It might help to find a restroom and stay there until the bout of gas pain has subsided. If possible, stay at home and allow yourself to completely recover before going about your day. When you’re in a comfortable place, relax your muscles and change your positioning so the gas can exit your body more easily.
Fill a hot water bottle, lie down on your bed or on the couch, and place the bottle over your stomach. The heat will help relieve the tightness. A hot bath also helps ease the pain of gas and constipation.
Consult your doctor before taking activated charcoal if you are using other medications or supplements.
Beano can also help prevent the development of excess gas when taken with meals.
Foods containing gluten, such as wheat, barley, and rye products. Dairy products. Corn. Soy. Sugar. Alcohol. Refined carbohydrates. High FODMAP foods (foods containing certain types of sugars). For more information about foods that are high or low in FODMAPS, take a look at this information sheet: https://patienteducation. osumc. edu/documents/lowfodmapdiet. pdf
Legumes. Beans are difficult to digest because they contain a sugar called oligosaccharide that the body cannot break down because it doesn’t produce the right enzyme to do so. The oligosaccharide molecules remain whole through most of the digestion process and produce gas in the small intestine. Foods high in fiber. Fiber has many health benefits, but eating a large amount of grains and fibrous fruits and vegetables can lead to gas. Don’t stop eating these beneficial foods altogether, but you might want to avoid the ones that seem to give you the worst gas. [7] X Expert Source Muhammad Khan, MD, MPHBoard Certified Gastroenterologist Expert Interview. 24 August 2021. Dairy products containing lactose. Many people are slightly lactose intolerant; that glass of milk you have in the morning might be contributing to gas. Soda and other carbonated or fizzy beverages. Fried foods and other fatty foods. Artificial additives. Sweeteners like sorbitol and mannitol lead to gas and diarrhea. Chewing gum. [8] X Expert Source Muhammad Khan, MD, MPHBoard Certified Gastroenterologist Expert Interview. 24 August 2021. Alcohol. Vinegar. Caffeinated beverages. Spicy foods. Greasy, processed, and refined foods.
When you begin eating a meal, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid in anticipation of digesting protein. If salad or bread hits your stomach first, the acid gets used up before you ingest meat, fish, or another protein. The protein then ferments, leading to gas and bloating. Health food stores sell hydrochloric acid supplements that you can take to help you digest protein. These should be taken after the meal, so your stomach has the chance to produce as much acid as it can first.
Try yogurt, kefir, and other cultured dairy foods. Make sure the label says that the product contains probiotics. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables also have good probiotic properties.
Talk to your doctor before starting probiotic supplements, and ask them which type of supplement may be most beneficial to you. Always purchase supplements that have been certified by 3rd party verifiers, such as USP, NSF, or Consumer Lab.
Irritable bowel syndrome is a fairly common malady that causes chronic pain when certain foods are consumed. Crohn’s disease and celiac disease are gastrointestinal disorders that are irritated by the consumption of certain foods. [10] X Research source
Keep a journal of your meals. Record every component of the meals you eat for the few weeks before your visit. Make a note of in what order you consume your food. Be prepared to undergo some tests and answer questions from the doctor about your dietary and lifestyle habits. [11] X Research source
