Everyone has gas and eliminates it by burping or passing it through the rectum. However, many people think they have too much gas when they really have normal amounts. Most people produce about 1 to 4 pints a day and pass gas about 14 times a day.
Gas is made primarily of odorless vapors--carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sometimes methane. The unpleasant odor of flatulence comes from bacteria in the large intestine that release small amounts of gases that contain sulfur.
People often believe normal passage of gas to be excessive.
Gas comes from two main sources: swallowed air and normal breakdown of certain foods by harmless bacteria naturally present in the large intestine.
Many foods with carbohydrates can cause gas. Fats and proteins cause little gas.
Foods that may cause gas include
beans
vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, onions, artichokes, and asparagus
fruits, such as pears, apples, and peaches
whole grains, such as whole wheat and bran
soft drinks and fruit drinks
milk and milk products, such as cheese and ice cream, and packaged foods prepared with lactose, such as bread, cereal, and salad dressing
foods containing sorbitol, such as dietetic foods and sugarfree candies and gums
The most common symptoms of gas are belching, flatulence, bloating, and abdominal pain. However, some of these symptoms are often caused by an intestinal disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome, rather than too much gas.
The most common ways to reduce the discomfort of gas are changing diet, taking nonprescription medicines, and reducing the amount of air swallowed.
Digestive enzymes, such as lactase supplements, actually help digest carbohydrates and may allow people to eat foods that normally cause gas.
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