Gas and bloating are usually caused due to breakdown of food through digestion. Although it is natural, but if you face frequent gastric pains which might even interfere with your routine tasks, then you need to take some quick action. Bloating also results due to stress or anxiety, intake of food consisting unsaturated fatty acids, smoking, drinking carbonated beverages (like coke), drinking through straw, and conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance or some gastrointestinal infection. Bloating is accompanied by several symptoms like lower back pain, tightness in the stomach, shortness of breath, diarrhea, pain, belching and cramps. In this article, we have described a list of home remedies to get rid of bloating fast.
Home Remedies for Bloating
1. Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is used as dietary supplement, and its porous nature absorbs gas and traps harmful chemicals. You can take it in the form of powder, capsule or tablet.
Note: Consult your physician to know the right dosage for you.
2. Baking Soda and Lemon
Just add juice of half lemon and 1 tbsp of baking soda to ½ glass of water. Mix all the ingredients well. After the bubbles are gone, fill the remaining glass with water and drink it. This remedy increases the body’s pH level and improves digestion.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix a tbsp of apple cider vinegar (ACV) into a cup of warm or cold water, and sip it slowly for the best results. These days tablets and capsules having ACV content are also available at medical stores.
4. Pumpkin
Pumpkin is rich in fiber, thus helps relieve trapped gas. Have 1 cup of boiled, broiled or mashed pumpkin along with your meal to ward off gas.
5. Lemon Juice
This is one of the easiest methods to get rid of bloating fast. Mix 1-2 tbsp of lemon juice in a cup of warm water and drink it to release trapped gas instantly. You may also add honey. It detoxifies body in a natural manner.
6. Fennel Seeds
Fennel seeds act as savior in many digestive problems. After every big meal, chew on a few fennel seeds. Alternatively, prepare tea by adding 1 tbsp of fennel seeds to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep it for 5-10 minutes. Strain it and drink it 3-4 times a day.
7. Ginger Tea
Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that help boost your immune system and give you instant relief from nausea. Take a cup of boiling water and put 5-6 thin slices of ginger in it. Cover the cup. Let it stand for 10 minutes. Before drinking, mix lemon juice and honey in it.
- Alternatively, sprinkle grated ginger on your food. You can also consume 1 teaspoon of grated ginger before having meals.
8. Caraway Seeds
Carvene and carvol present in caraway seeds soothe the muscle tissues of the digestive tract and provide you quick relief from bloating.
9. Asafoetida
Since asafetida has strong pungent flavor, it is difficult to swallow. Therefore, mix it with some water and rub over stomach for 10-15 minutes. Then wash it off. It will alleviate bloating and other digestion problems.
10. Garlic
Swallow a clove of garlic along with water or add it to your daily diet. You can even add some fresh grated garlic to one of your favorite herbal tea. This prevents build up of gas.
11. Cardamom
Add some cardamom to your tea or chew the raw pods for good digestion and relief from bloating pain.
12. Yellow Mustard
Swallow 1 tbsp of yellow mustard with some warm water. It has antispasmodic as well as antibacterial properties just like turmeric and helps expel out the intestinal gas.
13. Anise
The carminative properties of anise prevent buildup of gas in the digestive tract. Brew a cup of anise seed and drink it for beneficial effects.
Note – Pregnant women should avoid using this remedy.
14. Banana
Eat a banana in your breakfast to maintain the levels of sodium and potassium in the body. It is an excellent remedy if the reason of bloating is salty dinner.
15. Probiotics (Yogurt)
Consume yogurt with active cultures. It increases the number of “good bacteria” in the digestive tract, thus prevents bloating.
16. Black Salt
Mix 1 tbsp of black salt with 1 glass of warm water and take it when required. This will aid in expelling the unwanted gas from stomach and intestines, and relieve you from pain.
17. Black Pepper
Black pepper has carminative properties that help reduce and prevent gas formation and indigestion problems. Utilize of black pepper instead of red pepper in your daily cooking. Or just have ¼ tbsp of black pepper along with some cumin powder in buttermilk. In case, stomach ache is severe, massage some black pepper oil along with carrier oil over the belly.
18. Turmeric
This carminative and anti-inflammatory spice is used for curing chronic digestive weakness. Add ½ tbsp of turmeric powder, ½ tbsp of cayenne, 5 tbsp of lemon juice and ½ tbsp of ginger to 1 cup of boiling water. Allow this mixture to cool and then sip it throughout the day. You may add little stevia or maple syrup for taste.
19. Papaya
The laxative nature and enzyme papain in papaya make the bowel movement easy, thereby helps in improved digestion.
20. Clove Oil
Add 3 cloves in a cup of boiling water. Allow them to steep for 10 minutes. Strain and sip it once a day. This will help reduce bloating.
21. Cucumber
Eat cucumber on a daily basis. Its high water and low fiber content will reduce bloating and make you feel lighter.
Herbal Remedies to Get Rid of Bloating
22. Cinnamon
Take a cup of warm soy or whey milk. Add some honey and ½ a teaspoon of cinnamon to it. Leave it for 5-7 minutes and then reheat. Drink it slowly. This is the easiest remedy to cure bloating.
23. Peppermint Tea
Put peppermint tea bag in a cup and pour boiling water into it. Cover the cup and let the bag stay there for about 10-15 minutes. Take the bag out and relish your delicious tea. The calming properties of peppermint will provide you quick respite from flatulence and bloating.
24. Chamomile Tea
Steep a bag of chamomile tea in a cup of hot water for 10-15 minutes. Add lemon juice and honey to it. It will cure bloating resulted due to indigestion.
25. Dandelion Tea
Drink at least 1 cup of dandelion tea every day. It stimulates bile production which, in turn, breaks down fatty meals and cures bloating.
26. Parsley
This leafy vegetable is rich in vitamins and helps flush out toxins from the body, thus improves overall digestion. It will cure bloating resulted due to indigestion. Take 3 tablespoons of parsley and boil it in 4 cups of water for 5-10 minutes. Strain the mixture and sip it before having meals to prevent bloating.
27. Herbal Smoothie
Blend ½ cup ice cubes, 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey, ½ cup vanilla yogurt, 1 cup pineapple chunks, 1 cup strawberries, and 1 cup dandelion root in a blender. Sip it once or twice a day. This will help relieve bloating.
28. Bergamot Essential Oil
Rub 4-5 drops of bergamot essential oil on your tummy to overcome the discomfort in abdomen caused due to gas and flatulence.
29. Triphala
Add 1 tbsp of honey and ½ tbsp of triphala powder to 1 cup of boiling water. Have this mixture at bedtime. This is one of the best and proven remedies to alleviate bloating.
30. Asparagus
Asparagus is popularly known as anti-bloating super food. Daily consumption of this herb eliminates toxins from the body and stimulates the growth of good bacteria. You can use it as salad or as cooked vegetable.
31. Slippery Elm
Sip slippery elm tea once a day to ward off bloating and flatulence.
32. Mint Tea
Add 4-5 fresh mint leaves or 1 tbsp of dried mint leaves to a cup of boiling water and bring it to boil. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Strain and use this tea when it cools down.
33. Bay Leaves
Boil some bay leaves in water. Strain the mixture, let it cool down and then drink.
Note – Do not lie down after taking this solution. Stay in an upright position for some time.
Do’s
- Have plenty of plain water, fresh juices or iced teas in place of carbonated drinks.
- Eat peeled, seedless fruits and vegetables.
- Exercise regularly.
- Consume your meals in portion.
- Eat fiber rich diet.
Don’ts
- Never skip meals.
- Don’t talk while chewing the food to prevent gulping of air.
- Avoid having carbonated beverages, sugary, spicy and fatty food.
- Don’t drink water just after having meal. Have it after ½ an hour.
- Avoid overeating.
- Refrain from heavy meals before sleeping at night.
