Almost every woman I work with in her thirties has noticed the same thing, bloating that wasn't there before. The jeans that fit on Monday don't on Wednesday. Lunch sits high in the chest. By 8pm the belly feels like it belongs to someone else.
It isn't in your head
Hormonal shifts in the thirties influence gut motility, water retention and the gut microbiome. Layer on chronic stress, ultra processed food, and meals eaten in front of a screen, and the gut stops trusting you.
The Mediterranean answer to bloating isn't a supplement, it's a slower lunch, eaten sitting down, with people you love.
Where to begin
Begin with the shape of the plate rather than the size of it: vegetables first, protein in every meal, olive oil without fear, and a proper pause before you eat. Most women notice the bloating soften within the first fortnight.
With love, Serena
