The Hidden Culprit of Gas and Bloating: Your "Convenience Culture" Diet

[video transcript] One of the things I see all the time from a GI standpoint and symptoms like gas and bloating is that people don't control their nutrition at home. They eat out all the time. We have developed in this country a convenience culture, and we have an epidemic, and that epidemic is that we do not cook anymore.

We go out because why not? We can get a great meal at a reasonable price somewhere else, and we don't have to do it. We can outsource all of that and usually get something better than what we would make on our own. But that's not great for gas and bloating, particularly if you're eating out almost a hundred percent of the time.

Fast foods, fatty foods, processed foods—these are all things that really contribute to those sorts of symptoms, whether it's IBS, heartburn, gas, or bloating.

The 80/20 Rule: Taking Back Your Kitchen

So I recommend that you 80/20 rule it. You know, I'm not saying eating out a hundred percent of the time is bad, but I would definitely, especially on weekdays, control your nutrition at home. Commit to preparing food in your own home.

Now, I'm not preaching because I'm a good cook. I'm not! But I am a great food preparer. I can follow a recipe, and there are zillions of recipes online. So pick a few, make a list. Go to the store. Do not deviate from those lists because you'll, even in the best of grocery stores, deviate into getting chips and other naturopathic junk food. Just make the list of ingredients, get those things, cook those things, and commit to doing it a couple of times a week.

I always say, make too much for dinner, take leftovers for lunch, and then most people can make eggs or a smoothie for breakfast. That's a really easy way to do this. That's a real good weekday routine. You can get very convenient, grab-and-go foods this way if you prepare, and you get extra nutrition that you wouldn't get eating out at a restaurant, which is probably going to be introducing too much salty, too much sweet, and way too much portion.

Take Control, Feel Better

For more tips like this and others, continue to follow me here on YouTube. It's at Dr. Dan Wool on all the socials and at my website, drdanwool.com. In the meantime, it's Dr. Wool. "Fix Your Gut, Solve Your Health."