Do you ever feel uncomfortably full, even if you haven’t eaten much? Or maybe your stomach feels tight, bloated, and just plain uncomfortable. For some people, this isn’t just about food—it can be a sign of an underlying health issue like an autoimmune disease. Let’s break it down and explore how diverse conditions like Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can cause bloating and what you can do to feel better.
Why Does Bloating Happen with Autoimmune Diseases?
You might be wondering why does bloating happen with autoimmune diseases? Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. This can disrupt how your body works, including how your digestive system functions. However, bloating isn’t always just a digestive issue—it can also be linked to dysfunction in other organs and glands. Let’s look at some common causes:
1. Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism
Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism affects your thyroid gland, which controls your metabolism—including how quickly food moves through your digestive system. When your thyroid isn’t working well:
- Slow Digestion: Food and gas can linger in your stomach and intestines, causing bloating.
- Bacterial Imbalance: Slow digestion can lead to too much bacteria in your small intestine, a condition called SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), which can make bloating worse.
- Leaky Gut: The inflammation tied to Hashimoto’s can make your gut lining weaker, leading to more bloating and discomfort.
2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IBD includes conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which cause long-term inflammation in your digestive tract. This can lead to:
- Swelling in the Gut: Inflammation makes your gut tissues swell, causing that bloated feeling.
- Extra Gas: Gut bacteria may produce more gas due to changes in how your body digests food.
- Blockages: In severe cases, inflammation can narrow parts of your intestines, trapping food and gas.
3. Internal Organ and Gland Dysfunction
Bloating can also be a symptom of medical issues related to organs outside the digestive system, including:
- Liver Dysfunction: The liver plays a key role in detoxification and digestion. When it’s overburdened (due to toxins, fatty liver disease, or autoimmune conditions), it can lead to poor bile production, sluggish digestion, and bloating.
- Ovarian Issues in Women: Conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, or ovarian cysts can cause bloating due to hormonal imbalances and fluid retention.
- Adrenal Stress and Cortisol Imbalance: Chronic stress and adrenal dysfunction can contribute to gut motility issues, leading to bloating and irregular digestion.
What Can Make Bloating Worse?
Autoimmune diseases and internal organ dysfunction can make bloating worse when paired with certain lifestyle and dietary factors:
- Certain Foods: Gluten, dairy, spicy foods, and sugary treats can irritate your gut.
- Certain Fluids: Anything fermented that also produces histamine can become a trigger.
- Stress: Shallow breathing affects your digestion and can make bloating more frequent or severe.
- Trapped Gasses:Â Poor motility coupled with weak core strength are recipes for slow digestion and bloat.
- Bacterial Overgrowths: Imbalances in your gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, can worsen bloating.
- Slow Liver Function: A sluggish liver can reduce bile flow, making it harder to digest fats and causing bloating.
What Can You Do About It?
The good news is that you don’t have to live with bloating forever. Here are some simple steps you can take to feel better:
1. Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Switch to a diet that reduces fermentation by cutting out common irritants like gluten, dairy, and sugar. Instead, focus on whole, nutrient-rich foods like vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
1. Rotate Out Some of Your Favorite Beverages
Even products like kombucha, coffee, green & black teas and wine —many of which contain many health benefits, can act as irritants to your digestive tract. Try removing these over a period of 10-days to 2 weeks and monitor how you feel.
2. Take Care of Your Gut and Liver
Support your gut health with dietary habits that are easy on your stomach. If liver congestion is suspected, focus on foods that aid detoxification, such as leafy greens, beets, and lemon water, while greatly simplifying your diet so that you can carefully monitor and track your results.
3. Manage Stress and Hormonal Balance
Stress can make everything worse, including bloating. Try deep “pursed lip” breathing, meditation, yoga, or even just taking a few moments to relax every day. Women with ovarian-related bloating may benefit from hormone-balancing strategies, such as tracking their cycle and supporting estrogen metabolism through diet.
4. Get Professional Help
Sometimes you need a little extra help. A functional medicine practitioner can help you delve deeper into gut infections, hormonal imbalances, and your body’s stress physiology that might be causing your symptoms.
The Bottom Line
Bloating isn’t just about what you eat—it can be a sign of deeper health issues like autoimmune diseases or problems with internal organs like the liver and ovaries. If you have Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, IBD, or hormonal imbalances, addressing the root cause of your symptoms can make a big difference. By making dietary changes, supporting your gut and liver, and managing stress, you can reduce bloating and feel better overall.
If you’re ready to take control of your health, reach out to a professional who can guide you on your journey to wellness.
