De-puff the bloat with these simple guidelines

Bloating – fluid building up between cells in your body – can be caused by poor digestion, too much sodium, or your period.

But according to experts, if you pay attention to what you’re eating, you can usually avoid it.

The best way to figure out what’s causing bloating is to write down everything you eat and drink and whether or not you feel discomfort afterwards.

You don’t have to totally avoid bloat-causing foods if you follow a few guidelines.

Eat vegetables cooked instead of raw. Cooking helps break down some of the fibre so your body doesn’t have to work as hard to digest it.

Go easy on bloat-causing starchy beans, including kidney, black beans and chickpeas.

Exercise for at least 30 minutes a day. This helps keep your digestive system functioning smoothly and cuts down on the production of air and fluid.

Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.

If you feel bloated, try drinking ginger, peppermint or fennel tea, or taking one of these herbs in supplement form. They help calm your digestive system.