Swollen, inflamed or obese Abdomen? What you did not know to fix it

Published: 11/04/2013 - Updated: 02/25/2016

Why is the abdomen the part of the body that tends to accumulate most fat? Why is it so difficult to keep it flat and firm? Did you know that a protruding abdomen can cause bone problems like osteoporosis? Did you know that an obese belly is a symptom of liver malfunction or excessive stress? There are many people who suffer from a swollen or bloated abdomen and this is not merely an aesthetic problem, it is also dangerous for our health having a large accumulation of belly fat.

Causes of a swollen abdomen:

• Sedentary lifestyle: One of the main causes of a swollen abdomen is a lack of exercise, which causes abdominal fat and toxins to accumulate and this is how the bulge appears. There are people who spend a lot of time sitting and this also causes small intestinal motility, which makes the bowel lazy and waste toxins stagnate in this area causing gases and inflammation.

Weak Liver: The liver is one of the busiest organs in the body with many tasks, among which are the cleansing of the body and the assimilation of fats. If the liver is not working properly or a high fat diet is causing congestion, then there will be poor mobilisation of body fat in the liver, which will stagnate mainly in the abdominal area.

Hormones: Some hormones are involved in the metabolism of fatty acids, such as leptin and luteinizing hormone. If there is no hormonal balance and harmony, fat can begin to accumulate in the body.

Poor diet: Eating junk food, eating at the wrong time, spending prolonged periods fasting, etc. are causes of being overweight. However, eating too fast is what most causes problems in our stomach and intestines. As more air enters the body, the process of digestion is heavy and nutrients are absorbed less effectively.

Anxiety, stress, nervousness, etc.: These emotions are very harmful to the body, in addition to generating general wear on the body and the mind of the person, they also release hormones such as cortisol, which can favor the formation of fat in the body (and mainly the abdomen)  if there is excessive amounts in the blood.

Poor digestion due to poor dietary choices.

Poor posture: Being hunched causes flabby abs and maintaining this posture for lengthened periods of time will cause a weak belly, becoming more prone to accumulating fat and toxins.

What you did not know to battle the bulge…

Chew slowly when you eat, avoid rushing meals and do not drink sugary drinks like sodas or sweet fruit drinks with food because this will generate alcohol due to their high sugar content. Excess alcohol that is generated due to a bad food combination predisposes the body to the accumulation of abdominal fat.

• Fasting and drinking Boldo tea with the juice of half a lemon. This will help expel toxins in the intestine and liver, which regularly accumulate in the abdominal area.

Drink two litres of water a day so that the body is constantly removing accumulated toxins and fat.

• When you are sitting down, do not slouch back. Maintain good posture by tightening the belly and squaring your shoulders.

Drink aloe juice with carrot: This will help to remove accumulated fat.

Avoid eating between meals, especially cookies, chips, candy, chocolate, etc. Food between meals generates a lot of fat and toxins in the abdominal area.

Give yourself a light massage by tapping with your fists clenched onto your tight belly for about five or ten minutes a day, this helps to mobilise accumulated fat in this area.

• Learn to be more relaxed: Stress inflames the stomach area and creates gases. Try to frequently drink chamomile or peppermint tea, and do deep breathing using your abdominal area as a guide.

One more secret: When you finish eating, do not go to sit or lie down. Recharge yourself against a wall with your arms raised for 5 or 10 minutes. This position strongly favours digestion and relaxes the stomach.

About the author
  • K. Laura Garcés G

    Writer, therapist and lecturer. She is a lover of natural medicine and the power of mind and emotions in body and life. In addition, he has studied nutrition and develops appropriate diets to support this healing process.She has written more than 1500 articles in magazines in Spain and Mexico, winner of two literature contests. Linkedin.