Traditionally, chocolate has been viewed as a potential trigger for gut symptoms like pain, cramping, bloating, gas and diarrhea. This is because chocolate, particularly milk chocolate, contains a lot of sugar, including lactose, milk proteins and fat – all of which can cause symptoms in susceptible persons.
Yes, that's right! A few pieces of plain dark chocolate, with at least 75% cocoa solids, can help reduce bloating due to the chocolate's anti-inflammatory properties once in the gut.
Dark chocolate is considered a healthy food because it contains antioxidants called flavonoids. Flavonoids may help prevent heart disease and cancer. However, they can also cause side effects such as gas and bloating, especially if you eat too much dark chocolate at one time or if you have some digestive issues.
Just like tomatoes, citrus, chocolate—and your favorite Bloody Mary—coffee can irritate your digestive tract and cause irritation—namely, bloating. 2. Coffee can overexcite the digestive tract. For only a small number of people, if you are sensitive to caffeine, an overexcited digestive tract can lead to bloating.
Dark chocolate is particularly beneficial for your gut. It provides fuel and promotes the growth of some of the gut's "good" bacteria.
The most common cause of stomach pain and bloating is excess intestinal gas. If you get a bloated stomach after eating, it may be a digestive issue. It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up.
The most common reason for bloating is having a lot of gas in your gut. This can be caused by some food and drinks, such as some vegetables and fizzy drinks, or by swallowing air when you eat. It can also be caused by a problem with your digestion, such as: constipation.
If you're experiencing bloating, take a look at your diet. You may want to swap out foods like apples, dairy products, or cruciferous vegetables with foods like bananas, carrots, and yogurt. If switching up your diet doesn't do the trick, contact a healthcare provider to determine the cause of your bloating.
So, can coffee really cause bloating? The short answer is yes, it can. Coffee is a natural laxative that stimulates the muscles in your digestive system, which can lead to an increase in bowel movements. This can cause the production of gas, leading to bloating and discomfort.
Greek yogurt is an inexpensive, quick, and easy way to get protein into your diet—but it may be making you bloated, as well. Lactose, which is found in many dairy products, especially yogurt, milk, and ice cream, may give you a bloated belly if you are lactose intolerant3 .
“While it may seem counterintuitive, drinking water may help to reduce bloat by ridding the body of excess sodium,” Fullenweider says. You may find that drinking water before a meal can help reduce bloat, and this step may also confer the double benefit of reducing the tendency to overeat.
"We wake up in the morning with a flatter stomach, because we don't have all of the food and drink we consume in the day going through. Normally we wake up, empty our bladder and bowel, and then as the day goes on, we increase the fluids and what we eat, and this builds up and looks like bloat throughout the day."
A hard stomach can happen for various reasons, including constipation, gastric cancer, and some chronic digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Yogurt's probiotics (good bacteria) help your gut digest and absorb food, so there's less gas and bloating. Go for plain yogurt with active cultures, and sweeten it with a little fruit.
“Bananas are also a good source of prebiotic fiber, which helps to increase the good bacteria in your gut and improve digestion. Researchers found that eating a banana before a meal could improve good bacteria and decrease bloating by 50%.”
Greek yogurt has the active cultures you need to relieve bloating. Dairy products are usually among the main culprits in creating bloated tummies so yogurt might seem a bit odd on this list. But Greek yogurt contains the active cultures lactobacillus and acidophilus, which can aid in relieving the bloat.
Eating large amounts might cause caffeine-related side effects such as nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat. Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions, constipation and might trigger migraine headaches.
Chocolate actually slows down the digestive process and is among the worst culprits for causing constipation.