No More Bloating! Prevention is the Best Cure - All You Need to Know About Bloating

Anyone who has ever experienced bloating, even moderately, can tell you how uncomfortable and frustrating it is. If you find the idea of being bloated humorous, trivial or even a 'first world problem'—you've not experienced it. My name is Toby Burrows, I started Rockwood Forest, and at age 42, I've now spent nearly 35 years of my life playing rugby (22+ years) or doing jiu jitsu, MMA, wrestling and boxing (12+ years). I know what physical pain is - I embrace it wholeheartedly.

But bloating is in a different class to any type of pain or discomfort I've ever experienced from quite a long time competing in combative sports which go hand in glove with physical pain and discomfort. Like anyone who's played sports like rugby and martial arts for a long time I could write a book on all the injuries I've had over the past 35 years. Of them all, only 2 injuries I've gotten from sport compare to the prolonged agony of  bloating - one was a stress fracture in my spine, the other a prolapsed disc in my neck. Very different to bloating obviously, but they caused relentless pain for months at a time, and caused numerous negative downstream affects on my health; similarly, bloating causes relentless pain/discomfort for weeks or even months at a time, and causes many downstream negative effects on one's health too because when you are bed-ridden or unable to exercise for a long time:

• It can have a serious impact on your mental health
• You lose fitness, strength and all the gains you made during training and competition
• During long periods of inactivity is when you injuries you possibly weren't even aware of to surface; exercise, stretching and staying active keeps a multitude of injuries at bay for everyday people and elite athletes alike

So when people hear about someone with 'tummy issues', maybe even IBS or Crohn's Disease, there's a decent chance they'll laugh or think to themself 'the person really needs to stop complaining and get on with life'. When actually, the person with the 'tummy issues' is more than likely doing her's or his best to withdraw from an activity  without causing a fuss or binging unwanted attention to their condition when in fact they would love to get involved with their friends. If this sounds like one of your friends who's suffering in silence, not even showing a little FOMO then you better be taking good care of your friend, because she or he is likely going through a pretty awful time if they're too preoccupied with the pain they're in from bloating to partake in their usual favorite activities.

Bloating can be debilitating, impacting your daily life and even leading to longer-term health effects if not properly managed. Left unchecked, it can significantly affect your well-being. Almost everyone is prone to it, given the combination of longer life expectancy and modern lifestyle factors like poor diet, work-related stress, slowing metabolisms due to age or inactivity, processed foods, and sedentary lifestyles.

Men - if your girlfriend or wife has ever complained about menstrual cramps, that’s a bit what bloating reportedly feels like. Most ladies somehow manage to put on a brave face when in fact they are enduring extreme discomfort. And ladies, you’ll probably be well familiar with menstrual cramps so if you’ve not experienced serious bloating, imagine having severe menstrual cramps for 1, 2 - even 3 works or more.

It’s safe to say that bloating will affect nearly everyone at some point because we all get old basically, and aging creates the conditions for bloating in multiple ways - slowing metabolism, inactivity (either intentional or due to the in increased likelihood of getting stuck in bed from an illness or injury) or maybe you find yourself taking medicine or antibiotics which affect your gut’s microbiome. Higher life expectancies for most people on the planet is a wonderful thing; so go on -  do everything you practically can to enjoy those extra years our ancestors could only dream of.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle early should delay the unwelcome arrival of bloating (or the threat of it) by years, maybe even decades. If you’re someone who prioritizes physical activity, eats well, and takes care of your body, then you’re already ahead of the game—kudos to you. You might be fortunate enough to delay bloating or its imposing dark shadow until later in life, perhaps not until your 50s or 60s. But regardless of how fit or healthy you are, aging will eventually catch up to all of us. Which doesn’t mean everyone will suffer from bloating - but your chances of getting it will increase. Those of us smart enough to approach it proactively or preemptively have a good chance of never having to endure this awful condition.

The aim of this article is to imbue on you how to avoid bloating entirely. By being proactive and preemptive. Prevention is the best cure.

 

Understanding and Managing Bloating: Causes, Solutions, and Prevention

1. Dietary Factors
• High-FODMAP Foods: Certain foods contain high levels of fermentable carbohydrates, known as FODMAPs, which are poorly absorbed in the small intestine. As these foods pass through the digestive tract, they are fermented by bacteria, releasing gas and causing bloating. Common high-FODMAP foods include beans, onions, garlic, dairy products, wheat, and certain fruits like apples and pears. The low FODMAP diet is a really influential source of digestive health research which will change your life if you experience the symptoms it is designed to treat. It’s not quite as simple as just cutting out certain types of food from diet so if you are interested, do some further reading and/or visit a nutritionist who can assist with implementing it correctly. It’s essentially a process of elimination; finding out which foods are causing you the problems and once you’ve done that (over a 1-2 month period usually), then - you will be pleased to know - it really is as easy as avoiding the foods you had identified as causing you the gut troubles.
• Fiber: An essential nutrient for digestive health as most of us know, but excessive intake, especially from beans, lentils, cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli and cabbage) and whole grains, can cause bloating. Fiber ferments in the gut, creating gas as a byproduct which leads to bloating.
2. Gut Health and Microbiome Imbalances
• Dysbiosis: Trillions of bacteria live in all of our guts helping to digest food, produce vitamins, and support immune function. Dysbiosis is when the balance of these bacteria is disrupted. Poor diet, stress, and the use of antibiotics can contribute to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, leading to dysbiosis and similar digestive disturbances.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): More common in women than men, IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Bloating, abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation), and gas are common symptoms which can be triggered by stress, certain foods, or hormonal changes.
• Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO): SIBO occurs when an abnormal number of bacteria populate the small intestine, rather than being confined to the colon. These bacteria can interfere with digestion, leading to symptoms like bloating, gas, diarrhea, and malabsorption. SIBO is often associated with IBS and can be difficult to diagnose without specialized tests.
3. Food Intolerances and Sensitivities
• Lactose Intolerance: Lactase is the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose (the sugar in dairy products) and many adults over 30 produce less of it with age. This can lead to bloating, gas, and diarrhea after consuming dairy products.
• Gluten Sensitivity: While gluten intolerance is more common in individuals with celiac disease, many people without the condition also experience bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming gluten-containing foods. This can be especially true for those who may develop a sensitivity to gluten later in life.
• Fructose Intolerance: Some people have difficulty digesting fructose, a sugar found in many fruits, honey, and processed foods containing high-fructose corn syrup. This can cause bloating, gas, and discomfort after consuming these foods.
4. Hormonal Changes
• Menstrual Cycle: Hormonal fluctuations during a woman’s menstrual cycle are a common cause of bloating, particularly in the days leading up to menstruation. Estrogen and progesterone can cause the body to retain more water, leading to the sensation of bloating and fullness.
• Perimenopause and Menopause: As women transition into perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen levels can affect digestion and gut motility, contributing to bloating and other gastrointestinal issues.
• Testosterone Decline: For men, testosterone levels naturally decline after the age of 30, which can lead to a slower metabolism and reduced gut function. And guess what this can lead to - bloating…
5. Slower Digestion and Decreased Metabolism
• Alluded to earlier, the digestive system becomes less efficient with age and the metabolism slows down. Food remains in the stomach for a longer period of time, causing bloating and discomfort. Constipation, which becomes more common as we age, can also exacerbate bloating. If you remain super active into your 40s and beyond and you’re burning the calories in the food you’re consuming, you might well be able to keep on eating big-ish meals and suffer no consequences at all. But if you’re exercise routine is inconsistent (more calories are going in than are being used by the body as fuel) then you are going to pay a price for that. And bloating is top of the list.
6. Stress and Anxiety
• Stress is a killer; this modern day assassin is oddly enough glorified for its misdeeds far more than it ought, especially in corporate culture. Being a ‘workhaholic’ comes with a degree of respect in large chunks of society while every other disease ending in ‘holic’ is rightly treated as a social issue or health issue like it should be. It’s not just the glorification of overworking though - the cost of living has gone up, social media has been stirring people up and more people than ever are simply ‘strung out’. Worse things than bloating are caused by stress and anxiety (like cancer, heart attacks and high cholesterol) but stress is, nevertheless behind the awful experience of bloating in a big way.
• Chronic stress takes a tremendous toll on the digestive system. Stress negatively impacts gastrointestinal motility and can increase the production of stomach acid, both of which contribute to bloating. And not to be overlooked, stress does trigger unhealthy eating habits like overeating, eating too quickly, or eating highly processed junk foods which are fast and convenient but are like poison to your body when consumed any more than as an occasional treat.
7. Medications
• Various medications like antibiotics, pain relievers (especially NSAIDs), antidepressants, and medicines that slow bowel function (like opioids), can disrupt the digestive system and contribute to bloating.
8. Chronic Conditions
• GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux. And of course, bloating. If you are living a sedentary lifestyle with minimal exercise and especially if you’re obese, then you’re in the high risk quadrant for GERD.
• Peptic Ulcers: Ulcers in the stomach or duodenum can cause bloating, nausea, and stomach pain, particularly after eating.
  

Will Velvet Blend make my bloating stop or prevent me from getting it?

Try it and find out. We’re not a pharmaceutical company with deep pockets so we need to be careful about what we say our products are capable of doing - and even what they are intended for (!).  But we can state the facts and let you be the judge:

1. 1. Velvet Blend is a low FODMAP food. In fact its primary ingredient is New Zealand beef bone broth, and meat is one of the foods most highly recommended in a low FODMAP diet.
   2. There are NO antibiotics in either the deer velvet or beef bone broth which we use in our Velvet Blend, so there’s no way any antibiotics will be entering your gut by taking Velvet Blend. And no chemicals, added hormones, GMOs or anything nasty at all either - so your gut’s microbiome is in very safe hands with Velvet Blend.
   3. There is a small amount of maltodextrin added to our honeydew which is in Velvet Blend. Each 15g sachet of Velvet Blend contains about 16.34% honeydew from our own farm, and 30% of that honeydew is maltodextrin so 0.74g of maltodextrin per 15g serving of Velvet Blend. For anyone except people with extreme allergic intolerance to corn, this won’t do anything at all. Maltodextrin is used in so many foods - from cereals and pastas, to soups and salad dressings - that it’s something most people consume every day without even knowing. We use it as a stabilizer for our honeydew because our honeydew absorbs water from the air, and maltodextrin stops the honeydew from going clumpy if the sachet is opened and exposed to air, but it is still quite sweet so the honeydew retains its flavor.
   4. Velvet Blend is gluten free, and lactose free.
   5. If your bloating is related to hormonal imbalances (both men and women) then this is an area we need to tread extra lightly around because of the lack of scientific evidence surrounding the links between IGF-1 (the active hormone in deer velvet which is used by women as a natural method to regulate their menstrual cycles and and reduce menstrual pain. And men typically use IGF-1 for its anabolic effects, especially as their testosterone levels decrease with age). The truth though is we simply don’t know whether Velvet Blend can be relied on to minimize and/or prevent bloating from occurring in women and men due to hormonal imbalances. If it is effective, then it will probably be because of the IGF-1 and what we can say with confidence, is that it won't do you any harm; so it's an extremely low risk way of making a vast positive change to your quality of life. 
   6. When it comes to reducing or preventing bloating entirely due to a slowing metabolism, this is one of the most clear cut, binary choices there is. Whether you are active or not, your metabolism will slow down with age and digesting meals will take longer. If you eat heavy meals and do hardly any exercise - you’re on the path to obesity and poor health. If you eat heavy meals and do lots of exercise - you can probably stay in good shape well into your 40s at least, but it only takes an injury or some minor setback in your exercise regime for your metabolism to start playing catch up which exposes you to a very high chance of succumbing to bloating - ask Toby who created Velvet Blend because this scenario is precisely what he experienced and is in large part why he started experimenting with bone broth and deer velvet bend in the first place. We can say with full confidence that if you get a substantial amount of your nutrition from meals which are easy on your digestive system (like smoothies, salads or other soft nutritious foods which don't require loads of chewing and your gut having to work overtime to break the food down - like red meat or cruciferous vegetables) - especially as you age - then you are substantially reducing the chances of going through the awful experience of bloating.
   7. As we said earlier, stress is a killer. If you are under moderate to extreme stress and your diet consists of big meals which take lots of time to digest, junk food high in sugar and saturated fats, or if you’re simply eating on-the-go too much then you are well and truly in the crosshairs of bloating. Maybe your job pays great and some small health sacrifices for a short time are worth it in the bigger scheme of things, but you needn’t go through bloating - it’s so easy to avoid if you are living this type of fast-paced lifestyle, and eating those foods. Put a sachet of Velvet Blend into a smoothie or even your latte and you have just consumed enough nutrition to power you through most of your day (maybe even your entire day if you’re petite). And as hectic as your day might still be, you won’t have to worry about bloating - you’ll be full and energized on this lightest of dietary supplements. You might even save some tine on your beauty routine too because with 10.4g of collagen in each serve your skin, hair and nails are going to look great.
   8. If you’re on medication and bloating is one of the side effects, this is a complicated one and we won’t be able to give a definitive answer as to whether Velvet Blend can alleviate the bloating unfortunately. When medicines are involved, they often cause constipation which is often caused and/or correlated with/by dehydration. We should also add that it’s best to tell your doctor you’re taking Velvet Blend just in case there are any possible interactions between your medicine and the IGF-1 in Velvet Blend’s deer velvet. But interactions between IGF-1 and most medicines are few and far between because it’s a natural product and most of the medications that cause bloating - certain antibiotics, opioids/painkillers etc - are bloating you because you’re not drinking enough water. When you’re bloated the last thing you want to do is eat (leaving you listless and even more miserable); but Velvet Blend in a smoothie, a coffee or in this case simply sipped as a broth by adding some hot water (not too hot though because boiling water may interfere with the potency of the deer velvet - 80 degrees celsius is ideal) will once again fill you up in a nice light way, and rehydrate you which is precisely what constipation requires.
   9. GERD / chronic conditions - firstly please don’t let yourself fall into the trap of living a sedentary lifestyle when there is so much to live for. Maybe you just like being indoors reading and living a quiet life which is great if that's what makes you happy, but you need to mix in adequate exercise or physical activity to keep your internal organs working and your digestive system engaged. For many of the reasons mentioned already, Velvet Blend will help alleviate and/or prevent bloating if you are suffering from chronic conditions like acid reflux and bloating because it is so much gentler on your digestive system than meals which place a heavy load on your digestive system, and oftentimes people with chronic conditions are also dehydrated and/or have too much sodium in their system. Velvet Blend, taken as intended - in a smoothie, mixed in a glass of any liquid of your choice really (so long as it’s not something dehydrating…. like alcohol!) - is hydrating. And hydration helps relieve constipation as well as bloating.

 

You can buy Velvet Blend here. Free shipping is available worldwide on all purchases.