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Getting rid of belly bloat is as easy as sipping a drink. Try these tasty quenchers from Dr. Luiza Petre, MD, director of the Medi-Weightloss Clinics, to detox and offload the inflammation that leads to abdominal weight gain.
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Potassium Anti-Bloat Smoothie
“Excess salt leads to bloating but potassium relieves that puffy feeling by balancing and circulating body fluids,” says Dr. Petre. The potassium-rich ingredients in this smoothie are coconut water, bananas and cucumbers. Cukes have also been shown to inhibit the activity of pro-inflammatory enzymes. Blend a half of a cup of coconut water with one banana, one cucumber, a small piece of fresh ginger root and ice. The ginger will soothe your digestive track and alleviate bloat.
Watermelon Mint Detox Juice
“Water is a natural diuretic which means drinking it can help your body eliminate the extra water it's holding on to,” says Dr. Petre. Watermelon is 93 percent water plus it has potassium to reverse the bloating effects of salt. Combine fresh watermelon with mint leaves and lime juice for a refreshing and body-friendly drink. Dr. Petre says that mint leaves dissolve excess gas in your middle that could cause bloating. And lime has potassium plus vitamin C to shoo toxins out of your body.
Raspberry (Ice) Tea
Berries have lots of water to fight bloat but raspberries win first place in the belly battle. Why? They’re high in fiber to help food move through your system quickly before gas and puffiness set in. Studies suggest raspberries may actually assist in weight loss because they contain compounds that could increase the production of leptin, the appetite suppressing hormone. Use them for tea along with cinnamon (it helps you pass gas!). Place a cinnamon stick into a cup of hot tea. Then boil some fresh raspberries until they are soft enough to push through a strainer and then into the tea. Add ice if you like it chilled.
Green Tea Pineapple Drink
Create an anti-bloat powerhouse smoothie with chunks of pineapple, a cup of green tea, a small piece of fresh ginger and ice. Green tea is a natural anti-bloating diuretic that also has a lot of antioxidants. Ginger keeps your digestive track running smoothly. Pineapple has potassium – the number one enemy of salt bloat– plus lots of enzymes to ease digestion.
