Question
The child eats well, has a particularly good appetite recently, and has no tongue coating. We followed the expert’s advice to give the child only light foods, but we dared not give him meat when he wanted it. But how should we manage the diet to relieve abdominal distension?
Answer
One, reduce the intake of high-fiber foods such as potatoes, noodles, beans, and vegetables like kale, broccoli, and onions, as these foods are prone to produce gas in the gastrointestinal tract, causing abdominal distension. Two, avoid eating indigestible foods such as fried beans and hard pancakes. These hard foods are difficult to digest and can remain in the gastrointestinal tract for a long time, producing more gas and triggering abdominal distension. Three, chew slowly and swallow; eating quickly or walking while eating can easily swallow air. Drinking beverages through a straw can also cause a large amount of air to enter the stomach, leading to abdominal distension. Four, overcome negative emotions. Negative emotions can weaken digestive function or stimulate the stomach to produce too much gastric acid, resulting in increased stomach gas and exacerbating abdominal distension. Five, pay attention to daily exercise. Consistently engaging in about an hour of moderate exercise each day can help overcome negative emotions and aid in maintaining normal gastrointestinal function. Six, supplement with appropriate fiber foods. High fiber can help alleviate abdominal distension, especially after consuming high-fat foods. It is difficult to digest and absorb high-fat foods; with the addition of fiber, the digestive system can quickly clear out. Seven, be aware of possible diseases. Some cases of abdominal distension may be a sign or symptom of a disease, such as allergic colitis or ulcerative colitis.