After analysing data from a clinical trial of high-fibre diets, the researchers concluded that when 164 participants ate versions of a heart-healthy, high-fibre diet rich in plant protein, they were 40% more likely to experience bloating symptoms as compared to when eating carbohydrate rich version of the same high-fibre diet.

High-fibre diets are believed to cause bloating by boosting certain populations of healthful fibre-digesting gut bacteria which produce gas as by-product. Bloating is a side effect of having high fibre diet, and therefore many people avoid eating high-fibre diet.

According to researchers, in a trial of a heart-healthy, high-fibre diet, salt appeared to be associated with bloating, suggesting that cutting back on salt could help reduce bloating. Experts are of the opinion that substituting high quality carb calories, such as whole grain, for protein calories might help reduce bloating making high-fibre diet more tolerable.