What Causes Excessive Gas?
When it comes to common digestive issues, excessive gas is one of the most uncomfortable and embarrassing. But before you start hiding away in shame, it’s important to understand what actually causes the bloating and burping in the first place. After all, the best way to tackle a problem is by understanding its origins. So, let’s delve deeper into the “why” behind excessive gas, as well as what you can do to minimize symptoms.
Digestive Processes That Cause Gas
There are four main processes that contribute to our daily gas output, and it’s important to be familiar with each.
Swallowing Air: It’s normal to swallow air when drinking, eating, or talking, and this can cause us to burp or feel gassy. The amount swallowed dictates how much gas will be expelled from our bodies. Too much air can result in excessive bloating and burping.
Bacterial Fermentation in the Colon: When undigested food from the small intestine (like carbohydrates) reaches the large intestine, special bacteria contained in our gut breaks it down. This breakdown process causes the formation of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane gases, leading to flatulence.
Risk Factors for Excessive Gas
In some cases, excessive gas accumulation can point to more serious issues, like diseases or food allergies. However, the old adage “you are what you eat” also holds true here. Certain dietary practices can make it more likely that gas will accumulate in our digestive tract.
Eating the Wrong Foods: Certain foods are known for making us feel gassy and bloated. Think: beans, soft drinks, high-fiber fruits and vegetables, and dairy. If you experience excessive gas and bloating after eating a certain kind of food, consider limiting your portions or avoiding it completely and see how you feel.
Difficulty Digesting Milk Sugar (Lactose Intolerance): Lactose intolerance is when your body fails to properly digest the natural sugar found in dairy — known as lactose. When this happens, the lactose ferments in your intestines, resulting in excessive gas and bloating.
Intestinal Overgrowth of Harmful Bacteria: A condition known as “small intestine bacterial overgrowth” (SIBO) can lead to excessive digestion of food and promote abnormal gas production. If you experience any bloating or gas that doesn’t seem to have an explanation, consider visiting your doctor and getting tested for SIBO, or ask for a hydrogen breath test.
Managing Excessive Gas
Although excessive gas can be both embarrassing and uncomfortable, there are certain things you can do to minimize your symptoms. After all, nobody should be forced to suffer in silence.
Reduce Your Intake of Gas-Causing Foods: As we’ve already touched on, certain foods can act as gas-inducing culprits. Reducing or avoiding these might help keep your burps and bloating in check.
Eat Smaller Meals: Eating larger meals puts your digestive system under considerable strain, and this can make being comfortable after eating more difficult. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help reduce the amount of gas you produce, since it allows your body to digest your food more efficiently.
Combat Constipation: Constipation occurs when food spends too much time in your bowels, allowing food particles to ferment, thereby promoting gas production. Doing things like eating a high-fiber diet and drinking plenty of liquids can improve your stools, reduce constipation, and therefore, reduce the amount of gas created in your intestines.
As we’ve seen, the causes of excessive gas can widely vary. While some cases may not require a professional doctor’s opinion, if you think your uncomfortable bloating could be a symptom of an underlying issue, then it’s always better to be safe and get it checked out!