FitSugar

Banish Belly Bloat

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:00:00 -0700

We all know that the best way to a flat belly is by burning calories and fat through cardio. Bloating, on the other hand, is its own beast, and nothing kills a day at the beach than feeling super bloated.

Luckily there are easy ways to reduce bloating so that you can show off that tummy you've been working so hard to get. Check out these easy ways reduce bloating for bikini season:

Stay away from salt. Too much sodium is not only bad for your heart but will cause you to retain water and feel bloated.
Drink water. Being dehydrated is a sure way to cause you to retain water, so be sure you drink enough water to keep your body hydrated.
Limit gassy foods. Some foods (such as lentils, artichokes, wheat bran, carbonated drinks, and more) create more gases in your body than others, so you may want to limit them if you're about to suit up.

There are two more so read more.

Eat fiber. Fiber helps everything move through the intestines more quickly, which prevents constipation and bloating. If you're not accustomed to eating enough fiber, then slowly add more and more fiber to your diet; go too fast, and you'll feel even more bloated than before. Also make sure to drink plenty of water with all the fiber.
Eat more slowly. One small cause of bloating could be that you're swallowing too much air when you're scarfing down your meals; this is why some of us get the hiccups when eating too quickly. So slow down when you eat and remember what mom said: close your mouth when you chew.

Do you have any sure ways to prevent bloating? I'd love to hear your tips so share them below.

Source

The Price of Gas? Foods That Make You Pay

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 07:53:11 -0800

I'm not sure what's worse: gas or the bloating that accompanies it. Sure, gas is a fact of life, but there are certain foods that are known to cause that uncomfortable bloat that doesn't go well with body-conscious clothing. Unfortunately, some of my favorite fruits and vegetables are gas culprits! Are any of your favorites in this group? Take the quiz!

Source

Take the quiz

Try Pineapple For Bloating

FitSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:00:00 -0800

Dreaming of wearing a little black dress to a holiday party this season? No doubt you will want to avoid abdominal bloating, which can force an unwanted wardrobe change on the best of us. But don't worry, you can avoid the dreaded bloat with pineapple.

This tropical fruit is high in the enzyme bromelain. It helps break down protein and eases digestion, helping to banish the bloat. Skip dessert and nosh on some pineapple instead. If you have any leftovers, make a tropical fruit exfoliating mask. Your skin will glow and your tummy will be flat. Party on!

Source

DrSugar Answers: Abdominal Bloating and Food

DrSugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:30:00 -0700

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I could use some health/dietary advice, if you have a minute. Lately I've been feeling incredibly bloated, and I know we all have a bloat-y day once in a while, but this is turning into a bloat-y fortnight. I'm starting to wonder what's going on. I'm a healthy 20-something, leading an active lifestyle, but obviously I'm doing something wrong, I suspect, food-wise. What foods should I avoid if you want to eliminate the "I just swallowed a balloon" feeling? Are there any foods known to cause bloating?
–Balloon Gal

To see what DrSugar has to say on this matter, read more.

Abdominal bloating is a very common symptom with a wide variety of causes, from something as simple as gas to something as serious as cancer. The list of common causes is long and includes overeating, gas, constipation, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, pregnancy, and premenstrual stress syndrome. There are as many as 413 possible causes for bloating! Most causes are simple and can be treated with dietary or other lifestyle changes like avoiding gas causing foods, eating smaller meals, or recognizing lactose intolerance. Gas causing foods include beans, dairy, spinach, potatoes, fatty or rich foods, carbonated beverages and many more. For a more complete list, check out the Gas Prevention Diet, which also provides strategies for avoiding the gas inducing culprits. One of the most importantly under recognized conditions in adults is lactose intolerance, which can cause bloating, gas, and/or diarrhea.

Serious causes of bloating are by far less common, but should not be forgotten, especially in cases of long standing bloating that is not improved with simple changes in diet or lifestyle. Serious causes of bloating can include a variety of tumors, parasitic infections, celiac disease (gluten intolerance), and inflammatory bowel disease. Long standing bloating or bloating with other symptoms such as weight loss, weight gain, pain, nausea, or vomiting should certainly raise concern. If you are worried that your bloating could be the result of something more serious then you should see your doctor as soon as possible.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

5 Ways To a Flatter Belly

FitSugar — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:30:00 -0700

We all know that the best way to a flat belly is by burning calories and fat through cardio. Bloating on the other hand, is its own beast and nothing kills a day at the beach than feeling super bloated.

Luckily there are easy ways to reduce bloating so that you can show-off that tummy you've been working so hard to get. Check out my top five ways to reduce bloating for bikini season:

Stay away from salt. Too much sodium is not only bad for your heart, but will cause you to retain water and feel bloated.
Drink Water. Being dehydrated is a sure way to cause you to retain water, so be sure you drink enough water to keep your body hydrated.
Limit gassy foods. Some foods (such as lentils, artichokes, wheat bran, carbonated drinks, and more) create more gases in your body than others so you may want to limit them if you're about to suit up.

There are two more so read more.

Eat Fiber. Fiber helps everything move through the intestines more quickly, which prevents constipation and bloating. If you're not accustomed to eating enough fiber then slowly add more and more fiber to your diet, or you'll feel even more bloated than before. Also make sure to drink plenty of water with all the fiber.
Eat slower. One small cause of bloating could be that you're swallowing too much air when you're scarfing down your meals too quickly - this is why some of us get the hiccups when eating too quickly. So slow down when you eat and remember what mom said: close your mouth when you chew.

Do you have any sure ways to prevent bloating? I'd love to hear your tips so share them below.

Source

PMS and PMDD: What's the Difference?

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:00:00 -0700

The hormonal ride we take monthly sends many of us into an emotional tailspin, clinging to a box of chocolate as if it were a life raft.
Did you know that about 75 percent of all women have PMS symptoms? We have to joke about it or we'll go crazy. Somehow between the physical symptoms and the emotional roller coaster, we all figure out a way to deal.

Well, most of us do. Unfortunately, two to 10 percent of women suffer from PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). This is like PMS, but multiplied by 3 million (I don't really have any data to back up that number, but you know what I mean). The symptoms are much worse and more severe than your run of the mill PMS, and they can prevent you from leaving your bed for days out of the month.

Want to know what the symptoms of PMDD are? Then read more

Sadness and crying
Feeling nervous, anxious, angry, out of control, and/or irritable
Strong cravings for certain foods
Problems paying attention and concentrating
Physical problems such as breast tenderness, headaches, bloating, joint or muscle pain and swelling
Fatigue or trouble sleeping

PMDD symptoms not only affect your ability to work and function, but they can also affect your relationships. PMDD may just be the reason you want to break up with your boyfriend every month.

Fit's Tips: If you experience these symptoms 10-14 before you get your period, and they improve once your period comes, you may actually have PMDD, and not just basic PMS. Talk to your gyno about it, to see how they can help relieve your symptoms.

Source

Ovarian Cysts: What Every Women Should Know

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 09:30:00 -0700

I've heard of ovarian cysts, I'm sure you have too. Do you know how they form? Are they something I need to worry about?

Every month, if you're not using a form of birth control that prevents ovulation, one ovary produces 1 egg (occasionally more, which is how we get fraternal twins and triplets). When you ovulate, a cyst-like structure called a follicle is formed inside your ovary. When the egg is released, the follicle bursts. Usually the remaining tissue just dissolves and is absorbed by the body. Occasionally it doesn't, and that's what causes functional ovarian cysts.

Functional ovarian cysts are basically small fluid-filled sacs and are quite common for women to get during their reproductive years. The cysts often shrink and disappear on their own within 2 or 3 menstrual cycles.

You may experience a full or bloated feeling, pressure, or a dull ache in your lower back, belly, or thighs. They can also cause breast tenderness, nausea, or weight gain. Who knew a little cyst can cause all that?

Woman who take the birth control pill or other systemic hormonal treatment usually don't experience ovarian cysts (and the pain that comes from them), because they aren't ovulating.

There are other, more serious forms of ovarian cysts known as Dermoid cysts, Endometrioma Cysts, Cystadenoma Cysts, and Polycystic Ovarian Disease. These cysts can develop from an imbalance of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone). These can grow to be very large (like the one shown in the picture), and can cause severe pain. If found, chances are high that a doctor will recommend removing immediately.

Fit's Tips: If you experience severe pain during intercourse, during menstruation, or have swelling in your abdomen, you should see your doctor immediately. They may prescribe oral contraceptives to help shrink the cyst. Surgery may also be an option if the hormone treatment doesn't work.

The Skinny on: Colonics and the Red Carpet

FitSugar — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 17:00:00 -0800

There are many celebrity secrets to looking gorgeous on the red carpet and one of those dirty little secrets is colonics. Yes they are as unglamorous as they sound. Contrary to popular belief, colonics do not help you lose weight, since the large intestines/lower intestines/colon does not metabolize food, just water. However, a colonic does wash away anything that is hanging out in your lower intestines. For the red carpet walk, a colonic can decrease bloating and thereby flatten a belly. Some even claim that colonics can plump up the skin too. Increasing the amount of water you drink, even doubling the recommended 8 servings of 8 ounces of water a day, for 5 days before a big event can produce the same desired effect and that just sounds a lot more appealing to me. You all know how much I love water.

Don't Let Traveling Get You in a Bind

FitSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:30:31 -0800

The stress of traveling and being away from home can really mess with your bathroom schedule. Changing times zones, eating foods you're not used to, and skipping out on exercise doesn't help either. To prevent tummy issues, here are some tips on how to stay regular when traveling.

Drink water whenever you can as your choice of beverage. Not only will it keep you hydrated, but it'll also keep things moving.
When traveling, bring your own snacks that are high in fiber. Nibble on carrot sticks, apples (with the peel), trail mix with dried fruit and nuts, granola bars, and high fiber cereal. Having healthy snacks on hand will prevent you from eating processed foods that can tie the digestive system in knots.

For more helpful tips keep reading.

Are the Kardashians' QuickTrim Diet Products Quackery?

FitSugar — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:50:02 -0800

A very pregnant Kourtney Kardashian is having a hard time accepting her baby weight. Slim sis Kim says that "Kourtney is going crazy. She feels so big right now. She's just ready to have the baby." According to Us Weekly, sisters Kim and Khloe are both dieting with their QuickTrim diet products and expectant mom Kourtney is jealous because she sees how they're both losing weight.

I've got to admit that I'm sick of hearing about the Kardashians, and now they're promoting this diet product and proving that it works. Ever wonder what it is exactly, or if it's even healthy? My gut says it's not, so I decided to check out the website to see what I could dig up. Here's what I found: QuickTrim Fast Cleanse ($30) is a "lemonade flavored drink designed to help rid the body of excess water weight, belly bloating, and intestinal bulk." So are you supposed to drink these magic citrus beverages all day and that's it?

To hear more about QuickTrim and what the ingredients are, read more.

The Fast Cleanse drink I just described is one product made by QuickTrim. It contains many ingredients including pure lemon juice concentrate, chicory root (fiber), and aloe vera gel. Although it's made with natural ingredients, detoxing your body isn't necessary.

QuickTrim makes two other diet supplements, but these are in tablet form: Extreme Burn ($50) and Burn & Cleanse ($60). Extreme Burn claims to burn up to 8,000 extra calories per month. Burn & Cleanse is a 14-day diet system that promises to burn calories all day, and cleanse and detox you all night. They're made with ingredients such as cocoa extract, acai fruit extract, hyssop, false unicorn root, and green tea leaf extract. Sounds like a witch's potion to me. But at least you're instructed to take these tablets between meals, not in place of them.

These pills are supposed to stimulate your metabolism, maintain your blood sugar levels, burn fat and calories, and contain antioxidants to promote a happy mood. Safety-wise, QuickTrim products are not FDA-approved, so I'd skip them completely and save your moolah to buy things you know will help shed pounds, like a gym membership or fresh fruits and veggies. If you're trying to lose weight, don't fall for this quick-fix diet scam. As I've said before, the safest and most effective way to slim down is with a healthy diet and regular exercise.