Why am I still bloated even when I eat healthy?
Bloating on a healthy diet often signals underlying gut and digestive dysfunction. It’s usually not the food’s fault. Dysbiosis, low stomach acid, poor digestive enzyme production, SIBO, or food sensitivities can make even nutritious meals hard to digest. A functional stool test may help uncover what’s really behind persistent bloating.
Eating clean but still feeling bloated can be frustrating. It’s a common sign that something deeper might be going on in your gut. More often than not, the healthy foods themselves aren’t the issue; how your body processes and interacts with them is.
Common Reasons You’re Still Bloated While Eating Clean
- Gut Dysbiosis – Overgrowth of bacteria or yeast can ferment even healthy carbs, creating gas.
- Low Stomach Acid or Digestive Enzyme Production – Essential for breaking down protein, carbs, and signaling proper digestion; too little can mimic food intolerance.
- Hidden Food Sensitivities – Reactions to otherwise healthy foods (like eggs or almonds) can trigger chronic inflammation, often a sign of poor gut-immune connection resilience.
- SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) – A common but overlooked cause of bloating, especially if symptoms worsen after fiber-rich meals. There are many underlying causes of SIBO.
- Slow Motility or Stress – High stress or sluggish digestion can keep food fermenting too long in the gut, leading to the uncomfortable accumulation of gas and bloating.
Functional Medicine Approach to Bloating
Persistent bloating deserves more than guesswork. A functional stool test (like the GI-Map) identifies common parasites, inflammation, poor digestive enzyme function, and other microbial imbalances so your plan can be targeted, not just a list of random supplements that don’t match your unique underlying cause(s).
Addressing bloating often starts with simple steps including balancing blood sugar, chewing thoroughly, and eating in a relaxed state before moving to targeted support.
Want to learn more?
- Read my what does a functional medicine stool test actually show to see how I help uncover hidden gut imbalances.
- If you suspect low stomach acid might be part of the problem, the Cleveland Clinic’s overview on hypochlorhydria explains how it can contribute to bloating and poor digestion.
Or if you’re ready to dive into solving your health roadblocks realtime…
Answered by Dr. Kenny Mittelstadt, DACM, DC, IFMCP
Certified functional medicine practitioner specializing in advanced lab testing and personalized healing protocols to uncover root causes of health roadblocks.