Bloating — the sometimes uncomfortable and unavoidable side effect of eating and drinking.
It’s generally pretty easy to determine the foods we eat that lead to bloating as it’s a bodily reaction and feeling we, unfortunately, feel almost immediately after eating, but what about the things we’re drinking that may contribute to bloating, too?
If you want a flat stomach, these are things you should never drink or should consider drinking in moderation.
Coffee can cause temporary bloating.
Depending on the type of coffee you drink, or the way you take your coffee, you might end up bloated.
Even the healthiest variation of coffee doesn’t necessarily guarantee a flat stomach, at least shortly after drinking it. Black coffee is acidic and can irritate the stomach, causing immediate swelling, according to Women’s Health.
Too, Dr. Roger Gebhard, M.D., gastroenterologist, states that coffee of any kind "can overexcite the digestive tract and may stimulate spasms in the bowel that cause bloating."
Luckily, bloating is temporary.
Soda may not be the best choice.
If you don’t want to risk your stomach puffing out, put down the soda.
Carbonation comes from gas blended with water, so when we drink carbonated drinks, gas gets caught in the stomach. Just like carbonation, sugar too, triggers gas production according to LiveStrong.
Diet sodas are no better than regular soda in terms of bloating. They contain artificial sugars, which could arguably lead to more bloat than regular soda. The reason is that sugar alcohols aren’t completely absorbed in the digestive system, which causes fermentation in the intestines, leading to the production of gas, according to Breaking Muscle.
Seltzer bubbles could be problematic.
Just like the effects of carbonation in soda, the same applies to seltzer and sparkling water.
Carbonated bubbles are air pockets; when we drink them the air builds up in the stomach and leads to abdominal distension, Brigitte Zeitlin, M.P.H., R.D., C.D.N., and founder of the New York-based BZ Nutrition, told Self.
Flavored seltzer and sparkling waters are even worse due to the sugar alcohols they contain. The body has a difficult time breaking these artificial sweeteners down.
To maintain a flat stomach, Well+Good suggests switching out the seltzer water for mineral water.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider