What To Take For Gassy Stomach

Behaviors Food Choices And Activity

Eating behaviors and other habits such as gum chewing, gulping foods and drinking with eating can cause us to swallow air. Bulky foods such as lettuce, cabbage, and dense breads not chewed into small enough pieces increase swallowed air.

Typically, swallowed air contains oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. It tends to not have a foul smell, but it does contribute to the discomfort associated with gas.

People vary widely in how sensitive they are to gas production. Keeping a food record to document incidences of gas in relation to foods eaten can shed light on whether food or behavior may be aggravating the situation.

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.

Treatment For Gas Gas Pains And Bloating

If your gas and gas pains are caused by an underlying condition, treatment for that condition may provide relief. Usually, gas can be treated through lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, and over-the-counter medications.

Dietary Considerations

Not everyone has the same reaction to all foods. Keeping a food diary can help you determine which foods cause increases in gas and bloating. Eliminating or reducing certain foods may be necessary to reduce your symptoms.

High-Fiber Foods

Foods that can cause gas due to high fiber include whole wheat, bran, prunes, peaches, apples, pears, asparagus, artichokes, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, onions, and beans. You may try avoiding high-fiber foods for a week or two and gradually start to eat them again. You should visit with a doctor or dietitian to make sure youâre getting enough fiber.

Dairy

Some people do not easily digest lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. Reducing or eliminating dairy products could help you reduce symptoms of gas and bloating. There are often lactose-free options for some products like milk.

Artificial Sweeteners

You may try eliminating sugar substitutes or trying a different type.

Fatty/Fried Food

Fat in your digestive tract can slow-down digestion, allowing food to ferment longer and produce gas. Reducing fat in your diet may help lessen symptoms.

Carbonated Beverages

Fiber Supplements

Water

Read Also: Why Does My Stomach Cramp After I Eat

Signs And Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome affects between 618% of people worldwide.

This condition involves changes in frequency or form of bowel movements and lower abdominal pain .

Diet, stress, poor sleep and changes in gut bacteria may all trigger symptoms.

However, triggers are different for each person, making it difficult to name specific foods or stressors that everyone with the disorder should avoid .

This article will discuss the most common symptoms of IBS and what to do if you suspect you have it.

What You Can Do To Avoidtrapped Wind

Keep it even: Eating regular meals means your digestive system can get into a routine, allowing digestion to flow more smoothly.

Avoiding gassy foods: Certain foods create more gas in the digestive tract than others, like the infamously gassy baked beans. Vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts, turnips, and leeks are also well known to be gassy. High fat foods and eggs are also notorious for producing bad smelling gas.

Chill: Mealtimes should ideally be relaxed times, as nervous tension can affect digestion. Feeling stressed can also make you gulp air. Try to practice some slow breathing before eating.

Slow Down: Eat slowly with your mouth closed to avoid gulping down air with your food. Try to avoid rushing meals and eating on the go. Guzzling down drinks, particularly fizzy ones or beer, instantly creates gas in the stomach, especially if they’re cold .

More tips for treating trapped wind:

• Drink warm water. Try adding a drop of peppermint oil to it
• Drink herbal tea chamomile, ginger, dandelion are particularly soothing
• Massaging your lower abdomen can get the wind moving
• Going for a walk uses gravity to move the gas out of your body

Do you want to learn more about Trapped Wind? Read more about the symptoms and causes of Trapped Wind.

Don’t Miss: How To Burn Stomach And Back Fat

Lifestyle Changes To Reduce Gas

Some lifestyle adjustments can help reduce gas, gas pains, and bloating.

• Eat smaller portions Many healthy foods can also cause gas. Eating smaller portions may help reduce excess gas.
• Chew completely and slow down If you eat too fast, it could cause gas. Tip: put down your fork between each bite.
• Avoid
• chewing gum
• sucking on hard candies

How Do You Get Gas

There are three main ways that gas enters your digestive system:

In some cases, gas may pass out of your system with no issue, but if you are struggling with bloating or gas pain, you can try one of the science-backed methods below for relief.

You May Like: What Causes Inflamation In The Stomach

Prevention And Relief From Abdominal Bloating

• Avoid consuming gas-producing foods like cabbage, beans, and carbonated drinks.
• Avoid swallowing air while eating or drinking.
• Do not smoke.
• Do not eat more than your stomach can take.
• Treat constipation as it is one of the main culprits behind stomach bloating.
• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Practise yoga mudras that can help ease digestion and gas problems such as Vayu mudra.

Most cases of abdominal bloating are not of much concern. But in some cases, stomach bloating can have severe side effects on your health and can even be a symptom of a more serious underlying medical condition.

How To Stop Stomach Growling

Stomach growling after eating is a natural process and a simple byproduct of food breaking down in our bellies. However, what you eat and how you eat it can affect the regularity and volume of the growls and gurgles.

Take control of your borborygmus and look at these tips below. Manage a growling stomach by changing your diet and eating habits to enjoy more time growl-free.

Read Also: What Causes Upper Stomach Bloating

How To Get Rid Of Stomach Gas

Although stomach gas is not life-threatening, it can be extremely embarrassing. Therefore, persons suffering with excessive gas in the stomach can rely on below measures to rid excessive gas buildup.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar

You can always rely on apple cider vinegar to treat indigestion and stomach gas. There are many enzymes in ACV responsible for alkalizing your body and promoting better digestion.

Take a glass of warm water and add 2 tsp. of ACV to it. Mix well and leave it for a few minutes to cool to room temperature. Then, drink twice a day. You can use this remedy even when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

2. Ginger

One of the best remedies to deal with stomach gas is to use some ginger. It has antiemetic properties, so it reduces nausea and works amazingly well to help expel intestinal gas. Some studies have also found that ginger may trigger the process of gastric emptying. It also helps soothe the intestinal tract.

Take equal amounts of ground ginger, cardamom, and fennel. Mix well and add a teaspoon of this mixture along with some asafetida to a cup of water. Have it twice a day to relieve indigestion. You can also drink ginger tea or simply chew on raw ginger pieces for relief.

3. Baking Soda and Lemon

Also called sodium bicarbonate, baking soda acts as an antacid and helps expel stomach gas. Combine it with lemon juice to make it even more effective.

4. Cinnamon

5. Fennel

6. Change the Diet

7. Other Remedies

Lime Or Lemon Juice Baking Soda And Water

Some studies suggest that mixing lime or lemon juice in water with a pinch of baking soda can help to relieve a variety of digestive complaints.

This mixture produces carbonic acid, which may help to reduce gas and indigestion. It may also improve liver secretion and intestinal mobility. The acidity and other nutrients in lime or lemon juice can help to digest and absorb fats and alcohol while neutralizing bile acids and reducing acidity in the stomach.

Most traditional recipes recommend mixing the following quantities:

• 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon or lime juice
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 8 oz of clean water

You May Like: How To Tone Your Lower Stomach

How To Find Gas And Bloating Relief

If you know what causes your gas, then take steps to avoid those triggers. Try eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding food allergens. For occasional gas caused by upset stomach, heartburn, nausea or indigestion due to overindulgence in food or drink, give Pepto Bismol a try. Pepto Bismol is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Upset Stomach Brandâ and helps relieve your symptoms fast.*

If you find that you are gassy more times than not, you should probably see your doctor. He or she can help diagnose the problem and recommend a plan of action to treat it.

â Based on Pharmacy Times 2018 Survey

*Use as directed for relief of upset stomach due to overindulgence in food and drink, including heartburn, nausea, gas, belching and fullness.

Head To The Drugstore

Some people find relief with over-the-counter products, such as simethicone and activated charcoal. Of the two, simethicone is considered the better option, although experts are not quite sure how it works. Brand names for simethicone include:

• Maalox Anti-Gas
• Gas-X
• Phazyme

You should know that activated charcoal may result in constipation, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Therefore, its use is somewhat controversial within the medical community.

In addition, if you decide to try activated charcoal, you may find that it turns your stool black. However, black stools from charcoal supplements are not something to be concerned about.

As with any OTC product, check with your healthcare provider before use. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should generally avoid these products.

You May Like: What Causes Too Much Stomach Acid

Remedies And Treatments For Bloating

Once a cause of bloating is established, the symptom can be treated. Depending on your doctorâs findings, he or she may suggest one of the following remedies for bloating:

Eating Slowly

Eating too quickly causes you to swallow more air, which can lead to gas and bloating. Eating slowly can help reduce bloating. Additionally, slowing your eating can make you feel full, faster, helping you avoid overeating, which can lead to bloating.

Changing Your Diet

If you notice a trend in certain foods causing you to bloat, try reducing or eliminating those foods from your diet. Foods that commonly cause bloating are wheat, beans, lentils, garlic, onions, and asparagus. Milk and dairy foods can also cause bloating, as some people have a hard time digesting a sugar they contain called lactose.

Antacids

Antacids can reduce bloating by allowing gas to pass more easily through your digestive tract. Do note, however, that antacids are only effective for bloating caused by food.

Antidepressants

Researchers have found that certain antidepressants can affect the way your body reacts to gas, keeping it from overreacting to its presence.

Less Fiber

Eating too much fiber is one of the most common reasons for bloating. Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet, but it can cause a lot of gas in your digestive system because your body cannot digest it. The key with fiber is to eat it in moderation. Foods high in fiber include beans, lentils, broccoli, whole wheat, apples, berries, and quinoa.

Taking Medicines Or Supplements

In some cases, doctors may recommend medicines or supplements to help reduce gas or gas symptoms. The medicines or supplements your doctor recommends will depend on which gas symptoms you have and whether a health condition is causing your gas symptoms.

Doctors may recommend

• over-the-counter medicines
• prescription medicines to treat certain health conditions you may have that cause gas symptoms, such as IBS or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• supplements or other products to reduce gas symptoms, such as lactase products for lactose intolerance

For safety reasons, talk with your doctor before using supplements, probiotics, or any complementary or alternative medicines or medical practices.

Read Also: How Can You Cure Stomach Cancer

When Gas Is A Symptom Of Something Else

If excessive gas is persistent or severe, consult your doctor it could be a sign of a more serious digestive condition, such as:

• Lactose intolerance This is the inability to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk and milk products. I test with a milk challenge, says Bickston. The patient drinks a pint or two of milk it can be any percent fat. What follows tells the patients whether they should limit their milk intake. If avoiding milk reduces your symptoms you may be lactose intolerant.
• Irritable bowel syndrome Patients who meet the diagnostic checklist for irritable bowel syndrome suffer more pain at the lower levels of the abdominal cavity, he says.
• Colon cancer Excess gas is rarely the main symptom of patients with colon cancer, Bickston notes. But it does trigger my reflex to remind patients to get screened for colorectal cancer.
• Upper gastrointestinal disorders Occasional belching is normal, but frequent belching may be a sign of an upper gastrointestinal disorder. These include peptic ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease , or gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying.

Also, warns Bickston, if you’ve had abdominal surgery, a hernia, or significant weight loss or weight gain, never dismiss your gas-like symptoms as normal. Get them checked out.

As annoying as it might be, some gas is a natural by-product of the bodys digestive system. But if your gas is excessive, painful, or chronic, talk to your doctor about possible causes and remedies.

What Causes Bloating In The Stomach

Gas

Gas is a natural byproduct of digestion, but too much intestinal gas means your digestion is gone awry. While you can ingest gasses by swallowing air or drinking carbonated beverages, these gasses mostly escape through belching before they reach your intestines. Gasses in your intestines are mostly produced by gut bacteria digesting carbohydrates, in a process called fermentation.

If theres too much fermentation going on, its because too many carbohydrates werent naturally absorbed earlier in the digestive process, before reaching those gut bacteria. That could be for several reasons. Maybe you just ate too much too fast for proper digestion. Or you might have a specific food intolerance or gastrointestinal disease. Some possible causes include:

Digestive Contents

These can include solids, liquids, and gas. Digestive contents can build up in your digestive system when there is a backup or restriction in your digestive tract or when the muscles that move digestive contents along are somehow impaired. Any build-up of digestive contents along the digestive tract will leave less room for normal amounts of gas to process through. It also leaves less room for other things in your abdomen, including circulatory fluids and fat, making everything feel tighter. Causes of build-up can include:

Hormones

Other Causes

You May Like: Why Does The Side Of My Stomach Hurt

Remedies And Treatments For Stomach Pain And Gas

Most stomach pain and gas will go away on its own, but there are steps you can take to ease discomfort and prevent future gas pain. Gas-related stomach pain remedies include:

Pass Gas

The only way to get rid of gas is to pass it. Donât hold it in. If youâre worried about odor, try reducing foods that contain sulfur-producing compounds such as broccoli, cabbage, and beer.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Many gas-relieving products are marketed, but scientific evidence of their effectiveness is limited. Many people claim to experience relief, so they may be worth trying. The most common medications that claim to relieve immediate symptoms are activated charcoal and simethicone .

Herbal Remedies

Peppermint and peppermint oil have the best record as digestive aids, but there are many other foods that may help. In one study, Chinese herbal formulae outperformed placebos in soothing IBS symptoms. Commonly included ingredients are:

• Wearing ill-fitting dentures

Enzymes Before Eating Certain Foods

Taking enzymes before you eat can help you better digest your meal. Most enzymes are only available for those with a medical condition that prevents them from producing their own. However, two widely available enzymes for problematic foods are:

• Lactase supplements can help those who are lactose intolerant.
• Alpha-galactosidase supplements can help people digest legumes.

When To See A Doctor

While most cases of stomach pain and gas can be treated at home, you should talk to your doctor if you are worried. You should also consult your doctor if:

• Your pain lasts more than a couple days
• Stomach gas and pain remain well after an immediate cause, such as constipation, is relieved

Potential causes of more enduring gas pain include celiac disease and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth . If you suspect you may have celiac disease, pay attention to your gluten intake to discover whether pain changes accordingly.

SIBO is generally seen in people who have:

• Had abdominal surgeries

Recommended Reading: Do Stomach Cramps Mean Pregnancy