one of the major causes i see day to day at work for bloating is candida, or an inbalance of gut flora. it is a classic symptom and is easily treated with acidophillus and a no sugar diet for around a month maybe longer dependant on how bad.

if your gut flora is out of balance digestion will slow down, gas will build up, food ferments and every sugar or yeast you eat just feeds the condition.

irritable bowel can also cause bloating and again acidophillus is my first point of call. there are a lot of useful sites on candida, good idea to look at as they give eating plans etc, and dont think of it as common thrush, think of it as a gut inbalance.

It seems most of the likely causes have been covered however, unattended any for of maldigestion should be taken seriously as maldigestion can in extreme lead to cancer f any body tissue. Go to http://health-care-aus.org

under contents digestion. If you need more contact me direct functionmed@optusnet.com.au

• Overeating (gastric distension)
• Lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance and other food intolerances
• Food allergy
• Aerophagia (air swallowing, a nervous habit)
• Alvarez' syndrome, hysterical or neurotic abdominal bloating without excess of gas in the digestive tract
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Partial bowel obstruction
• Gastric dumping syndrome or rapid gastric emptying
• The ingestion of some gas-producing foods
• Constipation
• Splenic-flexure syndrome
• Menstruation, dysmenorrhea and premenstrual stress syndrome
• Polycystic ovary syndrome and ovarian cysts
• Massive infestation with intestinal parasites, such as worms (e.g, Ascaris lumbricoides)
• Diverticulosis