Many associate a bugling belly with a having a heavy meal or overeating for far too long. However, not a lot of people are aware of the fact that a protruding abdomen can also be due to so many other things aside from having an unstoppable appetite.

If your belly is bulging and you’re not sure why, then keep on reading this article. Below you will come across some of the hidden causes of it.

Got plenty of family members and relatives who are unhappy with their bellies that tend to stick out like a sore thumb? Make sure that you repost this article later on so that they may also learn about the following:

Soda

Just because you are consuming diet soda does not mean right away that you are safe from winding up with a massive waistline. Bubbles present in soda that you fail to burp can end up trapped in your gut until they are ready to exit your body down there.

By the way, it’s not just soda — diet or otherwise — that can make your tummy look bigger but also any other beverages that’s just as fizzy as soda, such as beer, champagne, seltzer and sparkling water.

Too Much Sodium

Everyone knows that a diet that’s high in sodium is bad for anyone who is dealing with or at high risk of deadly heart disease — too much sodium can cause water to accumulate within, thus causing the blood pressure to soar. High blood pressure is something that’s bad for the heart and the rest of the cardiovascular system.

Water retention due to a sodium-packed diet can cause not only high blood pressure but a bulging belly, too. Especially if you are a figure-conscious individual, limiting your intake of sodium is a good idea.

Dairy

We all know that milk, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products are excellent sources of calcium that’s so important for considerably lowering one’s risk of osteoporosis. All of them are also phenomenal sources of protein essential for satiety, muscle building and hormone production.

Sadly, some people cannot have dairy in their lives, in particular those who are suffering from lactose intolerance. If you’re one of these individuals, the addition of dairy food products to your diet can leave you encountering all kinds of unfavorable signs and symptoms, and a bulging belly is just one of those.

Constipation

No one really likes to talk about constipation as it’s a matter that’s quite uncomfortable and totally embarrassing. Aside from making it extremely challenging for you to empty the bowels, it’s not unlikely for your belly to appear larger than usual, too, if you are constipated.

Such can be due to the fact that the by-products of the digestive process as well as poisonous substances keep on piling up in your gut. Gas can also get trapped alongside fecal matter, and it can definitely make everything worse.

A Digestive Issue

In some instances, a bulging belly can be blamed on a problem that has something to do with the digestive tract. Some examples of those that can make the midsection poke out include acid reflux, celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome or IBS. Having stomach, pancreatic or colon cancer can also do the same.

Needless to say, it’s a good idea for you to consult an expert. The right one for the job is a gastroenterologist — a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating problems concerning the digestive system.

Did this article help you figure out the cause of your bulging belly? Feel free to share what it is in the comments section below and tell us the steps you’re planning to take to keep a protruding stomach at bay.