Causes of Flatulence; What causes gas problems

There are many things that will cause you to have gas and it is not always the beans you had for dinner. Many people struggle with excessive gas and need to pinpoint the cause. Here is a look at common causes of embarrassing gas.

Flatulence caused due to Foods:
There are many foods that will cause you to suffer from gas. Food can cause gas faster than anything else. Any food that cannot be completely digested, such as foods with high fiber are certainly the cause of gas forming. These often include foods in the fruit and vegetable food groups such as broccoli, garlic, onions, spinach, cauliflower and beans. Dairy products may also cause gas in people who are sensitive to lactose. When you know what foods cause gas, then you can eliminate those foods from your diet or eat them alongside gas medication.

Medical conditions causing gas problems:
There are many medical conditions that also cause gas. Bowel obstructions, irritable bowel syndrome (also known as IBS), abdominal cancer, cirrhosis, gastric ulcers and gastritis are just a few of the common medical conditions known to cause gas. When you cannot find any explanation for your excess gas, then you might want to talk to your doctor. He or she can find out if you have a more serious condition that needs attention.

Flatulence due to Food allergies:
Food allergies can also cause gas in many people. This is especially true for those that are lactose intolerant. If foods are difficult for your body to digest, then it will cause problems in your intestines. If you are suffering from excess gas, and you also have loose stools, abdominal cramping and diarrhea, soon after you eat, then it is likely you have gas due to food allergies.

These are a few causes of embarrassing flatulence. Most likely, your excess gas is due to the foods that you eat, but if you find that it gets worse, then see your doctor and get help.

Excess Gas: Foods to Avoid
You probably remember the little saying way back from elementary school, “Beans, beans, the magical fruit, the more you eat, the more you toot.” While “tooting” was certainly funny back then, it is no laughing matter now, especially when you have a particularly noxious bout of gas at work, on the bus or in a crowd of people. For this reason, it is always a good idea to know what types of foods cause gas—especially if you are a person that is prone to flatulence.

Foods that are hard to digest:
In general, foods that are hard to digest will cause you to have excess gas. This is because some foods (like those that are high in fiber) do not completely break down during digestion. Beans are a gas causing food in most people. But, what are other types of foods that are hard to digest? When you think of fruits and vegetables, those that will cause gas are those that are usually leafy and dark green such as cabbage, spinach, and broccoli. Fruits and vegetables that are stringy or those that have a tough skin that you eat (like apples) are also top gas producers. Asparagus, Brussel sprouts, corn, potatoes, mushrooms, onions and cauliflower all top the list.

There are other foods that can also cause gas that you might want to avoid. Dairy products are known gas producers in many people—especially products that contain whole milk. Deep fried foods may also wreak havoc on your digestive tract and cause embarrassment the next day.

When you suffer from gas, it is important to take a look at the foods that you can and can’t eat. While it is hard to take your favorite foods completely off your list, you may want to avoid these foods at some times.

Remedies and Causes of Flatulence

Flatulence is simply the act of passing intestinal gas through the anus. Also called farting or breaking wind in everyday parlance, it can be an embarrassment in social situations. Gas can be caused by swallowed air or can be the result of digestion in the intestine caused by the bacteria present there. Poorly digested sugars like lactose and starches like potatoes reach the colon where the bacteria act on them and produce gas. Excessive gas is produced when a lot of food passes through the small intestine without being digested. Sometimes, bacteria inhabiting the colon may spread into the small intestine, and this overgrowth can lead to excess gas. While some foods would increase the possibility of flatulence, what should be understood is that excess gas production can be controlled by eating smaller quantities of the food that is suspected to be the cause of gas. Chewing your food well and combining the right kind of food groups in a meal can largely reduce the problem of flatulence. Not everyone faces the problem of flatulence to the same extent as others. For instance, those who consume lentils and legumes or dairy products like cream, cheese, and milk may experience more gas. Also, each individual has a different threshold when it comes to digestion. Poor digestion may be the result of lactose intolerance or insufficient chewing accompanied by hurried swallowing.

Most people would like to avoid foods that cause flatulence not only because flatulence is socially unacceptable but also because there is some discomfort associated with excess gas in the gut. There are many food groups associated with the production of excess gas; these include beans and legumes rich in protein, dairy products, nuts like cashews, and vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. So let’s answer some basic questions about gas and what foods cause it. Does spinach cause gas? There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that spinach gives gas; however, the oxalic acid in raw spinach aids in moving food easily along the digestive tract. Hence, when you eat spinach, the food may pass through the small intestine without being digested completely, resulting in the formation of gas. Does cauliflower cause gas? Yes, cauliflower can increase flatulence. However, it should be noted that the excess gas could be due to the cream and cheese in the cauliflower dish or the insoluble fiber in the whole wheat bread eaten with the meal. While fiber in the food is helpful in keeping the digestive tract healthy, there are two types of fiber, and insoluble fiber found in foods green beans, bran, whole wheat products, and seed and nuts gets digested in the large intestine, leading to gas production. Can mushrooms give you gas? For those who like to eat mushrooms, flatulence may be due to the fact that raffinose, a sugar found in mushrooms, cannot be digested by humans. Drinking carbonated soft drinks and chewing gum are also some of the reasons for excess gas.

Apart from food, gas has also been linked to other conditions and allergies. One of the most commonly reported symptoms of gall bladder disease is a feeling of abdominal fullness and gas. Belching, nausea, gas, and discomfort after a high-fat meal are usually symptoms of gall bladder disease. Those with gall stones are advised to eat a fiber rich diet and to include a lot of fruits and vegetables in their food.  So, it is not true that gall bladder can cause gas; it is the diet with lots of fruits and roughage that may lead to gas production, particularly if the increase in fiber intake is sudden and rapid. However, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroenteritis, and gall bladder disease could be reasons for flatulence and excess gas. Lactose intolerance and allergies to various nuts and vegetables could also be the cause of flatulence in many people. Yeast intolerance and gluten intolerance are not as common, but could be the cause of diarrhea and gas, bloating, and nausea. In some cases of intolerances, food is moved very quickly through the digestive tract and there is not enough time to break it down so as to absorb the nutrients in the food. In other cases, the undigested food may remain too long in the large intestine leading to gas production as it putrefies and the bacteria in the intestines act on it. Allergies that cause gas could range from lactose intolerance to an allergy to lettuce or cabbage. This is because the body may lack the particular enzyme needed to digest dairy products or eggs. Food allergies can be pinpointed by avoiding the suspected allergen for a week with an elimination diet. Once the absence of symptoms is noticed, eating a challenge meal of just that suspected allergen can confirm the allergy if the symptoms return.

What causes gas in older men is not limited to just them, both men and women, young and old, could all go through a period of poor digestion and flatulence when they make sudden drastic changes in their diet. Introducing fiber in the diet is good for the body, but it should be added in small doses, allowing the body to get used to digesting the insoluble fiber in breads made with whole grains, cereals and in some vegetables. Further, the odor of the flatus gas expelled depends on the bacteria that produce the gas. Poorly chewed meat and eggs can lead to the breaking down of sulfur-containing proteins and amino acids in the intestine, giving rise to smelly farts of hydrogen sulfide gas.

When it comes to remedies, the causes of flatulence determine the type of treatment method. Those suffering from constipation and flatulence may try probiotic supplements or probiotic yoghurt to recreate the balance of bacteria in the gut. Activated charcoal tablets, available over the counter, offer some relief by absorbing excess gas. A little bit of walking or strolling after meals helps relieve the bloated feeling after a rich meal. It is always advisable to stop eating when your stomach is half full and you feel like eating a bit more. Avoid swallowing air by cutting down on chewing gum and rejecting the use of straws. Make an effort to eat slowly, chew every morsel, and then swallow, as digestion starts in the mouth with the saliva. Chewing on spices like cardamom, cloves, coriander, and fennel is known to be effective against gas.