Buh-Bye, Belly Bloat

Ever polish off a healthy veggie-filled lunch, only to feel as puffy as if you’d downed a burger and fries? 

This WTF scenario is actually pretty common and can truly suck in the summer, when bloat makes your high-waisted shorts and skimpy swimsuits feel like medieval torture devices.

Here’s what gives: A large high-fat meal can indeed lead to the proverbial food-baby feeling—but that’s not the only reason for a distended belly. Most often, the true culprit is gas, says Sonya Angelone, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This is especially likely if you’re eating fiber-rich foods (read: kale, beans, fruit). “Almost any high-fiber food, even in a reasonable portion, can make you feel bloated,” explains Angelone.

That’s because your stomach’s digestive enzymes have to work extra hard to digest this good-for-you fare. And sometimes, your gut can’t completely finish the job, leaving little remnants of your lunch salad to slip into your intestines. This is where things get really gassy. “When bacteria in your large intestine feed on your lunch leftovers, this causes gas,” explains Angelone. The whole process can leave you feeling like an overly inflated air mattress.