There are a variety of factors that can contribute to you feeling bloated, sick, and exhausted. Bloating is generally caused by an accumulation of gas in the digestive tract, and it is a common occurrence when it comes to digestive issues related to diet. While bloating is a common complaint, feeling bloated after every meal could indicate the presence of an underlying food intolerance. Digestive issues are frequently caused by what we eat so it may be beneficial to rule out the possibility of food intolerance to see if that helps ease your symptoms.
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Food intolerance
If you notice that you get bloated after every meal, it’s possible that you may have an undiagnosed food intolerance that needs to be addressed. If you are experiencing bloating after eating certain foods you may likely be intolerant. Bloating is an indication that the food you are eating is not being digested adequately which can cause other issues like feeling sick and tired.
Constipation, diarrhoea, and bloating are also signs of food intolerance, as is excessive wind which may also be foul-smelling. Gluten and dairy are the most common types of food to become intolerant to, but many other types of food can cause problems too.
If you’re experiencing continuous symptoms then it is time to make an appointment with your doctor to rule out food intolerance. Your doctor will be able to refer you to a dietitian who can assist you in developing an elimination diet that will help you to identify the source of your discomfort.
Elimination diet
An elimination diet is a great way to tell if you are suffering from food intolerance, when you follow this way of eating, you eliminate foods that you suspect your body will not tolerate very well. The foods are then reintroduced one at a time, to identify any symptoms that indicate a reaction to the food that was reintroduced.
An elimination diet is carried out for a period of around 5–6 weeks. This diet can be used to assist those suffering from sensitive gut, food intolerance, and food allergies. It helps to identify which foods are causing the symptoms to worsen. An elimination diet may help to alleviate symptoms such as bloating, gas, diarrhoea, constipation, and nausea by removing the food that is causing the problem.
The ultimate goal of an elimination diet is to determine which food is causing the problem; once you have successfully identified which food your body does not tolerate very well, you can eliminate that food from your diet completely.
Food allergies
An elimination diet for food allergies should only be carried out under the supervision of a medical professional. If you have a known or suspected food allergy, always consult with your doctor before taking part in an elimination diet. An allergic reaction manifests itself in a variety of ways, the most common of which are rashes, hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing. Anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening medical condition can occur when an allergen is reintroduced so it is important to know what to do and how best to treat it.
Why do I feel sick and tired all the time?
Many of us have experienced the bloating and fatigue that occurs after consuming a large meal and indulging in a sweet treat. If you have a food sensitivity, this may happen more frequently. An allergy or sensitivity to food could be the source of the symptoms you’ve been experiencing, including fatigue. In order to deal with food sensitivity, your body expends all of its available energy reserves, making you unable to perform simple tasks and leaving you feeling bloated, tired, and sick.
We are all different, and what one person’s body can tolerate, another person’s body cannot, so don’t be afraid of removing the food that is causing the problem. It is still possible to have a healthy diet while avoiding certain food groups, you can ensure that it gets all of the nutrients it requires by eating foods that your body can tolerate. As soon as you’ve determined which foods you’re intolerant to, you can begin working on boosting your energy levels by eliminating those foods from your diet.
What else can I do to stop feeling tired?
Manufacturing processes and modern-day living has seen fresh homemade meals replaced by convenience micro meals and fast food. Making a conscious effort to eliminate processed foods from your diet while you work to regain your energy is also a good decision.
Here are some examples of food that you can eliminate;
- Foods that contain a lot of added sugar
- Foods and beverages that contain a significant amount of caffeine
- Heavily processed food
- Heavily preserved food
There is no simple solution to regaining your energy; however, eliminating the wrong types of foods and substituting them with foods that will provide your body with the energy and nutrients it requires is the most effective method. Your energy may not return immediately, but as soon as the food that was causing you to feel tired is eliminated, you should begin to feel more like yourself again.