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Health

Cure the Overgrowth That Causes Bloating, Gassiness, and Heartburn

It's all in the gut.

As many as 67 percent of us have a bacteria called H. pylori in our bellies, and an overgrowth can lead to ulcers. Research shows reducing your H. pylori level can erase unpleasant symptoms, such as bloating, gassiness, heartburn and abdominal pain — and cut your risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease as much as 50 percent.

Use EVOO.

Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) is so toxic to H. pylori that including 2 Tbs. in your daily diet can help destroy even drug-resistant strains of this bug within 10 weeks, Spanish researchers say.

The antibacterial compounds in EVOO are heat-sensitive, so drizzle the oil on salads and cooked dishes instead of using it for frying.

Drink red wine and green tea.

Sipping 24 ounces of green tea along with six ounces of red wine each day could cut your H. pylori level 36 percent — enough to quash
symptoms within 10 weeks.

Research in the World Journal of Gastroenterology proves that the catechins in green tea and the resveratrol in red wine are potent
antibacterial compounds.

Take probiotics.

Taking a mixed probiotic supplement for two months can crowd out disease-causing H. pylori, plus speed healing of a damaged
stomach lining, according to research in the journal Inflammation and Allergy. “For best results, choose a probiotic containing at least eight different strains of healthy bacteria,” suggests study coauthor Carmine
Panella, M.D.

Check out this list of our favorite probiotic supplements!

Make fruit salad.

Eating two cups of fruit daily can cut your risk of a future H. pylori overgrowth 25 percent or more, Italian researchers say. Fruit is a great source of both vitamin C and bioflavonoids — a healthy duo of nutrients that rev your immune system’s ability to destroy out-of-control H. pylori.

Could you have an overgrowth?

If you regularly experience one or more of the following symptoms, H. pylori could be the culprit. If home remedies don’t provide relief within 10 weeks, consult your doctor:

  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Bloating and burping
  • A bad taste in your mouth
  • Chronic indigestion or heartburn
  • Gnawing or burning stomach pain
  • Mid-back pain
  • Tough-to-treat ulcers

This article originally appeared in our print magazine.

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