gabdominal swelling in summer: a disorder as frequent as it is annoying, especially during days on the beach, when the belly is more exposed.
If it is true that the problem of abdominal swelling does not only occur in the summer, it is equally true that in summeron vacation, it’s easier give in to eating habits and not, which can cause, more than in other periods, intestinal disorders that bloat the belly. Greater consumption of certain types of fruit which tends to ferment but also of alcohol and sugary drinksas well as jump in temperature, in fact, they are among the main causes of summer abdominal swelling. What to do to solve the problem?
First rule: understand if it is a transient disorderdue precisely only to the different habits that are followed on vacation, rather than a discomfort that tends to recur often. In this case, in fact, the swelling can also be there indicator of a food intolerance or in any case of a sensitivity to some foodsas the Prof. Felice Cosentinogastroenterologist and specialist in digestive system surgery and digestive endoscopy at the Casa di Cura La Madonnina.
Swollen belly in summer: the most frequent causes?
«Abdominal swelling is actually often the tip of the iceberg – explains prof. Happy Cosentino. – Suffice it to say that among the patients I visit regularly, around 80% complain of having a swollen belly. A disturbance that can certainly be accentuated in the summer. If the annoyance is transient, the more trivial cause is linked to feeding and al way to eat. Eating quickly, not chewing well or speaking in bursts, thus swallowing a lot of air, consume fatty foods or exceed with alcohol and carbonated drinks are in fact among the most common causes of swelling, even on vacation.
Swollen belly and summer food
Not to mention that many of the foods that are consumed in the summer they can be more at risk of swelling.
“A lot summer fruit, such as watermelon, apricots, cherries but also figs, mangoes and peaches they can cause abdominal swelling in some people – explains prof. Cosentino. – As well as some types of vegetables which, in excess, can ferment. Between these garlic and onion, widely used in cookingbut also chicory, sauerkraut, mushrooms and leeks. The alcohol, including beer, sweetened fruit juices and sweets in general, then, they are all foods that can contain ingredients of poor tolerability that create swelling. In fact, we must not forget that the intestine has enzymes to digest food but these enzymes are not present in the same quantity in all people, so there are those who do not complain of any kind of problem and those who instead may be more exposed to the risk of swelling”.
Swollen belly in summer: beware of sudden changes in temperature
Not only that, in the summer even temperature changes they can play tricks on your tummy.
“This is especially true for particularly sensitive people – explains the specialist. – The typical situation in the summer is to eat in an air-conditioned restaurant, quickly going from a hot to a cold environment. This can have an impact, causing stomach ache, episodes of dysentery but also swelling ».
Swollen belly in summer: what if it was intolerance?
If abdominal bloating, caused by excessive summer food, is a transient disorder which, apart from annoyance, does not cause particular discomfort, the speech changes when you realize that in the summer what was an already existing problem worsens.
«It is not uncommon for patients to come to me in the autumn, reporting how the swelling-related disorder worsened during the summer – explains Dr. Cosentino. – This season, not surprisingly, even the symptoms of a food intolerance that should not be overlooked can emerge more easily».
It’s not always irritable bowel
The reason? In the summer, yesi tend to consume more precisely those foods that contain substanceslike the Lactose or glutento which one may be intolerant.
«The sensation is that of being swollen like a balloon due to an excess of intestinal gas – explains the expert. – Often we tend to trace the cause of the swelling in the irritable bowel syndrome but that’s not always the case. Unlike 10 or 15 years ago, today we know that symptoms such as abdominal distension, pain and flatulenceaccompanied by constipation or diarrhea, can also be the indicator of an intolerance. Let us think, for example, ofnon-celiac gluten intolerance, the gluten sensitivity, which was discovered only in 2011. For this it is wrong to promptly attribute the diagnosis of irritable bowel to the patient without investigating”.
Swollen belly in summer: foods to keep an eye on
«A classic example is the Pizza which contains gluten, lactose and yeasts – explains Dr. Cosentino. – If a patient reports bloating especially after eating a pizza, gluten and lactose may be to blame. This also applies to other classic summer foods, such as ice-cream which contains lactose or the traditional mozzarella-tomato combination. We have found over the years an increase in food intolerancesThis is because, compared to 20 or 30 years ago, nutrition has changed a lot, it is not very natural and very commercial. AND this led to an alteration of the intestinal bacterial flora and then of our enzyme kit. Not to mention that intolerances can occur at any age, even ninety years old».
Bloating and histamine intolerance
«Even histamine, which is a biological amine produced by our body and present in many foods, can be subject to intolerance – continues the expert. – If we lack the enzyme to degrade it, when we eat summer foods such as strawberries, but also tuna, sardines, seafood or alcohol (wine or beer) yes you can experience problems such as abdominal swelling, diarrhea, itching, headache, cough, runny nose. In short, in the classic symptoms of food intolerance to histamine”.
Non-celiac gluten intolerance
Not only. Among the causes of abdominal swelling, when it occurs with a certain persistence, there may also be the aforementioned non-celiac gluten intolerance. A problem that we often tend to underestimate.
«Gluten, like lactose, is present in many foods, which we consume from breakfast to dinner – explains prof. Cosentino. – Because of this you should always try to understand if the disorder can also originate from the so-called “gluten sensitivity”without dismissing the problem with a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, as often happens».
How to understand if it is an intolerance?
If the problem of abdominal swelling therefore presents itself with a certain persistence, which tests should be undergone to identify any intolerance?
«There is no diagnostic test for non-celiac gluten intolerance. There diagnosis is therefore made by exclusion – explains the prof. Cosentino. – The only strategy, therefore, is to first exclude a real celiac disease by performing the specific markers of the autoimmune disease with a blood sample. Excluding celiac disease you can then suspect simple intolerance eliminating gluten for 20 days or a month at the most, and evaluate the well-being obtained from it. However, non-celiac intolerance is reversible over time. For lactose intolerance there is instead the breath testwhile for that to histamine we rely on the DAO test, a simple blood test that allows you to evaluate the activity of the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), responsible for the metabolism of histamine. Obviously this procedure must be followed under the guidance of a specialist».
Are intolerance tests reliable?
However, it is good to keep in mind that, with the exception of those indicated, Food intolerance tests are not always reliable. «For this reason today we refer to the so-called FODMAP foods (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols, ed), identified by a team of Australian researchers – specifies the gastroenterologist. – It deals with basically fermented foods, i.e. rich in sugars, contained in fruit and vegetables, towards which one can be poorly tolerant. More than undergoing tests for intolerances, it may be useful to know the foods most at risk of swelling and to follow an ad hoc diet under the guidance of a specialist ».
Neglected intolerances
What is certain is that intolerances or anyway excessive sensitivity to some types of food should never be overlooked.
«There are patients who, due to an erroneous diagnosis of irritable colon, have problems of intolerance and abdominal swelling even for 15 or 20 years. For these subjects the solution is more complex – specifies the specialist. – TO in the long run, unrecognized intolerances in fact lead to an alteration of the balance of the intestinal bacterial flora (dysbiosis) which in turn determines a chronic inflammatory state of the colon. The problem then widens and from a simple matter of “gut” we move on to a more general problem: The colon not working well begins to absorb harmful substances, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc., which go to reach other organs with annoying and chronic consequences, among which cystitis, vaginitis, prostatitis, dermatitiscandidiasis, bad breath and so on».
Dysbiosis test
«In these situations, a diet to follow is no longer enough it is also necessary to do specific tests, such as dysbiosis test, altered permeability of the intestine, overgrowth of intestinal bacteria and study of the microbiome. – continues the expert. – You have to in practice search for the bacterial anomaly and correct it with appropriate measures, among which diet, supplements, antibiotics, probiotics and colon hydrotherapy sessions. Obviously this process must be conducted by expert gastroenterologists in the sector who make use of other specialist figures such as biologist, nutritionist and pharmacologist. In short, it cannot be an improvised path or one attempted by the patient himself».
Swollen belly in summer: better to avoid DIY
From herbal teas to supplements, based on vegetable charcoal, simethicone or ginger, there are several remedies to manage swelling but the rule to always keep in mind is to avoid DIY.
“Following one diet given by a specialist, in general, patients feel much better after a month – underlines Prof. Cosentino. – Often, however, people undergo tests for intolerances, among other things very expensive, without the opinion of a doctor, thus eliminating various foods from the diet but without obtaining benefits. And let’s not forget it lifestyle: moving is good. A good daily walk helps the intestines move and eliminate trapped gas.
Beware of probiotic abuse
Another classic mistake? Taking too many probiotics.
“Must not abuse probiotics because you risk getting worse – concludes the expert. – If there isn’t a real lack of some microorganisms in the intestine, taking them in excess is not good for you. Better consult a specialist who can prescribe a dysbiosis test, that is, a simple urine test that can evaluate the presence and type of a real alteration of the bacterial flora».
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