We’ve all experienced this at some point or the other. That full, familiar and mostly uncomfortable feeling right there in your stomach either during or after a meal. You might also have burning or pain in the upper part of your stomach, too. Often times a dietician can be of great help in dealing with specialized diets and identifying foods that trigger these feelings.
Changing what you eat and drink can sometimes cut down on gas and relieve discomfort caused by it. Gas (flatus), burping, and bloating are quite normal conditions. Gas is made in the stomach and intestines as your body breaks down food into energy. Bloating is a feeling of fullness in the abdomen, can make you uncomfortable.
A few common causes of excess gas, bloating and indigestion include:
- Swallowed air.
If swallowed air is not burped up, it passes through the digestive tract and is released through the anus as flatus. Excessive air swallowing may cause hiccups.
- Foods and beverages.
Eating too fast or too much. So also the amount of gas that different foods cause varies from person to person.
- Lactose intolerance.
A person who cannot easily digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products can have both gas and bloating as well as other symptoms.
- Side effects from medicines.
Some medicines can cause bloating and gas as side effects.
- A medical condition, such as a bowel obstruction or Crohn’s disease.
- Hormone level changes.
Some ladies might be able to relate to the feeling of bloating right before and during their periods, because their bodies retain fluid.
Stomach bloating, indigestion and excess gas are harmless and can go away without treatment. Â It is important to maintain normal pH levels in the stomach. One of the benefits of a highly acidic stomach is that it helps to keep the rest of the digestive tract hygienic. It becomes difficult for bacteria to thrive in this acidic environment. The growth of the wrong kind of bacteria can lead to excess gas, diminished vitamin and mineral absorption, bloating e.t.c.
If you can’t stand the discomfort, you might want to consider the following.
Stay hydrated –
Drink more water, slowly and steadily. Avoid fizzy and alcoholic drinks for the time being.
Digestive aid –
Take a digestive aid medicine containing digestive enzymes, which help break down the sugars found in vegetables and grains.
References: webmd.com