Gas: Beat The Bloat

Natalie Egan, M.S., R.D., L.D.N.
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Previously published on Intelihealth.com

• The Passing Of Gas
• Bacterial Fermentation
• Behaviors, Food Choices And Activity
• Behaviors And Food Choices That Can Lead To Gas
• Beat The Bloat
• Natural And Other Remedies For Gas
• When To Be Concerned

We all have gas. Yet, we're embarrassed to mention it to health-care providers and friends in social
conversation. Ten percent to 20 percent of adults have the digestive complaints of belching or
flatulence. Here's the good news: bloating or gas doesn't necessarily mean there is something
wrong with digestion. But to minimize gas and its embarrassment, the first areas to focus on are
diet and eating habits.

The Passing Of Gas

The three most common ways of expelling gas are burping, abdominal bloating, and flatus. Swallowed air,
which may stay in the stomach for a period of time, is released by belching. Bloating typically occurs with
air that is trapped in the colon or small bowel. Air passed through the bowel is typically passed as flatus.
A normal individual emits flatus from 12 to 25 times per day, with more gas in the intestine later in the
day than earlier.

Intestinal gas is made up of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. The composition
varies depending on the type of intestinal gas. Gas is caused by various factors, the most common of
whichare eating behaviors and the bacterial fermentation of certain foods.

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Bacterial Fermentation

The colon is filled with bacteria, yeasts and fungi, which break down the foods not digested by the small
intestine, mostly different forms of carbohydrates. These bacteria particularly enjoy undigested
carbohydrates, and the fermentation leads to gas production, hydrogen and methane expelled as flatus.
Lactose is one of the most common sources of gas-causing carbohydrate, affecting people who are
"lactose intolerant," meaning they do not have the enzyme lactase needed to digest the carbohydrate.
Typically, lactose is found in dairy products. Beans are the second most common carbohydrate implicated
in gas production. The indigestible carbohydrate in beans that typically causes flatus is raffinose.

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Behaviors, Food Choices And Activity

Eating behaviors and other habits such as gum chewing, gulpings foods and drinking with eating can
cause us to swallow air. Bulky foods such as lettuce, cabbage, and dense breads not chewed into
small enough pieces increase swallowed air.

Typically, swallowed air contains oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. It tends to not have a foul smell,
but it does contribute to the discomfort associated with gas.

People vary widely in how sensitive they are to gas production. Keeping a food record to document
incidences of gas in relation to foods eaten can shed light on whether food or behavior may be
aggravating the situation.

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Behaviors And Food Choices That Can Lead To Gas

• Behaviors
  • Talking while eating
  • Eating when upset
  • Smoking or chewing tobacco
  • Using a straw or sports bottle
  • Overloading your stomach
  • Deep sighing
  • Drinking very hot or cold beverages
  • Chewing gum or eating hard candy
  • Drinking from a water fountain
  • Tight-fitting garments
  • Long-term use of medications for relief of cold symptoms
• Foods
  • Carbonated beverages
  • Spicy, fried or fatty foods
  • Broccoli, cabbage, onions
  • Beans
  • Apple or prune juice
  • Dried fruits
  • Anything containing sorbitol, mannitol or maltitol, found in many low-carb or sugar-free foods

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Beat The Bloat

Bloating is a sensation that makes the abdomen feel larger than normal. The abdomen doesn't get
physically bigger until its volume increases by one quart, so the bloated feeling may occur, but the
abdomen is not distended. Intestinal gas may cause the feeling of bloating.

Here are additional suggestions to decrease bloating:

• Eat slowly, and consume smaller, more frequent meals
• Chew your foods well
• Drink beverages at room temperature
• Have your dentures checked for a good fit
• Increase physical activity during the day
• Sit up straight after eating
• Take a stroll after eating

It is important not to completely omit foods from the diet that may cause gas. As we know, a high-fiber
diet is important for bowel regularity and colon health, so it is well worth the patience it may take to
slowly build up tolerance to these types of carbohydrates. Start by adding the offending high-fiber food
in smaller quantities, such as a half cup or less. Be sure that fluid intake and activity levels are
adequate, as they help to move foods through the digestive tract.

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Natural And Other Remedies For Gas

Many advertisements tout medications or remedies that reduce gas and bloating. Some have been shown
to be of value in clinical studies, others have not yet been proven scientifically but are anecdotally helpful.
Before trying anything, you may want to consult with your physician.

Two products on the market can help with food-related gas and bloating. Both products are packaged
forms of the enzymes needed to break down the problematic carbohydrates. Lactase, found in
products such as Dairy Ease and Lactaid, can be taken with dairy foods to help break down lactose
and lessen gas. Beano helps digest the indigestible carbohydrate in beans and other gas-producing
vegetables.

Natural remedies for gas include:

• Peppermint tea
• Chamomile tea
• Anise
• Caraway
• Coriander
• Fennel
• Tumeric

Over-the-counter gas remedies include:

• Pepto-Bismol
• Activated charcoal
• Simethicone
• Lactase enzyme (Lactaid or Dairy Ease)
• Beano

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When To Be Concerned

In most situations, occasional gas and abdominal discomfort does not require medical attention. Over-
the-counter products, or a self-assessment of habits and changes in eating behaviors can help remedy
the situation. However, you should seek medical attention when there is an increase in frequency,
location or severity of the symptoms, or if they are accompanied by weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting or
heartburn.

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