Typically, intestinal gas (which causes bloating) is caused by the fermentation of undigested food by the "good" bacteria found inside the large intestine. Fermentation produces gas, which stretches and swells the abdomen causing discomfort. Substances that the human digestive system has difficulty fully processing include insoluble plant fibers, excessive amounts of fructose, lactose (milk sugar) and gluten. However, by expelling intestinal gas, making some dietary changes, and taking certain medications, you will be able to relieve the pain associated with bloating.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Natural Remedies
Step 1. Don't be afraid to expel the air that swells your belly
Probably the simplest method to relieve abdominal pain caused by the accumulation of intestinal gas is to get rid of it by letting it out (i.e. producing what is commonly called fart). Most people consider it vulgar to do this in public, so try to be discreet and go to the bathroom when you feel like it. To facilitate the release of gases, take a leisurely walk outdoors and / or lightly massage the abdomen with downward motions to gently push the air out of the large intestine.
- The gases produced by the fermentation of the bacteria present in the last part of the digestive system are composed of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane and sulfur - elements that contribute to making them smelly.
- Flatulence often becomes more common as we age, due to the low production of digestive enzymes.
Step 2. Try to relieve pain by belching
Another way to clear the gas, albeit from the opposite end, is to erupt. While it does not affect the air accumulated in the lower intestinal tract, it certainly allows you to get rid of excess gas in the stomach and upper intestinal tract. Accumulation of air in the stomach can occur from drinking or eating too fast, sipping through a straw, chewing gum, and smoking. Thus, by belching, it is possible to decrease the accumulation of air easily, quickly and painlessly. Although excessive consumption of carbon dioxide-containing beverages can cause bloating, a few sips are helpful in encouraging burping and expelling gas.
- Natural remedies used to promote belching include ginger, papaya, lemon juice, and mint.
- Like flatulence, the noises that accompany belching are also considered vulgar by many people and in different cultures (but not all), so behave according to the context in which you find yourself.
Step 3. Avoid gas-producing foods
Some foods tend to fuel intestinal gas production because they are difficult to digest or contain substances that irritate the stomach or intestines. Foods that cause gas or bloating include beans, peas, lentils, cabbage, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, plums, and mushrooms. Excessive consumption of insoluble fiber (found in most vegetables and the peel of some fruits), fructose (found in all fruit, especially the sweeter berries), and gluten (found in almost all grains), including wheat, barley, and rye) can cause bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea. If you like raw vegetables and fruit, eat them in smaller portions and chew them slowly so your body can digest them.
- People with celiac disease are particularly sensitive to gluten, because it irritates their intestines and causes abdominal pain and swelling.
- Other intestinal disorders that promote bloating are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease.
- Drinks that can bloat your tummy include coffee, fructose-based drinks, beer, and sodas containing artificial sweeteners (aspartame or sorbitol).
Step 4. Eat foods that do not increase the bloating and pain associated with intestinal gas
Consider ginger, raw honey, mint, chamomile, cinnamon, cucumber, bananas, pineapple, fennel, flaxseed, probiotic yogurt, and kale.
Step 5. Avoid dairy products if you are lactose intolerant
Lactose intolerance is a condition characterized by the inability to produce sufficient amounts of lactase, an enzyme necessary to properly digest and break down milk sugar (lactose). If not digested, the lactose reaches the large intestine, feeding the bacteria that ferment and produce gas. Symptoms of lactose intolerance include flatulence, bloating, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Therefore, if you suspect this problem, reduce or avoid your consumption of dairy products, especially cow's milk, cheeses, whipped cream, ice cream and milkshakes.
- The ability to produce lactase decreases rapidly after childhood, so there may be an increased risk of lactose intolerance as you grow up.
- If you want to continue consuming dairy products without the danger of flatulence and abdominal pain because you are lactose intolerant, buy a lactase supplement at a health food store or pharmacy. Take a few capsules before eating foods that contain milk.
Step 6. Mix one or two teaspoons of baking soda in the water
Intestinal pains can be caused by gastric juices. Sodium bicarbonate is an alkaline substance that acts against the acidity of gastric secretions, relieving the typical pains of a swollen belly.
Part 2 of 2: Pharmacological Remedies
Step 1. See your doctor
In addition to lactose intolerance and foods that promote gas production, there are many conditions that cause bloating and abdominal pain. So, if you suffer from bloating and flatulence, go to your doctor for a visit to rule out more serious health problems. Usually, disorders that cause bloating and stomach pain include gastrointestinal infections (viral, bacterial and parasitic), stomach ulcers, intestinal blockage, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, food allergies, bowel or stomach cancer, gallbladder diseases and gastroesophageal reflux.
- If the pain associated with the accumulation of gas is due to an infection or food poisoning, your doctor may prescribe a short antibiotic therapy. However, overuse of these drugs destroys the bacterial flora causing more problems in the stomach and intestines.
- Some medications can promote bloating and flatulence, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, naproxen), laxatives, antifungals, and statins (for high cholesterol), so talk to your doctor.
- If he suspects celiac disease, he may order a stool test and blood tests, or a breath test to check if you are lactose intolerant. In some cases, an x-ray or colonoscopy may be needed.
Step 2. Ask your doctor if you need to take hydrochloric acid
Regular digestion, especially if you ingest protein dishes, requires a considerable amount of gastric juices, which contain hydrochloric acid (HCl). A deficient production of gastric juices (which occurs with advancing age) can compromise the digestion of proteins, which risk fermenting in the intestine and producing gas. Therefore, ask your doctor if you need to undergo a gastric juice test, and then consider supplementing with HCl if your body is not producing enough HCl.
- To help digest protein, eat meat, chicken, or fish at the start of meals rather than starting with pasta and / or salad. The stomach tends to produce hydrochloric acid as soon as you start eating, but carbohydrates take less time to digest than proteins.
- Betaine hydrochloride is a synthesized source of hydrochloric acid in supplement form that you can find at most health food stores. Remember to take the tablets after eating, not before or during meals.
Step 3. Consider taking the alpha-galactosidase enzyme
As indicated above, one of the causes of certain foods producing intestinal gas is that the human body is unable to digest certain complex sugars (such as insoluble fiber and sugars called oligosaccharides). Alpha-galactosidase products can help correct the problem because this enzyme breaks down complex sugars before they reach the intestines and begin to ferment. Take an alpha-galactosidase tablet just before you start eating high-fiber foods (such as vegetables, fruits and legumes) to prevent gas production and abdominal pain.
- This enzyme comes from a food mold called Aspergillus niger, which can cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to mold and penicillin.
- Alpha-galactosidase effectively breaks down galactose into glucose, but it can interfere with diabetes medications. Consult your doctor if you are diabetic and are considering taking products that contain this enzyme.
Step 4. Try taking probiotics
Probiotic supplements contain healthy strains of bacteria that are generally found in the large intestine. These are "good" bacteria that are destroyed by excessive intake of antibiotics and laxatives, heavy alcohol consumption, heavy metal ingestion and colonoscopy. The imbalance of the bacterial flora leads to digestive problems and the appearance of associated symptoms. If you suspect decompensation in the population of microorganisms that make up the intestinal flora, consider taking probiotic supplements to relieve gas pain. Probiotics are safe and commonly found in health food stores.
- Probiotics are sold in tablet, capsule or powder form and should be taken regularly to maintain the concentration or colony of good bacteria in the large intestine. Whichever supplement you choose, it should be coated with an enteric or microencapsulated coating to resist the action of gastric juices, reach the intestines and maintain its effectiveness.
- Fermented foods are also an excellent source of good bacteria. Consider yogurt, buttermilk (waste from butter processing), kefir, fermented soy products (natto, miso, soy sauce, tofu), sauerkraut, and even unpasteurized beer.
Step 5. Consider laxatives when you are constipated
Constipation is a disorder characterized by the difficulty of emptying all or part of the intestine by expelling feces. It can occur when you consume too much fiber (or cut their intake) or don't drink enough fluids. If it is chronic, you usually have fewer than three bowel movements a week over a period of several weeks or months, but in most cases it only lasts a few days. It can cause abdominal pain and cramps similar to those associated with the accumulation of intestinal gas, but the cause is often very different. Drug therapy against constipation involves taking laxatives to promote intestinal transit. They work by adding fecal mass (Metamucil), softening the stool, drawing fluids back to the colon (magnesium hydroxide) or lubricating the colon (mineral oil, cod liver oil).
- Usually, older people who have poor nutrition suffer from constipation because they don't consume enough fiber. This is why they are often advised to eat prunes or drink prune juice.
- Constipation in children and young people is mostly caused by consuming too much fiber at one time, such as carrots or apples.
- If constipation is due to excessive fiber consumption, it is also possible that it increases gas production and worsens the bloating associated with bacterial fermentation. Therefore, you can use most of the tips presented so far to relieve intestinal pain.
Advice
- Eating too fast can cause bloating and abdominal pain regardless of what you consume, so cut back on portions, take smaller bites, and chew slowly.
- Avoid chewing gum and sucking on hard candy, otherwise you tend to swallow more air than you should.
- If you wear dentures, check them frequently, as you may swallow too much air when you eat and drink if the occlusion is not correct.
- Lie on your stomach and try to let the air out.
- When lying on your back, gently massage your stomach in downward motions to stimulate the expulsion of gases.
- Drink lots of water. Avoid getting dehydrated.
