We all have days when you’re so hungry that you end up eating more than what your body allows. While it may seem satisfying at the moment, practically inhaling your food like that can cause you issues later on, like causing you bloating. You may have noticed how you get bloated after you eat food like ramen noodles and other processed snacks like chips etc., but what is that? Basically, you get bloated because there is a lot of air in your stomach. Bloating is that feeling of fullness or swelling in your abdomen, is often caused by gas buildup in your gut. While everyone swallows some air while eating and drinking, excessive air intake can lead to bloating, burping, and discomfort. Certain foods and drinks can also contribute to gas. Bloating can sometimes make your belly appear larger (distention) and can be uncomfortable or even painful. Though usually more of a nuisance than a serious medical issue, bloating after eating is often preventable.

The Best Way To Avoid Bloating

The most effective way to combat post-meal bloating is to eat slowly and thoroughly chew your food. This helps prevent swallowing excess air, a common culprit behind bloating, especially for those who frequently burp. Thorough chewing also aids digestion by breaking food into smaller particles, making it easier for your gut to process.

This simple change can involve taking smaller bites, using smaller utensils, chewing your food more times before swallowing, or taking short breaks between bites to sip water or put down your utensils.

This practice offers additional benefits. Eating slowly can help you feel full with less food, which can be beneficial for weight management. It takes approximately 20 minutes for your brain to register fullness. Eating too quickly, on the other hand, is associated with weight gain.

Slowing down also helps you eat more mindfully. While it is understandable that sometimes you are eating because you have had a long day or no proper meal, when you are eating too quickly, not only are you not giving your body time to understand the amount of food it is consuming, causing you to overeat, but you are also not chewing properly, aiding to the inevitable bloating. Chewing properly allows you to focus on the aroma, flavors, and textures of your food. Mindful eating involves minimizing distractions and paying attention to your body's hunger and fullness cues without judgment. This practice can reduce stress and support healthy digestion by promoting relaxation.

More Ways to Prevent and Treat Bloating

Beyond slowing down, several other strategies can help prevent bloating. Eating smaller, more frequent meals prevents overloading your gut and reduces gas production. Remember to sit down and eat, avoiding eating on the go, which often leads to rapid eating and overconsumption. Regular exercise can also improve digestion and prevent bloating. Gentle activities like walking can be particularly helpful when you're feeling bloated. Massaging your stomach from right to left can also help release trapped gas.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications like simethicone or charcoal capsules can provide relief. If you're also experiencing constipation, consult your doctor. While fiber is generally beneficial, insoluble fiber (found in the outer layers of plant foods like whole grains, nuts, and seeds) can sometimes exacerbate bloating and gas. Soluble fiber supplements, such as psyllium, are often better tolerated.

Several habits can contribute to bloating and should be avoided or limited. These include chewing gum, sucking on hard candy, drinking carbonated beverages, using a straw, and talking while eating or drinking. All of these can increase the amount of air you swallow. Certain carbohydrates can also trigger gas production in some individuals. When these carbohydrates reach the large intestine, bacteria break them down, leading to gas. Consuming too much fiber or high-fat foods can also contribute to bloating. If you suspect specific foods are triggering your bloating, consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian for personalized advice.

Menopause is not just the end of fertility or a gradual part of aging. It may trigger an abrupt, and rapid, “cliff-like” biological shift across multiple body systems, including the bones, liver and blood fats, a study has found.

Menopause is a natural stage of aging that ends menstruation and reproductive function. It usually occurs between ages 45 and 55.

It marks the permanent end of menstruation as ovarian follicles are depleted, leading to changes in several sex hormones. The research, published in Nature Medicine, found that some hormonal changes begin more than a decade before the final menstrual period.

The findings suggest that menopause is a distinct, body-wide physiological transition rather than simply a gradual part of aging. Comparable changes were not observed in men, prompting the researchers to describe the transition as a step-like physiological “cliff.”

Dr. Mia Schaumberg, an associate professor of physiology at the University of the Sunshine Coast, said the findings revealed a large “jump,” or change, at menopause that appeared like a “cliff” or “step” and progressed beyond “normal” aging, as represented by the male cohort.

What Did The Study Find?

Also read: Can Menopause Be Delayed? What Science Says About Slowing Ovarian Aging

Menopause has been linked to changes across multiple biological systems. However, establishing when these changes occur has been difficult because the final menstrual period is rarely recorded and long-term studies are relatively small.

To investigate these changes, a team at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel developed a computational method to reconstruct physiological changes around the final menstrual period.

The researchers analyzed more than 300 million laboratory tests from over 1 million women in the United States and Israel, covering the period from 1999 to 2024.

Across both datasets, the researchers observed abrupt changes in multiple body systems around menopause. In the US dataset, 52 of 90 laboratory tests showed statistically significant abrupt changes. These included measurements related to sex hormones, bone health, liver and kidney function, blood chemistry and blood fats.

Hormonal Changes Begin Over A Decade Early

Read More: ‘I Was Vocal About Cancer But Silent About Menopause Out Of Shame’, Says Actress Lisa Ray

The study found that three sex hormones began changing rapidly more than a decade before the final menstrual period:

• Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH): Declined rapidly around 15 years beforehand.
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): Increased rapidly around 14 years beforehand.
• Estradiol: Changed around 12 years beforehand.

These findings suggest that hormonal changes associated with menopause begin much earlier than the final menstrual period and may precede broader physiological changes.

How Does Menopause Affect Bones, Liver And Kidneys?

The physiological changes were not limited to sex hormones such as estrogen. They were also detected in laboratory tests reflecting the function of other bodily systems, including the bones and kidneys.

“The postmenopausal results pointed toward poorer health outcomes,” Dr. Schaumberg said.

The researchers noted that the systems showing the most significant changes, including bone health and the liver, are particularly sensitive to estrogen. In contrast, systems with weaker known links to estrogen did not show detectable changes of the same kind.

Why Experts Disagree?

Australian experts urge caution interpreting the results. Martha Hickey, head of menopause services at The Women's Hospital Victoria who was not involved in the study, described the claim of "cliff-like" changes across multiple body systems as "unnecessarily alarming" for women.

"Physiological cliff is not a scientific or medical term," she told ABC News.

Sydney-based general practitioner Elina Safro, who chairs the education subcommittee of the Australasian Menopause Society, also agreed.

"My reading is that the 'cliff' theory is not plausible," she said.

Can Menopausal Hormone Therapy Help?

The study found that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), also called hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and replaces estrogen and progesterone, was associated with smaller changes in several measures, particularly those related to bone, liver and kidney function.

The authors suggested that this finding could indicate a protective effect of MHT on certain bodily systems, including the skeletal system. But more research is needed to establish it.

A study of more than 700 individuals found distinct differences in the mix of bacteria in the mouths and lungs of those with severe long COVID.

Published in the European Respiratory Journal, the study found that differences in the lung microbiome were linked to respiratory problems, cognitive difficulties and digestive symptoms associated with long COVID.

The findings may help researchers understand why some people develop long COVID and identify potential treatments, according to the team from the University of Dundee, UK.

"The microbiome is important to maintain health throughout the body, so it is a strong candidate for something that may contribute to long COVID,” said lead author Dr. Daniela Alferes de Lima Headley.

What Did The Study Find?

Also read: XFG COVID Variant: What India Should Watch As Cases Rise In UK And France

The observational study included 771 adults who had been hospitalized for COVID-19 between February 2020 and March 2021. Researchers grouped participants according to the severity of their ongoing health problems and symptoms.

The participants had an average age of 57.5 years, and 38.5% were women.

Six months after hospital discharge, researchers collected saliva samples to examine microbes in the mouth and sputum samples to study the lung microbiome. They used DNA sequencing to identify the microbes and analyze their diversity. Participants also completed questionnaires about their symptoms.

The results showed that people with very severe long COVID had distinct differences in their oral and lung microbiomes compared with those who had fewer ongoing symptoms.

Microbiome differences were also associated with:

• • Respiratory problems: Reduced lung function.
  • Cognitive symptoms: Brain fog, memory problems, and difficulty with attention and concentration.
  • Digestive issues: Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea and loss of appetite.

Bacterial Changes Linked To Inflammation

Further, the changes associated with long COVID symptoms also included an increased abundance of bacteria that produce lactic acid. These changes were also linked to signs of inflammation in participants' blood samples.

James Chalmers, chair of respiratory research at the University of Dundee, said the greatest microbiome changes were found in people with the most severe symptoms five to six months after COVID-19.

"We also found that changes in the airway microbiome were linked not just to lung problems, but also to symptoms like brain fog and gut symptoms, suggesting the lung microbiome could have effects on health more broadly," he added.

However, the researchers do not yet know whether these microbiome differences existed before COVID-19 or developed after infection. The long-term effects of these changes also remain unknown.

Read More: COVID-19 May Raise Risk of 6 Allergic Conditions, Study Finds

Could The Findings Lead To New Treatments?

Chalmers said more research is needed to understand what causes long COVID, which continues to affect many people worldwide.

Because the microbiome can be altered through interventions such as antibiotics and probiotics, understanding its role could help researchers explore potential treatment options.

What Is Long COVID?

Long COVID refers to new, returning or ongoing health problems that persist four or more weeks after the initial COVID-19 infection. Symptoms can last for months or even years.

Common symptoms include fatigue, brain fog, memory problems, difficulty concentrating and slowed thinking.

Research has also suggested that brain inflammation may persist even after the virus is no longer detectable.

For some women with endometriosis, getting a diagnosis is only the beginning of a long struggle to access treatment and navigate management.

In Canada, long waitlists for specialist appointments are pushing patients to consider expensive surgery abroad, highlighting how delays in care can prolong pain and disrupt everyday life.

Noelle Menu, 37, from Calgary, said her symptoms intensified after she stopped taking birth control while trying to conceive at 26.

Years of pain, emergency room visits, surgery and delays in specialist care eventually led her and her husband to seek private treatment in Tijuana, Mexico.

After being told that waiting several years to see a specialist in Canada was possible, Menu said: “We can’t deal with it in Canada.”

The couple used their savings and went into debt to pay for treatment at EndoGlobal in Mexico. The total cost was approximately $35,000, including travel, accommodation and other expenses, according to CBC News.

Her experience highlights the delay in addressing endometriosis that can intensify debilitating symptoms.

What Is Endometriosis And Why Can It Be Difficult To Diagnose?

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, potentially affecting the ovaries, bowel, bladder and other areas. The resulting inflammation and scar tissue can cause severe menstrual cramps, persistent pelvic pain, painful sex, bowel or urinary symptoms and difficulties conceiving.

The World Health Organization estimates that endometriosis affects around 10% of reproductive-age women worldwide, or approximately 190 million people.

Diagnosis can be challenging because symptoms vary and may overlap with other conditions. There is no single definitive test that identifies every case. Doctors may use a detailed medical history, pelvic examination, ultrasound or MRI, with surgery sometimes needed to investigate or treat suspected disease.

The WHO estimates that diagnosis commonly takes between four and 12 years, leaving many patients managing symptoms without a clear explanation for prolonged periods.

Also read: Endometriosis: Repurposed Anti-Parasite Drug Shows Promise In Mouse Study

How Do Delays Affect Patients?

For patients with severe disease, waiting for specialist care can mean continuing to live with pain that interferes with work, relationships, sleep and fertility plans.

Another Canadian patient, identified in CBC's report as Papiernik, described discovering that endometriosis had infiltrated her colon after a colonoscopy detected a mass. She was referred for specialist care but faced further waits for an appointment and surgery.

“Living like this for two years was just not an option for me,” she said.

Canada's House of Commons health committee has identified gaps in endometriosis care, while the condition's economic impact includes lost productivity and healthcare costs. The issue is not simply whether treatment exists, but whether patients can access appropriate care before symptoms and complications become harder to manage.

Also read: Urine & Vaginal Samples May Help Detect Womb Cancer: Lancet Study Suggests Less Invasive Way To Triage Patients

Does Surgery Cure Endometriosis?

Surgery can remove endometriosis lesions, adhesions and scar tissue, reducing pain and treating complications. However, it is not a guaranteed cure. Symptoms may persist or return, and treatment decisions depend on disease severity, the organs involved, fertility goals and previous treatment.

Hormonal medicines and pain management can also help control symptoms. Some patients benefit from a combination of medical treatment, surgery and ongoing follow-up.

Travelling abroad may offer faster access to specialist treatment, but it comes with financial costs and other challenges. Patients should consider the surgeon's experience, the facility's standards, the possibility of complications and arrangements for follow-up after returning home.