Gas, bloating and burping- causes and home remedies

Gas Formation and diet

Gas, bloating and burping- causes and home remedies

When food is broken down into energy in the stomach, it results in the release of gas which can lead to a feeling of bloating. The stomach may feel full, resulting in discomfort for the individual which may also be associated with abdominal pain. This gas may be released from the stomach via the oesophagus and this condition is called belching or burping. When gas is released from the anus it is called farting.

Bloating is caused mainly during digestion and the amount of gas released depends on the type of food consumed, with person to person variation. Though some of the gas produced during digestion is consumed by bacteria living in the intestine or may be eliminated through breath, the rest of the gas has to be removed from the body as fart.

Causes:

The causes for the accumulation of gas, bloating or burping could be due to any of these reasons
¢ Consumption of high fatty foods, which are slow to get digested and therefore result in the individual feeling full or bloated.
¢ Swallowing excessive air. This may be due to increased inhalation of air while talking or because of ill fitting dentures.
¢ Anxiety induced stress
¢ Use of antibiotics that change the gut microflora
¢ Constipation
¢ Consumption of alcohol
¢ Poorly digested carbohydrates present in food.
¢ Medical conditions like Crohn's disease or bowel obstruction disorder.

Everyone generates some amount of gas on digestion but some people do not release gas, as intestinal bacteria use it or the gas is absorbed by blood and let out from the mouth. The release of gas from the anus might be associated with an unpleasant smell or noise that can lead to embarrassment. To avoid this, there are many home remedies that can be used to control the formation of gas.

Home remedies for the treatment of gas.

There are many remedies that have been used by people over the ages and which have been found to be effective against the formation of gas. Some natural extracts that are used to manage the formation of gas have been researched upon to understand their efficiency and to determine their validity in controlling gas.

1. Drinking plenty of water. This is one of the most commonly suggested remedies and which is relatively easy for any individual to follow.

2. Ginger. An inch of ginger should be chewed regularly after meals or should be included in meals, as ginger has been found to be effective in controlling gas. Instead of chewing on ginger as a whole, it can also be consumed as ginger tea at least for 2-3 times a day. Some people crush ginger, add pepper and salt to it before adding water to the mixture and drinking it.
3. Garlic. Garlic is another effective remedy due to its pungent heating ability. They can be consumed as fresh pods or in the form of a soup. Garlic is also sold in the form of garlic tablets, but resorting to consume fresh garlic regularly will lower gas formation effectively.

4. Alphagalactosidase. In a double blinded study conducted by D Nardo G and fellow scientists and published in BMC gastroenterology in 2013, it was found that alpha galactosidase was a safe procedure for treating gas related problems. In a study published in The Journal of Experimental Botany in 2001, it was found that alpha galactosidase was found in tomato seeds. This indicates the use of tomato in treating gas problems. Tomatoes should be consumed along with the seeds to be effective.

5. Kiwi fruit extract.

Kiwi fruit

In a study conducted by scientists Udani Jk and Bloom DW and published in The Nutrition Journal in 2013, it was found that extracts from the Kiwi fruit was effective in treating individuals with occasional constipation. As longer retention of waste in the body leads to increased production of gas, the use of this kiwi fruit extract will also help in controlling the formation of gas. Instead of opting just for the extract, including a whole kiwi fruit in the diet will help in easing constipation and reducing accumulation of gas along with other added benefits that the fruit has to offer.

6.

Papaya

Scientists from the International scientific group of preventive medicine in a study published in Neuro Endocrinology Letters in 2013 found that the consumption of papaya was effective in treating digestive disorders. This indicates that regular consumption of papaya will keep digestive disorders, including the formation of gas, at bay.
These home remedies should be included as a regular part of the diet to ensure that the release of gas is no longer an embarrassment that an individual has to bear with and, instead, can enjoy the company of people with no worry about impending digestive disorders. Sometimes, severe disease conditions that are characterized by heartburn like in myocardial infarction, see here or abdominal pain like in chronic pancreatitis, see here for further details.

References:
1) Di Nardo, Olivia S, Ferrari F, Mallardo S et al Efficacy and tolerability of alpha-galactosidase in treating gas-related symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial BMC Gastroenterology 24th September 2013.
2) Feurtado JZ, Banik M, Bewly JD The cloning and characterization of alpha-galactosidase present during and following germination of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seed J Experimental Botany June 2001.
3) Udani JK, Bloom KW Effects of Kivia powder on gut health in patients with occasional constipation: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study Nutrition Journal 8th June 2013.
4) Muss C, Mosgoeller W, Endler T Papaya preparation (Caricol®) in digestive disorders Neuro Endocrinol Lett 2013.