Diet Diva Q&A

We've compiled a list of your most frequently asked diet related questions.

This week we look at bloating - the diet tricks to reduce it, what causes it and more. Not sure whether to go or organic? We've got the answer right here!

Q: My stomach bloats after nearly every meal. My doctor says I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Is there anything that can help ease the discomfort of bloating and pain that follows all my meals?

A: Bloating can be caused by food allergies and an inadequate production of digestive enzymes. Food allergy can be assessed by means of blood and skin prick tests. I have found that a common cause of this problem is gluten intolerance, with yeast intolerance running a close second. Dairy is another common offender. Sadly, often the food you crave the most is the food that you need to avoid and simply eliminating those foods can be beneficial. Water with lemon will stimulate your digestives process, as will the herbal remedy Swedish bitters.

Q: Sometimes when I eat a meal, I feel bloated and full for the entire day and can't even fit in dinner. I don't think I'm intolerant to foods. What do you suggest?

A: First, there could be too much fat in the meal. Fat can take longer to digest as it is emulsified and broken down by bile before leaving the stomach to be absorbed in the digestive tract. Gluten intolerance can give symptoms of bloating and indigestion. If you suspect you have gluten intolerance, don't exclude gluten from your diet until a doctor has confirmed you don't have coeliac disease ( an auto-immune condition). Intolerance to lactose, the sugar found in dairy, may also cause bloating. Some people may lack the enzyme in their digestive system that breaks down lactose, leading to the inability to absorb this sugar and causing symptoms such as bloating, reflux, wind and discomfort.

Q: I've been working hard to get in shape and have been doing well. But I still have this potbelly I can't budge. What can I do to slim down my stomach the way I trimmed the rest of my body?

A: Does your potbelly stay the same or look better on some days than others? If it's the latter, you could be suffering from bloating, caused by the foods you eat. If so, keep a food diary to identify links between your diet and stomach size. If it's the former, be patient- keep pushing yourself in your workouts to reduce your stomach fat. You should also learn how to engage your deep stomach muscle, transversus abdominis, which is responsible for pulling your tummy flat, by drawing your bellybutton towards your spine- Pilates is good for this. Lastly, are you prone to stress? Studies at the University of California found women with more belly fat had a tougher time dealing with stress and were more likely to soothe their mood with sweets.

ORGANIC VS NON-ORGANIC

Q: A lot of my friends eat organic foods and are telling me I should do the same to avoid preservatives and other nasties. Is there much difference between organic and non-organic, and is it worth switching when those foods are so much more expensive?

A: Organic foods are not just simply foods without chemical fertilisers and pesticides, they are produced on a farm which is managed to be environmentally friendly. Because this type of farming is more labour-intensive, organic foods are generally more expensive than regular foods. They may be free of pesticides, but are not necessarily more nutritious than regular produce. For example, an organically grown carrot has the same amount of vitamin A as a non-organically grown carrot.