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Nutritioni­st-approved simple ways to keep bloating at bay

Here’s how to look after your gut health and give a boost to your overall well-being

- Vaibhav Garg

Ever felt uncomforta­ble after a meal? Well, if this discomfort is a regular feature of your life, you’ve got to know the cause behind it. The reason could be that what you ate was not right, or that your digestive system isn’t in the best shape, but it could also be a combinatio­n of the two.

TROUBLED DIGESTIVE HEALTH

The symptoms associated with poor digestive health include acidity, reflux, bloating, stomach pain, infections and in some cases, migraines, as a result of continued gastrointe­stinal distress. Ensuring that the contents on your plate give you optimum nutrition from the highest quality ingredient­s is imperative, and that in turn will ensure a happy gut. Consume a diet that is biological­ly more suited to the body rather than one based on current trends. Here’s what to keep in mind to promote gut health.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Cut out processed foods such as bread and sugar. Replace them with whole grains, millets, cereals such as ragi, jowar, emmer wheat and oats. Instead of consuming geneticall­y modified foods like soy and its derivative­s, have protein-rich foods like peas, broccoli and mushrooms. The soluble and insoluble fibres will help improve the gut microbiome which will promote gut health. Adding garlic and asafoetida (hing) to your daily pulses and legumes will keep bloating and flatulence in check.

The consumptio­n of animal-based protein causes inflammati­on and bloating. Eliminate or reduce the consumptio­n of milk-based foods and meats to ensure that your gastrointe­stinal tract stays healthy and clean. Instead, consume alternates like almond milk and nuts. Having herbal tea with some ginger, ajwain, turmeric and black pepper will help reduce the bloating. These condiments and spices are easily available in every Indian kitchen. We don’t need to purchase exotic ingredient­s to get our daily nutrients. Accomplish­ing just this much will ensure a happy gut!

 ?? PHOTO: SHUTTERSTO­CK (FOR REPRESENTA­TIONAL PURPOSE ONLY) ?? Herb-infused teas soothe the gut
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTO­CK (FOR REPRESENTA­TIONAL PURPOSE ONLY) Herb-infused teas soothe the gut
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