Your big day has almost arrived and you have a million things to do before your dream wedding becomes a reality. All of that stress and planning can really take a toll on your digestive system especially if you're prone to gas and bloating. These symptoms can make that beautiful wedding dress a real challenge to button! Not to mention you don't want to look five months pregnant during the ceremony. You need some quick strategies to prevent bloating and gas.

Bloating and gas are caused by two main phenomenon. These symptoms can be due to ingestion of foods that are incompletely digested or can be caused by the swallowing of air when you eat or drink. The swallowing of air or aerophagia is a fairly common condition that can be worsened by anxiety and stress. If your wedding day is approaching, it's not surprising that you might encounter worsening aerophagia.

The other cause of bloating and gas is consumption of foods that are incompletely digested. When foods are not digested properly, bacteria can break down the food components causing gas production. This can not only be uncomfortable and embarrassing, it can also lead to abdominal distension which can make your beautiful wedding dress even tighter.

What steps can you take to prevent bloating and gas before your wedding? Here are some suggestions:

Alter your diet

Although it would be ideal to determine exactly what foods are causing the bloating and gas, you may not have time to keep a food diary and identify the offending foods. Certain foods are known to increase the tendency to produce gas. These include beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, corn, soy, and wheat bran. You may experience some improvement in your symptoms by discontinuing these foods for at least a week before your wedding day.

Eliminate dairy

Dairy foods can cause bloating when you have a deficiency of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down the lactose in milk. Although this may not be the cause of your symptoms, it couldn't hurt to cut back or eliminate dairy products during the week before your wedding just to be safe. You can also get the enzyme lactase at natural food stores to help with the digestion of dairy products.

Relax

One of the main causes of aerophagia is anxiety and stress. To prevent bloating and gas, make it a point to take a break from all the hustle, bustle, and preparation. Lie back and meditate to help relieve the tension. Make it a point to eat more slowly. When you eat rapidly, there's a tendency to swallow more air. To reduce aerophagia, it's also important to avoid drinking out of a straw and chewing gum which can also cause air to be swallowed.

Exercise

Make it a point to get out and walk rapidly for at least twenty minutes on the days before your wedding. Exercise can help to mobilize trapped gas and decrease abdominal distension and bloating. If you still have bloating and abdominal distension on your wedding day, do a series of sit ups and leg lifts. The increase in abdominal pressure can help to move gas through the intestinal tract and reduce bloating and distension.

Avoid artificial sweeteners

To help prevent bloating and gas, eliminate all artificial sweeteners from your diet the week before your wedding. Although artificial sweeteners of all types can cause bloating, the biggest culprits are the sugar alcohols such as sorbitol and maltitol.

Try some natural remedies

On the evening before and on the day of your wedding, drink a cup of peppermint tea as well as a cup of fennel tea. Both of these herbs have been shown to increase intestinal motility and reduce flatulence. Some people also benefit from drinking diluted apple cider vinegar. This can help digestive enzymes work more efficiently to break down food that may be causing gas.

You can also try over the counter gas remedies such as Gas-X. These medications contain simethicone which is thought to help break up gas bubbles in the intestines, although they aren't effective for everyone. Activated charcoal, available at your local drugstore, may also reduce gaseousness. If bloating persists or if you develop abdominal tenderness, see your doctor. Rarely, more serious conditions can cause bloating and gaseous symptoms.

Now that you know how prevent bloating and gas, you can relax and enjoy the preparation knowing you'll be able to zip that wedding dress shut!