Bloating: The Causes and the Cures

Tamara Duker Freuman, author of The Bloated Belly Whisperer, explains why there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to bloating

By Nutrition Diva Monica Reinagel

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

Just about all of us have experienced a bloated belly. But for some people, bloating causes near daily distress. I hear from people all the time who suffer from bloating and want to know what they should be eating or not eating to avoid it. And of course you’ll see magazine and internet articles all the time with hints on foods to avoid to prevent bloating.

The problem is that “bloating” is not just one thing. We use the word bloating to describe a lot of different symptoms and sensations which may be caused by a wide range of different things.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

Joining me on this week's podcast is registered dietitian and digestive specialist Tamara Duker Freuman. Tamara's new book, The Bloated Belly Whisperer, is one of the most useful and necessary nutrition books I’ve seen in quite some time.

In the book, Tamara discusses ten of the most common types and causes of bloating and offers a self-diagnostic quiz that can help you figure out what might be the cause (or causes) in your particular case. Once you have an idea of what might be causing your bloating, you can customize an approach. Because getting relief really depends on matching the cure to the cause.

In our discussion, Tamara helps us understand the crucial difference between upper abdominal and lower abdominal bloating. We also talk about how to know whether fiber might be the cause or cure for your distress and what specific types of fiber you need to seek out or avoid. There are even some types of bloating that are not related to diet at all but may require a different sort of therapy.

Click on the audio player embedded on this page to hear our entire conversation. For more information about The Bloated Belly Whisperer, please visit Tamara's website. You can also connect with Tamara on Facebook or Twitter.

»Continue reading “Bloating: The Causes and the Cures” on QuickAndDirtyTips.com

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American