Probably one of the most common symptoms we hear our customers talk of is bloating. This is a reflection of its prevalence in today’s society as it is one of the most commonly experienced gastrointestinal symptoms worldwide. It affects people of all ages and though it affects both men and women, (it appears to be more common in women); this is thought to be linked to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle.

Although very common, the mechanisms of action behind bloating are not fully understood. Bloating can range in severity from mild to severe. It can be described as a ‘full belly’, ‘heavy and uncomfortable feeling in the abdomen’ or ‘too much gas’. In some individuals, bloating can be accompanied by a visible distension of the abdomen, but for others their abdomen feels enlarged and there is no visible physical change.

There are a number of possible root causes which have been researched, such as impaired gas handling, gut hypersensitivity, altered gut bacteria, food intolerance, sensitivity or malabsorption, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and abnormal abdominal-diaphragmatic reflexes.