Bloating after eating bread is common. It may mean that you have a sensitivity to gluten or one of several substances in wheat. It could also mean that your digestion isn't working properly. First, try to optimise your digestion, and then experiment with eating different types of bread to see if it makes a difference.
One of the primary reasons white bread causes bloating is because it contains gluten, a protein found in wheat. It is not just gluten that causes bloating though. White bread also contains fructans. In some people, lacking certain gut enzymes may contribute to bloat while eating bread.
If eating bread or wheat is a trigger for bloating, one option is to stop eating bread altogether. If there is a reaction to a specific food, avoiding it can help in the short term to improve symptoms but it's not addressing the underlying issue.
Sourdough bread beats the bloat
Many people find it hard to digest commercially produced bread because it seems to cause IBS symptoms, such as bloating and wind.
It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
Coffee does cause bloating. It's temporary and doesn't happen to everyone, but for some, that belly bloat results from coffee, and more specifically, caffeine. When you consume caffeine, it may stimulate your gut and lead to spasms that cause bloating.
You can also ask your healthcare provider about adding probiotics to your diet. Probiotics help increase the good bacteria in your gut. They may reduce symptoms of bloating, gas or constipation. Some research suggests that taking certain enzymes may help you digest gluten.
Evidence suggests it may be the fructan molecules in wheat that cause stomach problems in people with an intolerance. About 1 per cent of people have coeliac disease, an autoimmune disorder that makes them react badly to gluten proteins in wheat.
Bread. There isn't much nutritional difference between bread and wraps. Both contain similar ingredients, except the bread is leavened with yeast and a wrap is flat. The Nutrition Facts labels show similar nutritional profiles for one wrap and two slices of commercially baked bread.
Toast isn't better for you than plain bread, but if you're unwell or have digestive problems, it's a wise choice. Dr Niket Sonpal insists that toasting bread doesn't “kill nutrients or lower its nutritional value. Vitamins and minerals are still within the bread”.
And unlike white bread, the starch in potatoes hasn't been refined to deplete nutrients. Potatoes also deliver niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C and magnesium. They're a great source of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure.
Probiotics can help with bloating in a few ways. They can help to restore the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut, which can help to reduce inflammation and gas production. Probiotics can also help to digest food more effectively, which can help to reduce bloating.
Bloating after everything you eat may be a sign of chronic indigestion, or dyspepsia. Indigestion occurs when stomach acid comes into contact with the sensitive tissue that lines your esophagus. In addition to bloating, you may experience heartburn, nausea and an uncomfortable fullness.
Bloating, nausea, and tiredness can occur due to a wide range of causes. Temporary explanations can include eating rich or salty meals, eating too much, or short-term stress. Longer-term causes include conditions such as IBS, SIBO, and gastroparesis.
Your body needs water – a lot of it. Dehydration leads to constipation, which leads to bloating. And while it may seem counterintuitive to drink more water, when your body gets the hydration it finally needs, it lets go of the liquid it doesn't. Be sure to drink at least eight, eight-ounce glasses a day.
Lemon water can help with digestion
To relieve bloating, gas, and constipation, drink a cup of lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Lemon contains minerals that promote healthy digestion, alleviate heartburn, and stimulate healthy bowel function by reducing bloat and stimulating bowel movements.
Again, bloat typically goes away on its own within 24 hours, but here are some short- and long-term solutions to help the process along and prevent it from happening.
Yogurt's probiotics (good bacteria) help your gut digest and absorb food, so there's less gas and bloating. Go for plain yogurt with active cultures, and sweeten it with a little fruit.
Best: Bananas
Foods rich in potassium—like bananas, plus avocados, kiwis, oranges, and pistachios—prevent water retention by regulating sodium levels in your body and can thus reduce salt-induced bloating. Bananas also have soluble fiber, which can relieve or prevent constipation.
Bloating after eating bread is common. It may mean that you have a sensitivity to gluten or one of several substances in wheat. It could also mean that your digestion isn't working properly. First, try to optimise your digestion, and then experiment with eating different types of bread to see if it makes a difference.