Diet may be cause of excess gas

May 19, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have an odd question. I have found myself burping a lot, and, as a woman, this is embarrassing. What is the cause of excess gas? Sometimes I have it so badly it hurts my chest.

DEAR READER: Generally, stomach gas is caused by the digestion of certain foods. Excess stomach acid, acid reflux and swallowing excess air when eating too quickly can also cause burping and gas pain. I suggest that you modify your diet first. Try using Beano or another over-the-counter gas reducer. If these fail to help, make an appointment with your physician to discuss the situation.

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September 24, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have been having a problem with flatulence. I know fried foods and fish cause the problem but sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint what really gives me so much gas.

I want to avoid Bean-O or other medications to prevent the problem. Please advise me what I can do.

DEAR READER:
Millions of bacteria grow within the colon and certain foods cause those bacteria to thrive. In fact, as much as 90% of intestinal gas is formed by bacteria that feed on certain sugars and carbohydrates.

You apparently have made the connection between diet and gas. Other than fried foods, wheat products, Brussels sprouts, legumes, cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, dairy products, potatoes, carbonated beverages and carrots all play a role. It would be impossible to eliminate everything from your diet, and each individual is different when it comes to gas production. [Read more...]

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