The tip: Calm your nerves.

Why it works: In a cruel twist of fate, stress can actually increase bloating. (So, stay calm if you're bloated and only have three days to fit into your bridesmaid dress).

Stress and anxiety release adrenaline into your system, which alters the way your body processes food. The result: stomach pain, indigestion and bloating. Raj recommends deep breathing, meditation or yoga to calm your mind -- and deflate your stomach.

The tip: Eat less sodium.

Why it works: Okay, so sodium isn't all bad -- if consumed in moderation. In fact, it's essential for your body to function properly. However, according to the CDC, the average American consumes 3,300 milligrams of sodium a day -- that's at least 1,200 milligrams over the recommended 2,300 milligrams or less a day. And it isn't coming from over-salting your steak: Most of the sodium Americans consume comes from processed foods. Though convenient, those ready-to-eat meals, lunch meat and, yes, even cereals are swelling up your belly like a water-logged sponge.

The simple solution: Slash sodium to reduce water retention, says Raj. This means carefully checking labels and, if possible, avoiding canned or processed foods. Read more about the sneaky ways sodium is sabotaging your looks here.

If the damage is already done, try this trick to de-bloat fast: Munch on veggies like cucumber, asparagus (Maria Menounos swears by this veggie to look her best before a photo shoot) and zucchini. These are all diuretics, which help flush the salt out of your system.

Another way to deflate fast? Potassium. "Foods rich in potassium, such as bananas, may help regulate sodium levels in your body and can thus reduce salt-induced bloating," says Raj.

The tip: Avoid swallowing extra air.

Why it works: Quick biology reminder: When you breathe air, it goes through your lungs and supplies your blood cells with essential oxygen. When you swallow air, however, it can cause your intestines to fill up like a bicycle tire.

But who exactly is gulping down air? According to Raj, gum-chewers and straw-sippers. To prevent bloating, give up the gum and drink straight from the cup. Also, don't scarf down your lunch like it's the last meal you're ever going to eat. "When you eat in a hurry, you swallow a lot of gas-producing air," explains Raj.

The tip: Skip your mid-afternoon Diet Coke.

Why it works: Carbonated beverages contain gas. Extra gas in your intestines causes bloating. Seems simple to understand -- but at the rate our office runs through Diet Cokes and sparkling water, it clearly isn't.

Swap your fizzy drinks for flat water -- not only will you prevent bubble-induced bloating, you'll also help reduce bloating from other sources, because drinking a lot of water is one of the best things you can do to get rid of bloating quickly, says Cohen. Raj adds that when you're dehydrated, things don't move properly through your intestines and then your body holds on to every last drop of water it can get.

The tip: Avoid artificial sweeteners.

Why it works: Your gum and diet soda are bad for another reason: artificial sweeteners. They mess with your digestive tract because they can't be absorbed and broken down properly. "Namely, they aren't absorbed in the upper part of the small intestine -- that's why they don't add calories -- and they end up traveling to the colon, where they are fermented by bacteria, leading to gas and then bloating," explains Raj. If the phrase "colon fermentation" isn't enough to help you kick your Diet Coke habit, I don't know what is.