Based on animal studies, peppermint relaxed gastrointestinal tissue and had “analgesic effects on the central and peripheral nervous system”.
This suggests that peppermint could help prevent the muscles from contracting, which could help relieve spasms in the gut.
People who may experience more bloating than others are those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
One research paper, printed by the University of South Alabama, found that peppermint oil capsules reduced IBS symptoms by 40 percent after four weeks of daily consumption.
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However, when a person with IBS is on the toilet, they may face some difficulty.
It’s commonplace for people with IBS to experience constipation, which is when you strain to release yourself and feel like you can’t empty your bowels properly.
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On the other hand, IBS sufferers can also experience bouts of diarrhoea, which is another way of saying “watery poo”.
Sometimes the urge to release yourself can arise out of seemingly nowhere.
The main symptoms of UC are:
- Recurring diarrhoea, which may contain blood, mucus or pus
- Tummy pain
- Needing to empty your bowels frequently.
Other symptoms can include fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
The severity of the condition will depend on how much of the colon and rectum are inflamed.
If you’re concerned with how often you’re feeling bloated, you can discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
Source: Daily Express