Sleepingbootay’s Guide to: Battling the Bloat

Yet again I’m comin’ at you with a very non-glamorous but necessary beauty post. As you know, the festive season is pretty much upon us which means we need to look our best for any impromptu parties that come our way however, this can often be hindered by a bloated and uncomfortable belly. Battling the dreaded bloat (also known as candida) is a war pretty much all of us ladies (and men) have fought at some stage or another and I feel it’s something that needs to be discussed more. There is nothing worse than trying to disguise a belly full of bloat on a night out…let’s face it, there are some things even a skater style dress won’t  hide!

Forget tablets and those darn Activia yoghurts, getting rid of Candida (bloating) is all down to your food. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not always the quantity or how much your eating but, in fact it’s down to the type of foods you are eating. Certain foods are very hard for your stomach to digest. The undigested food then passes into your large intestine where friendly bacteria breaks it down, releasing gas in the process…hence…the bloating.

Along with avoiding the obvious food groups like dairy, yeast, carbonated drinks and sugar which are huge bloating-inducing NO-NO’s, other foods that are best avoided include:

• Fresh boiled potatoes
• Brassica Vegetables which include: Broccoli, Cauliflower and Brussel Sprouts
• Fresh Fruit
• Soda Bread
• Whole Grains that have not been cooked well

Old school Sleepingbootay Thumbs down photo

Here’s a quick and simple sample Bloat-free Menu: (Ideal for the day before and of a special event or occasion)

Breakfast: Keep it nice and simple with some porridge. Soak the oats overnight and cook in the morning with a pinch of sea salt. Add soy/almond milk to taste.

Lunch: Sourdough bread (toasted) w/ egg or oily fish and low fat mayo.

Dinner: Brown Rice, Quinoa or Buckwheat cooked with leafy green and root veg.

Snacks: Cooked fruit (stewed apples or Poached pear are amazing), Oatcakes, Plain live yoghurt, Herbal tea.

If symptoms are severe, omit all food except herbal tea and try to keep feet elevated at hip level until pain subsides. Another tip is to lie on your left side and gently stroke your abdomen are in a clockwise motion. This will help the gas circulate regularly. Try to fast overnight and start fresh the next day with a light food menu like the sample I gave above.

Okay gals, throw the Spanx away and dust off that bodycon dress… bloating was so last year anyway!