Get Rid of Gas
Bloating, burping and passing gas are natural and are usually caused by swallowed air or the breakdown of food through digestion. Although gas is often considered a social taboo, it is completely normal and experienced daily by every healthy person. If you are experiencing too much gas though, it can become awkward or painful. Follow the tips in this article to reduce or avoid gas and gas pains.
Contents
Steps
- Alter your habits. Most intestinal gas is caused by swallowing too much air. You can swallow too much air by excessively eating, drinking alcohol, chewing candy and gum and by smoking. If you do these things often, consider limiting them for the sake of your gas.
- Keep a food diary. While it is true some foods, such as beans, can cause excessive gas, there may be some foods that your body is particularly sensitive to. List all the foods you eat each day for one week. Also track how many times you pass gas each day. You should quickly see the correlation between your dietary habits and the amount of gas you pass each day.
- Take medication. Try an over-the-counter medicine containing simethicone, which helps to break down gas bubbles. You can purchase products containing simethicone in many forms, including pills, chewable tablets and liquids. Look into other gas-fighting medications available at your local drugstore as well.
- Try charcoal activated pills. You can purchase medications that help reduce the amount of gas some foods produce. Activated charcoal will also help decrease the smelly odor that sometimes accompanies flatulence.
- Get some light exercise. When you feel gassy, some light exercise, or any type of physical movement, will help you speed up digestion and prevent gas build-up in your intestines (bloating.) It is helpful to take a quick 10 minute walk immediately after each meal.
- Limit foods that cause gas. To reduce excessive gas and bloating, reduce the amount of gas-producing foods you eat. It isn't necessary to cut any of these foods out of your diet, but simply to limit their consumption.
- Baked beans, cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, brussel sprouts and cauliflower, carbonated beverages, chewing gum (especially if it contains sorbitol), apples, bananas, peaches, hard candy, and potatoes all cause gas.
- Avoid processed foods. The chemicals used to make processed foods aren’t digested by the body very well and often cause gas.
- Excessive gas can also be caused by malabsorption of foods, like when you are lactose intolerant.
- Chew your food well and eat slowly. If you eat too fast, you will swallow more air, which causes gas. Eating slowly will help you relax and help you digest foods easier.
- Sip water throughout the day. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will prevent bloating and constipation, but gulping the water can actually cause too much gas and bloating. Concentrate on sipping water during your meals and throughout the day.
- Drink tea. Several kinds of tea work wonders for reducing and eliminating gas. Try peppermint, fresh ginger, or lemon tea once a day and wait for results. You can use dried or fresh ingredients and get the same results.
- Chew on some seeds. Anise and caraway seeds aid in moving gas through your digestive tract. If you can handle the taste, chew on a handful of either seed throughout the day and keep track of the results.
- Reduce your anxiety. When you are anxious or stressed, you increase your breathing rate which causes you to swallow more air. Practice deep breathing when you get anxious to reduce the likelihood of gas later.
Tips
- Gas and bloating can increase during a woman's menstrual cycle, and is a normal side effect.
- If you are suffering from constipation or diarrhea, you may be experiencing gas as an additional symptom.
- Lying down on your stomach can help get the gas out.
Warnings
- Even though gas is normal and common, you should see your doctor if your gas problems persist. Seek medical attention if you experience a significant change in your bowel habits or if you experience unexplained weight loss. Painful or chronic gas can also indicate other problems, such as Crohn’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
