Gas Bloating Problems

If you have a problem with bloating, examine your diet, consider how quickly you eat, and, if necessary, visit a doctor. If you are premenstrual or menopausal, you will probably be affected even more by bloating.

Allergies

Sensitivity to a particular food can cause gas and bloating, according to Dr. Marcelle Pick, who founded the health organization Women to Women. Get yourself tested to see if you are allergic to certain foods, such as wheat, dairy or sugar, which generally are the culprits.
Taking a daily multivitamin helps your body maintain digestive health and overall balance, and essential fatty acids help reduce inflammation of the intestines, which can cause bloating. Foods that contain air, such as ice cream, should be avoided.

Fat Content

Fat can also cause bloating because it takes a long time to break down and leave the body. In addition, those who are lactose intolerant suffer from this infirmity when consuming dairy products.

Blockage

Any blockage of your intestines can result in bloating, too, as it becomes difficult to eliminate waste and gas from your body. A tumor in your ovaries, abdomen, liver or stomach can cause this phenomenon, as can the accumulation of fluid in your abdominal cavity or a parasitic infection.

Swallowing Air

Always chew your food slowly, because gas and bloating can be caused by swallowing air.

Bloat Foods

"Bloat foods" include cabbage, beans, bagels, raw vegetables and pretzels because they're cooked in boiled bubbling water, according to Dr. Melissa Palmer, a gastroenterologist in New York City. Chocolate should also be avoided if you have a tendency to bloat because it consists of sugar and dairy, which are two sources of gas, according to Dr. Barbara Frank, gastroenterologist and clinical professor of medicine at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

PMS and Menopause

When a woman is premenstrual she may feel bloated because of water retention and because her hormones have become unbalanced. When estrogen levels drop during menopause, one of the outcomes is that bile production lessens and stool becomes hard and dry. The stool remains in our system too long because there isn't adequate lubrication to move it along. This results in constipation and bloating, according to menopause-symptoms.com.

IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can cause constipation or diarrhea, both of which can lead to bloating. Mayoclinic.com notes that the walls of the intestines are lined with layers of muscles that relax and contract, moving food from your stomach through your intestinal tract and to your rectum. If a person has IBS, she may suffer from severe cramps, and this causes bloating, gas and diarrhea or, conversely, if your bowels are sluggish, food passes through too slowly and your stool becomes hard and dry. This too can cause bloating.