Digestive issues are the most common reason that people go to the doctor, and bloating issues make up nearly 1/3 of those complaints. Although many doctors, pharmacists, and even television commercials offer a pill as a quick fix for any issue you’re having, this will only treat the symptom and provide temporary relief.

It is important to realize that bloating is a symptom of something else that is going on, not an issue in and of itself. That means that you need to be taking steps to find out what is causing the bloating and treat that if you want real and lasting relief.

If you are waking up with a flat stomach in the morning and find yourself unbuttoning your jeans by the end of the day, you could have a digestive issue that is causing bloating. But rather than taking a pill that may or may not reduce bloating, try these natural methods which will treat the root problem which will then get rid of the bloating.

1. Digestive Bitters

You can find a number of different types of digestive bitters that are made to help stimulate the pancreas, liver, stomach, and small intestines to create more secretions. One of the causes of bloating is food that spends too much time in the digestive tract which allows the bad gut bacteria to work on it, but increasing secretions will help keep things moving. Some of the best digestive bitters contain rhubarb and dandelion. For best results, take them on an empty stomach before you eating, using the dosage instructions on the bottle.

2. Don’t Drink and Eat

Although drinking adequate amounts of water is essential for good overall health, sipping water in between bites of food can actually cause bloating because it dilutes your digestive enzymes and reduces their ability to quickly and properly digest food. However, what is significantly worse than water with food is carbonated beverages in general. Carbonated beverages contain carbon dioxide which reacts with your stomach acid in a chemical reaction that causes gas and bloating.

3. Get Your Stomach Acid Flowing

When you don’t have enough stomach acid, then your food is going to move much more slowly through your digestive tract. If you find yourself feeling like you have a brick sitting in your intestines after eating a protein-rich meal like fish or steak, this may be caused by low levels of stomach acid. Some of the causes to low stomach acid levels include stress, highly acidic diet, food sensitivities, dehydration, and insufficient salt levels. The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to get your stomach acid flowing. Digestive bitters can be great for this as well as supplements and digestive enzymes that can be taken orally. Another simple natural method that gives the stomach acid a kick start is drinking a glass of lemon water first thing in the morning.

4. Listen to Your Stomach

One of the most common weight loss methods that many people follow is eating 6 or 7 times throughout the day. However, unless you are exercising just as often in order to burn off this food, this eating schedule can cause over-eating and bloating. Instead of trying to follow a specific schedule when it comes to eating, follow the direction of your stomach and eat when you start to feel hungry rather than when the clock says it’s time to eat. For most people, eating 3 appropriately-proportioned sized meals during the day with small snacks in between is more than enough to be satisfied and also to avoid bloating from excessive food build-up in the intestines.

5. Try Raw Ginger Water

Sometimes, you just need quick relief from bloating and aren’t exactly sure why you’re bloated. To treat simple cases of bloating, try ginger. Ginger has great anti-inflammatory properties and can quickly relieve bloating. To make ginger tea, take a piece of raw ginger and allow it to steep in hot water for a minimum of 5 minutes. For added benefits, add some lemon water and drink it. This is easily one of the best ways to relive bloating naturally.

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