How to STOP Flatulence (Farting): THIS REALLY WORKS!
gastroenterologist Christine Lee, MD, says there are routes to figuring out what’s going on with your gut.
“If the amount of gas makes you uncomfortable, consult your local GI [gastrointestinal] physician for evaluation and recommendations,” says Dr. Lee. “If it is impacting your life in a negative way, you should have it checked out.”
If you’re so gassy that it is causing you pain or embarrassment, you should seek medical attention, she says.
Swallowing air (aerophagia) can cause abdominal bloating and gas. This can occur while sleeping, eating, talking, drinking or in times of stress. You can even swallow air while laughing.
In addition to swallowing air, foods rich in prebiotics and fiber are known to produce excess gas.
If your intestines are moving food through your gut too slowly (slow motility), excess gas can accumulate. The longer food and waste sit in your GI system, the more gas-producing bacteria build up, causing abdominal discomfort.
In addition to beans, you may want to moderate your consumption of the following:
- Dairy products like cow’s milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream and coffee creamers.
- Starchy foods like wheat, corn and potatoes.
- Cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbage.
- High-sulfur foods like onions, garlic and leeks.
- Foods containing sugar alcohols like sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol.Dr. Lee says that certain medical conditions like diabetes, scleroderma, hypothyroidism, small bowel bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulosis are known to cause excess gas.Among the medicines known to cause tummy trouble are:Opioid pain medications
- Decongestants
- Anticholinergics
- Antibiotics
- Anti-retrovirals
- Anti-depressants and ADHD medications
- Blood pressure lowering medications
- MultivitaminsPeople with sleep apnea are often times mouth-breathers, and they swallow air when they’re snoring,” Dr. Lee notes. “So, they wake up with gas pain because they’ve been swallowing air all night long.” You should talk to your doctor if you suspect you have sleep apnea.The more active you are, the more frequently and discreetly you’ll eliminate gas from your intestinal tract. Focus on abdominal-strengthening exercises to help keep your digestive tract moving. Aim to work out for at least 30 minutes three or four days each week and avoid prolonged sitting.Limit cruciferous vegetables. Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and asparagus produce more gas than other vegetables. (But they’re also nutritious, so don’t avoid them altogether!)Talk to your doctor if you think you need to make a change.
Why Do I Keep Farting?