10 bloated stomach causes!

1, Your body's retaining water
Sometimes your body holds onto more water than it needs, which can cause you to feel bloated. Often water retention is caused by having a diet high in salt - so cutting down on your salt intake should relieve the symptoms. Also, try drinking more water - it might sound strange, but it could stimulate your kidneys to work harder to flush any salt and excess water out.

2. You're eating foods which cause gas
Certain foods - particularly those that are high in fibre - cause more gas than others which can build up and make you feel bloated. Cut down on your intake of beans, cabbage, sprouts and spicy foods. Also watch out for foods sweetened with Sorbitol.

3. You've got PMS
Are you getting bloating around the week before your period? Unfortunately, a fairly common symptoms of pre-menstrual stress is feeling bloated. Try to stick to a balanced diet and drink plenty of water - the bloating should go by the time your period arrives.

4. You've had too many fizzy drinks
Fizzy drinks have carbon dioxide in the bubbles, which causes gas and bloating in the body. Try cutting down and drinking more water instead.

5. You're swallowing air
There are several reasons why this could happen - eating chewing gum might cause you to swallow air, as will eating very hot or very cold food.

6. You're not digesting your food properly
If you're eating too fast, you might not be digesting your food properly - which can give you that uncomfortable, bloated feeling. Make sure you take your time eating and to avoid eating on the go if possible.

7. You've got IBS
Bloating is a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome - a condition that affects around 1 in 5 people. Other symptoms include constipation, diarrhoea and nausea. Some sufferers find that keeping a food diary to work out what triggers their IBS is very helpful.

8. You're lactose intolerant
If your stomach is unable to digest the lactose, then dairy products might cause you to bloat. Try cutting out dairy for a few weeks to see if your bloating improves.
A glass of milk

9. You're going through the menopause
For some women, going through the menopause causes their stomach to produce more gas. If this is a big problem for you, try to only eat foods containing yeast and sugar in the mornings, eat a high fibre diet and drink plenty of water. Eating live yoghurt may help too.

10. You need to check with your doctor
If you often feel bloated, it's worth having a chat with your doctor about the symptoms. It might be that you suffer from IBS or you have an intolerance and your doctor may be able to help. Bloating is occasionally a symptom of some diseases like ovarian cancer or Chrohn's disease - so it's worth seeing your doctor to rule these out.