There are those who struggle with body weight every day and those with cellulite. But another arch enemy that affects both genders is abdominal bloating. If the belly rises with the passing of the hours, perhaps it is good to follow some simple precautions. As always, however, it is essential to contact your doctor if the problem is the sign of a gastrointestinal system disorder for which real therapies are required. It is also not recommended to rely on scientifically unverified food intolerance tests. The most famous of these is the Vega Test. An exam whose result is not repeatable and therefore cannot be considered valid. The decoction of fennel seeds to deflate the belly
Fennel seeds are prepared in the form of a decoction. This means that it is necessary to add a small part of the drug in cold water and bring everything to a boil for a few minutes: roughly it is good to say that it should not exceed 5 minutes. At the end of cooking, the decoction is turned off and left to infuse for another ten minutes. After that it is filtered and consumed. For better effects, you can add aniseed in the dose of 10%. Fennel, or thyme for intestinal dysbiosis
Fennel, in addition to facilitating the expulsion of gas – especially when used together with anise – can be useful for reducing the presence of harmful bacteria that cause dysbiosis. “The aqueous fennel seed extract inhibited the growth of Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella flexneri and Bacillus cereus”. Contraindications of fennel
Unlike other natural remedies, which are considered safer, it is important to emphasize that fennel should be used with some care. High doses, in fact, can be harmful in subjects at risk of epilepsy and in pregnant women. According to some theories it should not be used in subjects suffering from breast cancer due to the presence of hormone-like substances. Other researchers, however, affirm exactly the opposite: «Anethole is the main active component of fennel seeds which has exhibited anti-cancer activity. Al-Harbi et al. investigated the anticancer activity of anethole against Ehrlich-induced mammary adenocarcinoma in a tumor model in Swiss albino mice. The study revealed that anethole increased survival time, reduced tumor weight and reduced volume and body weight of mice carrying Ehrlich’s ascites. […] The results suggest that Foeniculum vulgare could be considered as a natural resource of anticancer agents, as well as cytoprotective to normal cells ».Peppermint Empty Stomach Quickly
One of the best remedies for abdominal bloating is peppermint. Its leaves, in fact, are able to break the gas bubbles that form in the gastrointestinal level. In addition, taken after meals, it accelerates the stomach emptying time, giving an immediate sensation of lightness. It is also excellent in cases where abdominal swelling is caused by a slowdown in bile secretion and, consequently, by constipation. Peppermint can be taken after meals in the form of an infusion: bring the water to 80 degrees, turn off the gas and add the dried leaves. Cover the saucepan with a lid and leave to infuse for about ten minutes. After that it is filtered through a sieve and consumed.Contraindications of peppermint
It is good to avoid taking peppermint if you suffer from ital hernia, kidney stones and gastrointestinal reflux. The benefits of peppermint
“Peppermint has significant antimicrobial and antiviral activities, strong antioxidant and antitumor actions and some antiallergic potentials – reads a recent study published in Phytotherapy Research – Animal studies demonstrate a relaxing effect on gastrointestinal tissue, analgesic and anesthetic effects in the central and peripheral nervous system, immunomodulatory actions and a chemopreventive potential. Human studies on the gastrointestinal system, respiratory tract and analgesic effects of peppermint oil and its components have been reported. Several clinical studies have been conducted that have examined the effects of peppermint oil on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). ‘ Swollen belly from constipation
Finally, if the swollen belly has a tangible cause such as constipation, then it is better to rely on some plant preparations based on senna and aloe. To enhance the effect, during the day it is preferable to drink water rich in bicarbonates and sulphates (such as magnesium) which stimulate digestive functions. Scientific sources
[1] Ford AC, Talley NJ, Spiegel BM, Foxx-Orenstein AE, Schiller L, Quigley EM, Moayyedi P. Effect of fiber, antispasmodics, and peppermint oil in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: systematic review and meta- analysis. BMJ. 2008; 337: a2313.
[2] Khanna R, MacDonald JK, Levesque BG. Peppermint oil for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2014; 48: 505-512.
[3] Phytother Res. 2006 Aug;20(8):619-33. A review of the bioactivity and potential health benefits of peppermint tea (Mentha piperita L.). McKay DL1, Blumberg JB.
[4] Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014: 842674. Published online 2014 Aug 3. doi: 10.1155/2014/842674 PMCID: PMC4137549 Foeniculum vulgare Mill: A Review of Its Botany, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Contemporary Application, and Toxicology Shamkant B. Badgujar,* Vainav V. Patel, and Atmaram H. Bandivdekar
[4] Pradhan M, Sribhuwaneswari S, Karthikeyan D, et al. In-vitro cytoprotection activity of Foeniculum vulgare and Helicteres isora in cultured human blood lymphocytes and antitumour activity against B16F10 melanoma cell line. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2008;1(4):450–452.
