Women in their middle and late 40s have to go through some kinds of problems such as hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, joint pain, itching etc. These problems occur due to some hormonal misbalances in the body which is called menopause. One of the most unpopular but frequently experienced symptoms of menopause is bloating. This is closely associated to an increase in intestinal gas and fluid retention caused by hormonal misbalances in the body and may also be related with weight gain.

The major causes of menopause bloating are:

Hormonal Causes

One major reason of bloating for menopausal women is a fluctuation in hormones, particularly the estrogen hormone. Estrogen is very useful for a number of reasons. First of all, it plays an important role in the preservation of water that occurs naturally as part of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Women tend to retain more in the days leading up to menstruation as a result of the rising estrogen levels. When estrogen levels become irregular during premenopause, the incidence of water retention also gets unbalanced which leads to bloating.

Other Causes

Another most common cause of bloating is the prominence of intestinal gas. Generally 30-60% of menopausal women suffer from gas during this time period which is the result of hormonal fluctuations in the body.

The major symptoms of menopause bloating are-

• abdomen tightness
• abdomen fullness
• distention in abdomen
• Increase in burping or flatulence

Sometime it causes pain also. The causes of menopause bloating are different such as it can be anxiety or stress or lack of adequate nutrition. Bloating can also be a common side effect of hormone therapy which is used during the time of menopause.

Some suggestions which can be recommended for uncomfortable bloating are:

• A variety of natural and alternative remedies exist which can be helpful. Most of the time this is the safest, easiest, and most effective way to give relief to menopause bloating.
• Slow chewing of the food. Since digestion starts in the mouth only, proper chewing of the food is very important.
• Eating too much gassy foods at one meal should be avoided. Foods like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, beans, brussel spouts, corn, oats, potatoes, apples, pears, peaches, milk, soft cheese and fluffy wheat are difficult to digest so, these kind of foods should be avoided.
• Foods that minimize gas should be consumed more - such as bananas, grapes, eggs, rice, peanut butter, fruit juices or herbal teas, yogurt and hard cheese.
• Sugary snacks and raw seafood should be avoided because it carries a high risk containing parasites; which might cause bloating.
• Natural herb such as fennel which contains anti-gas and anti-spasmodic properties, is considered to be very helpful for bloating, and has no side effects.
• Yoga provides a sense of control over the breathing and stress. It can help to feel relaxed.
• Estrogen does have an affect on bowel motility and menopause bloating may be related to constipation. Increasing fiber in the diet should reduce or reverse menopause bloating Dietary supplements containing estrogen-like plant components may be very beneficial.