Page 30 - Seniors Today - May21 Issue
P. 30
Health
5 Ways to Ease
Excessive Gas
Dr Prasanna Shah writes on what causes excess gas and ways to ease the
discomfort
Burping, belching, passing wind, farting, or 2. Hydrogen, methane and carbon
feeling gassy is a result of what you eat. The dioxide – The kind of food one eats can
digestive system processes the food, and, in lead to flatulence. It is caused when the
this process, there is formation of different body is unable to digest food. Once the
kinds of gases that leads to flatulence. undigested food passes into the small
Flatulence is a medical term used for gas intestine, the good bacteria break down the
formation in the digestive system. On an food that leads to the production of these
average, the digestive system forms gas gases. The ratio of these gases may differ on
about 20 times a day. However, excessive how much of certain foods one consumes.
gas in the form of farting or burping can be
painful and discomforting in many ways, Factors that cause gas
such as cramping, a knotted feeling in the Sometimes what you eat may not be the
tummy, or feeling bloated. But there are root cause of foul-smelling flatulence.
simple ways that will help you ease from Hence it is essential to be aware of the
excessive gas issues. factors that could be the underlying cause
of excessive gas. Factors such as –
What types of gases are collected in the • Dairy products
digestive system? • Eating too much of high-fibre foods such
1. Oxygen and nitrogen – Swallowing air as beans, legumes and whole grains
while eating and drinking causes collection • High consumption of vegetables such
of oxygen and nitrogen in the digestive as broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts,
tract. This is often released from the mouth onions…
in form of a burp. • Sugary beverages, sodas, chewing gum
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