If your plan to have the perfect beach body got derailed somewhere between the bakery and the cocktail lounge, that’s okay. We’ve got some tips that will help you drop the bloat so you can still hit the beach with confidence.
The best part is that these tips are food-based! Believe it or not, there are things you can eat that help with bloat.
De-Bloating Foods for a Beach Body
Before you go crazy eating the following foods, remember that each person’s body reacts differently. While one food may help fight bloat for one person, it may cause gas and have an opposite reaction for another person.
It’s best to try these foods well in advance to see how well they work at fighting your belly bloat.
1. Cucumbers/Pickles
Cucumbers are basically fiber and water, both of which are great at fighting bloat for most people, and they’re extremely low in calories. Having a cucumber or a cucumber salad helps you fill up and not look full.
Fermented cucumbers, or pickles, are not only delicious but they may be packed with probiotics. Not all pickles are packed with probiotics though, so look for ones that are not made with vinegar.
If you’re really interested in using the power of probiotics to support your digestion and decrease bloat, you might want to try Pro-45TM with FOS Prebiotics, which is a high-quality supplement with live probiotics and prebiotic fiber. Give your gut a healthy environment, and your bloat will be a thing of the past.
2. Oatmeal
The soluble fiber in oatmeal keeps things “moving” in your body, meaning you’re more regular, and gas is less of an issue. That’s a win/win in our books.
Not only that but oats are packed with health benefits that make them an all-around great food to have. In fact, adding oats to your daily routine can even help you lose weight, and that’s better than fighting bloat any day.
Hot oatmeal cereal is a great, homey food for people who love nostalgia, but today’s best oatmeal recipes call for delicious overnight oats. They’re fantastic for breakfast, as a snack, and even for dessert.
3. Melons
Another food that’s filled with water and fiber is melon. They give you that full feeling without adding to your waistline. Melons also make a great snack when you’re at the beach, as they help you stay hydrated while tasting fresh and sweet.
Try freezing cubes of melon before you head to the beach, and add them to water for a sweet, low-calorie drink, or eat them as a frozen snack.
4. Yogurt
While the benefits of yogurt are pretty well known, not all yogurts are created equal. The ones that taste the best and are loaded with sugar are tempting, but they’re not the ones you should be eating.
To get the health benefits you want from yogurt, look for ones that have live and active cultures because it’s those probiotics that help with digestion and bloating. In fact, sugary yogurts can be really high in calories and carry almost no nutritional value at all. So, it pays to be yogurt-informed.
5. Pineapple
Pineapple is a sweet treat that even tastes like a tropical vacation. The bromelain enzyme found in pineapples is what makes it perfect for fighting bloat. This enzyme breaks down proteins and can help with inflammation. That’s a great one-two punch to belly bloat.
If you’re really excited about the bloat-fighting power of pineapples, but your body can’t stand the acid, try taking a supplement that uses bromelain from pineapples and papain from papayas. And that's where DigestWellTM comes in. These, along with other plant-based enzymes, help to soothe your digestive system. It’s a great way to get these enzymes without having to deal with heartburn or acid reflux.
6. Turmeric
All right, so you’re not going to sit down and gnaw on a turmeric root–at least we hope you don’t do that. But turmeric is really good for you, and it’s a huge trend right now.
That said, don’t think turmeric is new. This root has been used in India and as a part of Ayurvedic medicine for a very long time, and it has some well-known benefits. It’s a common spice in curry powder, and it’s the healthy curcuminoids that give curry its distinctive yellow color.
You can use turmeric to help with occasional inflammation and decrease your belly bloat by adding it to your meals or eating more curry. If you’re still not sure how to make the most of turmeric, give CurcuWellTM a try. CurcuWell is a high-quality and effective supplement that includes Bioperine® black pepper extract for enhanced bioavailability.
7. Bananas
We all know that salt can make you retain water, which causes you to look and feel bloated. Bananas are loaded with potassium, which fights sodium and reduces the bloat. A banana a day keeps your body in a beachy shape.
8. Avocados
Now, who doesn’t love a good avocado toast? This trendy delight loads you up with fiber, potassium, and healthy fats. This means you feel full, you move foods through your body better, and salt is discouraged from hanging out and causing bloat.
9. Asparagus
Another great natural diuretic is asparagus. That’s right, while asparagus is known for making urine smell funny, it also makes you have to urinate.
The benefits of asparagus go beyond its interesting relationship with urine. Asparagus contains prebiotics, which feeds healthy probiotics in your gut. It is also packed with soluble and insoluble fiber for a full feeling and a healthy digestive system. All of these features together make belly bloat a thing of the past.
Waking Up To Wellness
While having a flat tummy for the beach is a common goal, it’s important to remember that a flat stomach all of the time is not only unreasonable, it just doesn’t happen. Even the fittest people have a digestive system response to the foods they eat and the beverages they consume.
So, give yourself a break and don’t expect to look like the photoshopped version of your favorite celebrity because you are human after all.
