Spring is finally here! This means summer is right around the corner and we are all looking forward to spending time with family and indulging in some good outdoor barbeques. However, these foods are often accompanied by bloating and weight gain. Now is a perfect time for reunions and we want people to see that we’re looking and doing well.
So, put down those fad diet pills you were just about to buy and check out these simple ways to reduce bloating within days, the safe way:
Drink Lemon Water
Lemons are a natural diuretic and a gentle laxative. It can reduce the amount of salt retained in your body and leave you feeling less bloated.
Cut up some lemon slices and add them to your 8 glasses of water each day, until you feel lighter and flushed of toxins.
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Cut The Salt
According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, most people today consume more than twice the daily recommended amount of salt.
Too much salt in your diet causes bloating and water retention in your abdomen, legs or feet because your body retains water as it becomes dehydrated, which can cause weight gain and eventually strain your heart.
To avoid this, cut back the salt immediately.
This means no salt on your fries, eggs, soups, chips, and anything else. If it's just too bland to eat, choose the pepper!
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Replace Bread with Veggies
A lot of bloating comes from actually overeating the wrong foods, and you guessed it: those are the same foods that come in expendable amounts when eating out.
These food items include fries, mashed potatoes, rice, bread, pasta, croutons, crackers, and more. Take those same “sides” or entrees and replace them with veggies like broccoli, grilled zucchini, tossed salads, sauteed carrots, and green beans.
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Say No To Sweets
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good cookie, or two... (okay, okay) maybe four! But when it’s time to slip into a little dress for a night out, you’re going to regret the sweet fest you had the night before.
Difficult-to-digest foods can cause gassiness and bloat like fructose, a natural sugar added to many processed foods.
The thing is, it’s actually difficult for many people to digest it.
To avoid bloating, be aware of these sweeteners in the foods you eat and limit the amount you consume. Take a week (or maybe two) off from eating the Snickers, KitKats, cakes and ice cream, then see how it makes you look and feel!
Walk For 30 Minutes
When all else fails, sweat it out or walk it out. Our bodies are constantly in the flow because what goes in, must come out.
Help your body out by going for a jog to get your blood circulating so it can catch some steam to get your system to start moving to eliminate the toxins and waste it doesn’t need.
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Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
