Most people will experience a bloated stomach at some point in their lives, after overindulging in a big meal or drinking too much beer. But for some people, stomach bloating can happen regularly, usually as a result of problems digesting certain foods. Foods that are typically hard to digest include junk food and vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, beans and sprouts. This is because they contain compounds for which the human body lacks the enzymes to digest.
It’s possible to get rid of a bloated stomach by cutting down on bloat-inducing foods and replacing them with foods that promote digestion.
One fruit which can help soothe a bloated stomach, is the banana.
Fruit on the whole is beneficial to digestion due to its high fibre content. Fibre is essential to the digestion process as it keeps everything moving through the digestive system.
It does this by bulking up the stools, making them softer and easier to pass.
“Fibre is an essential part of a healthy diet. It helps to keep your digestive system in good working order, and has many other important health benefits,” said Bupa.
The type of fibre found in bananas is called pectin, which normalises bowel function.
The high fibre content of bananas also promotes a feeling of fullness, stopping the need to eat more.
As well as being a good source of fibre, bananas are high in potassium, magnesium, manganese and vitamin B6, which are also useful for digestion.
Potassium helps control the balance of fluids in the body, which can reduce water retention.
Water retention can contribute to a feeling of bloating in the tummy, as the body holds on to water in order to prevent dehydration.
Sometimes when eating food which is high in salt, for example, the body can hold on to excess water so as to avoid dehydration.
Potassium balances out the negative effects of salt, so the body doesn’t feel it is dehydrated, allowing it to flush out excess water.
Magnesium and vitamin B6, meanwhile, turn food into energy, keeping the body energised and speeding up metabolism.
Manganese helps make and activate some of the enzymes in the body, which are needed to break down food.
“Most of us have experienced the feeling of being bloated, when your tummy is stretched, puffy and uncomfortable,” said the NHS.
“Get rid of bloating by cutting out fizzy drinks and foods that cause wind.”