How Can A Naturopath Help with Bloating
As naturopaths, we talk a lot about bloating. Hippocrates, the original ‘naturopath’ of ancient Greece said ‘all disease begins in the gut’. It may be a little more complex than that, but from a modern naturopathic perspective, it would certainly be safe to say that ‘all disease involves the gut’.
That’s why we tend to ask so many questions about digestion in initial consultations, and at New Leaf we have gleaned through sitting down with hundreds of patients over the years that perhaps no digestive symptom is more common than bloating.
In fact, the most common questions we receive as naturopaths – whether in formal consultation or at a dinner party – are: ‘What can I do/take to stop bloating after meals?’ and ‘What are the foods that cause bloating? ’ The answer is never straightforward and always requires digging much deeper, because stomach bloating is a symptom of a great number of digestive issues. In other words, where there is bloating, there is a mystery to be solved.
What causes bloating?
Just some pieces of the bloating puzzle for you could be:
Digestive Function
- Poor Digestive Enzyme Production: Digestive enzymes are produced mainly in the small intestine, and inadequate production of them (which in itself can occur for many reasons) can lead to incomplete breakdown of food, which causes fermentation and gas production in the digestive tract;
- Slow Bowel Transit Time: sluggish movement of food through the digestive tract can result in the fermentation of undigested food, leading to gas and bloating. You can actually work out how long it takes your food to travel from end to end by eating something identifiable in the toilet bowl (corn, sesame seeds and peas work well!) and calculating how much time passed after eating. A healthy transit time should be less than 15-17 hours, but it shouldn’t be too quick either; (Download our Free Poop tracker to help you do this!)
- Impaired Liver Function: a well-functioning liver takes care of the processing of toxins. If the liver is sluggish, this can lead to digestive disturbances and bloating;
- Low stomach acid: we need ample hydrochloric acid to break food down in the stomach before it makes its way into the small intestine. Hindered food breakdown can cause bloating and discomfort after eating;
Lifestyle Triggers
- Food Sensitivities and Intolerances: food sensitivities or intolerances can trigger inflammation and gas production in the digestive system, so properly identifying and eliminating them is crucial;
- Hydration Habits: dehydration can slow down digestive processes and lead to constipation, contributing to bloating. Adequate water intake is essential for a healthy digestive system at every level;
- Stress & Bloating: chronic stress impacts the nervous system, which can lead to issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which commonly causes bloating;
- Lack of fibre: we need enough dietary fibre, from fruit, vegetables, wholegrains and other fibre-rich foods, to form healthy bowel movements. Without it, we can experience constipation and associated bloating;
- Artificial Additives and Preservatives: some food additives and preservatives can disrupt the natural balance of the digestive system, leading to bloating in some individuals.
- Reduced physical activity: regular exercise can prevent bloating by promoting bowel regularity and a healthy transit time. Even a 15-minute stroll each day can make a difference;
- Incomplete Chewing: if we don’t chew our food thoroughly, larger food particles entering the digestive system, can make it harder for the body to break them down, causing bloating;
Hormonal Factors
- Hormonal Imbalances: fluctuations in hormones, particularly during menstruation, can affect digestion and contribute to bloating in some individuals, especially folks with endometriosis;
- Your Period: Even if you have a pretty “normal” period, you can still experience bloating and discomfort BUT there’s so much we can do to support this.
It's about your Microbiome
- Imbalanced Gut Microbiota: an overgrowth of harmful bacteria in ratio to the beneficial stuff can contribute to gas production and bloating. We recommend a Microba gut exploration to work this out; We do love exploring your gut microbiome with detailed analysis. Speak to us about how we can learn more about your gut.
- Antibiotics: prolonged or frequent use of antibiotics can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria, leading to digestive issues and bloating;
- Pathogens: whether it’s parasites, viruses or a bacterium like Helicobacter pylori, there are a number of pathogens that can cause bloating among other digestive symptoms. Determining pathogen type and appropriate treatment is critical in these cases, and requires extensive investigation.
- Could it be SIBO? Hannah uncovers a lot of SIBO in patients with long-term bloating, constipation, or really crazy stools. Getting the assessment AND treatments of SIBO right is so important, which is why seeing a Certified Microbiome Analyst like Hannah makes the difference.
Can Naturopathy help your bloating?
Most people who experience bloating do so for a number of reasons and it can be a complex riddle to solve. Luckily, this is an area where naturopathic care excels, both in figuring out the cause and formulating the right treatment. I would say that bloating is one of the common symptoms I discuss as a naturopath.
Just remember – digestion should be smooth, comfortable and definitely bloat-free! If it’s not, naturopathy offers significant benefits and often full resolution of digestive problems, getting to the bottom of what causes bloating.
Supporting gut health is the start-point for managing so many conditions, so it’s a special area of interest for us. That’s why our practitioners have gained certification as Microbiome Analysts and Healthy Gut Practitioners.
At New Leaf Naturopathic Health we are experienced telehealth practitioners, so don’t let geography get in the way of your health. We’re here to help solve your bloating issues in the privacy and comfort of your own home, wherever you live.
Understand AND fix your gut with Our Expert Naturopaths
Have you got more questions about bloating?
Is bloating a sign of poor gut health
It can be, but not always; occasional bloating after a big meal or a bag of chips is normal digestion doing its thing. It’s when bloating becomes regular, or shows up most days regardless of what you eat, that it’s worth looking at what’s going on in your gut microbiome.
Can stress cause bloating?
Yes, and it’s one of the most underrated causes we see in clinic. Your gut and nervous system are in constant conversation, so chronic stress can slow digestion, alter gut motility and make you more sensitive to normal amounts of gas — which is often why bloating flares during busy or anxious periods even when your diet hasn’t changed.
What foods cause bloating?
For most people it’s less about specific “bad” foods and more about which foods your particular gut struggles to break down.
Common culprits include beans and legumes, onion and garlic, wheat, dairy, and fizzy drinks. Rather than cutting things out blindly, we’d rather help you work out your actual triggers, because half the “healthy” foods people eliminate turn out to be innocent.
How long does bloating usually last?
Bloating from a single meal typically settles within a few hours to a day. If it’s sticking around for days at a time, coming back most days, or gradually getting worse, that’s your gut telling you there’s something ongoing worth investigating rather than riding out.
When should I see someone about bloating?
Most bloating is uncomfortable rather than dangerous, but get it checked promptly if it comes with unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool, persistent pain, or a noticeable change in bowel habits that doesn’t resolve. Outside of those red flags, bloating that’s frequent or disruptive to daily life is still worth addressing; it doesn’t have to be “serious” to be worth sorting out.
Should I see a Naturopath about bloating?
If you’ve already ruled out anything urgent with your GP, or your bloating is the kind of everyday-but-annoying that conventional medicine tends to shrug off, a naturopath is a good next step. We’re trained to dig into the why! Testing, diet, stress, gut bacteria – rather than just naming the symptom, which is often the piece people feel is missing after a standard consult.
Book an appointment with Hannah today, she’s New Leaf’s founder and Certified Gut Microbiome Analyst.
