Why do I feel bloated all the time? This is a question asked by many people daily around the world.
There are many reasons for this condition but a very common one is poor digestion caused through years of eating processed, refined foods. These include white bread, sugar, coffee, milk, etc. In the west we consume huge amounts of denatured and processed foods and it is no wonder that in the long run our bodies start to pay the price.
We spend hundred of dollars a year giving our cars a service but almost nothing on giving our bodies a well needed tune up. You often hear about people who go on water or juice fasts and other extreme regimens to cleanse their colons. There is even a resort in Thailand where you fast for 10 days and take huge coffee enemas. One journalist who tried this ended up passing a marble he had swallowed aged 5!
So, if like most people you don't want to go to such extremes but would like to feel a bit less sluggish and have a bit more energy, what is the solution?
One thing I swear by and has produced amazing results is to have a smoothie every morning. Now I am not talking about a typical dairy smoothie that will just make your bloating worse, I am talking about a smoothie made with almond milk. When I first made this it was a revelation - people are amazed at how creamy it is and often don't believe there is no dairy. This is how I make it:
Ingredients:
Quarter of a cup of almonds (either skinned or not, it doesn't matter) 1 Cup of filtered water Half a frozen banana (peel a banana and break it into pieces, place in a freezer bag and freeze overnight) Your choice of frozen fruit (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries etc) - use about a cup
Method:
Place the water and almonds into a goblet blender and blend until smooth Gradually add the frozen fruit - you can adjust the consistency by adding more water if you don't like it too thick. Pour in a table spoon of flax seed oil or spirulina if you want
This will make the most unbelievably smooth, creamy, dairy-free smoothie that will give you a huge amount of energy in the mornings. Have one of these every morning for a month and you will see a reduction in your feeling of bloatedness.
