Flatulence (Gas)
Chapter 13. Abdominal Problems

Flatulence is passing gas through the anus. For the average adult this happens about 6-20 times per day. What causes gas to be released this way? Often the cause is swallowing air. It also comes from intestinal bacteria that produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen (both odorless, by the way) in the course of breaking down carbohydrates in the food you eat. The tiny amounts of other, more pungent gases gives flatus its characteristic odor. Eating certain foods, like peas, beans, and certain grains produces more gas than eating other foods. All roughages in the diet will produce flatulence. A high-roughage diet, especially, will do this. When increasing dietary fiber in your diet, do so gradually. This will lessen the increase of flatus. Gas may signal a variety of other problems worth looking into. These include:
Lactose intolerance (inability to properly digest milk, cheese, and other dairy products)
Bacterial overgrowth in the intestines (often caused by certain antibiotics)
Abnormal muscle contraction in the colon.

Questions to Ask

Is the flatulence accompanied by severe, steady pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting, or yellowing of the skin or eyes?
Has the flatulence occurred only after taking a prescribed antibiotic?

Self-Care Tips

Eliminate or go easy on food items that often cause gas. Well-known offenders include:
Apples
Apricots
Beans and peas (dried, cooked)
Bran
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Dairy products (for persons allergic to lactose)
Eggs
Eggplant
Onions
Popcorn
Prunes
Raisins
Sorbitol

{Note: Eliminate or go easy on only the foods that affect you personally. With the exception of sorbitol, the foods listed provide nutrients, so should not be cut out altogether.}

Keep a list of all the foods you eat for a few days and note when and the number of times you have gas. If you notice that you have excess gas after drinking milk, for example, try cutting down on it, or eliminate it from your diet. See if the flatulence persists. Do the same for other foods that you think are causing you to have gas.
Try not to swallow air at mealtimes. Avoid carbonated beverages and chewing gum. These things can cause more air to get into your stomach.
Release the gas when you need to. Don’t try to hold it in. Go to another room if it will make you less self-conscious.
When you add fiber to your diet, do so gradually.
Beans, such as kidney beans, are a good source of dietary fiber. To lessen getting gas after eating them, use dry beans instead of canned ones. Cover them with water and let them soak overnight. Replace the water with fresh water. Cook the beans thoroughly. Also, try an over-the-counter product, such as Bean-O or Phazyme. Each of these may curb gas caused by eating some foods, such as baked beans.
Try an over-the-counter medicine with simethicone, such as Mylicon or Gas-X. Your doctor can prescribe one, too

Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance results from a lack of an enzyme (lactase) needed to digest the sugar (lactose) in dairy products. It can cause gas in some persons when they have dairy products, such as milk, ice cream, yogurt, and even cheese.		Self-Care Tips Eat fewer dairy foods. Some people with lactose intolerance can tolerate dairy products if they have small portions at a time. Have lactose-free dairy products or ones with the lactose reduced by bacterial cultures (i.e., buttermilk, yogurt, and acidophilus milks). Take over-the-counter drops or pills that have the enzyme lactase when you have dairy foods. If the above measures don’t help, avoid products with milk, milk solids, and whey. Have soy milk, instead. Products marked “parve” are milk free.

HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 2000 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine. 

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Date updated 03/01/01