Flatulence or gas can be annoying and embarrassing, but it is something that just about everyone has experienced to varying degrees. The good news is that you do not have to endure it. Well, at least not all the time.
What Causes Gas?
The first step toward lessening gas is learning what causes it. Most intestinal gas in healthy people results from bacterial fermentation in the colon, says gastroenterologist Satish Rao, MD. Complex carbohydrates are the cause of the rectal gas we pass. These include certain sugars, starch, and fiber.
"A normal diet contains a lot of carbohydrates that aren't digested by small bowel enzymes. Instead, they are dumped into the colon," Dr. Rao explains. "Between 15 and 30 grams of carbohydrates are dumped into the colon everyday, where they're digested by bacteria." This fermentation by bacteria gives off gas.
Beans
The meanest gas-producing carbohydrates, raffinose and stachyose, are found in beans. These include kidney beans, lima beans, black beans, navy beans, and soybeans.
Lactose
Lactose, which is found mostly in milk and dairy products, can also cause excess gas in some people. People who do not have enough of the enzyme lactase, which digests lactose, experience gas. This condition, known as lactose intolerance, is much more common among people of Asian, Native American, and African decent, than among people of European decent.
Other Sugars
The sugars fructose and sorbitol are also gas producers of the carbohydrate clan. Fructose is found in many fruits and vegetables. Sorbitol is found in fruits, including apples, peaches, and pears. Sorbitol is an artificial sweetener commonly used in sugar-free food products and candy.
Starches and Fiber
Aside from sugars, starch and fiber camp out in the colon too. Starches include potatoes, pasta, and rice. (Rice does not lead to gas, though.) Soluble fiber found in oat bran, beans, peas, and most fruits can also give off gas.
Swallowing Air
You probably knew that eating food causes gas, but what about eating air? "Air swallowing is one of the most common causes of gas, and it can be caused by eating quickly and taking in large amounts of air," says dietitian Lisa Andrews, MEd, RD.
However, swallowed air primarily escapes through belching, not through the rectum, says Dr. Rao.
Air swallowing can also be completely unrelated to eating. Other causes of swallowed air, according to gastroenterologists and dietitians, include the following:
What Makes Gas Smell?
Of all the gas we pass, researchers estimate that less than 1% smells. Odorless gas consists of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide. Researchers suspect that odorous gas consists of sulfur.
What Is a Normal Amount of Gas?
The average person passes gas 14 times a day. In fact, passing gas less than 25 times a day is normal, says Dr. Rao.
How to Reduce Gas
Andrews recommends taking these five steps towards freedom from flatulence:
- Avoid gas-producing foods at inconvenient times.— "Remember that many of these foods are very healthy," says Andrews, "so don't completely eliminate them from your diet."
- Introduce fiber slowly.— Do not reduce it however, says Andrews. "I wouldn't recommend a lower fiber diet because fiber has so many health benefits," she says. Instead, Andrews recommends gradually introducing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet. You may want to start off eating one or two fruits and vegetables a day for a week, she says. You should then up your fiber intake to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day over the next week or so. Remember to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to help prevent constipation.
- Try taking a digestive aid like Beano.—Beano is an enzyme that is available over-the-counter. This digestive aid may be able to break down certain starches, reducing flatulence.
Should I See a Doctor For My Gas?
If still experience excessive gas (25 or more episodes a day) after trying these tips, see your doctor. Although gas is a normal part of life, it can also be a sign of a gastrointestinal illness.
- Reviewer: Brian Randall, MD
- Review Date: 12/2011 -
- Update Date: 12/19/2011 -