So you’ve got all dressed up to enjoy a lovely meal out with friends, but the resulting feeling of fullness has left you wishing you hadn’t gone for a dessert.

According to Anna Mason, founder of Distance Dieters, there is a way to cut out the bloating after eating by making a few healthy living changes, such as removing processed foods from your diet.

"Flour and wheat-based products will promote bloating and a feeling of discomfort, [and] they will also promote headaches and insomnia," she warned.

"Drink plenty of water - 1.5 to two litres each day. This will help to flush out the system and if you are dehydrated will hydrate you. People who do not drink enough can also suffer from bloat."

Ms Mason advised drinking a large glass of water with every meal and snack, which should take your liquid consumption up to six glasses a day.

You might also want to take a look at the way you eat. Swallowing too much air while you eat is one cause of bloating, so avoid talking, using a straw and drinking from a sports bottle if you are prone to getting a swelled stomach.

Chewing gum and eating when you’re moving around or feel upset are other causes of bloat, while fizzy drinks - including carbonated water - can also increase the amount of gas in your gut.

In some cases the reason why your stomach never looks flat after a meal could be down to a food intolerance. Many individuals find their body reacts badly to meals containing wheat or dairy products, which can cause fluid retention, headaches, lethargy, constipation and diarrhoea, so if you suspect the reason why you end up feeling bloated after eating it might be wise to keep a food diary and consult with a doctor.

Posted by Matilda Jones