1. Intestinal yeast overgrowth.
Excessive yeast growth in the intestines is extremely common and is usually due to frequent or prolonged use of antibiotics. The most common causes are: taking numerous antibiotics during childhood for ear infections or tonsillitis, prolonged use of antibiotics for acne (tetracycline or minocine), or taking antibiotics for frequent urinary tract infections. Antibiotics alter the intestinal flora, allowing yeasts, opportunistic organisms, to proliferate.
An overgrowth of yeast in the body can cause bloating. This is because yeast ferments food, leading to flatulence. Some people may also experience strong cravings for sugar or carbohydrates, binge eating, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, vaginal infections, and possibly fungal skin infections.
The good news is that this problem can be treated by rebalancing the intestinal flora with an anti-yeast treatment: a sugar-free diet, taking dietary supplements to eliminate yeasts and replenishing the intestinal flora with probiotics.
2. Food Intolerances.
Food intolerance differs from food allergy in that it is a delayed reaction to a food, rather than an immediate reaction such as itching, swelling, or anaphylactic shock. Food intolerances cause immune stress and inflammation, which can also irritate the digestive tract and cause bloating. The most common food intolerances involve dairy products, eggs, certain fruits (especially bananas, citrus fruits, and pineapples), sometimes oilseeds (almonds and peanuts being the most common), wheat, gluten, corn, etc.
Food intolerances can be accurately diagnosed with a blood test. A food intolerance is suspected in someone with a history of allergies, eczema, asthma, or a family history of autoimmune diseases, but it can also be associated with many other health problems, such as skin conditions, digestive issues, and significant fatigue. Bloating usually subsides within 4 to 6 weeks after eliminating the trigger foods.
