Flatulence

Flatulence, or intestinal gas, occurs when the body is attempting to break down foods consumed, into particles to be absorbed by the blood in the form of nutrients our body’s need to function properly.

Flatulence occurs when the food is not completely broken down in our stomach and small intestines, and, as a result, enters our large intestines in an undigested state.

The large intestine is bacteria rich, and the bacteria there begins to break the undigested food particles down, and they, in turn, produce gases such as methane, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is the gas associated with flatulence.

Home Remedies for Flatulence:

Over the Counter:

There are many popular over the counter remedies for flatulence. Physicians normally recommend activated charcoal tablets to control the odor of flatulence, but people continue to purchase gas preventatives such as Bean-o, and gas treatments containing simethicone, such as Gas-X, Maalox Plus, MylantaII, and Mylicon.

Control Dairy:

Dietary adjustments can help control flatulence. Pay attention to when your gas is worse, and if you can establish a pattern, you may be able to track down which dietary elements are the culprits in your flatulence.

Another possibility is to avoid dairy for a while. Then binge on dairy. Eat ice cream, eat yogurt, cheese, drink milk. If you start feeling symptoms of flatulence coming on, you can feel sure you are lactose intolerant, and can take a prescription or over the counter medications to control your adverse reaction to the lactose in dairy products.

Diet:

Some foods such as the following:

  • Beans
  • Cabbage
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Onions
  • Cauliflower
  • Radishes
  • Bananas
  • Apricots
  • Pretzels
  • Fiber cereal
  • Muffins
  • Fiber laxatives or additives

can naturally cause more gas than other foods, but normally, if you plan carefully, and take precautionary measures, you should be able to eat these good for you foods, without offending anyone.

Since many cases of flatulence can be attributed to an imbalance of the bacterial content of the large intestines, a flora rich area, alive with bacteria that breaks down undigested food particles to be absorbed as nutrition or expelled as waste, if the flora in your large intestines get out of balance, excessive flatulence can result.

The imbalance can be caused by poor diets, illnesses, antibiotics, excess stomach acids, or use of laxatives.

Caprylic Acid:

Caprylic Acid; an anti-microbial and anti-fungal agent, is a good, natural remedy for flatulence. Garlic and cinnamon are both well-known additives to flavor foods and prevent bacterial spoilage.

They can aid in digestion and prevent flatulence by soothing the gastrointestinal tract, and discouraging the growth of unwanted bacteria.