This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
Bloating may be a fact of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop trying to find ways to ease the discomfort it can bring you. While bloating often comes from eating a large meal, it can also be provoked by stress, a bad reaction to food, and even lack of sleep. Waking up with an inflamed belly can easily start your day off on the wrong foot, but thankfully there are tricks you can integrate into your morning routine to minimize bloating and ease stress in order to feel your best. If this sounds familiar, this is the best morning hack health experts recommend working into your day to beat bloat for good.
Keeping hydrated is vital for your body to function properly so this should be the first thing you do each morning. But while a glass of cold water may be the most satisfying, you’re better off opting for a cup of warm water with lemon, particularly if bloating is a common issue. Failing to drink enough water throughout the day can cause your body to hold onto more inflammation in the form of water weight, so it’s best to start out the day on the right foot with a cup of water before anything else. Warm water will flush out the system and lemon will get things moving, kickstarting your digestion to limit bloating in the coming hours.
Shape explains, “Since lemons are a natural diuretic and a gentle laxative when added to warm water, consuming lemon water can help reduce the amount of salt retained in the body and help with bloating.” It’s important that your water is warm in order to reap the most anti-inflammatory benefits, as cold water has been known to make it more difficult for your body to digest foods, causing you to hold onto more air.
Lemons are rich in fiber which also aids your digestion in running smoothly, but it is most often found in the pulp rather than the juice. “The main fiber in lemons is pectin, a form of soluble fiber linked to multiple health benefits. Soluble fiber can improve gut health and slow the digestion of sugars and starches. These effects may result in reduced blood sugar levels,” explains Healthline. If you suffer from inflammation caused by constipation in particular, warm lemon water can be a great start to your day to naturally get things moving and minimize bloat.
The discomfort that accompanies bloating is often the worst part of this frustrating symptom, so beginning each morning with a cup of warm lemon water will help to ease inflammation, kickstart your metabolism, and cut down on the tight feeling that goes hand in hand with bloating. Inflammation can stem from a number of different sources, but with that comes a variety of tricks you can incorporate into your daily routine to banish it. However, warm lemon water is far and away the best natural remedy to begin morning free of bloat.
