Beat The Bloat

This winter slinky clingy frocks are all the rage and don’t they look great. That is of course until you look in the mirror the night before the posh frock outing and a bulge resembling the later stages of pregnancy has suddenly appeared where your flat tummy was the day before.

What do you do? Panic, ring up your host and plead illness, dig out your old maternity dress or wear a kaftan, look up liposuction in the Yellow Pages - there’s no need. You can beat the bloat with this easy and effective 24 hour plan.

The most common of causes is fluid retention and that may be because a period is due, or you’ve had an overindulgence of salt from burger bar, french fries, or maybe you’ve pigged out on all those salty nibbles at the office party.

Wind or constipation can also be uncomfortable reasons for your dilemma. An excessive amount of wind may be trapped in your stomach or lower down in your small or large intestine, your large bowel may be full as a result of constipation and frequently these two factors go together.

If ‘bloated belly syndrome’ (BBS) is something that you know happens to you from time to time, be prepared and make sure you have the necessary ingredients at home to solve your problem in time for the big night out.

BEAT THE BLOAT ACTION PLAN

The night before your outing take a good look in the mirror and at the first sign of BBS drink two large glasses of hot water with a slice of lemon. This will stimulate your kidneys and start the process of fluid elimination. Take half a laxative fruit cube, a natural fruit jelly which is a very gentle and effective laxative, to relieve any constipation.

Put a tablespoon of chopped parsley and a teaspoon of crushed dill seeds into a glass, add boiling water, stir well, cover and leave to stand for 10 minutes. Pour through a strainer and sip slowly just before bed. The parsley is a gentle diuretic and the dill seeds help the elimination of existing wind and prevents more from forming. You may be up two or three times in the night to go to the loo, but it’s worth it to get rid of BBS, and you can always cover the shadows under your eyes with make-up.

First thing in the morning take another large glass of hot water with lemon, and the other half of the Ortisan cube. For breakfast have a small bowl of porridge made with half a cup of oats, half a cup of skimmed milk, a cup of water and no salt. With your breakfast take a small pot of live yoghurt or probiotic supplement, both of which supply essential good bacteria which make your digestion more efficient.

At lunch time eat one apple, a generous bunch of grapes and a ripe banana - make sure the skin is just going speckly brown. Have another glass of hot water with lemon.

During the afternoon drink at least two cups of fennel tea which you can get in teabags from health stores and most supermarkets, or use the baby drink granules, and eat six dates - the semi-dried ones in plastic containers, not the sugary ones in wooden boxes. fennel is a powerful anti-gas herb and the dates provide good fibre and lots of Iron to set you up for the evening.

When you get home have another glass of parsley tea and a small teacup of slippery elm food which you can buy in any health store - mix a teaspoonful into a paste with a little cold water, top up with boiling water and a teaspoon of honey, and drink slowly. It’s an effective antacid and digestive protector which will leave your stomach feeling soothed, relaxed and comfortable.

If you have a real disaster and your stomach suddenly swells up in the afternoon on your posh frock date, swing into the emergency action plan. Take a herbal diuretic (from health stores and pharmacies) for rapid loss of retained fluid, and a couple of charcoal tablets which will absorb any trapped wind.

Have a long soak in a hot bath to which you’ve added 5 drops of peppermint oil mixed with a dessertspoonful of grape seed or sunflower seed oil. Peppermint is not only invigorating but also a wonderful digestive aid, and you will absorb some through your skin.

Your slinky outfit will fit you like a glove without a sign of BBS. But take care if you’re going out for dinner. Avoid the pre-meal nibbles, choose sensible dishes which are not too bulky, fish is easier to digest than fillet steak or roast-beef. Say no to the rolls and butter, and don’t ruin the effect by finishing with sticky toffee pudding which will sit like a stone on your stomach.

Remember that mint is a perfect way to end your meal but not covered in chocolate - virtually any restaurant will be able to provide you with some mint tea after your dinner but don’t be tempted to add milk - it’s disgusting.

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