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Any way you pass it, excessive bloating and flatulence are no fun. Flatulence can cause social embarrassment, discomfort and pain when accompanied by intestinal bloating. Find out the causes of excessive flatulence, gas and bloating and learn about treatment strategies.
Swallowed Air
Some people habitually swallow air, a practice referred to as aerophagia. They are usually unaware that they do this, and the cause is often anxiety-related.
The gas swallowed is composed mainly of oxygen and nitrogen. Most of the swallowed oxygen is absorbed by the mucous lining of the gut or is used up by colon bacteria. Very little appears in the flatus.
In contrast, nitrogen is poorly absorbed by the mucous lining and most of the swallowed nitrogen appears in the flatus.
Treatment Strategies:
1. Relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety.
2.Avoid lying down after eating. Gas from the stomach passes into the intestines more readily in this position.
Poorly Absorbed Carbohydrates
Hydrogen and carbon dioxide are produced by colon bacteria in the presence of poorly absorbed carbohydrates. If flatulence is accompanied by diarrhea and weight loss, it may indicate a malabsorption disorder such as lactose intolerance or pancreatic insufficiency, and should be evaluated by your primary health care provider.
More common is excess flatulence after eating large amounts of poorly absorbed carbohydrates such as beans or foods that you have a sensitivity to. Common carbohydrate sensitivities include milk, and wheat products.
Treatment Strategies
1. Chew food carefully. Carbohydrate digestion begins in the mouth. Any work your teeth don't do, your stomach will have to do later.
2. Try an elimination and challenge diet, under the supervision of a health care practitioner. This is a diagnostic diet to help you find out which carbohydrates you may have a sensitivity to.
3. Consult your primary care provider to rule out malabsorption disorder if you are also experiencing weight loss and diarrhea.
Gas and Flatulence After High-Fat Meals
Carbon dioxide is produced in the small intestine when bicarbonate is released to neutralize stomach acid and fat during meals. Eating a high-fat meal can generate a large amount of carbon dioxide, some of which is released as gas.
Treatment Strategies
1. Eat 5 smaller meals instead of three large meals.
2. Avoid high-fat meals. In general, fat intake should be about 30% of total dietary intake and should include plenty of monounsaturated and essential fats. Unhealthy saturated or hydrogenated fats should be limited.
3. Consult your primary care provider to rule out the possibility of fat malabsorption. Signs of fat malabsorption include loose and light-colored stools.
Odorous Flatulence and Gas
Gas that has a strong odor usually results from the metabolism of sulfur-containing proteins and amino acids in the intestines.
Treatment Strategies
1. Chew meat and other protein foods carefully. Avoid excessive protein in your diet.
2. Taking activated charcoal tablets can help to remove the odor.
3. Chronic malodorous gas may be a sign of difficulty digesting protein. Consult a naturopathic doctor or other qualified professional to evaluate your level of stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes, and colonic bacteria.
Eating Foods that Produce Gas
Certain foods are inherently gas-producing. Gas-producing foods include beans, cabbage, onions, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, fluffy wheat products such as bread, apples, peaches, pears, prunes, corn, oats, potatoes, milk, ice cream, and soft cheese.
Foods that produce minimal gas include rice, bananas, citrus, grapes, hard cheese, meat, eggs, peanut butter, non-carbonated beverages, and yogurt made with live bacteria. Medical Disease
When someone has persisting bloating and flatulence, lab tests and x-rays are first conducted to exclude the presence of medical disease. Colorectal cancer often presents with the symptoms of abdomen discomfort and bloating. Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease may have similar symptoms. It is important to remember that gas and bloating are vague symptoms that can be associated with many medical diseases, so consultation with your primary care provider should always be the first step.
Swallowed Air
Some people habitually swallow air, a practice referred to as aerophagia. They are usually unaware that they do this, and the cause is often anxiety-related.
The gas swallowed is composed mainly of oxygen and nitrogen. Most of the swallowed oxygen is absorbed by the mucous lining of the gut or is used up by colon bacteria. Very little appears in the flatus.
In contrast, nitrogen is poorly absorbed by the mucous lining and most of the swallowed nitrogen appears in the flatus.
Treatment Strategies:
1. Relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety.
2.Avoid lying down after eating. Gas from the stomach passes into the intestines more readily in this position.
Poorly Absorbed Carbohydrates
Hydrogen and carbon dioxide are produced by colon bacteria in the presence of poorly absorbed carbohydrates. If flatulence is accompanied by diarrhea and weight loss, it may indicate a malabsorption disorder such as lactose intolerance or pancreatic insufficiency, and should be evaluated by your primary health care provider.
More common is excess flatulence after eating large amounts of poorly absorbed carbohydrates such as beans or foods that you have a sensitivity to. Common carbohydrate sensitivities include milk, and wheat products.
Treatment Strategies
1. Chew food carefully. Carbohydrate digestion begins in the mouth. Any work your teeth don't do, your stomach will have to do later.
2. Try an elimination and challenge diet, under the supervision of a health care practitioner. This is a diagnostic diet to help you find out which carbohydrates you may have a sensitivity to.
3. Consult your primary care provider to rule out malabsorption disorder if you are also experiencing weight loss and diarrhea.
Gas and Flatulence After High-Fat Meals
Carbon dioxide is produced in the small intestine when bicarbonate is released to neutralize stomach acid and fat during meals. Eating a high-fat meal can generate a large amount of carbon dioxide, some of which is released as gas.
Treatment Strategies
1. Eat 5 smaller meals instead of three large meals.
2. Avoid high-fat meals. In general, fat intake should be about 30% of total dietary intake and should include plenty of monounsaturated and essential fats. Unhealthy saturated or hydrogenated fats should be limited.
3. Consult your primary care provider to rule out the possibility of fat malabsorption. Signs of fat malabsorption include loose and light-colored stools.
Odorous Flatulence and Gas
Gas that has a strong odor usually results from the metabolism of sulfur-containing proteins and amino acids in the intestines.
Treatment Strategies
1. Chew meat and other protein foods carefully. Avoid excessive protein in your diet.
2. Taking activated charcoal tablets can help to remove the odor.
3. Chronic malodorous gas may be a sign of difficulty digesting protein. Consult a naturopathic doctor or other qualified professional to evaluate your level of stomach acid, pancreatic enzymes, and colonic bacteria.
Eating Foods that Produce Gas
Certain foods are inherently gas-producing. Gas-producing foods include beans, cabbage, onions, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, fluffy wheat products such as bread, apples, peaches, pears, prunes, corn, oats, potatoes, milk, ice cream, and soft cheese.
Foods that produce minimal gas include rice, bananas, citrus, grapes, hard cheese, meat, eggs, peanut butter, non-carbonated beverages, and yogurt made with live bacteria. Medical Disease
When someone has persisting bloating and flatulence, lab tests and x-rays are first conducted to exclude the presence of medical disease. Colorectal cancer often presents with the symptoms of abdomen discomfort and bloating. Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease may have similar symptoms. It is important to remember that gas and bloating are vague symptoms that can be associated with many medical diseases, so consultation with your primary care provider should always be the first step.
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