How To Flush Gas And Bloating From Your Stomach With Just Four Ingredients
One in ten Americans states that they suffer from bloating regularly, even when they havent eaten a large meal .
Sometimes, bloating can become severe enough that it causes a noticeable swelling of the abdomen. Gas and bloating are usually diet-related, so you may find that a few simple changes to what you eat will do the trick. Still, if your stomach fails to settle down, theres no need to rush to the doctor or pharmacy
In this article, well talk about four natural ingredients essential oils, to be exact- that may help relieve those gas and bloating episodes. Well wrap things up by making a few other suggestions that may help.
Several things may instigate episodes of bloating and gassiness. Here are some common offenders:
Beans and lentils: These foods contain sugars called oligosaccharides, which must first be broken down by bacteria in the gut before they can be digested.
Certain fruits and veggies: Certain vegetables contain a fair amount of starch, including Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and carrots, which can create a gassy feeling. Fruits high in natural sugars like apricots and prunes may also contribute to gassiness and bloat.
Dairy products: Lactose, or milk sugar, can be a source of bloating and intestinal discomfort if youre sensitive to it. More than likely, you already know if youre lactose intolerant.
Oils That May Help
Natural And Other Remedies For Gas
Two products on the market can help with food-related gas and bloating. Both products are packaged forms of the enzymes needed to break down the problematic carbohydrates. Lactase, found in products such as Dairy Ease and Lactaid, can be taken with dairy foods to help break down lactose and lessen gas. Beano helps digest the indigestible carbohydrate in beans and other gas-producing vegetables.
Natural remedies for gas include:
- Peppermint tea
A More Serious Condition Such As Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a common condition that causes abdominal pain with bloating, diarrhea or constipation. The cause of IBS is unknown, but it may be brought on by certain triggers, including:
- Bacterial infections
- Food sensitivity
- Stressful events
If you think you may have IBS, reach out to your doctor for an evaluation. Many times, lifestyle modifications and medicines can help ease symptoms. You may also try some at-home techniques to relieve your bloating.
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Why Gas And Bloating Happen
First of all, its important to remember that gas is normal. Expelling it is, too. The gas in your stomach or bowels has to go somewhere.
Gas is primarily caused by your eating habits and the fermentation process of specific foods.1 It may leave you feeling bloated, or you will simply burp it or pass it.1
Bloating occurs when your GI tract is filled with gas or air. Your stomach doesnt necessarily get bigger than normal, though it can, but it feels that way and is often quite uncomfortable.1
How To Get Rid Of Gas Pain
If youve ever experienced waves of sharp pain in your belly along with the feeling that your waistline is inflating like a balloon, you might be experiencing bloating and cramps due to intestinal gas.
Everyone gets gas on occasion. Its a natural byproduct of the bacteria in your intestines doing their job and breaking down the fibers, sugars and starches in the food you eat. Though gas pain is usually nothing serious, the discomfort can be intense.
Intestinal gas and its discomfort are likely to resolve on their own. Burping or passing gas through the rectum is usually enough to ease your physical discomfort.
Johns Hopkins gastroenterologist Hazel Marie Galon Veloso provides some perspective on bloating and gas cramps, including when to see a doctor.
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How To Get Rid Of Gas And Bloating & What Causes It In The First Place
Nothing can compare to the anxiety of suddenly and publicly releasing the gas that has built up inside of you. Weâve all been there. Whether you do the all-too-familiar shuffle to keep it in or you find a way to leave the room to find relief, being gassy or feeling bloated are experiences that every human can share. So, why are we so gassy? Letâs talk about gas, bloating, and what you can do about it.
How Long Does A Bloated Stomach Last
If your bloating is due to something you ate or drank or to hormone fluctuations, it should begin to ease within a few hours to days. If you are constipated, it wont go down until you start pooping. Water, exercise and herbal teas can help encourage all of these things along. If it doesnt go away or gets worse, seek medical attention.
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The Role Of Luminal Contents
Intestinal Gas Endogenous gas production via the fermentation of luminal contents is a significant contributor to raised intra-abdominal volume. Lactulose, which is poorly absorbed in the small bowel and therefore fermented in the colon, has been shown to be associated with bloating and distension in healthy volunteers and in patients with chronic constipation, suggesting luminal gas production as a contributing mechanism. Fermentation and thus gas production are influenced by the substrate and intestinal bacterial species, and studies show that alterations in the dietary intake of indigestible carbohydrates influence symptoms of bloating. In addition, reported alterations in the fecal microbiota of patients with IBS in comparison with those of healthy controls have been postulated to result in alterations of luminal fermentation, supported by the observation that patients with IBS have a lower cecal pH, presumably as a consequence of the increased production of short-chain fatty acids. Furthermore, the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of bloating is supported by studies in which the modulation of bacteria with antibiotics resulted in symptomatic decreases in bloating.
Put Things In Perspective
If you have the unfortunate experience of passing unwanted gas while in the presence of others, remember that although this is embarrassing it is not the end of the world. Everyone passes gas! It is helpful to keep in mind that no one will judge you based on what your body does.
Just say excuse me and get on with your day. By handling the situation with grace and dignity, you also serve as a role model for those around you should the situation happen to them someday
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Broccoli And Other Cruciferous Vegetables
The cruciferous vegetable family includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts and several others.
These are very healthy, containing many essential nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron and potassium.
However, they also contain FODMAPs, so they may cause bloating in some people .
Cooking cruciferous vegetables may make them easier to digest.
What to eat instead: There are many possible alternatives, including spinach, cucumbers, lettuce, sweet potatoes and zucchini.
Replace Sodas With Water
Fizzy, carbonated drinks contain gas that can build up in the stomach. The carbon dioxide that makes soda and similar beverages fizzy can also cause bubbling and bloating in the stomach.
Sugars or artificial sweeteners in the diet can also cause gas and bloating. Drinking water eliminates these issues and helps to treat constipation as well.
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What Works For Easing Bloating
Bloating can be relieved in different ways depending on the factor that causes the bloating in the first place. Though some stomach bloating will resolve on its own. The use of supplements or other techniques to ease bloating is also advisable. Some of these methods can be applied to relived bloating or perhaps for the underlying reason of the bloating.
Prosecretory And Promotility Agents
Prosecretory and promotility agents, such as linaclotide , prucalopride, and lubiprostone , are emerging as safe and efficacious treatments for chronic constipation and IBS-C. Data suggest that their use is associated with a concurrent decrease in bloating, but it remains uncertain whether this is a secondary response to reduced colonic loading or a direct effect on visceral sensation. The drugs have not been assessed in patients who have bloating without constipation.
Lubiprostone Lubiprostone, a member of the prostone class of compounds, also acts on chloride channels to relieve constipation and improve colonic transit. Most studies use the primary endpoint of increased frequency of spontaneous bowel motions, with decreases in abdominal pain and bloating as secondary endpoints. Once again, there appears to be a significant decrease in abdominal bloating.- The effect on bloating would appear likely due to reduced colonic volume and improved transit because lubiprostone appears not to have an effect on visceral sensory thresholds. Further studies are required.
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Bloating: Causes And Prevention Tips
How often do you hear yourself or friends complain about bloating? We often just say were bloated when we feel full, but for many women, the problem relates to a chronic underlying condition. If you feel bloated often, you may have a condition like irritable bowel syndrome , which affects up to 24 percent of women.
Linda Lee, M.D., explains common causes of bloating and what you can do to prevent this uncomfortable condition.
How To Prevent Gas And Bloating
Diet and exercise are key to preventing gas and bloating.
- Avoid gassy foods like beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce and cauliflower.
- Avoid dairy products if youre lactose intolerant and gluten if youre gluten intolerant.
- Sugar-free products should also be avoided, as they contain components that contribute to bloating.
- Regulate your digestion and include exercise in your routine.
- Avoid smoking, excessive gum chewing and sucking on hard candies, as these activities can make you swallow excess air.
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Can Bloating Be Prevented
To keep your digestive system working well, follow a healthy diet and eat at least 30g of fibre every day. Cut down on processed and fatty foods, and drink less alcohol. Drink plenty of water and take any medicines as directed by your doctor.
Dont overeat, and try to eat more slowly. Eating regularly will help to prevent digestive problems.
Regular exercise is also important for your gut because it strengthens the muscles in your tummy and stimulates the digestive system to push food through. It also helps with stress, which affects the nerves in the digestive system and can slow down digestion.
Smoking is very bad for your digestion. If you smoke, try to quit now.
What Are The Symptoms Of Gas
Gas symptoms vary from person to person. Common symptoms of gas in the digestive tract include belching, bloating and distention, and passing gas. Having some gas symptoms is normal, especially during or after meals.
Gas symptoms may be a problem if they occur often, bother you, or affect your daily activities.
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Over The Counter Treatments For Bloating
Nowadays, you can purchase different medications for bloating. Some of these guys include Antidepressants, Anti-flatulent medications, prokinetics, and so on.
Anti-Flatulent
This drug helps to break down the FODMAPs food substance or any indigestible substance. Also, it impedes FODMAPs from getting to the large intestine, where the anaerobic bacteria generate gas. It is advisable to take anti-flatulent when taking food with high FODMAPs. Anti-flatulent gets rid of excess gas by adding small gas bubbles into the larger had bubbles, and the excess gas will be released through burping or flatulence.
Antidepressants
The main purpose of this drug is to treat depression, but in recent years they have been proving to ease bloating via their effect on the gut and brain receptors.
Prokinetics
Prokinetics helps to relieve bloating by improving the time it takes food to pass down the digestive tract.
Treatment Algorithm For Patients With Functional Bloating
Although there is still a significant lack of data in regard to the management of bloating, as highlighted in this article, evidence is emerging that helps to guide therapy. A suggested treatment algorithm for the management of patients presenting with bloating is shown in the Figure.
A suggested algorithm for the management of patients in whom bloating with or without abdominal distension is the predominant or most worrisome symptom.
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Strategy #2 Take A Pill
Pepto, Beeno, Tums, or even prescription antibiotics and anti-inflammatories can be taken before, during, and after symptoms occur. There are also medicines that can be taken daily so that we do not have to alter our eating or lifestyle habits.
Oh, mylanta! This is no good!
Medicine is great when we are sick with an infection, high fever, or contagious disease however, medicine should never be used to replace responsible decision-making.
Thus, taking pills is not a good option because it enables poor habits and offsets the balance that our bodies are designed to have.
Bloating Belching And Intestinal Gas: How To Avoid Them
Bloating, belching, gas and gas pains can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Here’s what causes these signs and symptoms and how you can prevent them.
Making lifestyle changes may help reduce or relieve excess gas and gas pain:
- Try smaller portions. Many of the foods that can cause gas are part of a healthy diet. So, try eating smaller portions of problem foods to see if your body can handle a smaller portion without creating excess gas.
- Eat slowly, chew your food thoroughly and don’t gulp. If you have a hard time slowing down, put down your fork between each bite.
- Avoid chewing gum, sucking on hard candies and drinking through a straw. These activities can cause you to swallow more air.
- Check your dentures. Poorly fitting dentures can cause you to swallow excess air when you eat and drink.
- Don’t smoke. Cigarette smoking can increase the amount of air you swallow.
- Exercise. Physical activity may help move gas through the digestive tract.
The Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies provides answers you need to take care of common health problems on your own. This reference covers 120 of todays common health problems in an easy-to-follow, A-to-Z format. Learn what you can do for yourself and when to seek medical attention.
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Gas Bloating: Always Uncomfortable
Upset stomach got you down? Gas, bloating, and bathroom problems are a constant battle for many people — often the symptoms are related to diet, but there are some more serious medical conditions that may be the culprit.
Most people know that beans, broccoli, and onions can cause gas, but what most people don’t suspect are fruits, sodas, and milk. Fructose and lactose are common causes of gas, bloating, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
Lactose intolerance is extremely common. It is estimated that 30 to 50 million Americans have some degree of lactose intolerance. Certain racial and ethnic populations are more affected than others, including 75% of African Americans, Jews, Hispanics, and Native Americans, and 90% of Asians.
Fructose intolerance is also common, but less recognized. A study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Seattle by University of Kansas researcher Peter Beyer, RD, finds that nearly half of normal people get gas from fructose. This common fruit sugar is found in fruit juice and is used as a sweetener in some soft drinks.
Experts suggest that you keep a diary of foods that you eat and their relation to your symptoms and take that information to your doctor. Careful review of diet and the amount of gas passed may help relate specific foods to symptoms and determine the severity of the problem.
Take Some Deep Breaths
Deep breathing may help with gas pain. But this only tends to work if it’s something you practice regularly.
Since deep breathing from the diaphragm is so effective for reducing stress, it’s worth taking the time to learn how to do it. You can then use this breathing technique as needed for future gas attacks.
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Complementary And Alternative Therapies
Simethicone and Charcoal The use of gas-reducing agents, such as simethicone and charcoal, to relieve bloating is widespread, but the evidence to support their efficacy is limited. When used alone, simethicone has been inefficacious, and the effects of activated charcoal have been inconsistent., There is a suggestion that gas-related discomfort is reduced with a combination of simethicone and loperamide., Likewise, the combination of simethicone, activated charcoal, and magnesium oxide significantly reduced bloating in patients with functional dyspepsia. The evidence to support the use of any of these agents alone in reducing bloating is insufficient, but there may be some benefit in combination.
Kiwifruit Extract There is emerging evidence that kiwifruit is effective in the treatment of constipation and bloating. Although the mechanisms remain unknown, kiwifruit appears to promote both laxation and gastric motility. Kiwifruit extract has had promising results for the treatment of constipation in randomized, placebo-controlled trials. A statistically significant reduction in bloating was noted in a study of patients with occasional constipation.
Why Is My Stomach Bloated
The most common cause of stomach pain and bloating is excess intestinal gas. If you get a bloated stomach after eating, it can be a digestive issue. It might be as simple as eating too much too fast, or you could have a food intolerance or other condition that causes gas and digestive contents to build up. Your menstrual cycle is another common cause of temporary bloating. Sometimes a bloated stomach can indicate a more serious medical condition.
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How To Get Rid Of Gas
Often, your gas is caused by what you eat. Food is digested primarily in your small intestine. What is left undigested is fermented in your colon with bacteria, fungi, and yeast, as part of digestion. This process produces methane and hydrogen, which are expelled as flatus.
For many people, changing dietary habits is enough to alleviate gas and its accompanying symptoms. One way to determine which foods are giving you gas is by keeping a food diary. Common culprits include:
- foods with high fat content
- fried or spicy food
- artificial ingredients commonly found in low-carbohydrate and sugar-free products, such as sugar alcohol, sorbitol, and maltitol
- beans and lentils
- cruciferous vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli
- prunes or prune juice
- foods containing lactose, such as milk, cheese, and other dairy products
- fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols molecules found in a wide range of foods, such as garlic and onion, that may be hard to digest
- over-the-counter fiber drinks and supplements
Once you figure out what food is causing the gas, you can modify your diet to avoid the culprit.
If changing your diet doesnt completely do the trick, you have several options to try.