10 Tips to reduce flatulence and bloating
Are you suffering from flatulence? You're not alone! We've
got some tips on how to deal with it.
Flatulence meaning
Flatulence is a normal bodily function that occurs when gas
builds up in the intestines. It usually passes quickly, but sometimes it
doesn't. Here are some things you can try to do to reduce the amount of gas you
produce.
What are the causes of flatulence?
First: Reasons related to the quality of food and drink, such as:
Drink a lot of carbonated water
Eating a lot of garlic and onions
Smoking cigarettes or shisha, a large part of this smoke
leaks into the digestive system and causes bloating.
Eating food quickly because the process of chewing is very important and is the first stage in digestion and absorption.
Second: Disease-related causes:
Gas and bloating may be caused by some diseases that affect
the motility of the digestive system, such as:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
which affects the
motility of the intestine and increases the symptoms of irritable bowel
syndrome with increased tension and stress and unhealthy food that results in
gas and constipation.
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease usually presents with abdominal
pain, diarrhea, and bleeding per rectum. Flatulence may be another associated
symptom.
Chronic constipation
leads to food remaining in the intestines for a long
time, fermenting, and producing gases.
Diabetes
which also affects
the motility of the colon and stomach, causes semi-paralysis of its muscles,
and affects its contraction. The patient complains of slow digestion, and with
food remaining in the stomach for a long time, fermentation occurs and causes
gases, bloating, continuous burping, and excessive farting.
Thyroid hormone deficiency
It causes laziness in the colon, which results in
constipation and gas
An imbalance between good and bad bacteria in the gut:
The balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria is very
important for human health in general and protecting it from diseases such as
ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel, and other diseases.
Flatulence that smells like sewage
If the harmful bacteria are more than the beneficial
bacteria, the harmful bacteria result in fermentation and gases with a very bad
smell.
What is the reason for the proliferation of harmful bacteria?
Taking antibiotics frequently and for trivial reasons leads
to the elimination of beneficial bacteria in the intestines.
Eating certain foods that stimulate the growth of harmful
bacteria, such as sugars and proteins in abundance.
Wheat allergy disease: where the patient suffers from
bloating, gas, and chronic diarrhea if he eats any wheat products, and wheat
allergy can cause weight loss and iron deficiency anemia.
Associated symptoms with flatulence:
Abdominal gas and shortness of breath:
Increased gas in the abdomen may cause a feeling of shortness
of breath because of the pressure of the swollen colon with gases on the
diaphragm and lungs.
Flatulence and constant belching:
Increased abdominal gas may cause constant belching and
excessive gas exit from the anus.
Abdominal pain
excess intestinal gas usually causes abdominal pain due to
overdistension of the large intestine.
Constipation
In many cases, bloating is associated with digestive issues
like constipation.
Diagnosis of gas and bloating.
Gas and bloating do not indicate the presence of serious
diseases at all, such as tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, for example.
If you feel bloated, simple tests may help such as:
Lab tests:
-Blood picture
-CRP
-Sedimentation rate
-Cumulative glucose analysis
-Thyroid hormone analysis
-Wheat allergy analysis (celiac disease)
Abdominal ultrasound:
The most important diagnostic method is an abdominal
ultrasound to see if the gases are in the normal range or more than normal.
Some patients, such as irritable bowel syndrome, feel pain with the presence of
normal amounts of gases in the abdomen, which does not cause any pain for the
normal person. This point is important in the treatment. The patient complains
of flatulence in the abdomen in the presence of a normal amount of gases, which
means an increase in the sensitivity of the digestive system to pain, which
requires the use of certain medicines, but if the gases are more than usual,
this completely changes the treatment plan and requires the use of other
medicines like antibiotics.
10 Tips to expel gas from the abdomen permanently:
These tips will help you get rid of gas and bloating
quickly.
First: Consider the diet
All foods that cause
gas should be avoided e.g., onion, garlic, brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli,
and cauliflower.
Second: Don't Eat Too Much Fat or Protein.
Avoid eating too much fat or protein, because these foods
contain more calories than other food groups. This means that you will eat more
than you need to. If you do eat too much fat or protein, you'll end up producing
more gas.
Third: Avoid Dairy Products.
Dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream,
butter, etc., contain high amounts of lactose, a sugar found in dairy products.
Lactose is broken down by bacteria in the colon into gases called short-chain
fatty acids (SCFAs). These SCFAs cause gas production.
Fourth: Avoid soluble fibers and increase insoluble fibers.
Both soluble and insoluble fiber can be found in plant-based
meals. High-fiber foods are made up of indigestible carbohydrates such as
cellulose, oligosaccharides, and pectin. However, soluble fiber dissolves in
water to form a gel that delays the movement of food through the intestines,
whereas insoluble fiber travels through the intestines unchanged and promotes
digestion. Gas is produced during the breakdown of soluble fiber.
Foods contain soluble fibers:
Beans, peas, and
other legume veggies are high in soluble fiber.
Foods rich in insoluble fibers:
Fiber is a
much-prized ingredient in whole-wheat foods. It's present in flour, bran, nuts,
and beans, and produces fiber as it is digested by your digestive system.
Insoluble fibers may
help patients with flatulence especially if it was associated with
constipation, as it will increase the stool bulk and relieve constipation.
Fifth: Drink More Water.
Drinking water helps keep your body hydrated, which reduces
bloating and gas. If you're having trouble sleeping, try drinking more water
before bedtime. This will help you feel more rested and ready to tackle the
day.
Sixth: Treat the cause of flatulence.
Searching for the cause of bloating, gas, constipation, and
lack of colon motility, such as diabetes, thyroid hormone deficiency disease,
or irritable bowel syndrome, and treating it to restore the normal motility of
the digestive system.
Seventh: Try antibiotics.
Giving medications to cleanse the colon and help you get rid
of trapped gas, restoring the balance between beneficial bacteria and harmful
bacteria, which are types of antibiotics specific to the gut that restore this
balance to the normal situation.
Eighth: Take a Probiotic Supplement.
If you feel like you're constantly gassy, try taking a
probiotic supplement. These supplements contain beneficial bacteria that help
keep your gut healthy.
Probiotics will stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria
at the expense of harmful bacteria.
Ninth: Eat and chew food slowly and avoid chewing gum, so as not to swallow
much air.
Tenth: use of Carminative drinks
like:
Mint
Peppermint tea
Fennel seeds
Flaxseed
Caraway
Anise
Ginger
Green tea
FAQs
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be found in
certain foods and supplements. These microorganisms are beneficial to our
health, as they can help regulate our digestive tract, boost our immune system,
and fight off infections. They work by restoring the balance of good bacteria
in the gut, making it difficult for harmful bacteria to thrive. Probiotics are
also known to improve nutrient absorption, reduce inflammation and improve
overall digestive health. Many probiotic foods include yogurt, kefir,
sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, tempeh, and kombucha. Probiotic supplements come in
tablets or capsules and can be taken daily to keep your gut healthy and
functioning properly.
What relieves bloating fast?
Bloating can be
uncomfortable and embarrassing, but fortunately, there are a few things you can
do to relieve it fast. One of the best ways to reduce bloating is to drink
plenty of water throughout the day and avoid carbonated drinks. When you're
bloated, your body is likely dehydrated, so staying hydrated can help flush out
toxins and gas that may be causing it. Additionally, avoiding foods that cause
gas such as beans and cruciferous vegetables can also help reduce bloating.
Eating smaller meals more frequently can also help prevent bloating by allowing
your body to digest food more easily. Lastly, exercising regularly can help
reduce bloating by improving digestion and circulation. Combining these tips
with eating a balanced diet full of fiber-rich foods should help keep bloating
at bay for good!
Conclusion
Abdominal gases have multiple causes, either because of the
quality of food and drink or for pathological reasons, and its treatment is to
search for the cause and treat it. I hope that I answered your questions in
this article and I will leave you now with a subtitled video about the same
topic.