Traditionally, chocolate has been viewed as a potential trigger for gut symptoms like pain, cramping, bloating, gas and diarrhea. This is because chocolate, particularly milk chocolate, contains a lot of sugar, including lactose, milk proteins and fat – all of which can cause symptoms in susceptible persons.
Foods most often linked to intestinal gas include: Beans and lentils. Asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and other vegetables. Fructose, a natural sugar found in artichokes, onions, pears, wheat, and some soft drinks.
Dark chocolate is considered a healthy food because it contains antioxidants called flavonoids. Flavonoids may help prevent heart disease and cancer. However, they can also cause side effects such as gas and bloating, especially if you eat too much dark chocolate at one time or if you have some digestive issues.
A few pieces of plain dark chocolate, with at least 75% cocoa solids, can help reduce bloating due to the chocolate's anti-inflammatory properties once in the gut.
Dark chocolate is particularly beneficial for your gut. It provides fuel and promotes the growth of some of the gut's "good" bacteria.
Eating large amounts might cause caffeine-related side effects such as nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat. Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions, constipation and might trigger migraine headaches.
eating raw, low-sugar fruits, such as apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, grapefruits, peaches, strawberries, and watermelons. choosing low-carbohydrate vegetables, such as green beans, carrots, okra, tomatoes, and bok choy. eating rice instead of wheat or potatoes, as rice produces less gas.
Common gas-causing offenders include beans, peas, lentils, cabbage, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, whole-grain foods, mushrooms, certain fruits, and beer and other carbonated drinks. Try removing one food at a time to see if your gas improves.
Avoid vegetables such as peas, onions, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, mushrooms, as well as asparagus. Avoid whole grains that are high in carbohydrates such as whole wheat, bran, and pasta. While delicious, avoid fruits such as peaches, prunes, apples, and pears.
When coffee is consumed, the acid in the coffee can irritate the lining of the stomach and small intestine, which can cause gas, bloating, and abdominal discomfort. Additionally, caffeine can also stimulate the production of stomach acid, which can further aggravate digestive symptoms.
Chocolate actually slows down the digestive process and is among the worst culprits for causing constipation.
Excessive farting can be caused by: swallowing more air than usual. eating foods that are difficult to digest. conditions affecting the digestive system like indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Excess upper intestinal gas can result from swallowing more than a usual amount of air, overeating, smoking or chewing gum. Excess lower intestinal gas can be caused by eating too much of certain foods, by the inability to fully digest certain foods or by a disruption in the bacteria normally found in the colon.
However, some might find that bread causes excessive gas and painful bloating. If you find that this happens to you after eating just a small amount, it could be the case that you have a wheat intolerance or gluten intolerance, which causes stress on the gut and digestive system.
Yogurt's probiotics (good bacteria) help your gut digest and absorb food, so there's less gas and bloating. Go for plain yogurt with active cultures, and sweeten it with a little fruit.
In fact, water can help with bloating and gas, two common symptoms people experience from time to time. No matter what is causing your bloating, gas, or similar symptoms, drinking water is one of many healthy habits that can provide you with both short-term relief and overall improvement.
Natural remedies for gas include: Peppermint tea. Chamomile tea.
Increase the amount of fibre in your diet, for example: cereals, e.g. All Bran®, Bran Flakes®, Weetabix®, muesli, fruit and vegetables and brown bread. You must however drink plenty of water: 1-1½ litres a day. Eat your meals slowly and chew food thoroughly.
Porridge
Porridge oats contain a high amount of soluble fiber, which could help relieve IBS symptoms, according to the NIDDK . A person could add fiber to their diet gradually to avoid triggering gas.
Even though dairy products are the major culprits of discomfort for some IBS sufferers, yogurt proves to be an exception. The live cultures in the yogurt break down the lactose, so it's less likely to cause gassy symptoms.
The symptoms of chocolate addiction withdrawal include intense cravings for sweet foods, carbohydrate cravings, increased irritability, depressed mood, headaches, lack of energy, and exhaustion. Cutting back on chocolate may affect a person by causing withdrawal symptoms that may be uncomfortable.