Relieve Gas

Excessive gas can cause pain, bloating, and moments of embarrassment. The production of gas in the digestive system is directly related to the food we eat and the way it is eaten, so changing diet and eating habits are the most effective methods for relieving gas in the long term. Read on for information on providing immediate relief for gas-related symptoms and making changes that will prevent it from occurring as severely and as often.

Steps

Immediate Relief

  1. Let it out. If you're experiencing extreme gas pain, trying to hold the gas inside your body for the sake of social decorum is only going to make the pain worse. Remember that the average person passes gas ten times per day, and there's nothing abnormal about needing to do so, even if the timing seems inconvenient.
    • It might help to find a restroom and stay there until the bout of gas pain has subsided. If possible, stay at home and allow yourself to completely recover before going about your day.
    • When you're in a comfortable place, relax your muscles and change your positioning so the gas can exit your body more easily.
  2. Apply some heat. Gas leads to uncomfortable tightness in the abdominal region, and this pain can be eased by treating it with heat.
    • Fill a hot water bottle, lie down on your bed or on the couch, and place the bottle over your stomach. The heat will help relieve the tightness.
    • A hot bath also helps ease the pain of gas and constipation.
  3. Drink mint or ginger tea. Both mint and ginger have properties that settle the stomach and aid the digestion process. Boil a few leaves of mint or some chopped ginger, strain the hot tea into a mug, and sip it slowly.
  4. Eat garlic soup. Garlic stimulates the gastric system and helps relieve gas quickly.[1] Chop some cloves of fresh garlic and sauté them in a little olive oil. Add chicken or vegetable broth, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Eat the soup hot.
  5. Use over-the-counter gas relief medicine. Drugstores offer a lot of options for indigestion medication. Since you're already experiencing gas pains, choose one that is meant to be taken after eating, not before.[2]

Preventative Measures

  1. Avoid foods that irritate your digestive system.[2] There are certain foods that are known to cause gas, and some people are more sensitive to them than others. If you experience gas problems regularly, consider avoiding or limiting these foods:
    • Legumes. Beans are difficult to digest because they contain a sugar called oligosaccharide that the body cannot break down because it doesn't produce the right enzyme to do so. The oligosaccharide molecules remain whole through most of the digestion process and produce gas in the small intestine.
    • Foods high in fiber. Fiber has many health benefits, but eating a large amount of grains and fibrous fruits and vegetables can lead to gas. Don't stop eating these beneficial foods altogether, but you might want to avoid the ones that seem to give you the worst gas.
    • Dairy products containing lactose. Many people are slightly lactose intolerant; that glass of milk you have in the morning might be contributing to gas.
    • Soda and other carbonated beverages.
    • Fried foods and other fatty foods.
    • Artificial additives. Sweeteners like sorbitol and mannitol lead to gas and diarrhea.
  2. Consider other indigestibles that might be causing gas. Taking fiber supplements, laxatives, or antibiotics can cause gas. These irritate the bowels and remove the bacteria needed for properly digesting food.
  3. Chew your food well. Taking the time to chew each piece helps to break down the food before it enters your stomach and intestines, creating less work for your digestive system. Chewing with your mouth closed can also help, since swallowing a lot of air can lead to gas.
  4. Eat protein first. Changing the order in which you eat food can prevent the production of gas. Eating protein with or before fiber and carbohydrates allows your digestive system to work properly.[3]
    • When you begin eating a meal, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid in anticipation of digesting protein. If salad or bread hits your stomach first, the acid gets used up before you ingest meat, fish, or another protein. The protein then ferments and leads to gas and bloating.
    • Health food stores sell hydrochloric acid supplements that you can take to help you digest protein. These should be taken after the meal, so your stomach has the chance to produce as much acid as it can first.
  5. Eat fermented food. In order to properly digest your food, your digestive tract needs a good supply of healthy bacteria. Fermented foods supply your body with the type of bacteria it needs to break other foods down.
    • Try yogurt, kefir, and other cultured dairy foods. Make sure the label says that the product contains probiotics.
    • Kimchi, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables also have good probiotic properties.
  6. Take digestive enzymes. Health food stores carry enzyme tablets or pills that supply your body with enzymes it lacks to help you digest beans, fiber and fats. Taking these before or during your meals will prevent the production of gas.
    • Beano is the most common over-the-counter product engineered to prevent gas caused by beans.
    • Other supplements are geared toward preventing gas caused by carbohydrates and fats. Think about what foods in your diet seem to stimulate the production of gas, and buy the right type of supplement accordingly.
    • Activated charcoal is another over-the-counter gas treatment that can be taken both before and after meals.

Treating Chronic Gas

  1. Consider your symptoms. If you have gas every day, or if your gas pains are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, or other severe symptoms, you might have a chronic issue beyond what can be treated by dietary changes or supplements.
    • Irritable bowel syndrome is a fairly common malady that causes chronic pain when certain foods are consumed.
    • Crohn's disease and celiac disease are gastrointestinal disorders that are irritated by the consumption of certain foods.[4]
  2. See your doctor. If you feel it's a possibility that your symptoms go beyond the normal issues caused by eating beans and fiber, make an appointment with your doctor to get to the bottom of the problem. To prepare for your visit,
    • Keep a journal of your meals. Record every component of the meals you eat for the few weeks before your visit. Make a note of in what order you consume your food.
    • Be prepared to undergo some tests and answer questions from the doctor about your dietary and lifestyle habits.[4]

Tips

  • Light exercise can help relieve constipation. Try taking a brisk walk or swim to get your digestive system working.
  • To avoid swallowing too much air, stop chewing gum and drinking through straws. These unassuming habits might be leading to gas.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/15634/1/Instant-Gas-Relief--Causes-and-Cures.html
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gas-and-gas-pains/DS00080/DSECTION=causes
  3. ↑ http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/how-to-relieve-gas-naturally#axzz2My6RMF4X
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gas-and-gas-pains/DS00080/DSECTION=preparing-for-your-appointment
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