(and What It Means for Your Health)
Bloating is one of the most common—and most dismissed—digestive complaints we see in functional medicine. Many people are told it’s “normal,” stress-related, or simply something they have to live with. At BioLounge, we see bloating differently: it’s information. A signal from your body that something upstream needs attention.
Here are five hidden causes of bloating, what they often mean beneath the surface, and why a functional nutrition lens matters.
1. Low Stomach Acid (Not Too Much)
It sounds counterintuitive, but many people who feel bloated after meals actually have insufficient stomach acid, not excess.
Why it matters:
Stomach acid is essential for:
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Breaking down protein
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Absorbing minerals like iron, zinc, and magnesium
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Preventing bacterial overgrowth further down the GI tract
When protein isn’t properly digested, it ferments—leading to gas, pressure, and bloating.
Clues this may apply to you:
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Bloating shortly after eating
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Feeling uncomfortably full with small meals
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A history of acid-suppressing medications
2. Imbalanced Gut Microbiome (Not Just “Bad Bacteria”)
Bloating isn’t always about what you eat—it’s about who is eating it.
An imbalance in gut microbes (dysbiosis) can cause otherwise healthy foods to ferment excessively, producing gas and distension.
Why it matters:
The gut microbiome influences:
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Immune regulation
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Hormone metabolism
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Blood sugar control
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Inflammation throughout the body
Bloating can be an early sign that this ecosystem is out of balance—long before more serious symptoms appear.
3. Carbohydrate Malabsorption (Including “Healthy” Foods)
Foods like onions, garlic, apples, legumes, or even certain vegetables are often blamed for bloating—but the real issue is how well your body breaks them down.
Why it matters:
Poor carbohydrate digestion can indicate:
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Enzyme insufficiency
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Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
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Damage to the intestinal lining
This isn’t about avoiding these foods forever—it’s about restoring digestive capacity so your body can handle them again.
4. Micronutrient Deficiencies That Slow Digestion
Digestion is an energy-dependent, enzyme-driven process. Without the right nutrients, it simply doesn’t work well.
Common deficiencies linked to bloating include:
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Magnesium – supports motility and smooth muscle function
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B vitamins – drive digestive enzyme production
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Zinc – critical for stomach acid and gut barrier integrity
Why it matters:
These deficiencies don’t just cause bloating—they often coexist with fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, or poor immune resilience.
5. Hormonal & Stress-Related Nervous System Imbalance
Your gut doesn’t operate independently—it’s tightly connected to your nervous system.
Chronic stress, under-eating, overtraining, or poor sleep can shift the body into a sympathetic (“fight or flight”) state, where digestion is deprioritized.
Why it matters:
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Slowed motility → gas buildup
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Reduced enzyme secretion
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Increased gut permeability
In these cases, no supplement or elimination diet will fully resolve bloating without addressing stress physiology.
What Bloating Is Really Telling You
Bloating is rarely “just digestion.” It often reflects deeper patterns involving:
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Nutrient status
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Microbiome balance
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Hormone signaling
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Nervous system regulation
At BioLounge, we use functional nutrition and targeted testing to uncover why bloating is happening—not just how to suppress it.
A Functional Medicine Approach to Bloating
Instead of generic advice, we focus on:
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Personalized nutrition strategies
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Food-first repletion of key nutrients
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Strategic use of digestive support when needed
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Root-cause testing to guide interventions
The goal isn’t just a flatter stomach—it’s resilient digestion, better energy, and long-term metabolic health.
If bloating is part of your “normal,” it’s worth a deeper look.
Your body is telling you something:
Schedule a Functional Nutrition appointment to uncover what your body is trying to tell you—and create a plan that supports lasting digestive health