YMCA Healthy Living Magazine, powered by n4 food and health Summer 2017 | Page 16

MARNIE NITCHKE, APD
Marnie is a dietitian with Shepherd Works, which offers the expertise to help
with bloating, gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as individualised dietary
advice. To find out more about Marnie visit www.shepherdworks.com.au
or www.n4foodandhealth.com

HOW TO BEAT
BLOATING
Gastrointestinal Specialist Dietitian Marnie Nitchke
explains how to avoid bloating.
s a specialist gastrointestinal
dietitian, one of the most
common complaints we see in
clients is abdominal bloating. This
symptom usually refers to physical
distension, but can also include a full
and uncomfortable sensation after
meals, even when not overindulging.
Commonly, we hear comments from
such clients along the lines of ‘I look six
months pregnant by the end of the
day!’

A

Bloating is often associated with
abdominal pain, altered bowel habits
and lethargy. It can also make people
feel extremely self-conscious, which
can even result in restricting their
participation in desired activities.

What are the causes of
bloating?
There are a range of potential causes of
abdominal bloating. Such triggers can
include:
• hormonal fluctuations (affecting the
smooth muscles which line the gut)
• stress (through its effect on the
brain-gut axis)
• altered muscle function (of pelvic
floor and diaphragm)
• foods and food intolerance reactions
(discussed in more detail below).

Syndrome (IBS), a functional gut
disorder affecting up to one in seven
people. Your GP can assist you, and
arrange any screening tests and
referrals needed, to rule out these
conditions.

Common food triggers for
bloating
Processed, sugary and fatty foods are
often blamed for bloating, and there are
a number of reasons why they may be
problematic, for example:
Fatty foods take a lot of work to digest
and can slow our gut transit time,
exacerbating distension and
discomfort. Some people are more
sensitive to the fat content of
meals than others.
Similarly, sugary foods
such as soft drinks,
baked goods,
chocolate and
lollies can be
problematic in
large doses.
This may be
in part due
to an
overload

If you suffer from bloating, it’s vital that
you don’t self-diagnose, but instead
discuss this symptom with your doctor.
Bloating can also be the outer
manifestation of undiagnosed coeliac
disease, inflammatory bowel disease
(for example, Crohns and colitis), or
more sinister issues such as bowel and
ovarian cancer. Bloating can also be a
common symptom of Irritable Bowel

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YMCA HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE SUMMER 2017