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Everyone has gas, just like everyone poops. But the wind blows for a variety of reasons, and in some cases it can be a cause for concern.
“As a pediatric gastroenterologist, I get asked about this all the time,” says Mark Corkins, Ph.D., director of the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. “There are two sources of ‘gas,’ and not all gas is gas. Part of what we pass through is air. Some people swallow a lot of air.It seems to be odorless now.”
Real gas, on the other hand, is primarily a byproduct of food fermentation in the colon, said Corkins, who is also a professor of pediatrics. “There are[billions]of bacteria living in our colon.
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When it comes to the amount of gas in space, the actual amount tends to be much higher, he added, as food moves through the colon.
Dr. William Chey, professor of gastroenterology at the University of Michigan and professor of H. Marvin Pollard, said, “Perhaps five to 15 farts a day is perfectly normal.” “That’s because people differ in the function of their[gastrointestinal]tract, the microbiome that lives within them, and what they eat. It will be a very important factor in the decision.”
Experts say some odors are more pungent than others for these reasons, but none of them are red flags.
Gas is not as much an indicator of gut health as stool frequency or texture. However, your dietary choices can cause more or less gas, and there are certain points about gas that are worth talking to your doctor about.
Gut flora is important because it helps the body make vitamins and some of the short-chain fatty acids that nourish the lining of the colon, so a little gas (from these processes) is a good thing. said Corkins. “Otherwise, we’re not feeding the flora. It’s really a symbiotic relationship,” he added.
But what can lead to gas, or too much gas, in particular, is eating foods that are difficult to digest and therefore easily fermented, experts say.
“An old staple is beans. Beans contain proteins that are difficult to digest,” says Corkins.
Beans are one source of FODMAPs, which are fermentable oligo-, di-, mono- and polyols. These are short-chain carbohydrates or sugars that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine in some people, causing gas, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and other digestive problems. Foods high in FODMAPs include certain vegetables, fruits, starches, cauliflower, garlic, apples, peaches, milk, wheat, and dairy products such as high fructose corn syrup.
“Many of us consume large amounts of FODMAPs without even realizing it, and each of us has a slightly different pattern of how well we absorb and metabolize these,” says the university. Dr Lena Yadrapati, Professor of Medicine in Gastroenterology, said. University of California San Diego.
“Conversely, eating a lot of red meat can cause problems for some people,” says Chey. “In fact, for almost everyone, if you eat enough red meat, you won’t be able to digest or absorb everything properly, and it will reach your colon where it will ferment and produce gases and chemicals.”
The same can happen with excess carbohydrates that are not absorbed and fermented in the colon, he added.
“The other thing is to keep your bowel habits regular,” says Chey. “People with constipation are more likely to experience bloating and flatulence because when objects move very slowly through the digestive tract, they have more time to interact with the bacteria in the digestive tract, especially the colon. That would produce even more gas.”
Experts say you should see a doctor if the gas makes you feel uncomfortable or interferes with your daily life. There are other things you can try.
“We asked patients about each of a variety of factors, including diet, microbiome, and gut function, and modified several factors that we thought might contribute to the flatulence problem. We will try to do that,” Chey said. “For people on a typical Western diet high in processed foods, carbohydrates and sugar, eating less and eating healthier can be very helpful.”
A low-FODMAP diet “is probably one of the biggest interventions I’ve talked to patients about,” Yadrapati said.
In addition to excessive flatulence, unintentional weight loss, bloody stools, changes in bowel habits, and especially frequent diarrhea should also see a doctor, Chey and Yadrapati said.
“It can be a sign of infection, inflammation, enzyme deficiencies, all of which can be identified and corrected with the help of a health care provider,” says Chey.
While you’re waiting to see a doctor, keep a “gas diary” to record your physical activity and meals around when and when you have gas so you can begin to identify patterns, Dr. Yadrapati says.
Doctors may recommend taking over-the-counter medications such as simethicone, activated charcoal, enteric-coated peppermint oil, and probiotics, Chey said.