Why Do Some Foods Give Me Gas?

As a general rule, gas and flatulence is a sign of improper digestion. This can be caused by putting certain foods into our bodies or it may be the result of our bodies not digesting food in the proper, natural way. In either case, it’s important to understand why some foods give us gas so that we can take steps to prevent this in the future.

Human beings and other animals develop gases in their stomachs and intestines all the time. Occasionally gas is nothing to be concerned about. But it the amount or frequency is beyond what we consider normal, or if it makes us uncomfortable much of the time, then we should learn more about the causes and take steps to stop it.

Our digestive tract has naturally occurring bacteria that help us digest food. In most situations, the stomach acids break down the food and these bacteria help digest the food so that our bodies can work with the nutrients we need then eliminate what we don’t need. However, some types of food have material that is not digestible in the human body. For example, some of the sugars and carbohydrates in modern, commercial food cannot be processed naturally by the digestive tract.

Bacteria that are present in the colon come into the process, breaking down these food items and producing waste products. If foods we eat have high levels of indigestible material, these bacteria will produce high levels of gas as a byproduct. A combination of foods with high concentrations of indigestible material and bacteria that naturally form gas as a waste product results in excess gas in the body. This varies from one individual to another but usually occurs in everyone who eats these particular foods.

Some foods, such as beans, wheat, dried fruits and some dairy products are known to produce small amounts of gas in even the healthiest person. This is certainly not a reason to stop eating them, because they are generally healthy. If they do cause excess gas or create an unhealthy situation for some individuals, these people should take steps to eliminate certain foods from the diet. It’s always wise to do this with the advice and guidance of a medical professional or nutritionist.

People can make their own choices, based on their experience with specific foods. But in general terms they should consider some intestinal gas to be a normal condition of eating and digesting. Some individuals have tried commercial health products to prevent excess gas so that they don’t have to completely eliminate some favorite foods from their diet. This is a step that should probably be taken after consulting a doctor.

It’s also important to differentiate between gas that is caused by the presence of certain foods and the air that naturally enters our digestive tract when we eat and drink. For example, gases in our carbonated soft drinks may be a cause. We also get some air in our systems through the simple act of having a meal. But if excess gas causes more serious problems it may be time to study the situation further and see if we can eliminate foods that are the source of the problem.