Do you ever feel really bloated after a meal?  You know the feeling – it is that tight uncomfortable feeling you get in your midsection.   To feel better, maybe you will loosen your belt or get into comfortable pants?  This feeling is often the result of something amiss in your gastrointestinal tract.  It could be that you swallowed air while eating, drinking, chewing gum, smoking, sucking on hard candy or wearing ill-fitting dental gear such as retainers or dentures.  Or it might be thanks to undigested food passing into the large intestine, where bacteria break it down, releasing gas.

The good news is there are ways to minimize bloating:

Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day

Chew food thoroughly to aid digestion

Avoid drinking soda and other carbonated beverages – we already know they are not good for you.

Avoid high fat meals.  They slow digestion, allowing food to stay in the colon longer and intestinal bacteria to produce more gas.

Take a daily probiotic supplement to help reduce gas.

Exercise daily to help maintain healthy bowel function.

Source:  www.realage.com.