Say Bye to Bloat!

Boating, lounging poolside, laying out, and other bikini worthy activities may be on the radar as summer rolls in. Who wants to ruin that oh-so-sculpted tummy you worked your butt off to achieve by eating belly-bloating foods?  No one, that's who.  Certain foods are prone to causing gas, abdominal distention, bloating, and other not so pleasant symptoms.  It's time for you to be aware of what foods to avoid prior to a day in your polka dot bikini and which to chow on.  Now, I'm not saying that you should ALWAYS avoid all of these foods - some of them listed are very nutritious, but nonetheless, do tend to cause bloating.  Take a look:

AVOID:

• Salt - induces water retention (bloat!)
• Sugar Alcohols - xylitol or malitol (sugar substitutes)
• Chewing Gum - you swallow air while chewing (which leads to bloating)
• Carbonated Drinks 
• Spicy Foods
• Fried Foods - ALWAYS avoid
• High-Acid Drinks - alcohol, fruit juices, tea, etc.
• Legumes, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Onions, Peppers, and Citrus Fruits
• These foods are all very healthy and should not be avoided on a regular basis.
• Raw Foods - try steaming your vegetables when avoiding bloat.
• You can usually obtain the most nutrients from raw fruits and vegetables so do not aim to avoid raw at all times.
• Excess Carbs - you still need some carbs, but avoid carbo-loading the night before the boat!

GO FOR IT:

• Water
• Cucumbers
• Watermelon
• Asparagus
• Bananas
• Egg Whites
• Red Grapes
• Greek Yogurt
• Avocados
• Almonds
• Zucchini
• Reduced-Fat String Cheese
• Salmon

Keep up with your healthy diet and exercise to maintain that flat belly all summer long!

San Francisco - Scott McKenzie