No matter what time of year it is, the temptation is always there. Tons of food equals bloated bellies. Why does that happen? Is there a way to eat to your heart’s content without feeling bloated afterward? There is, and the key is to be informed. Here are 16 different carb sources that will leave you feeling bloated:

  1. Dessert Coffee Drinks
  2. Bagel Sandwich
  3. Jelly, Jams, Preserves, and Bottled Peanut Butter and Jelly
  4. Fruit Smoothies
  5. Cheese Snacks
  6. Muffins and Cupcakes
  7. Fruity Yogurt
  8. White Bread
  9. Wraps
  10. Popcorn
  11. Beer
  12. Frozen Dinners
  13. Broccoli
  14. Diet Soda
  15. Legumes
  16. Gum

Not all of these foods are necessarily bad for your health. Broccoli, for example, has many great health benefits. However, when these foods are paired with bad eating habits, bloating is often an uncomfortable side effect. Next time you decide to eat a frozen dinner with popcorn and have a beer after work, make sure you stay away from these bad habits:

  1. Overeating: Eating small, frequent meals will keep you from feeling the need to overeat in order to satisfy your hunger. Overeating causes bloating due to the immense amount of food that needs to be digested at one time.
  2. Eating Quickly: Eating food quickly brings in access air that contributes to bloating. It also causes you to overeat because you don’t realize you’re full until about 20 minutes after you eat.
  3. Consuming Too Much Air: Strangely enough, consuming air makes you bloated. Drinking through a straw will help counter this.

Bloating isn’t the end of the world, but those of us who have experienced it know how uncomfortable it is. Trying these tips just might help keep that terrible feeling away.