Anyway, enough of me poking fun at that Fat Cat Goodell…there are a few other “Cats” I’d rather be “poking” at. Yes, you! No, I am not saying that you are fat, even though we all are – at least a little. But sometimes when you feel (or even look) fat, you may not be. What? Yes, you might not be fat, you might just be bloated.
Therefore, in the spirit of those who are about to get on-stage in front of millions (minus me and Tracy), here are some ways you can reduce that stomach without reducing your calories. Believe it or not, the only true cause of stomach bloating is intestinal gas, NOT “water weight” says Michael Jensen, MD, an endocrinologist and obesity researcher at Mayo Clinic. He insists that, because water retention would be seen first in the feet or ankles – as long as standing upright – and not the abdomen, it is a myth that stomach bloating is a result from fluid accumulation.
So, without further adieu, the Top 10 Nominees for Stomach-Flattening Facts are…
The envelope please…
1. Avoid being constipated by eating at least 25 grams of fiber, if you are a women, or 38 if you are a man, drinking at least 8 glasses of water and exercising for at least 30 minutes each day.
2. Have a doctor confirm if you have any allergic reactions to wheat or intolerance to lactose as they can cause gas and bloating. If you are indeed suffering from such ailments, eliminate or moderate your consumption of what is causing the bloat. For example, if dairy is the culprit, choose those lower in lactose such as aged cheeses and yogurts.
3. Slow down your food consumption. This provides several benefits. First, eating fast may cause you to also swallow air that will lead to bloating. Second, by chewing slowly you allow digestion to begin in the mouth which limits stomach gases to form. And third, studies have shown that those who eat more slowly, end up feeling satisfied with less and therefore eat fewer calories.
4. Stay away from carbonated drinks. They too cause belly gas. For a belly bulge antidote try some peppermint tea.
5. Give your jaw a break and cut down on that gum (even if it is sugarless). As with eating fast, gum chewing can lead to air swallowing and so on and so on and so on.
6. Limit artificially sweetened foods and drinks. The sugar alcohol used to limit the sweetener’s calorie content may expand your waistline.
7. Free your diet of as much sodium as possible. No more than 2000 mg a day is advised.
8. If beans and cruciferous vegetables are currently not part of your diet, add them in slowly if you are looking to bump up your fiber “input”. If you don’t you may also end up bumping up your gas “output”.
9. Remember to eat several small meals a day instead of two or three big ones. Obviously, the fewer calories eaten at one time, the less gas will be produced when the food is digested.
10. Make “foods” like peppermint tea, ginger, pineapple, parsley and yogurt part of your regular diet. They will help regulate your bloating.
There you have it ladies and gentlemen, the Top 10 Stomach-Flattening Facts. And guess what, if you implement all of the above and still feel and look fat, you might just be. Then what? Lose a few more pounds!
Thank you and good night!
On this day, February 24 (1944), Argentina coup by Juan Peron minister of war.
