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

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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.

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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.

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