Summertime Bloat, can be a result of a few things. Dehydration, poor food intake, or just too much HEAT! During one of our many debates, my significant other was lecturing me for my copious amount of H20 intake. He said I was depleting my electrolytes and causing forcing myself into a false dehydration, which was making me retain water. Here are some tell tale signs of Dehydration: constant thirst, dry lips, hair and or skin, unusually craving for saltier foods(low electrolytes), disorientation, and irritability.
If you still train in the summer, like I do, you want to treat your body right and keep your water ratio leveled.
- According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, your body requires more water when the weather is hot. Drink at least 10 glasses of water a day, and if you plan to be out in the heat, have water with you.
- Eat foods with a high water content. Examples include fruits like watermelon, apples, grapes and tomatoes; green veggies like spinach, celery and lettuce.
- Avoid or Limit your intake of carbonated drinks, alcohol and caffeine. These can dehydrate, which causes bloat, but also create gas in your digestive tract, which will add to abdominal bloating. Stick with water when combating summertime bloat. Add some lemon for more zing, or electrolyte tabs.
- Refrain from eating foods with a high salt or fat content, for example, greasy fast food (YUCK!), highly processed foods like potato chips or microwave meals, and fatty meats and dairy products. All of these are difficult for your digestive system to process, leading to bloat. These foods' salt content will also cause your body to hang on to excess water weight.
- Try a bloating or gas relief pill, like Beano. These help when indulging in foods that may make you feel heavy or gassy.
Stay Hydrated
