Everyone passes gas, whether as belching or flatulence. From 14-23 times a day, it's perfectly normal. Sometimes though one can seem to be releasing too much gas or worse, trapped gas may be causing bloating, pain and other forms of discomfort. Altering one's diet to a certain extent may help most problems created by excessive flatulence, belching or bloating.
What is Gas?
Gas is air trapped in the digestive tract. If it smells, this is due to bacteria that is being released with the gas. Gas is caused by swallowing too much air. This problem can be solved by not chewing gum or sucking on candies.
Gas is also caused by the digestive breakdown of certain foods in the large intestine. Carbohydrates are harder to break down and thus cause more gas. Fats and proteins are rarely gaseous. Gas is not harmful, but it can be uncomfortable or embarrassing. As one ages, gas buildup increases as the digestive system slows down.
What Foods Should One Avoid to Decrease Gas?
Sugars are the number one culprit, as found in beans, certain vegetables and fruits. Asparagus, broccoli, pears, apples and onions are several of these gas-creators.
Another one is foods containing Lactose. Many races, especially African or Asian, as well as older people, have very low levels of lactase, the enzyme required to digest milk and milk products. These include cheese, icecream and even cereal and bread.
Starches like potatoes and pasta encourage the formation of gas. Foods that contain soluable fiber like beans are particularly prone to creating gas.
Eating any of these foods in large quantities, or before periods of inactivity, such as prior to sleep, are much more likely to cause gas, bloating and abdominal discomforts.
What Foods Cause Less Gas?
If one is suffering from either the physical or social side effects of excessive gas, trying to eat foods that lessen these effects is best. One should still maintain a healthy diet though. Thus, foods like rice are highly beneficial in reducing gas. Drinking soy milk can help if one is lactose intolerant.
Fruits like bananas and vegetables such as carrots cause less gas. Wheat bran versus wheat is also a better choice. If one still wants to eat the other, gas-producing foods for health, it might be suitable to purchase some over the counter digestive enzymes. These encourage pain-free digestion.
Also check with a doctor if the symptoms persist, especially regarding the discomfort of bloating, as Irritable Bowel Syndrome rather than excess gas might be the cause.
 |
