Don't you hate it?  Your bloated.  Again.

Your tummy is stretched beyond what it was when you were pregnant.  You feel puffy, and uncomfortable and are biting at anyone that crosses your path.  No, it's not PMS (maybe it could be) but all you want is to be left along and perhaps curl up and sleep it off.  While bloating happen to men, and women it seems to affect women more than men.  Bloating can be characterized by distended stomach, and puffy skin to a tender abdomen.  Ouch!  It is any wonder why women can be so cranky?  According to experts, you know doctors and such, bloating is caused by excess gas or blockage (yeech) and swelling of the belly caused by fluid retention.

For men, a quick trip to the washroom (or not) and a few explosive (and generally very rude) noises and they're done with it – usually.  But for women, well we have our dignity to keep and unless we're in deep seclusion (and even then few women will ever do it) we may "let it rip" – don't snicker ladies, you know you do it!

But what are teh reasons that cause gas and bloating ?  Is it strictly hormones?  Is it the food we eat?  Can stress cause or contribute to gas and bloating?  What about medications?

The answer is no, yes, yes, yes and yes.  If you are counting there is an extra yes in there.  Let me explain.

There are several causes of bloating.  The first isfood intolerance.  Many people have certain foods that will not sit well with them, the most common are foods like cheese, breads, vegetables and even acidic foods like oranges, grapefruit or juices like orange juice.  Other foods that may cause intolerance are wheat or gluten, dairy products, caffeine, alcohol and citrus fruits.

Food intolerance can cause excess amounts of gas to be produced in the gut as a reaction to the food – for example, I get a reaction to ketchup or tomatoes – it tends to swell my tongue so I keep away from it.  Bloating could also be caused by other serious underlying issues such as fluid build up in the gut, constipation or even an undiagnosed pregnancy (yes, that can happen).

If you've found that it's certain foods that cause gas and bloating – it's best to try avoiding them.  Within a few weeks of not having those foods you should see your body get back to normal.  You should never cut out foods entirely, especially if they are important to good health and nutrition so it's always best to work with your doctor so that the both of you can determine the best course of action.

What are the other reasons that cause gas and bloating ?  Simply click the link to learn more!