Why Am I Always Bloated? Common Causes & Simple Solutions
Waking up feeling fine, but by lunchtime your stomach is so bloated you can't button your pants? Or maybe you look and feel six months pregnant by the end of the day, even though you ate "healthy" meals?
You've tried cutting out dairy. You've avoided gluten. You've taken every over-the-counter digestive aid you can find. Sometimes things get a little better, but the bloating always comes back—and you still can't figure out why.
Here's the thing: bloating isn't just one thing. It's your body's way of signalling that something's off, and there are multiple potential culprits. The good news? Once you understand what's actually causing YOUR bloating, you can start addressing it at the root.
Common Causes of Bloating:
How You're Eating (Not Just What You're Eating)
Most people focus solely on what they eat, but how you eat matters just as much. Eating too quickly, not chewing properly, or eating while stressed can all contribute to bloating—even if you're eating the "right" foods.
Certain Foods That Trigger Your Gut
Some foods are harder for certain people to digest. High-FODMAP foods (like onions, garlic, beans, and certain fruits) can cause significant bloating for people with sensitive digestive systems. But here's the catch: what triggers bloating for one person might be perfectly fine for another. It's not one-size-fits-all.
Hidden Culprits in Your Diet
Carbonated beverages, processed foods loaded with additives, and excess sugar can all disrupt your gut microbiome and lead to bloating. But identifying exactly which ones are affecting you requires a personalized approach.
Low Stomach Acid
This surprises most people, but low stomach acid is incredibly common—especially when you're stressed or as you age. When you don't have enough stomach acid, your body struggles to break down food properly, leading to that uncomfortable, heavy feeling after meals.
Gut Microbiome Imbalances
Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria that play a massive role in digestion. When the balance is off—whether from processed foods, sugar, stress, or other factors—bloating is often one of the first symptoms.
What You Can Do About It:
Here's where it gets tricky: general advice like "eat more fibre" or "avoid gluten" might help some people, but without understanding YOUR specific triggers and YOUR body's unique needs, you could spend months (or years) trying random solutions that don't actually address the root cause.
That's exactly what happened to me. I spent over a decade trying everything—cutting out foods, taking supplements, following generic protocols—and nothing worked consistently until I learned to understand what my body specifically needed.
Reducing bloating isn't about following a generic diet plan. It's about:
Identifying YOUR specific food triggers
Understanding what's happening in YOUR gut microbiome
Addressing YOUR stress and nervous system patterns
Creating a sustainable approach that works for YOUR life
The Bottom Line:
Bloating isn't something you just have to live with. Your body is giving you signals that something's out of balance—but figuring out exactly what requires more than just Googling symptoms or trying random elimination diets.
If you're tired of guessing and want personalized guidance to finally figure out what's causing your bloating, let's talk.