--- title: 5 Sneaky Causes of Bloat and How to Avoid Them description: Vegetables like cauliflower and kale as well as soy can trigger bloating. canonical: https://time.com/4306824/foods-cause-bloating/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-04-29T17:00:13.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T17:00:56.708Z article:section: Health og:title: 5 Sneaky Causes of Bloat and How to Avoid Them og:description: Vegetables like cauliflower and kale as well as soy can trigger bloating og:url: https://time.com/4306824/foods-cause-bloating/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9ec98ddf2c6ff5fe/6987814c524fc08c8cdecad1/time-50-healthiest-foods-cauliflower.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: healthiest foods, health food, diet, nutrition, time.com stock, cauliflower, vegetables og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 5 Sneaky Causes of Bloat and How to Avoid Them twitter:description: Vegetables like cauliflower and kale as well as soy can trigger bloating twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9ec98ddf2c6ff5fe/6987814c524fc08c8cdecad1/time-50-healthiest-foods-cauliflower.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 5 Sneaky Causes of Bloat and How to Avoid Them > Sponsored content. 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Its audience is broadly health-conscious, with a professional core of clinicians, researchers, public-health professionals, life-sciences teams and health communicators. by [Lindsey Murray / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Lindsey Murray / Health.com Contributor Apr 29, 2016 5:00 PM UTC  Danny Kim for TIME by [Lindsey Murray / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Lindsey Murray / Health.com Contributor Apr 29, 2016 5:00 PM UTC You know that eating too much—or too fast—can lead to the dreaded bloat. But what if you haven’t done either, and you’re still feeling puffy? In her new book, _The Bloat Cure_ ($20; [amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/The-Bloat-Cure-Natural-Solutions/dp/1583335781)), gastroenterologist Robynne Chutkan, MD, describes an A-to-Z list of possible triggers for a ballooning mid-section. Here, five sneaky culprits that could be behind your discomfort. **1\. Artificial Sweeteners** As if you needed another reason to avoid [artificial sweeteners](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20424821,00.html), they may be causing your belly to bulge. These chemicals don’t get absorbed in the small intestine and end up in your colon, where they’re fermented by bacteria. The result: “lots of smelly gas,” as Dr. Chutkan puts it in her book. But when it comes to [keeping gassiness at bay](http://www.health.com/health/video/0,,20983852,00.html), regular sugar isn’t much better. “Too much sugar sends bad bacteria and other undesirables like yeast into a feeding frenzy, and can create an imbalance in the microbiome,” Dr. Chutkan says_._ She advises sticking to foods that have less than 5 grams of sugar per serving. **2\. Cruciferous vegetables** Veggies like cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and broccoli contain potent cancer-fighting compounds. But they also have a starch called raffinose that’s tough for your body to digest; in your colon, it becomes methane gas. If you’re not used to eating cruciferous vegetables, Dr. Chutkan suggests starting with small servings, and gradually increasing your portions. Adding lemon juice can also help stimulate digestive enzymes. **_Health.com:_** [_Bloated? 14 Yoga Poses for Better Digestion_](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20737691,00.html?xid=time) **3\. NSAIDs** While nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help ease joint pain, they do a number on your intestinal lining, and also cause fluid retention. “So in addition to feeling bloated, they can make you look puffy all over,” Dr. Chutkan writes in the book. As an alternative, you could try a pain reliever that doesn’t contain ibuprofen or aspirin. You might also consider mind-body techniques (like acupuncture and meditation), and adopting an [anti-inflammatory diet](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20705881,00.html), she suggests. **_Health.com:_** [_6 Iron-Rich Food Combos—No Meat Required_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/vegetarian-iron-food-combos?xid=time) **4\. Soy** For those with lactose intolerance, soy milk may seem like a good swap. But be forewarned: Processed soy (which includes tofu) can cause serious puff. It has estrogen-like effects in the body, which contribute to bloating. Dr. Chutkan’s advice: Choose coconut milk, rice milk, hemp milk, or unsweetened almond milk instead of soy milk. And try to stay away from packaged foods that contain the common filler soy protein isolate. **_Health.com:_** [_W_](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20671868%5F2,00.html)[_hich Non-Dairy Milk Is Right for You?_](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20987568,00.html?xid=time) **5\. Sports drinks** Your favorite way to rehydrate after a workout could be making your belly swell, thanks to all the sugar and sweeteners in sports drinks. The best way to rehydrate and restore electrolytes: water and a banana, says Dr. Chutkan. Or drink unflavored coconut water. Craving something week? “Try sparkling water with a splash of pomegranate juice or lemonade,” she says. 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