Pooch Control

by Leslie Aronson — July 7, 2008

There are some days where you feel fat and you just don't know why. You didn't binge last night, you haven't eaten anything insensible in days, and you even worked out harder than usual this morning. And yet your belly feels bloated and more gelatinous than you'd expect. There are a few ways to avoid unnecessary belly bulge - some more obvious than others. The June issue of Health magazine suggests the following:

• Quit the carbonation -- Carbonated beverages contain carbon dioxide, which can stay in your stomach and make you feel (and look) bloated.
• No more gum snapping -- Aside from making you look like a close relative of the bovine family, chewing gum makes you swallow air. Sugarless varieties contain sorbitol, which turns to gas in your gut and creates that bloated feeling we all know and love.
• Cut back on the salt -- Salty foods make you retain water, thereby adding more weight and making you look (and feel) heavier than you are.
• Learn to love tea -- Peppermint tea, whether the hot or cold variety, can help ease upset (i.e. bloated) stomachs.
• Regulate your digestion -- Taking a probiotic supplement (like acidophilus), eating yogurt with live cultures, or drinking kombucha can keep the bacteria in your digestive tract happy and healthy, which aids your digestion and keeps abdominal pooch from getting out of control.