most cases, salts of calcium, magnesium, sodium or aluminum.

However, this amounts to tampering with the digestive process, and doing so can result in some side effects like constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, headaches, dizziness,  and fatigue. There can also be long term side effects, including kidney and heart problems.

Herbs

Certain herbs are believed to be a remedy for gas and stomach bloating and similar digestive discomforts. They include 

• mint extracts, especially peppermint herbal tea (without sweeteners or sugar),
• camphor (in small doses),
• clove oil.

Some health food experts recommend a combination of 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger pulp and 1 teaspoon of lime juice. However, DO NOT try this remedy if you are allergic to ginger, limes, lemons, or cider vinegar. Peel the skin off fresh ginger root, grate the remaining to make a pulp. Then mix the pulp with lime juice. Take the mixture right after eating.

Prevention

To avoid gas and stomach bloating after meals, avoid sweets and fatty foods, which are major causes of stomach discomfort. Also avoid using a lot of salt. Be especially wary of processed and fast foods, which tend to have a high sodium content. Salt, or sodium, is a major cause of gas and stomach bloating.

Eat foods containing potassium, which works to decrease the sodium level in the body. High potassium foods include asparagus, cabbage,
cauliflower and mushrooms

If possible, avoid taking  antibiotics, which cause stomach bloating because they destroy harmless bacteria in the digestive system. These bacteria are good for digestion, and anything that's good for digestion will help relieve gas and stomach bloating. Taking a B-complex vitamin at the same time you're taking antibiotics will help.

Oral contraceptive pills also cause a bloated feeling in the abdomen.

Gas and stomach bloating may be a symptom of a gallbladder problem. Check with your doctor of you experience stomach bloating several times a week. Your doctor may recommend a totally fat free diet.

Also see gas bloat syndrome.