Put a GAG on GAS!!!

A burp or a fart at wrong times can be a source of embarrassment and discomfort. Nevertheless, an average adult produces about 0.5-1.5 litres of gas every day, passing it either as flatus or as a burp, making it a part and parcel of life. The amount of gas produced depends on the diet and other individual factors. Certain foods, eating habits and disease conditions can cause you to make excessive amounts of gas. This piece of writing reviews the sources of intestinal gas, conditions that increase sensitivity to gas and measures to reduce gas production.

As a student, we study the three states of matter: solids, liquids and gases. The lightest state of the three can act quite heavy when inside the intestines. Two primary sources generate intestinal gas: air that a person swallows and gas that bacteria in the large intestine produce.

Swallowed air is the most common source of gas in the stomach. It is normal to swallow a small amount of air while eating and drinking. Mostly, the body eliminates the swallowed air through burping.

Bacterial production: The colon normally houses billions of bacteria which support intestinal health. These bacteria act upon certain carbohydrates that our intestines incompletely digest. During this process, the bacteria produce certain gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane, and trace amounts of sulphur.

Causes of Increased Gas Formation

• Eating food rapidly, gulping liquids, consuming carbonated beverages, chewing gum, or smoking can lead to swallowing air.
• Foods that cause gas: Several foods contain a carbohydrate 'raffinose', that is poorly digested and can increase gas production. Foods like beans, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus (Shatavari), etc.
• Some laxatives contain soluble fibre and may cause gas, particularly during the first few weeks of use.
• Certain Diseases: Lactose intolerance - Lactose intolerance occurs when your body has difficulty digesting lactose, the sugar found in milk and most milk-based products. Gluten Sensitivity or celiac disease - Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. The people who are not able to digest gluten are said to be sensitive to gluten. Irritable bowel syndrome - Many people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are sensitive to normal amounts of gas and normal movement in the intestines feels painful or overactive.
• Stress can also lead to increased gas formation because people under stress often swallow a lot of air.

Measures to reduce gas

• Avoid foods that appear to aggravate your symptoms. These may include milk and dairy products, certain fruits or vegetables, whole grains, artificial sweeteners, carbonated beverages. Keep a record of foods to help to identify which foods are troublesome.
• If you are lactose intolerant, do not consume products that contain lactose or use a lactose-digestive aid, such as pre-digested dairy products or lactase supplements (e.g., Lactaid® tablets or liquid).
• Fructo-oligosaccharides present in certain foods promote the growth of friendly bacteria in the large intestine which help in keeping the growth of gas-producing bacteria in check.
• Chew food thoroughly. Incomplete digestion of large particles causes gas when they pass into the large intestine.
• Eat slowly. If you eat too quickly, you tend to swallow more air.

Though relatively harmless, excessive gas in the gastrointestinal tract can be quite annoying. By checking our food habits we can put a gag on this gas.