What Are the Causes of Bloating After Eating?

Abdominal bloating is a common clinical problem. According to a special report issued by the Digestive System Research Unit at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, it is a situation that 10 to 30 percent of the world's population lives with.

Terminology

• Bloating is an ambiguous term that can mean different things to different people. Therefore, the word is used to describe diverse afflictions.

Types

• The sensation of bloating is, at times, caused by the inability to process certain foods such as wheat gluten, dairy products, fructose from fruits and yeast.

Identification

• Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts may cause bloating, particularly when eaten raw. Beans also have this effect due to their complex structure of starch and protein.

Gas

• Bloating and flatulence are often caused by friendly intestinal bacteria, which are an integral part of the digestive process.

Medical Conditions

• At times, bloating is attributable to medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatic insufficiency and tropical sprue, a malabsorption disease commonly found in the tropics.