Why Am I Bloated

 

Most of us, women and men alike, have experienced the occasional feeling of bloating, usually after a large meal!  However, for some, that uncomfortable feeling where the stomach or intestines push against the skin and make the tummy distended and hard, is a persistent problem that can cause havoc during everyday lives. Bloating is often caused by an excessive build up of intestinal gas or wind that many people find not only uncomfortable but also embarrassing. This gas is produced by the bacteria in the digestive tract, and the bacteria generate gas from food that is eaten but that has not been properly digested or absorbed by the body.  Bloating on a regular basis can be indicative of underlying health issues and imbalances which, if left unchecked, can lead to more serious health problems in later years.  If you get bloating you are receiving an early warning signal that all is not well and need to do something about it.  

 

Bloating is one of the main symptoms of food intolerance, which affects the way that food is digested, and symptoms of bloating can be relieved by identifying the foods that cause the problem, and then removing them from the diet. The problem with attempting any dietary modification is that first you need to know what to change. Currently the best accepted method for confirming food sensitivities is by elimination diet. This involves eating a restricted diet for several weeks. If there is no reduction in symptoms during this time, it is assumed that the food type that has been restricted is not the problem and the process is repeated with another food type. Using this method it is impossible to test all the different combinations of food types that may be causing the problems, it is a very ineffective process.

   

In one survey* of 576 sufferers of bloating, 92% reported that their symptoms reduced if they removed the foods from their diet that showed IgG food antibody reactions in their blood. The test that was used in the survey was the YorkTest FoodScan 113; it only requires a few drops of blood from a finger prick that can be collected in the comfort of your own home.

 

 

The First Step test is a pre-screen which identifies whether food-specific IgG antibody reactions are detected or not. If food-specific IgG antibodies are detected then you can choose to embark on the more comprehensive Second Step FoodScan 113 programme. Included in the FoodScan 113 programme are two consultations with a qualified Nutritional Therapist who will help you look at how to manage any potential food intolerances.

Please call our specialists on 0800 074 6185 who will be happy to provide you with free, confidential expert advice and guidance on the First Step test. Alternatively click here for further information or buy now.

  

 

---

* Survey commissioned by Allergy UK and further analysed by the University of York: Originally published as Hardman, G. and Hart, G. “Dietary advice based on food-specific IgG results”. Nutrition and Food Science (2007) 37, 16-23.