Menopause bloating is one of the most uncomfortable symptoms to experience, clothes feel too tight and belching and passing wind becomes an uncontrollable side effect Just when you thought hot flashes were all you had to tolerate! More often than not, menopause bloating is the calm before the storm, a warning that the full menopause is coming soon.
The culprit for this bloating are those powerful hormones that are frantically fizzing around all over the place.
Changing hormone levels give a bloated, clogged and heavy effect in the abdominal area which is retaining more water than it usually would, rather like prior to a period.
Your body's hormones are so erratic at this phase of your life that water is being stored instead of flushing away, we call this stage perimenopause.
The amount of bile that your liver produces to keep your intestines well lubricated is governed by the hormone estrogen.
If your estrogen level drops then so does the amount of bile.
When bile production is low this results in the stools slowing down their journey through the intestines, consequently, this usually ends up as constipation and menopause bloating.
The increase in flatulence is a result of the changing hormone levels and the presence of bacteria in the bowel.
Making bad decisions in your diet can lead to an increase in bacteria's found in the intestines which adds to the problem of menopause bloating, sugary foods such as cakes and biscuits are also foods that carry a risk to other more serious conditions like diabetes as they can put an increased strain on the kidneys.
If you're suffering from menopause bloating then try to refrain from wearing clothes that are too tight such as jeans and look at adjusting your diet to reduce your sugar intake.
Doctors who see cases of this type of bloating will usually advise that you modify your diet.
You can reduce the bloated feelings by cutting out or at least reducing your intake of foods such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, soft cheeses and milk and try to cut out salt altogether.
Yoghurts don't fall into this list as there are many on the market that actually work in harmony with the intestines to reduce the bad bacteria's naturally.
Up your intake of fruit and fruit juices, bananas and grapes are really good and you could try to drink herbal teas and fruit juices instead of caffeinated beverages.
Colon cleanses can be really beneficial in reducing bloating, do this alongside increasing you fibre intake to reduct the effects of slower bowel movements.
Taking regular exercise has the effect of speeding up the bodies system, it naturally promotes a detox which will help reduce bloating and discomfort.
It's a good opportunity to drop a hint at a spa day when it's your birthday, relaxation does wonders for reducing menopause bloating.
There'll always be the exception to the rule and a small minority of sufferers will find that their menopause bloating continues for a long time, if you're in this percentage and are experiencing abdominal pain or the presence of blood when you pass a stool then it's wise to have a quick check at the doctors for piece of mind.
In situation like these it's always to ere on the side of caution although it's most probably a direct result of haemorrhoids and constipation.