You've cut gluten. You've cut dairy. You're eating cleaner than ever.
And yet, after you eat, the bloating comes right back.
At some point, it may be time to ask a different question:
What if the problem isn't what you're eating?
In Week 3 of her Gut Health Series, Dr. Myra Reed explores three commonly overlooked reasons persistent bloating can continue even after someone has made significant changes to their diet.
Bloating Isn't Always About Food
When someone experiences chronic bloating, the conversation often revolves around elimination.
Remove this food. Avoid that ingredient. Try another diet.
But Dr. Reed looks beyond the food itself and asks what may be happening inside the digestive process.
In this episode, she explores three possibilities: SIBO, low stomach acid and bile insufficiency.
SIBO, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, occurs when there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine. Those bacteria can begin fermenting food before the body has had the chance to properly absorb it, contributing to gas, bloating, cramping and changes in bowel habits.
Low stomach acid is another possibility Dr. Reed discusses, and it's one that often surprises people. Bloating and reflux are frequently associated with too much stomach acid, but Dr. Reed explains why insufficient stomach acid can also interfere with digestion and contribute to similar symptoms.
Then there's bile. Bile helps the body break down dietary fat. When bile flow is insufficient, certain meals, including those containing otherwise healthy fats, may leave someone feeling heavy, nauseated or uncomfortable.
Could Your Probiotic Be Making Things Worse?
Here's where the conversation gets even more interesting.
Probiotics are practically synonymous with gut health. But that doesn't mean every probiotic is appropriate for every person.
Dr. Reed explains why adding more bacteria when someone already has bacterial overgrowth may potentially make bloating worse rather than better.
It's a good example of why treating gut symptoms without understanding their underlying cause can turn into a frustrating cycle of diets, supplements and trial and error.
Stop Guessing and Start Asking Why
Dr. Reed's approach is to look beyond the symptom.
Depending on the individual, that may mean evaluating bacterial overgrowth, the microbiome, digestive function, stomach acid, bile function and other potential contributors rather than simply recommending another elimination diet.
Because if you've already changed what you eat and the bloating keeps coming back, the next answer may not be another food to remove.
It may be understanding why your digestive system is struggling in the first place.
Watch Dr. Myra Reed break down three hidden causes of persistent bloating, the common gut-health supplement that can sometimes make things worse and what she looks for when food isn't the whole story.
WATCH: Why You're Still Bloated After Eating Clean
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