Dealing with Instestinal Gas

Flatulence is intestinal gas from the rectum; it is both normal and necessary. While everyone does it, discussing it is socially unthinkable, and parents teach kids from an early age to pass gas in private. Many people find flatulence funny, but excess gas is no joking matter; holding it in can cause stomach cramps, abdominal pain, dizziness and headaches. Along with physical symptoms, many people with excess gas socially isolate themselves, fearing they accidently release gas in front of others.

FACTS ABOUT GAS

Healthy people pass gas 10 to 22 times each day; men and women pass gas about the same number of times each day.

• Intestinal gas is a mixture of 5 gases but only 1% of the gas is responsible for odors. There is no relationship between a gas's odor and its sound.
• Men produce more gas than the women because males are generally larger.
• Women produce more foul-smelling gas than men.
• Gas is released in 1 to 3 ways: burping i.e belching, from the rectum or by being absorbed into the blood stream and exhaled from the lungs.

CAUSES OF GAS

There are 2 main causes of intestinal gas: swallowing air and bacteria that digest food. Most people are surprised to learn we swallow air.We automatically swallow approximately up to 2 liters of air each day, usually while eating and drinking. A lot of air is also swallowed when we chew gum or drink a full glass of water. Eating fast, eating too much, or feeling stressed increase the amount of air we swallow. We burp about 50% of air, and the rest passes through intestines and is released from the rectum.

Our bodies cannot fully digest certain sugars and carbohydrates. As bacteria in the colon digest these foods, they release gas. Beans are a well known example of a food that challenges our digestion; they are notorious gas producers. Some of our healthiest foods (fruits, vegetables, beans and grains) are also some of the most gas producing. In addition, up to 30% of adults have problems digesting a type of sugar called lactose found in milk and other dairy products. Bacteria in the colon likewise feed on undigested lactose, producing gas.

Medications, such as antibiotics, can change the number or types of bacteria in our bodies, which may lead to excess gas. Many medications are linked to excess gas,including commonly used over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, antidepressantas, cholesterol-lowering drugs and harmone replacement medications.

WHAT CAN BE DONE

Many people mistakenly believe they produce excess gas when in fact they do not. The first step is to keep a diary for 2 weeks, noting the number of times you pass gas each day. If you have a bed partner, they can tell you if you pass gas during sleep. When we are sleeping, we pass gas produced by bacteria, but not gas from swallowed air. If your daily number is up to 20, then you have normal gas production. If you are producing excess gas, there are several things that might help.

Certain intestinal gas remedies work best for most people, try the following.

• Swallow less, not food or water but the air - Chewing gums, hard candies, ill fitted dentures, drinking through straws, carbonated beverages, gulping the food or water quickly and smoking can all cause you to swallow excess amount of air which can cause trouble, so the best remedy for intestinal gas is to avoid them. If you are constantly caught by post nasal drip then treat it as it is seen that people with post nasal drip often tends to swallow lot of air.
• Ginger and Fennel - Ginger is considered one of the best natural remedies for intestinal gas. Just suck a small piece of ginger soaked in lemon juice and salt after your meals. Another natural remedy for intestinal gas is chewing some fennel seeds or aniseeds after meals.
• Tulsi - Chewing few fresh Tulsi leaves in the morning on an empty stomach is also considered one of the best home remedies for intestinal gas.
• Water - Drink plenty of water. One of the other best remedies for intestinal gas is drinking a glass of lukewarm water with lime juice and honey in the morning on an empty stomach.
• Exercise and posture - Increase your physical activity.
• Decrease your intake of even a few gas producing foods.While this may help, most people are more likely to live with excess gas than adhere to strict diets. Meats, fish, nuts and berries don't produce much gas.
• Avoid the artificial sweeteners sorbitol and mannitol found in diet and sugar free foods; these can produce excess gas.
• Because you may have a problem digesting lactose and not know it, consider a lactose-free diet for 2 weeks and see if it makes a difference. You do not have to eliminate all dairy products; look for lactose free labels.
• Several over-the-counter products exist, including lactase supplements, simethicone and activated charcoal tablets. Some agents target stomach gas and others target gas from foods.
• Try smaller but more frequent meals, and eat slowly. Avoid carbonated beverages and beer. Do not drink with a straw. 
• If you feel stressed, there is a good chance you are swallowing more air. Discuss your stress with your doctor; treating your stress will decrease gas.
• If you wear dentures, make sure they fit properly. People with poorly fitting dentures swallow more air.
• If you are concerned about odor, dietary changes may help. Foods associated with strong gas odors are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, sprouts and beer. Several companies make products to help reduce gas odors. Briefs made from carbon fibers absorb almost all of the odors from gas.
• Apart from these remedies USE NUTRILITE FIBER, it can be a good remedy for you.

GAS PRODUCING FOODS

• Beans, eggs and fried and fatty foods.
• Beverages: Carbonated drinks, fruit drinks, beer and red wine.
• Diary: Milk and foods made with milk (eg cheese) and packaged foods containing lactose such as breads, cereal and salad.
• Fruits: Apricots, bananas, melons, peaches, pears, prunes and raw apples.
• Grains: Wheat and wheat bran.
• Vegetables: Asparagus, broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, green peppers, onion, peas, radishes and raw potatoes.

DOCTOR CAN HELP

Many patients are embarrassed to mention excess gas to their doctor. Don't be! Generally, excess gas by itself is not related to serious illness, but if you also have stomach pain, diarrhea or constipation, vomiting, weight loss, heartburn or rectal bleeding, please see your doctor as soon as possible. When these other symptoms are present, your excess gas and cramping may be related to a more serious condition such as inflammatory bowl disease, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Your doctor most likely will send you to a 

specialist called a gastroenterologist- a doctor that specializes in the digestive system.