5 Reasons You Have Abdominal Gas All the Time
Abdominal gas is one of the most common digestive conditions. However, it can be really uncomfortable in some situations- It may manifest for a wide variety of reasons. However, the most important aspect of your lifestyle that affects it is your diet.
Generally, the discomfort you feel when you have abdominal gas is on a personal or social level. After all, it has to come out some way, whether by burping or by flatulence. We all know how unpleasant it is to be at a get-together or at someone’s house spending time with family when you have abdominal gas.
If this happens to you, you can check out some gas triggers. If possible, you can also adopt some measures to control them. In addition, if they manifest with other digestive symptoms, consult your doctor.
Do you have a lot of abdominal gas? Discover five possible causes
As Mayo Clinic highlights on its website, the presence of gases in the digestive system is completely normal. However, they can cause pain when they aren’t expelled or have difficulty moving through the digestive tract.
In addition, this publication also states that abdominal gas is related to eating habits. Therefore, to address this problem, it’s necessary to correct some dietary errors. What should you keep in mind?
1. Watch what you eat
Some of the factors that may be causing your gases, or that could generate this problem, are the excessive consumption of fiber (or lack thereof), lactose, sodas or chewing gum, among others. It’s important to determine which foods are causing the issue so you can avoid them in the future.
This intestinal problem doesn’t happen the same way for everyone. In fact, it always depends on each individual’s tolerance for certain foods.
That’s why it’s important to be aware of what you’ve been eating before the abdominal gas shows up. It’s important for you to remember that not everyone processes foods the same way. Thus, just because your friend can’t eat seeds doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.
Some of the most likely culprits are:
- Coffee.
- Spicy foods, such as chili peppers.
- Soft drinks or alcoholic beverages.
- Spices such as curry.
- Sprouts and cabbage.
- Fatty foods or foods that aren’t fully cooked.
- Dairy products, including yogurt.
- Beans (garbanzos, lentils, or green beans).
- Nuts and fruits (apples, bananas, peaches, and grapes).
2. Eating too fast
Another cause of abdominal gas is eating too fast, without giving yourself enough time to properly chew what you’re eating.
People who get anxiety, nervousness, or stress attacks or who binge eat may experience episodes of excessive flatulence or burping. Due to this, we recommend not only watching what you eat but also how you eat.
- Remember to keep an eating schedule and eat without rushing.
3. Medications
According to research published in Frontline Gastroenterology, consuming some medications can cause gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, you may suffer episodes of intestinal gas when you start a certain treatment.
If so, talk to your doctor and ask if the two things could be related. If they could be, they’ll tell you whether it’s a good idea to change your medication or whether there’s a treatment available to protect your stomach.
However, it’s important to not stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor, even if you do see a link between it and your gases.
4. Intestinal problems
Although it’s likely that your issues with gas are related to your diet, you should also pay attention to how frequently it’s occurring. Sometimes, gas is a warning sign that something isn’t right in your body.
For example, irritable bowel syndrome is a condition that causes excessive gas at night. In fact, just as research published in Best Practice & Research: Clinical Gastroenterology, this syndrome causes burping, farting, and abdominal swelling.
5. Intestinal bacteria
Food goes on a surprising journey as it passes through your body. When it moves from the small intestine to the large intestine, food is partially digested, which activates intestinal bacteria.
When the bacteria starts to work, gas may accumulate and then look for a way out, just as a study published in Gastroenterology & Hepatology states.
We recommend reading: Irritable Bowel Syndrome and its Role in Your Diet
What to do if you have excessive abdominal gas
If you get gas all the time and it’s getting out of hand, we advise seeing a gastroenterologist. This is the specialist you need to get a proper diagnosis.
As you can see, there are many different reasons why you may be experiencing gas, which is why it’s best to pay attention to see what’s causing your particular case.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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