Farts, toots, poots…whatever you call them, passing gas is one of the most natural things a human body can experience. An NYU study reports that 74 percent of Americans have digestive symptoms that include gas.
But most of the time, gas is a somewhat unexpected and unwanted guest. Yes, it’s embarrassing and annoying, bringing with it some comic relief, but its value in breaking the ice is outweighed by the unpleasant smells and shocked faces when it arrives.
How does this malefactor arrive on the scene? You may have eaten certain foods, quaffed your beverage too quickly or ingested food in a hurry, have excessive stress or anxiety, an infection, or some underlying medical condition that causes you to expel gas through any number of orifices.
When flatulence or burping becomes excessive, it might be time to speak to your doctor. Sure, it’s an uncomfortable topic, but it may reveal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal intestinal issues, celiac disease, lactose intolerance or other issues that may require serious medical intervention. Particularly if these conditions arrive and linger, it’s time to muster up the courage to address them with a medical professional.
With a few lifestyle changes, you may be surprised to find that you can move confidently through the world, secure in the knowledge that the trumpets that formerly sounded your arrival are now muted.
The Foods You Eat
The most obvious solution for excessive gas emittance and the one most firmly in your control is watching the foods you eat. The beverages and solid foods that contain carbohydrates can build up gas in your body, ready to burst forth at the most inopportune moments.
In case you weren’t aware, beans in almost any form are one of the prime villains. Yes, beans, beans, the musical fruit/the more you eat/the more you toot, as the children’s rhyme goes. Whether steamed, fried, boiled or baked, beans will begin working their magic shortly after digestion.
Anything in the cabbage family is a big gas producer. These include cooked and raw items that are sometimes disguised in casseroles or other combinations. Watch out for Brussels sprouts and cabbage in your diet.
Other villains include such popular veggies as broccoli and cauliflower (the latter increasingly overtaking potatoes as a side in some upscale restaurants), onions (a universal seasoning found in just about every cuisine), and lettuce of all hues and varieties. Fruits like apples, pears and peaches are natural laxatives and can help with gas buildup.
Surprisingly, chewing gum can stimulate gas production, working on your digestive system and stimulating it, even though little is ingested. Think of it as priming the pump. Hard candy serves the same purpose. And don’t think by eliminating sugar that you’re cutting down on gas – the additives sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol from the family of sugar alcohols can get things going in a hurry.
Consumers tend to gulp down carbonated drinks quickly, and gas can build up with little warning. Similarly, milk and milk products can affect some people, particularly those not used to ingesting large amounts.
Slow Down for Belchers
Your body expels excess gas in the stomach by burping, sometimes referred to as belching (they are the same thing, a combination of oxygen and nitrogen forcibly expelled). It usually happens when you swallow excessive amounts of air, whether through eating, chewing gum or candies, drinking a carbonated beverage, smoking, or simply talking too fast. There are some individuals who have a nervous habit of sucking air, which also can lead to a buildup.
Of course, if you’re constantly burping, there may be some underlying medical condition at work. Belching may be a symptom of acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). You might also check to make sure your dentures are fitted well because gaps can cause excess air to enter. Antacids help combat these conditions.
The best way to combat a burping problem, assuming it’s unrelated to the underlying medical conditions above, is simply to slow down. Take your time when you’re eating and drinking, take smaller bites, and make sure you swallow before moving on to the next bite. If you’re on a schedule, it’s a good idea to skip the beer and carbonated beverages, as well as avoiding gum and hard candies. The idea is to limit the air in your stomach, where it may soon revisit you in the form of a belch.
Flatulence Is Fermentation
Yes, flatulence is one of comedy’s all-time greatest hits. But it’s not so popular at business meetings, social gatherings, elevator encounters and when meeting distinguished guests. As your food digests, the process of fermentation takes place. As gas from that process builds in the intestines and colon, it seeks a natural outlet. Foods that aren’t completely broken down, like sugar, can facilitate gas.
There are other causes, including swallowed air, poor carbohydrate absorption, lack of helpful digestive bacteria in the intestinal tract caused by medications, or underlying medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome. Constipation also can cause problems because it keeps food in your system longer, allowing fermentation to continue.
The formula for controlling excessive flatulence is the same as with belching. Watch what you eat and try to avoid the beans, cabbage and broccoli at lunch. Particularly cut back on fatty foods, which tend to slow digestion and allow food more time to ferment. High fiber is also a culprit, but it’s a paradoxical one – it aids digestion, but it is also a great gas producer. Excessive buildup also can come from dairy products.
If the food solutions don’t provide great results, over-the-counter remedies that cut back on gas are a solution. Exercise is also something that may stimulate the system and get gas out the door in short order.
If all else fails, and particularly if gas is accompanied by diarrhea, weight loss or other pains, see your doctor. He or she can assess what’s going on properly and provide care that may help you on the road to recovery.