The commonest cause of bloating is a food intolerance. The problem is not the size of the meal, but that you are probably eating food that you are not able to digest without being aware of it. The undigested food is then metabolized to hydrogen and methane gases by gut bacteria and causes bloating.
Certainly reducing carbonated drinks will help to reduce the gas, but the most important thing is to identify what you are eating that you are intolerant to and that, hence, causes bloating.
Our clinics employ 2 strategies for our bloated patients:
1. Hydrogen/ methane breath testing to look for sugar intolerance or bacterial overgrowth, which are common causes of bloating.
2. Seeing a specialist dietitian for a low FODMAP diet, to help to identify specific food intolerances.
You may want to consider these strategies if your symptoms become troublesome. They are available in the larger public hospital and in established digestive group practices.
