These 9 Foods Will Help You De-Bloat Faster Than Anything Else

Bloating doesn't look great, sure, but bloating can also cause physical pain, so when your body is going through it, it might be worth it to eat some de-bloating foods—and fast. But which foods will be your de-bloat heroes? The nine foods below, according to Daily Harvest's nutritionist Amy Shapiro, MS, RD, CDN. Plus, read on for tips on how to de-bloat quickly from certified nutritionist Philip Goglia, Ph.D., of G-Plans.

1. Watermelon

Foods that reduce bloating: Watermelon

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Watermelon is (obviously) made up of mostly water—in fact, it's about 97% water, and this will help to hydrate you and flush out excess water and sodium in the body, explains Shapiro. "It is also high in potassium and therefore helps to flush out excess water in the body in order to keep fluid balance."

2. Sweet Potato

Foods that reduce bloating: sweet potatoes

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High in fiber and potassium, sweet potatoes will help you to stay satisfied without causing too much volume in your stomach, says Shapiro. Plus, "the potassium will flush out excess water in the body."

3. Banana

Foods that reduce bloating: Bananas

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Saying it again for the people in the back—potassium is your friend when it comes to de-bloating. Bananas are super high in potassium (anyone who watched Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves knows that), so they will help to decrease fluid in the body.

4. Water

Foods that reduce bloating: Glass of Water

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"It sounds like an oxymoron. Why would you want to put more water in when you want to take water out?" agrees Shapiro. But, she explains, "the body holds on to water when it doesn't have enough, so by drinking more water, you'll release the excess."

5. Cucumber

Foods that reduce bloating: Cucumbers

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"When you are feeling bloated and gassy, you want to increase foods that are full of water and low in fiber so they do not add to the already-uncomfortable bloated situation," says Shapiro. "Cucumber is made up mostly of water and is easy to digest."

6. Fennel

Foods that reduce bloating: Fennel

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"Not only does it help to release excess water, but it also helps to relax the gastrointestinal tract, which will help air pass through to allow for de-bloating," explains Shapiro. "Enjoy as a food, seeds, or even a tea."

7. Celery

Foods that reduce bloating: Celery

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"Celery is another high-water, low-fiber food that will relieve bloating by not adding to the discomfort and will help with flushing excess water from the body," says Shapiro.

8. Papaya

Foods that reduce bloating: Papayas

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Fun fact: Papaya contains an enzyme called papain, which is known to help with digestion and therefore can relieve or prevent any bloating that may occur when eating, explains Shapiro. "You can enjoy this food whole or in a supplement as well, to take prior to a big meal."

9. Mint

Foods that reduce bloating: Mint Leaves

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According to Shapiro, mint contains natural spasmodics (spasm-inducing properties for your insides) and oils that help relax the GI tract and move digestion along, preventing and reducing bloating and gas.

De-Bloating Tips

Foods that reduce bloating: Milk

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Eliminate Dairy: "Dairy is like eating moderately hard phlegm," says Goglia. "It adversely affects digestion, it causes bloating and gas, it promotes inflammation, and it adversely affects oxygen utilization."

Foods that reduce bloating: Bread and Jam

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Avoid yeast, mold, gluten, and, really, any starch with more than one ingredient: "This basically means no bread. They are multi-ingredient starches. They are yeast, mold, and gluten-bound," says Goglia.

Foods that reduce bloating: Salmon Bowl

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Your dinner should be your biggest protein meal: "Fish offers up a lot of anti-inflammatory benefits and fat-burning benefits when consumed at night, but it's got to be a fatty fish like salmon, sea bass, black cod, or Arctic char," Goglia explains.

Drinking Water

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Drink half your body weight in ounces of water: "Water does two things. Firstly, it's responsible for moving nutrients and toxins through your system, and then more importantly, as it relates to your physique, it regulates temperature," Goglia says. "If your water is low and you can't regulate temperature patterns, then your body will start to store fat underneath your skin to act as insulation to control your temperature."

Next up: FYI: Drinking These Teas Will Get Rid of Bloating Fast

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.