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WHAT NOT TO FEAR THINGS TO AVOID

01 RIPE BANANAS! V BELLY BLOAT INCLUDE:
WHEN DEALING WITH
What’s not to love about bananas. You
can grab one on the go, they are high
in potassium which is another thing
DRINKING FROM A STRAW
that rids water retention. 1. The mechanisms of straws make it so that you

02 CUCUMBERS V suck air in to take sips of your drink. An excess of
this can fill you up with air and cause bloating.
They’re known to reduce swelling

because they contain the flavonoid
antioxidant, quercetin. Cool crisp and SLEEPING RIGHT AFTER EATING
delicious, they’re common in salads and 2. Many people get drowsy right after a meal.
they can also be eaten solo as a snack. The best course of action is to go for a walk or do
You can also add them to water. something that gives you a bit of energy and helps
your body process your meal. Going to bed right

03 WATERMELON V after eating cripples your digestive process, slowing
down the breakdown of your food.
Watermelons are mostly water,

about 92 percent, but this refreshing
fruit is soaked with nutrients. Each EATING TOO RAPIDLY
juicy bite has significant levels of 3. If you find yourself struggling with bloating,
vitamins A, B6 and C, lots of lycopene, observing the pace at which you eat can help reduce
antioxidants and amino acids. There's the amount of air you intake while consuming the
even a modest amount of potassium. foods you love. Take more time to enjoy your meal.

FERMENTED FOODS V
Kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, and
kombucha. These high probiotic,
04 bacteria-friendly fermented foods
are key to maximizing digestion and
maintaining a healthy gut.

DRINK WATER AND GREEN TEA! V
05 Since carbonated beverages contribute
to bloat, stick to water and flavored
teas. Sipping on these beverages
throughout the day keeps the digestive
system moving. When you deprive
your body of water, it will hold on to
the water already in your body without
excretion leading to bloating.

ABOUT THE DOCTOR:

Dr. Niket Sonpal is Adjunct Assistant Professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Clinical instructor
at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn and on the board of the NY‐ American College of Physicians
(NYACP). He is completing his Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Lenox and has spoken and presented at over
25 national and regional conferences on his research and is a regular participant in national courses.

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