Some foods, drinks, and dietary habits produce gas, but others can reduce it. To reduce the amount of gas, try: drinking beverages that are room temperature. eating raw, low-sugar fruits, such as apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, grapefruits, peaches, strawberries, and watermelons.
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.
As bananas ripen, their resistant starch is turned into simple sugars, which are more digestible. As such, eating ripe bananas may help reduce gas and bloating ( 13 ).
Apples. The teachers' favorite contains sorbitol, a sugar that's naturally in many fruits. Some people's bodies can't absorb it properly, which gives them gas and bloating. It can cause diarrhea, especially for children.
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.
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.
Wheat contains a protein called gluten, which may cause bloating, gas, stomach pain, and diarrhea for some people. Bread, pasta, and many baked goods contain gluten. Sensitivity to gluten can be due to a condition called celiac disease, which affects about 1 percent of the American population .
Eating bland foods such as crackers or toast is a great way to ease an upset stomach but burnt toast is even better.
This may surprise you, but coffee can indeed cause gas. When you drink it on an empty stomach, and it reduces the hydrochloric acid, your stomach may have trouble breaking down protein. All that undigested protein starts eating all the gut bacteria that produce hydrogen sulfide. The result is, well, a gassy stomach.
Dairy. Dairy from cows and goats contains lactose, a sugar that can cause gas to build up. On top of that, about 65 percent of the world's adult population has a degree of intolerance to lactose, and eating dairy can leave them feeling bloated and gassy.
“Fruits have sugars such as fructose and sorbitol, and these two nutrients can cause inflammation and gases,” she says. “They also contain fibre, which we all need for healthy gut function, but when consumed in excess it can result in lower digestibility, causing greater abdominal swelling and gases.”
Common causes of foul-smelling gas can be a food intolerance, high-fiber foods, certain medications and antibiotics, and constipation. More serious causes are bacteria and infections in the digestive tract or, potentially, colon cancer.
The anal sphincter weakens. This is simply a result of aging, resulting in less ability to hold in flatulence when we need to. “This is especially true in older women who have had multiple vaginal deliveries,” Houghton says.
By itself, intestinal gas rarely indicates a serious condition. It can cause discomfort and embarrassment, but it's usually just a sign of a normally functioning digestive system. If you're bothered by intestinal gas, try changing your diet.
While farting every day is normal, farting all the time is not. Excessive farting, also called flatulence, can make you feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. It might also be a sign of a health problem. You have excessive flatulence if you fart more than 20 times per day.