How to Treat Flatulence, Excessive Gas Formation In Stomach

Flatulence or gas, more commonly known as farts is the most embarrassing condition, when one passes out gas from the rectum and through the closed buttocks. These gases are the result of unabsorbed foods in the body, and often have a bad odor. These gases could result from foods like cashews, cabbage, lentils, beans, broccoli, apples, potatoes, milk and other dairy products. Foods containing starch, carbohydrates and sugars are more likely to cause gas. Carbonated drinks too cause discomfort in digestion, as they contain many gases and cause flatulence.

Pregnant women undergo many hormonal changes in their body and therefore fart. Eating or drinking too quickly allows air to enter our body, thus causing uneasiness in the intestines, and this too leads to farting. Chewing gums and smoking too causes air to enter the stomach. Infants too tend to swallow air while breastfeeding, which causes discomfort in the stomach. The remedy in all these cases is to burp, which releases the excess air and gases from the stomach, giving some relief.

The gas passed out is usually a mixture of carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. Although flatulence is a big embarrassment and discomfort, it can be treated to reduce the uneasiness and social awkwardness.

The first easiest and most important thing to do would be to eat easily digestible foods like bananas, rice, juices etc. Foods like pizzas and breads should be strictly avoided or consumed in small quantities, as these produce gas. Almost all packaged foods and processed foods, cause indigestion, and result in flatulence. So the foods that are unaccepted by one's body should be identified and discontinued immediately.

It is important to eat small meals at regular intervals during the day, and chew them well, instead of few big meals eaten hastily. For example, six small portions can be eaten at small intervals during the day, as against three big meals. This puts less pressure on the intestines to digest the food, as the load on them is smaller.

A quick brisk walk goes a long way in helping the stomach digest the food and keeping the body healthy and free from many ailments.

A common mistake that most people make is eating a heavy meal and going to bed. This makes it harder for the stomach to digest the food in the absence of any physical activity. The gas in such cases passes from the stomach to the intestine a lot more easily.

In certain cases when the carbohydrates are not absorbed properly, it could lead to a more severe problem of diarrhea. Hence, a doctor should be consulted immediately, and the required medicine should be taken.

Foods like cabbage and potatoes that produce gas should be strictly avoided, if they cause continuous problem. However, a hot water bottle can be placed on the stomach to relieve it of any pain that occurs due to gas formation.

Moreover, lemon is a wonder medicine. Sipping a little lemon juice with each meal helps in quick and easy digestion of the food, leaving little room for gas formation and wind passing.