Summer is a time for sunshine, travel, and enjoying life—but for many, it also brings uncomfortable bloating. Changes in routine, heat-related dehydration, and indulgent foods can all throw your digestion off balance. If you're feeling sluggish or uncomfortable, you're not alone.
Fortunately, Japanese wellness traditions offer time-tested, natural strategies to support your gut and help you feel lighter, energized, and bloat-free. From centuries-old dietary habits to modern supplements rooted in science, these tips can help you maintain digestive harmony all summer long.
1. Hydrate Smarter, Not Harder
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of bloating—especially in hot weather. But simply drinking water isn’t enough. Your body needs electrolyte balance to absorb fluids at the cellular level.
Japanese wellness traditions often prioritize mineral-rich fluids like mugicha (roasted barley tea) and foods naturally high in potassium and magnesium like cucumbers, seaweed, edamame, and avocados.
💧Pro tip: Add trace minerals or a pinch of sea salt to your water, or use Crane’s Electrolyte Hydration Powder (sachets available) for a convenient boost.
Aim for 2–3 liters per day, increasing with exercise or sun exposure.
2. Add Fermented Foods to Your Plate
Fermented foods are a cornerstone of the Japanese diet—and for good reason. Items like miso, natto, umeboshi (pickled plum), and fermented soy sauces introduce beneficial probiotics into your digestive system, improving gut flora and supporting immune function.
🧬 A 2015 study published in Frontiers in Microbiology found that Bacillus subtilis—a key strain found in natto—can improve digestive enzyme activity and reduce intestinal inflammation.
Try incorporating just a tablespoon or two daily of fermented foods into your meals to support gut balance and minimize bloating.
3. Coix Seed: A Daily Dose of Gut-Soothing Relief
Used for centuries in Traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine, Coix Seed (also known as Job’s Tears or Hatomugi) is a powerful superfood with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.
Found in Crane’s Tone & Glow, this concentrated coix seed extract powder is:
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Regeneratively grown without pesticides or additives
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Extracted using only water and enzymes
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High in polysaccharides that nourish the intestinal lining
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Beneficial for IBS, leaky gut, and stress-induced bloating
🧪 A clinical study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2006) demonstrated coix seed’s efficacy in reducing gastrointestinal inflammation and promoting skin clarity—making it a true beauty-from-within solution.
4. Probiotic Jelly Sticks: Gut-Loving Convenience
Summer can make gut routines unpredictable. That’s where Crane’s Probiotic Jelly Sticks shine. Each stick provides:
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10 billion CFU of Bifidobacterium
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110% DV of Vitamin C
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A tasty, mess-free jelly format perfect for travel and on-the-go support
Bifidobacterium has been shown to reduce symptoms of bloating, gas, and irregularity, especially in people under environmental or dietary stress. (Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 2011)
👶 They’re kid-friendly, too—making them a family-friendly solution for gut health during summer vacations.
5. Practice Mindful Eating and Gentle Movement
Japanese wellness views meals as sacred. Eating slowly, with smaller portions and mindful chewing, helps ease digestion and reduce gas and bloating.
🏃♀️ After meals, take a light walk or do rajio taisō—a 3–5 minute set of rhythmic stretches popular in Japan across all ages. This light movement boosts circulation and aids digestion without stressing the body in hot weather.
Even a short walk around the block after lunch can help reduce bloating and promote motility.
6. Bonus Tips from Japanese Summer Traditions
To stay light and balanced during Japan’s hot, humid summers, locals often follow these wellness habits:
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Drink mugicha (roasted barley tea) for hydration and cooling effects
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Eat seasonal, cooling foods like watermelon, tofu, and tomatoes
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Rest during peak heat hours and avoid overeating during the hottest part of the day
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Soak in lukewarm baths infused with natural herbs to stimulate circulation and reduce stress (a key contributor to bloating)
Final Thoughts
Bloating doesn’t have to ruin your summer plans. By incorporating traditional Japanese gut health practices—hydration with electrolytes, fermented foods, coix seed supplements, and probiotics—you can enjoy the season feeling light, clear, and energized.
At Crane Wellness, our supplements like Tone & Glow, Probiotic Jelly Sticks, and Electrolyte Hydration Powder are thoughtfully crafted with your digestion and total well-being in mind.
✨ Embrace these small, effective rituals and beat the bloat—naturally.
