Are you preparing to go to a party and when you try on the clothes you want to wear, they do not enter you because your belly is inflamed? In we bring you some recommendations that easily answer one of the questions that men and women most often ask: how to reduce inflammation of the belly quickly?
This problem, in addition to being very common and affecting all types of people, is not only an aesthetic problem, but can be an indication of bad eating habits or a poor general state of health of an individual.
Keep reading this article to discover the causes of a swollen belly, foods that will help you, and foods and drinks you should avoid to always show off a flat belly. Notes!
Causes of swollen belly
Most of the time, belly inflammation, bloating, or abdominal swelling occurs from one of the following causes:
- You've overeaten
- You are retaining fluids in a non-pathological way
- Constipation
- Gases
- Lactose or gluten intolerance
- Premenstrual syndrome
- Poor posture
In extreme situations, the swollen belly can be caused by gynecological problems such as the presence of cysts on the ovaries or fibroids in the uterus or it can be related to ascites or the accumulation of fluids in the abdomen, a symptom of serious pathologies that require urgent medical attention.
That is why it is essential that if you have a fever, heavy diarrhea or the presence of blood, if you cannot consume food or drinks after more than six hours, or if the inflammation and pain do not improve or worsen, consult immediately with your doctor.
What to eat to reduce belly inflammation: how to lower the belly
In most non-pathological cases, it can be possible to reduce inflammation of the stomach or swollen belly by making changes in diet. Here are some tips in this regard:
- Consume diuretic fruits: Some fruits have great diuretic qualities due to their high content of water, fiber, vitamin C and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. The fruits with the greatest diuretic qualities are orange, watermelon, melon, pineapple, apple, papaya and pear. Consuming these foods will help you prevent fluid retention and eliminate toxins and fats, thus contributing to deflate the stomach from gas or any other problem and reduce inflammation of the belly in general.
- Avoid the consumption of salt and processed foods: excess sodium, from salt and processed foods, favors fluid retention and swelling of the abdomen, so reduce your consumption and choose more natural foods such as fruits and vegetables, chicken and fresh fish that do not contain preservatives.
- Avoid soft drinks and reduce foods that produce gas: to reduce inflammation of the belly, also avoid soft drinks and reduce foods that produce gases such as dairy, grains, cauliflower, cabbage or broccoli among others. Many people wonder how to deflate the stomach from gas and you should know that this is the most effective answer.
- Consult possible intolerances: If there are reasons to think you are intolerant to gluten, avoid foods that contain gluten and schedule an appointment with your GP.
- Consume fiber and drink enough water: drink the recommended amount of water of 8 glasses a day, because in this way your body will stay hydrated at all times and will interpret that it does not need to retain liquids for a possible drought.
This, added to an adequate consumption of fiber, will help you promote good digestion, prevent constipation and help reduce inflammation of the belly faster. In many cases, it is possible that you also suffer from problems with the stomach, so in this article about the best remedies for inflamed stomach we recommend the best natural solutions.
Teas to reduce inflammation of the belly
You can improve abdominal swelling faster by taking herbal infusions with analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties such as:
- Mint
- Celery
- Plantain
- Chamomile
- Laurel
- Fennel
- Lemon verbena
- Lemon balm
All these herbs favor good digestion and have carminative properties, that is, they help the expulsion of gases. If you wonder how to reduce inflammation of the stomach from gas, do not hesitate to do it with one of these herbs, because they also have diuretic properties that will help you expel retained liquids and reduce inflammation of the belly naturally. Follow these steps:
- Heat water and when it breaks to boil, add the herb you want to infuse.
- Let the drink sit for 5 minutes and drink the infusion.
- You can sweeten it with a natural sweetener like stevia or with a little honey.
Ginger tea for weight loss
Due to its multiple and beneficial properties, ginger will help you relax the muscles of the belly and will become your best ally to reduce inflammation of the stomach and belly. Add to the boiling water a few pieces of this prodigious plant and let it sit for 10 minutes before drinking it.
Mint tea for weight loss
Mint is one of those herbs that has the magnificent property of eliminating the accumulation of gas in the belly and, consequently, the feeling of bloating. The mint leaves in the boiling water will turn this infusion into a delicious tea that you should drink after meals if you want to lose weight quickly.
Another great ingredient to lose weight in a few days is the artichoke; don't miss this article on How to Make Artichoke Tea for Weight Loss to find out how and when to take it properly.
Juices to reduce inflammation of the belly
To reduce inflammation of the swollen belly or reduce inflammation of the stomach, we recommend the following juices:
Spinach, aloe and ginger juice
To prepare it properly, mix the following ingredients in a blender:
- A cup of water
- 5 spinach leaves
- Half a cup of aloe vera crystal
- A piece of ginger
- One tablespoon of honey to sweeten (optional)
Spinach contains carotenes, vitamin C and E and quercetin, components that give it fantastic anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe vera, on the other hand, contains numerous components that inhibit the body's inflammatory response, while ginger is rich in gingerols and honey contains proteolytic enzymes, components with anti-inflammatory properties ideal for swelling.
Beetroot and apple juice
Mix in a blender the ingredients that we indicate:
- A beet
- An apple
- A tablespoon of oatmeal
- 1 cup water
- 1 or 2 tablespoons honey
Beetroot is a food rich in betaine and apple a fruit rich in quercetin, two substances with powerful anti-inflammatory properties. This, together with the butyrate contained in oats and the proteolytic enzymes in honey, makes this juice a great candidate to reduce inflammation of the stomach or swollen belly.
Pineapple juice with cucumber
If pineapple is considered a great natural anti-inflammatory, it is due to its high bromelain content. By combining this fruit with the anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties of cucumber, fantastic juices like this can be achieved that help to deflate the abdomen quickly.
- Blend a cup of pineapple with three slices of cucumber.
- Add honey to your liking.
- Add half a cup of water.
From we recommend, also, that you take a look at this article on How to make smoothies to lose weight, where we propose delicious ideas to lose weight without giving up the richest flavors.
By putting into practice these recommendations on how to reduce belly inflammation quickly, you will get the results you need in record time. If you feel pain, other discomfort or your belly does not deflate with these tips in two or three days at most, the best thing you can do is go to your family doctor to make a complete diagnosis.
Correct your body posture by relaxing the diaphragm
In 2015, research led by Dr. Fernando Azpiroz at the Valle Hebron Research Institute (Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca -VHIR) in Barcelona, found that patients could eliminate swelling from the belly when they learned to relax the intercostal muscles and diaphragm.
You can achieve this by practicing the following self-massage to relax the diaphragm:
- Lie on the floor on your back, with your knees bent, so that the abdominal muscles are more relaxed.
- Apply some oil to your fingertips and place them on the part of your chest where the ribs end, right at the mouth of your stomach. Press a little to put your fingers under them.
- Next, follow the rib lines gently outward with your fingers. Repeat this movement 10 times.
- Perform the exercise on each side separately, placing in the position we have said the hand on one side and pressing a little with the other hand so that the movement gives better results.
- Sit down and massage the back of your back where the ribs end to relax the diaphragm, making a movement with your fingers from the spine outward. While doing this exercise, inhale deeply to expand the entire diaphragm, and then exhale the air.
- At the end, take a few gentle, deep breaths.
Performing this self-massage will help you expel the gases that are accumulated in the belly and relax the pressure that the diaphragm makes on the organs when it is tense, thus quickly reducing inflammation in the belly.
