55: Bloating & PMS: Why It Happens and How to Feel Better

Bloating is incredibly common - and while some of it is completely normal, for many people, it can start to feel unpredictable, persistent and disruptive to daily life. It may even worsen during the second half of the menstrual cycle (aka the luteal phase), when rising and falling levels of progesterone and estrogen slow digestion and increase gut sensitivity. In this episode, we’re talking about the many causes of bloating (spoiler: it’s more than just food), why it tends to fluctuate across different phases of your cycle, and what to do when it starts getting in the way of how you feel, function, or move through your day.You’ll leave this episode with a better understanding of your body and practical ways to start identifying patterns and reducing discomfort, without over-restricting or falling into food fear.If you enjoyed this episode, we'd love to hear it; leave a rating and review!Episode links: Free Hormone + Gut Health Toolkit1-on-1 Nutrition Coaching ProgramsReferencesIovino P, Bucci C, Tremolaterra F, Santonicola A, Chiarioni G. Bloating and functional gastro-intestinal disorders: where are we and where are we going? World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Oct 21;20(39):14407-19. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i39.14407. PMID: 25339827; PMCID: PMC4202369.Judkins TC, Dennis-Wall JC, Sims SM, Colee J, Langkamp-Henken B. Stool frequency and form and gastrointestinal symptoms differ by day of the menstrual cycle in healthy adult women taking oral contraceptives: a prospective observational study. BMC Womens Health. 2020 Jun 29;20(1):136. doi: 10.1186/s12905-020-01000-x. PMID: 32600463; PMCID: PMC7325082.Mendelson S, Anbukkarasu P, Cassisi JE, Zaman W. Gastrointestinal functioning and menstrual cycle phase in emerging young adult women: a cross-sectional study. BMC Gastroenterol. 2023 Nov 21;23(1):406. doi: 10.1186/s12876-023-03036-3. PMID: 37990300; PMCID: PMC10664285Pati GK, Kar C, Narayan J, Uthansingh K, Behera M, Sahu MK, Mishra D, Singh A. Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Menstrual Cycle. Cureus. 2021 Jan 14;13(1):e12692. doi: 10.7759/cureus.12692. PMID: 33614302; PMCID: PMC7883586.