Novey suggests keeping a food diary and noting when you feel gassy. Cooking may help break down some of the offending ingredients, too, Dr.
Bickston says. Boiling seems to break down chlorophyll and other desirable ingredients. Try drinking about 30 minutes before a meal to help your stomach digest better. When you eat or drink fast, you can swallow a lot of air, which can cause gas, says Bickston.
The simple solution? Slow down when you eat. Digestive enzymes are available as over-the-counter supplements. You will know very rapidly — within a few weeks — if it makes a difference. Another over-the-counter digestive aid, Beano, contains an enzyme that breaks down the complex carbohydrates in beans and many vegetables into more easily digestible sugars. Take two to three Beano tablets or one Beano Meltaway a dissolving tablet before each meal.
Note that Beano won't help if excessive gas is caused by fiber or lactose. While research is still limited, researchers believe activated charcoal may help reduce and treat excess gas and bloating. Unlike the charcoal you find in your grill or fireplace, activated charcoal undergoes a special treatment that makes it safe for human consumption.
Once you take activated charcoal via liquid or pill , it attaches to fluid in your gut, potentially reducing gas and bloating and creating firmer stools. In a small study published in the Journal of Ultrasound , 42 people with a history of excessive gas in their intestines took milligrams mg of activated charcoal for two days before a medical exam and then mg on the day of the exam. The researchers found that they had a better ultrasound view of certain organs that normally would have been obscured by excessive gas.
There's some evidence to suggest drinking peppermint tea can help improve the symptoms of flatulence. There's also some evidence that small amounts of ginger can help with digestion or an upset stomach, which may be causing flatulence. However, pregnant women should consult their doctor before taking ginger. When eating, make sure you chew food slowly to reduce the amount of air you swallow. This will also help with digestion. Avoid chewing gum as it can also cause you to swallow more air than usual.
You should also give up smoking, if you smoke. Smoking can cause you to swallow more air than usual, and tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system. See stop smoking for more information and advice about quitting smoking. Getting plenty of exercise can help improve the functioning of your digestive system and bowel. It has also been shown to help with bloating and the passage of gas. There are several over-the-counter remedies that can help treat the symptoms of flatulence, some of which are described below.
Charcoal tablets are a type of medication available over the counter from pharmacists. The charcoal absorbs gas in the digestive system, which helps reduce symptoms. Charcoal tablets may not be suitable for you if you are currently taking other medication. This is because the charcoal might absorb the medication and make it less effective. If you are taking other medication, ask your GP or pharmacist for advice before taking charcoal tablets.
Clothing containing activated charcoal, or charcoal pads placed inside clothing, can help absorb foul-smelling gas released during flatulence. These products can be purchased online. Simethicone is another over-the-counter medication that can also sometimes help with gas problems.
Alpha-galactosidase is a dietary supplement that may help improve the digestion of carbohydrates and reduce symptoms of flatulence. It's found in a product called Beano, which has been shown to have some effect in reducing flatulence and is available from some pharmacists and health food shops.
Probiotics may also be useful in treating flatulence. Probiotics are a dietary supplement, usually sold in liquid or capsule form, which encourages the growth of "friendly bacteria" in your digestive system.
The "friendly bacteria" should help digestion and reduce the symptoms of flatulence, particularly in people with irritable bowel syndrome IBS. Probiotic yoghurts may also help, but avoid those with artificial sweeteners or added fibre. Home Illnesses and conditions Stomach, liver and gastrointestinal tract Flatulence.
Flatulence See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About flatulence 2. Causes of flatulence 3. Treating flatulence. About flatulence Flatulence is passing gas from the digestive system out of the back passage.
Why it happens When you swallow food, water or saliva, you also swallow small amounts of air, which collects in the digestive system. When to see your GP There are no medical guidelines defining the normal frequency or volume of flatulence. You should also visit your GP if you experience additional symptoms, such as: persistent abdominal pain and bloating recurring episodes of diarrhoea or constipation unexplained weight loss bowel incontinence blood in your stools faeces signs of an infection, such as a high temperature, vomiting, chills, joint pain and muscle pain These symptoms could be an indicator of a more serious health problem and may require investigation, such as a blood or stool test to look for an infection.
Controlling the problem Excessive flatulence can usually be controlled by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, such as: avoiding foods known to cause flatulence eating smaller and more frequent meals eating and drinking slowly exercising regularly There are also some over-the-counter medications that can help if your flatulence is troublesome, such as charcoal tablets or simethicone.
But some foods produce excess gas as well. This can make the need to control its passing more challenging. If your intestines are sluggish, moving food through your gut too slowly slow motility , excess gas can collect. The longer food sits in your system, the more gas-producing bacteria build up , causing abdominal discomfort. You also produce more gas as you age due to slowing down of your metabolism and slowing down of the movement of food through the colon. Yes, even the intestinal tract naturally slows down over time.
Excess gas buildup is also likely more of a problem if you have medical conditions such as diabetes , scleroderma, thyroid dysfunction, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticulosis, or if you have a sedentary lifestyle, Dr.
Lee says.
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