Natural Remedies for Bloating and Water Retention
This may not be the most appetizing of subjects but I thought it was time for me to dive into the health and wellness portion of avoiding gluten and other allergen foods. One of the biggest complaints from people with food allergies is bloating and digestive health. Here are some of the natural remedies my family and I have come to live by for preventing and helping a stomach “situation” .
Natural Food and Supplements for Bloating and Water Retention:
- Bitters – Teaspoon of Angostura bitters or digestive bitters can ease indigestion and acid reflux.
- Peppermint Oil and Caraway oil - Adding some to water can ease indigestion.
- Activated charcoal capsules – Take following a meal to help with bloating and gas.
- HCL with Pepsin – These are the enzymes from papaya which helps with digestion if taken with a meal
- Papaya (fresh, or in chewable tablets) – Help in digestion when taken with or after a meal.
- Digestive Enzymes- Best if taken before a meal. Invest in a high quality enzyme with no fillers!
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Drink 1 tbl diluted in 8 oz of water to reduce bloating. Best if before a meal but can be taken anytime. High quality vinegar only please. I prefer Braggs.
- Turmeric – Has fabulous anti-inflammatory properties. Can be taken in pill form, used as a spice in cooking, or stirred into drinks (scroll down for recipe).
- Pineapple – The enzyme Bromelein helps break down protein (Do you think it is any coincidence that Chinese restaurants serve pineapple at the end of meals?) Bromelein works synergisytcally with turmeric so I buy the tables that contain both.
- Potassium Rich Foods – Bananas, cantaloupe, mangoes, tomatoes, nuts and asparagus (asparagine amino acid that acts as a diuretic) can all help with fluid retention.
- Fennel – Try chewing on some seeds or infusing in hot water for a tea to aid in indigestion.
- Tea – Ginger, Fennel, Chamomile, bitter orange all help relieve gas and bloating. Don’t have any on hand? Add 3 coins of peeled ginger or fennel seeds to a pot of water, bring to a boil and blamo….ginger or fennel tea.)
- Parsley – Is a natural diuretic so try chewing on some or adding it to your meals to aid in digestion.
Tips to Prevent Bloating and Water Retention:
- Take a good probiotic – Powdered probiotics are generally destroyed by stomach acids before they ever reach the gut so my GI doctor recommends taking an Enteric coated probiotic as well as eating live cultured yogurt or fermented products.
- Beware of habits that cause you to swallow excess air — like chewing gum, drinking through a straw, smoking, and talking while you’re eating
- Carbonated Water can cause bloating and gas.
- Watch your sodium intake. Excessive sodium can cause bloating.
- Stay away from sugar substitutes (sorbitol especially has been found to cause diarrhea, gas and bloating so read the ingredients of your favorite beverage to make sure you are in the clear)
- Take a walk! Walking after your meals help release any air trapped in your digestive tract.
- Eat smaller meals. Eating larger meals means you are putting more stress on your digestive tract. And hey this means you can eat more meals because they are smaller :)
- For the ladies out there: Ask your self where you are in your cycle. PMS can cause digestive upset. Remember to up your calcium and magnesium before your period to aid in PMS, gas, and bloating. (calcium 1,200 mg a day and magnesium 200 to 400 mg daily)
***Make an appointment with your doctor if you have chronic bloating. I am not a doctor so do not ignore habitual health issues.
Now lets Detox the delicious way!
Beat the Bloat Ginger-Mint Lemonade
Serves 4
Helps with water retention, alkaline balance, and elimination of uric acid.
Raw - Vegan - Alkaline - Gluten Free - Paleo - Sugar Free
Ingredients
- 4 cups water divided in half
- 2'' knob of ginger
- 1 English Cucumber
- Juice of 3 lemons
- 20 Mint leaves
Instructions
- Blend half of the water along with all of the ingredients in a high power blend and then strain the mixture.
- Press the solids with the back of a spoon or spatula to pull as much juice out as possible.
- Add in the remaining water, taste for sweetness.
- Keeps for 3-5 days in the fridge covered, but best if consumed immediately.
Notes
- You can add more water or sweetener to your taste.
Turmeric Tummy Warmer
Serves 4
Aids to flush out the lymphatic system and reduce swelling
Raw - Vegan - Alkaline - Gluten Free - Paleo - Sugar Free
Ingredients
- 4 cups of water divided
- 2 in knob of ginger
- 2 tsp tumeric powder
- pinch of cayenne
- juice of 4 lemons
Instructions
- Blend all the ingredients in a high power blend and then strain the mixture.
- Press the solids with the back of a spoon or spatula to pull as much juice out as possible.
- Keeps for 3-5 days in the fridge but best if consumed immediately.
Notes
- Add as much or as little heat as you like. If you don't have cayenne pepper you can blend a 1/2'' piece of your favorite pepper just make sure you are familiar with the heat of the pepper you are using so you don't blow your head off. I prefer Serrano or Fresno peppers in this blend. If you can find turmeric (use a 2'' knob) in its root form and have a juicer I would recommend juicing both the ginger and turmeric, but powdered turmeric is a perfectly acceptable substitute.
Adapted from Linda Wagner
The Green Monster Detox Drink
Serves 4
A strong diuretic that aids in Kidney cleansing and liver detoxification
Raw - Vegan - Alkaline - Gluten Free - Paleo - Sugar Free
Ingredients
- 4 cups of filtered water divided
- Handful of Fresh Parsley
- Handful of Fresh Cilantro
- Zest and juice of 2 lemons
- Zest and juice of 2 limes
- Juice of 1 grapefruit
Instructions
- Blend 2 cups of water with all of the ingredients in a high power blend and then strain the mixture.
- Press the solids with the back of a spoon or spatula to pull as much juice out as possible.
- Taste for sweetness and dilute with more water if you like.
- Keeps for 3-5 days in the fridge but best if consumed immediately.
Notes
- Do not be alarmed if you are peeing a lot after drinking the green monster. This is a very strong diuretic so only have one small glass at a time to gauge your reaction.