Gas in your stomach is primarily caused by swallowing air when you eat or drink. Most stomach gas is released when you burp. Gas forms in your large intestine colon when bacteria ferment carbohydrates — fiber, some starches and some sugars — that aren't digested in your small intestine. Bacteria also consume some of that gas, but the remaining gas is released when you pass gas from your anus. While high-fiber foods increase gas production, fiber is essential for keeping your digestive tract in good working order and regulating blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Other dietary factors that can contribute to increased gas in the digestive system include the following:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Gas in your digestive system is part of the normal process of digestion. Email address. First Name let us know your preferred name.
Last Name. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry.
More Information Nervous stomach: Is there such a thing? Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Gas in the digestive tract.
As a person eats or drinks, they tend to swallow a bit of air. The body may release this air as a burp, or the air may make its way to the intestines, where it will eventually leave the body as a fart.
Farting is also an indication of natural activity in the digestive system. The bacteria that live in the gut create different gases as they break down foods, and the body releases these gases as a fart. People may notice that they fart more after making changes to their diet. Changes could include becoming vegetarian or vegan, cutting out food groups, or adding new foods to the diet.
In these cases, any digestive disturbances — which can also include nausea, stomach upsets , and constipation or diarrhea — should settle down as the body adjusts to the new diet. If it does not settle down, this may indicate that the new eating pattern is triggering a food intolerance. Some foods cause more digestive gases to build up than others. Foods that cause gas include many carbohydrates , starches, and foods that are high in fiber.
In contrast, proteins and fats do not typically cause gas, though specific proteins can intensify the odor it gives off. Fiber is the tough part of plants or carbohydrates that the human body has trouble breaking down. It does not break down in the small intestine and reaches the colon undigested. Bacteria in the colon break down the fiber in a fermentation process, which produces gas. This includes both soluble and insoluble fibers, which only occur in plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, and greens.
High fiber foods are good for the gut, but eating too much can cause digestive upset. People can avoid this discomfort by introducing high fiber foods into the diet slowly over several weeks to let their digestive system get used to them. Learn about how much fiber is too much. According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders , rice is the only starch that does not cause gas.
Sulfur is necessary for a healthy body, but eating too many high sulfur foods may cause excessive gas. Sulfuric foods include alliums, such as onions and garlic, and cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower. Sugar alcohols, such as xylitol and erythritol, give the sweetness of sugar without the calories. However, they may also cause digestive issues, such as flatulence, as the body has trouble digesting them completely.
Constipation may also cause more frequent flatulence. As waste sits in the colon, it ferments, releasing extra gas.
If the person is constipated, the waste may sit there for much longer than usual, causing excess gas to build up. A person with lactose intolerance will notice that they produce more gas when they eat or drink dairy products, such as cheese, butter, or yogurt. Someone with lactose intolerance may experience other symptoms when they have dairy products, such as:.
When a person has celiac disease , their digestive system cannot break down gluten, which is the protein in wheat. They may experience a wide range of digestive symptoms if they eat gluten, including excessive gas and bloating.
While gluten and dairy are common intolerances, the body may become intolerant to a wide variety of foods. Eating these foods may cause digestive disturbances, including excessive farting. Keeping a food and symptom diary may help a person to identify trigger foods so they can eliminate them from their diet.
Irritable bowel syndrome IBS is a digestive disorder that causes a range of digestive symptoms, including excessive gas, abdominal pain, and regular diarrhea or constipation. The person with IBS may notice symptoms more during periods of high stress or when eating certain foods. Several other digestive disorders cause excessive farting. Each condition will have its own cause and symptoms.
If your flatulence is related to an underlying health problem, treating the condition may help resolve it. Read more about treating flatulence. There are several natural causes of flatulence. Flatulence can also be caused by some health conditions related to the digestive system, or as a side effect of certain medicines. It's perfectly normal to swallow air while breathing and eating.
However, it's easy to swallow a lot more air than usual without realising it. This can cause excessive flatulence. Hot and fizzy drinks also increase the amount of carbon dioxide in your stomach, although this is more likely to cause belching rather than flatulence. Some carbohydrates in food can't be digested and absorbed by the intestines.
These pass down into your colon to be broken down by bacteria, producing gas, which is released as flatulence. Foods containing a lot of unrefined cereal fibre, such as bran, can also sometimes cause problems with wind and bloating.
Other foods and drinks that contain a sweetener called sorbitol such as sugar-free gum or slimming products or a type of sugar called fructose such as fruit juice can also cause flatulence. This means chewing sugar-free gum can cause flatulence from both the sweetener and swallowing air. Certain foods, such as cabbage or onions, can lead to the production of gases containing sulphur, which can result in foul-smelling wind.
However, the production of smelly wind can vary from person to person depending on what you eat, so it's up to you to work out which foods cause the most smell. Flatulence, often caused by indigestion , is a possible side effect of many types of medicine, including:. You should try to avoid eating foods high in unabsorbable carbohydrates. For a list of these foods, see causes of flatulence. Certain processed foods should also be avoided as they can contain ingredients that cause flatulence, including:.
However, it's still important to eat a healthy balanced diet , including at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Choose foods containing carbohydrates that are easy to digest. These include:. It's important to note that people react differently to certain foods, so some foods listed above may still cause flatulence.
You may find it useful to keep a food diary to see whether certain foods make your symptoms better or worse. You may also find it useful to eat 6 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones. Smaller meals are easier to digest and may produce less gas. There's some evidence to suggest drinking peppermint tea can help improve the symptoms of flatulence.
There's also some evidence that small amounts of ginger can help with digestion or an upset stomach, which may be causing flatulence.
However, pregnant women should consult their doctor before taking ginger. When eating, make sure you chew food slowly to reduce the amount of air you swallow. This will also help with digestion. Avoid chewing gum as it can also cause you to swallow more air than usual. You should also give up smoking, if you smoke. Smoking can cause you to swallow more air than usual, and tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system. See stop smoking for more information and advice about quitting smoking.
Getting plenty of exercise can help improve the functioning of your digestive system and bowel.
0コメント