Why Some Foods Give You Gas and Healthy Ways to Relieve the Pressure

Human bodies, along with other animal bodies, are gas (and excrement) producing entities. It’s part of our make-up. Our stomachs are naturally designed to break down food, fermenting it actually, which emits literal gas bubbles. Those bubbles have to go somewhere, and sometimes that somewhere turns into something we rather not do in front of first dates, bosses, or houseguests.

According to How Stuff Works, the average person emits gas from one end or the other about 15 or 20 times a day. In other words, it can and does happen to anyone and everyone. But, there are certain foods that we consume that might increase the chances (and frequency) with which gas and/or bloating happens. Additionally, certain foods have particularly gassy effects on certain people, e.g., the lactose intolerance with dairy.

Luckily, there are ways to reduce the amount of gas some of these foods produce, and there are healthy (and less embarrassing) ways to relieve the pressure when it does build up.

Source: Today I Found Out/Youtube

Which Foods Give Us Gas and Why?

As we’ve established, realistically, all foods give us gas because we have to digest them, and that process itself produces gas. However, some foods cause more of an audible and aromatic issue than others. It’s good to know what they are!

• Legumes of all sorts are known to cause gas. This is for a couple of reasons. They are high in fiber and contain a non-digestible sugar compound called raffinose, both of which get fermented by gut bacteria.
• All whole grains, except rice, are known to cause gas. They are high in fiber, raffinose, and starch, all of which are fermented in the large intestine, creating a gaseous build-up.
• Vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables like Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli, are now for causing excess gas. They all contain high levels of raffinose.
• Sodas and carbonated beverages cause gas as well. They add to the amount of air we swallow, and that adds to the amount of air in our digestion. That air has to escape somewhere.
• Fruits with high sugar content, such as apples, peaches, and pears, contain a natural sugar called sorbitol, which the body has trouble digesting. They also have lots of soluble fiber. This means they take longer to digest and cause gas buildup in the process.
• Processed foods can do it, too. They have lots of sugars, like fructose and lactose, which combine to increase gas levels.

Source: Robert Yang/Youtube

How to Prevent Gas

There are preventative ways we can reduce our gas levels, even when consuming some of these known offenders listed above. And, of course, it’s always a good idea to first try to prevent bad stuff from happening. In general, it begins with eating more slowly and intentionally, not as a secondary task while walking, driving, or working.

• Both beans and grains release some of their troublesome attributes when they have been soaked in water for a few hours, preferably overnight, before being cooked. Some people have even started to go as far as sprouting them before consuming them.
• Many cruciferous vegetables cause less gas when they are cooked rather than consumed raw. Gently cooking them is a good test, but if they are still problematic, they can be used in items like soup and stew that cook for a long time.
• Sodas and carbonated beverages are best avoided if they cause a gas problem. Water, juices, and tea might be better choices. Hard candy and chewing gum both make us ingest more air, so they could be culprits in this game, too.
• Fruits with less sugar might be a better choice for getting those fruity dietary benefits. Berries, grapefruits, watermelons, and apricots might not cause the same issue.
• Forget processed foods.

Source: Natural Ways/Youtube

How to Relieve Gas…Quietly

Preventing gas is great, but it’s nice to have a few tricks up our sleeves if things go awry. There are some natural remedies out there that might help in a squeeze.

• Doing some physical activity after eating, such as taking a walk, can help. It makes our gut work a little faster and moves those troublesome things through before they cause issues.
• A few drops of either clove essential oils or fennel essential oils in a glass of water can provide some relief to bloating and free-flowing flatulence.
• Taking a couple of tablespoons of true apple cider vinegar (with the mother in it) alongside a cup of water is another option.
• Both mint, ginger, and lemon are all known to help with digestion problems, so a tea combining these ingredients couldn’t hurt the situation.

Beyond that, do your best to relax and let it all pass.

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