Have you ever had that dreadful feeling when you sit down that your belly is pushing against your waistband – or worse; about to pop your pants button? Maybe you remember it better as embarrassing gas accompanied by a painfully distended gut. Waiting for the feeling to pass can be unbearable, but one modern solution may offer quick relief.
What is Bloating?
Bloating is the uncomfortable, sometimes visible, result of gas building up in your stomach and small intestines.
No matter how bad we remember it being, it’s always so much worse when you’re right in the middle of it.
It can last for months or even years – so long, in fact, that when you finally find relief you feel like you’ve been born again! So, you get back to living life and try to forget what you just went through.
But it always comes back.
Chronic bloating is very common, one in 10 Americans suffer from regular bloating – even when they haven’t eaten a large meal. But, ironically, because of the somewhat awkward nature of bloating, many people find it difficult to talk about – even finding it difficult to reach out for help. This is such a shame, as the vast majority of all bloating is not only preventable – it has been for some time.
What Causes Stomach Bloating?
Bloating can happen whenever gas in the stomach and intestines is trapped inside you, unable to be released. Gas is produced by bacteria when they help digest food in your large intestine. Typically, you release that gas by either burping it or as flatulence (through the rear exit). But what happens if gas gets stuck somewhere? It stays there until it is somehow freed. The longer something blocks gas from getting out, the more gas will pile up behind it, and the more your tummy will feel like an overblown balloon.
How Does the Body Handle Stomach Bloating?
Your body inherently has a defense against this type of gas buildup. Just as there are bacteria to help break food down, which release gas, there are bacteria which dissipate gas. The job of the probiotic Lactobacillus Plantarum is to rapidly and significantly reduce gas and flatulence[1]. Although there are other probiotics which can either perform the same function to a lesser degree, or supplement its function, L. Plantarum is by far the standout in this area.
Will Probiotics Help With Bloating?
The right probiotic supplement can make an incredible difference, yes.
There are several wide-spectrum probiotics which contain the type of good bacteria which helps break down clumps of undigested food. Those clumps are often the reason you’re bloated, as they stop built up gas from passing. Unfortunately, this can result in one of those ‘it will get a little worse before it gets better’ scenarios. That’s why it is tremendously important for you to find the right combination of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, with at least 40 Billion CFU.
Look for a probiotic that specifically targets bloating – one with L. Plantarum as well as a few of the strains which support L. Plantarum (L. Acidophilus and Saccharomyces Boulardii are two of the most effective). As always with probiotics, the right combination is key. Only a handful of the 100+ probiotic supplements we’ve reviewed at CHR include L. Plantarum in adequate amounts, with the most potent anti-bloating probiotic being BlueBiotics: Ultimate Care.
Whichever probiotic you end up choosing, I hope this article has helped you find a solution to bloating – a chronic health issue I am all too familiar with. Get your flat stomach back!
Nobaek S, Johansson ML, Molin G, Ahrné S, Jeppsson B. Alteration of intestinal microflora is associated with reduction in abdominal bloating and pain in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000 May;95(5):1231-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2000.02015.x. PMID: 10811333.
Hungin AP, Mulligan C, Pot B, Whorwell P, Agréus L, Fracasso P, Lionis C, Mendive J, Philippart de Foy JM, Rubin G, Winchester C, de Wit N; European Society for Primary Care Gastroenterology. Systematic review: probiotics in the management of lower gastrointestinal symptoms in clinical practice — an evidence-based international guide. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Oct;38(8):864-86. doi: 10.1111/apt.12460. Epub 2013 Aug 27. PMID: 23981066; PMCID: PMC3925990.