6 Ways to Treat Excessive Gas

Excessive gas can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, but there are easy treatments that can help.
By Beth W. Orenstein
Medically reviewed by Christine Wilmsen Craig, MD
Print Article Print E-mail Article Email

treating excessive gas
Aside from the social embarrassment of belching and passing gas, excessive gas in your stomach can be rather painful. If you experience this common digestive health concern, your first step in treating it is to find the cause.

Foods such as dairy products, beans, and certain vegetables cause some people to have excessive gas. Foods like these and others have carbohydrates — like fiber, sugar, and starch — that don't get digested and absorbed, eventually causing gas when they are finally broken down in the large intestine.

“Certain foods don’t get along together in certain people,” says Donald Novey, MD, an integrative medicine physician with the Advocate Medical Group in Park Ridge, Ill. “For example, some people find they are gassy if they eat fruits with proteins, or if they eat starches and proteins together. It’s personal and requires a little experimentation to find out what the culprits are.” Dr. Novey suggests keeping a food diary and noting when you feel gassy. “If you find you’re gassy after eating a certain food, eliminate it from your diet and see if it helps.”

Excessive Gas: Not Just (Hot) Air

Passing gas is a usual part of the digestive process — but many people mistakenly think a "normal" amount is excessive. Here’s what you can do to help cut down on gas pain:

* Drink before meals. If you drink liquids with your meals, you lose stomach acids and they can’t break down the foods as well, Novey says. The acid is there for a reason. You wouldn't pour water in your car’s battery — it would cause your engine not to start. "So, why would you pour water on your stomach battery?” If you drink about 30 minutes before a meal, you will rev up your stomach engine, so it will be better able to digest food, Novey says.
* Eat and drink slowly. When you eat or drink fast, you can swallow a lot of air, which can cause gas, says Stephen Bickston, MD, professor of internal medicine and director of the inflammatory bowel disease program, at Virginia Commonwealth University Health Center in Richmond, Va. The simple solution? Slow down when you eat — you will swallow less air and be less gassy. If you have dentures, check with your dentist to be sure they fit properly so you’re not gasping air while eating.
* Eat fewer gassy foods. Everyone reacts differently, but common gas-causing culprits are fruits (apples, pears), vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, onions), whole grains (bran), and dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream.) Foods containing sorbitol, a naturally occurring sugar found in fruits that's also commonly used as an artificial sweetener, are on some people’s gas-happy list. Some people also are bothered by carbonated soft drinks and fruit drinks. If you discover that these foods are causing you excess gas, eliminate them from your diet or eat them in small portions.
* Take over-the-counter digestive aids. Digestive enzymes are available as over-the-counter supplements. “I recommend going to the health-food store and getting a digestive enzyme,” Novey says. “You can take one or two. You will know very rapidly — within a few weeks — if it makes a difference.” People who have trouble digesting foods that contain lactose may find that taking lactase enzymes (Lactaid) helps. Some people also find that activated charcoal helps to reduce and treat excess gas, which is unlikely to cause any harm. However, antacids won’t do much for excessive gas, says Dr. Bickston.
* Be a Beano counter. Another over-the-counter digestive aid, Beano, contains an enzyme that can allow the body to digest the sugar in beans and many vegetables. The sugar-digesting enzyme is sold in liquid and tablet form. Add five drops of the liquid form or swallow one Beano tablet per half-cup serving of food before eating. Heating degrades the enzyme in Beano, so adding it to foods while cooking reduces its effectiveness. Beano will not help if excessive gas is caused by fiber or lactose.
* Don't fill up on air. Habits like smoking and chewing gum may cause your stomach to fill with air, leading to gas.

6 Ways to Treat Excessive Gas
Excessive gas can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, but there are easy treatments that can help.
By Beth W. Orenstein
Medically reviewed by Christine Wilmsen Craig, MD
Print Article Print E-mail Article Email

treating excessive gas
Aside from the social embarrassment of belching and passing gas, excessive gas in your stomach can be rather painful. If you experience this common digestive health concern, your first step in treating it is to find the cause.

Foods such as dairy products, beans, and certain vegetables cause some people to have excessive gas. Foods like these and others have carbohydrates — like fiber, sugar, and starch — that don't get digested and absorbed, eventually causing gas when they are finally broken down in the large intestine.

“Certain foods don’t get along together in certain people,” says Donald Novey, MD, an integrative medicine physician with the Advocate Medical Group in Park Ridge, Ill. “For example, some people find they are gassy if they eat fruits with proteins, or if they eat starches and proteins together. It’s personal and requires a little experimentation to find out what the culprits are.” Dr. Novey suggests keeping a food diary and noting when you feel gassy. “If you find you’re gassy after eating a certain food, eliminate it from your diet and see if it helps.”

Excessive Gas: Not Just (Hot) Air

Passing gas is a usual part of the digestive process — but many people mistakenly think a "normal" amount is excessive. Here’s what you can do to help cut down on gas pain:

* Drink before meals. If you drink liquids with your meals, you lose stomach acids and they can’t break down the foods as well, Novey says. The acid is there for a reason. You wouldn't pour water in your car’s battery — it would cause your engine not to start. "So, why would you pour water on your stomach battery?” If you drink about 30 minutes before a meal, you will rev up your stomach engine, so it will be better able to digest food, Novey says.
* Eat and drink slowly. When you eat or drink fast, you can swallow a lot of air, which can cause gas, says Stephen Bickston, MD, professor of internal medicine and director of the inflammatory bowel disease program, at Virginia Commonwealth University Health Center in Richmond, Va. The simple solution? Slow down when you eat — you will swallow less air and be less gassy. If you have dentures, check with your dentist to be sure they fit properly so you’re not gasping air while eating.
* Eat fewer gassy foods. Everyone reacts differently, but common gas-causing culprits are fruits (apples, pears), vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts, onions), whole grains (bran), and dairy products (milk, cheese, ice cream.) Foods containing sorbitol, a naturally occurring sugar found in fruits that's also commonly used as an artificial sweetener, are on some people’s gas-happy list. Some people also are bothered by carbonated soft drinks and fruit drinks. If you discover that these foods are causing you excess gas, eliminate them from your diet or eat them in small portions.
* Take over-the-counter digestive aids. Digestive enzymes are available as over-the-counter supplements. “I recommend going to the health-food store and getting a digestive enzyme,” Novey says. “You can take one or two. You will know very rapidly — within a few weeks — if it makes a difference.” People who have trouble digesting foods that contain lactose may find that taking lactase enzymes (Lactaid) helps. Some people also find that activated charcoal helps to reduce and treat excess gas, which is unlikely to cause any harm. However, antacids won’t do much for excessive gas, says Dr. Bickston.
* Be a Beano counter. Another over-the-counter digestive aid, Beano, contains an enzyme that can allow the body to digest the sugar in beans and many vegetables. The sugar-digesting enzyme is sold in liquid and tablet form. Add five drops of the liquid form or swallow one Beano tablet per half-cup serving of food before eating. Heating degrades the enzyme in Beano, so adding it to foods while cooking reduces its effectiveness. Beano will not help if excessive gas is caused by fiber or lactose.
* Don't fill up on air. Habits like smoking and chewing gum may cause your stomach to fill with air, leading to gas.

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Having some digestive gas is normal. However, if it causes pain or embarrassment, you can play food detective and try and eliminate the cause. Some over-the-counter digestive aids may help. If the problem is persistent or severe, consult your doctor — it could be a sign of a more serious digestive condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Last Updated: 07/01/2009