Flatulence is the presence of a mixture of gases in the digestive tract of mammals. Such a mixture of gases is known as flatus, and is expelled from the rectum in a process colloquially known as farting.

Most people produce about 1-3 pints a day and pass gas about 14 times a day. Flatulence itself, although not life threatening, can definitely cause social embarrassment. This embarrassment is often the reason why you might seek medical help for excessive gas.

The gut (the long muscular tube that stretches all the way from your oesophagus - or gullet - to your rectum) contains a lot of gases, mainly:

  • nitrogen and oxygen - via air taken into the body through the mouth during eating and talking.
  • carbon dioxide - produced when the acid present in the stomach comes into contact with bile and juices from the pancreas.
  • hydrogen and methane - produced when the bacteria in the colon starts to ferment the residues delivered from the small intestine.

Common Causes:

Gas can be caused by any of the following:

  • Swallowing air while eating.
  • Eating foods that are difficult to digest, such as fiber . If you recently introduced fiber into your diet, having gas may be temporary. Give it a little time. Your body may adjust and stop producing gas.
  • Eating foods that you cannot tolerate — for example, if you have lactose intolerance and eat dairy products.
  • Irritable bowel syndrome — a chronic form of stomach upset that gets worse from stress.
  • Malabsorption (when your body cannot absorb or digest a particular nutrient properly, often accompanied by diarrhea ).
  • Antibiotics.

Dietary habits

Adjusting your diet may relieve your symptoms. Here are some strategies that your doctor may recommend:

  • Eat smaller meals. Try consuming about six small meals a day rather than three larger ones.
  • Avoid fluids with meals. Drink liquids only between meals.
  • Change the makeup of your diet. Consume more low-carbohydrate foods. In particular, concentrate on a diet low in simple carbohydrates such as sugar (found in sweets like candy, cookies and cakes). Read labels on packaged food before buying, with the goal of not only avoiding foods with sugar in their ingredients list, but also looking for (and staying away from) alternative names for sugar, such as glucose, sucrose, fructose, dextrose, honey and corn syrup. Artificial sweeteners are acceptable alternatives. Consume more protein in your diet, and adopt a higher fiber diet.
  • Increase pectin intake. Pectin is found in many fruits such as peaches, apples and plums, as well as in some fiber supplements. It can delay the absorption of carbohydrates in the small intestine.
  • Stay away from acidic foods. Tomatoes and citrus fruits are harder for some people to digest.
  • Use low-fat cooking methods. Prepare meat and other foods by broiling, baking or grilling.
  • Consume adequate vitamins, iron and calcium. These can sometimes become depleted in the aftermath of stomach surgery. Discuss this nutritional issue with a registered dietitian.
  • Lie down after eating. This may slow down the movement of food into your intestines.

Home Care:

  • Eat more slowly.
  • Chew your food thoroughly.
  • Avoid gum chewing.
  • Relax while you eat.
  • Avoid beans, cabbage, and carbonated beverages.
  • Try Beano, a product sold over-the-counter at most drugstores, if you eat a lot of beans, fruits, vegetables, and other high-fiber foods.
  • Walk for 10 to 15 minutes after eating.
  • Drink peppermint or chamomile tea after a meal.

Prevention

When ingesting gassy foods such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, legumes, grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, and whole-grain breads consider a digestive aid to eliminate gas. Many foods that are part of a healthy diet can cause gas. Beano is an all-natural product that helps prevent gas before it starts. It contains an enzyme that works with your body and helps to break down the problem complex sugars that cause gas.

  • If excessive gas occurs, gas reducing agents may be helpful. The majority of these agents contain simethicone as an active ingredient. These medications do not eliminate gas production and have no effect on intestinal gas. By breaking up gas bubbles that already exist in the stomach, simethicone can allow gas to be more easily belched away. An example is Phazyme. These medications need to be taken after meals and at bedtime.
  • Lactose intolerance - Dietary control of lactose intolerance depends on people learning through trial and error how much lactose they can handle. Lactose reduced milk is available. Lactase enzymes are available to help digest foods that contain lactose.
  • Carbonated beverages are a common source of intestinal gas. Try to drink plenty of water, and non-”fizzy” liquids. Try not to drink liquids that cause gas, like soda and beer. If you do drink these liquids, pour them into a glass first to let some of the “fizz” out.

Sources: Mayoclinic , Umm

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