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Everyone produces gas, but not everyone experiences it the same. Some people make excessive quantities, while others find the smell extremely embarrassing. We have heard from a few readers who say this can cause trouble between spouses. What can they do to address the problem?
Looking for Good Remedies for Intestinal Gas:
Q. Can you give me at least three good remedies for gas? My marriage is in jeopardy. I’ve tried GAS-X during each meal and two or three tablets between meals, to no effect.
A. First, you might want to keep a “fart chart.” By creating a diary of what you have eaten and how many times you pass gas, you may be able to determine which foods are causing your distress. Then you can try eliminating them to see if that helps.
Next, consider an over-the-counter product such as Beano. It contains the enzyme alpha-galactosidase which helps break down oligosaccharides in foods such as beans and broccoli.
Third, you may wish to consult a gastroenterologist to find out if you could have lactose intolerance or celiac disease. (Keep reading for a bit more information on this.) If you are unable to digest milk sugar or gluten, you will have to modify your diet. Pills that contain the enzyme lactase may help with gas-induced lactose intolerance. To learn more about what causes flatulence and lots of other strategies to get rid of gas, you may want to consult our eGuide to Overcoming Digestive Disorders.
Another Reader Struggling with Gas:
Q. I have a very embarrassing problem that I hope you can help with. I am 29 years old, healthy, and do aerobics regularly. I drink little alcohol and with meals usually have water or occasionally diet soda. It seems, however, that everything I eat gives me bad gas.
As recently as two years ago I had very little gas and could eat anything. Then cooked cabbage and onions started giving me gas.
Now just about everything (whether it is high fiber or highly processed) gives me gas. It comes on about an hour to an hour and a half after I’ve eaten. It actually forces my husband into sleeping on the couch in the living room rather than in the bedroom with me. I’m desperate for advice.
A. There are many causes of intestinal gas. If your diet has not changed substantially, the dramatic worsening you describe requires a medical workup to rule out a serious problem.
Malabsorption Syndrome:
Malabsorption syndrome is one place to start. Some people can’t digest certain carbohydrates. Gluten is a potential culprit. For reasons that remain mysterious, there are people who do not have celiac disease but appear to be sensitive to gluten or just wheat. They can develop this later in life. Avoiding wheat, barley and rye, the grains that provide gluten, are the only options.
Lactose Intolerance:
Lactose intolerance is another potential problem. Some people can consume dairy products containing milk sugar (lactose) as long as they take lactase at the same time. This enzyme can help break down the milk sugar and reduce the discomfort of gas, bloating and diarrhea. There are a number of products on the market including Lactaid.
Farty Foods:
Assuming you have neither gluten sensitivity nor lactose intolerance, you may just be extremely sensitive to certain foods. The obvious culprits are beans, onions and cabbage, but lots of other foods can cause some people distress. A food diary that includes a “fart chart” may help you identify any foods that are particularly problematic for you.
You may also want to consider probiotics. One thing that may have changed over the last few years is your intestinal flora and fauna. This “microbiome” can be affected by antibiotics or other medications. Reestablishing a healthy balance of good microbes may help ease your flatulence problem.
Do You Have Celiac Disease?
Q. All my adult life, I had problems with foul-smelling gas. This was embarrassing. I also hated that it bothered my wife.
Then I was diagnosed with celiac disease and had to change my diet. Completely eliminating gluten has also gotten rid of the smells. Others may want to consider this possibility if they have troublesome flatulence.
A. Celiac disease is a serious condition in which gluten triggers the immune system to attack the lining of the digestive tract. The consequence is poor absorption of nutrients from your diet, and the only effective treatment is to follow a gluten-free diet. That means avoiding any foods made of wheat, barley or rye, because all of them contain gluten.
Symptoms of celiac disease include digestive problems such as diarrhea, cramps, gas or floating poop. Other problems common with celiac disease are anemia, fatigue, osteoporosis, joint pain, headaches and nerve pain.
Blood tests can help screen for celiac disease, so others having symptoms like yours should see their doctors.
Learn More:
We have written about celiac disease (as well as flatulence) in our eGuide to Overcoming Digestive Disorders. In it, we list many other foods that cause gas and offer some folk remedies for overcoming the problem. We hope it helps.
Pamela
Apple Cider Vinegar is amazing for this issue! I take a sip in a bit of water. Works wonders! :)
Ellen
I experienced the same problems with flatulence for YEARS! I also suffered from painful acid reflux. I read that some folks do not have enough acid in the stomach, and this has an effect on the valve from the stomach to the esophagus. I began swallowing a vinegar capsule at breakfast and dinner. My reflux went away. Meds no longer needed, AND the flatulence has ceased. I’m happy, my husband is happy, and so are my family and friends!
Chris
I used to have a problem with flatulence. It turned out that I had gallstones and had to have my gall bladder removed. I haven’t experienced any flatulence since I had my gall bladder surgery 23 years ago.
Dana
To my knowledge, drinking ‘diet’ soda can be problematic, given that the artificial sweetener disrupts the gut microbiome.
Marla
My partner has been dealing with extreme gas and bloating and was just diagnosed with SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth) and is being treated with antibiotics. I’m surprised you didn’t mention this as a potential cause.
Celeste
I have been tested and treated for many allergies and have a long list of foods that have given me bad gas in the past. The best thing I’ve done to combat this problem is probiotics. I take one in the morning with my coffee. It took about 6 weeks before I saw a significant difference. I had tried several different probiotics before I found one that works for me and it’s a common one found at a major chain pharmacy. Now I can eat many of the foods that I had to avoid previously.
Diane
About 20 years ago, I was plagued by having a large amount of very smelly gas. This had gone on for years. I was unable to hold it until I could get to the rest room. It was very embarrassing and anxiety-producing. Taking OTC meds and eliminating specific foods didn’t help until I eliminated sugar and high-sugar fruits from my diet. My gas problem went away. I don’t know how to express what a big a relief this was for me. Life changing.
I was a sweets addict but after quitting sugar for a short while, the craving went away.
I do take probiotics, but cannot remember if I was taking them at the time. These days, due to food sensitivities, I eat a mostly unprocessed diet with little added sugar but I do eat any fruit I want. I very seldom suffer from smelly gas.
Anne
I had tremendous bloating issues for a few years after I moved to a retirement community where we had one prepared meal a day as part of our package. It took me a year or two to figure out that my problem was caused by consuming canola oil (sometimes blended with olive oil to make a cheaper version of “olive oil”) and palm oil (blended with butter to make a cheaper version of “butter”). Previously, I had always cooked my own meals at home using quality ingredients. Trying to avoid these oils in a community setting is very difficult because so many institutional meals use these ingredients.
Melanie
Have your GI doc check for SIBO–small intestine bacterial overgrowth. Treated with an antibiotic and a FODMAP diet.
Ray
Didn’t you once mention that Metformin could cause gas?
beth
VA
Dairy, gluten are always suspicious… I actually got allergy tested due to some of my issues–tendency to bloat and be gassy for no apparent reason. Turns out I am allergic to beef! I was not having this problem in my earlier life. Here in Virginia, there is an issue with a tick bite allergy to all mammalian animals (very serious issue–causes anaphalaxis) called Alpha-Gal. I do not have that, but do have this beef allergy which came on at the same time as my “lactose intolerance”–which is atypical as I do not tolerate even yogurt (despite the probiotics that supposedly consume the lactose…) and Lactaid does not help me.
Another consideration is candidiasis (systemic yeast infection–controversial) which can cause gassiness as well.
Jeff
Greensboro, NC
I’ve suffered off and on for years.
Recently, I’ve looked into the low FODMAP research and learned that there are many healthy foods I was eating that contain sugars that are difficult for some people to digest. I’ve eliminated or reduced my carbohydrate food choices to include primarily low FODMAP foods.
Also, I’ve learned that drinking too much water or other liquid with a meal interferes with the digestion/break down of food in the stomach. The undigested food enters the intestines and the bacteria in the intestines is forced to break it down. This process can cause a lot of flatulence. Try drinking a glass of water 20-30 minutes prior to a meal, then only a very minimal amount with the meal. This has helped me tremendously.
Lastly, when you do have severe gas, try Pepto Bismol. The main ingredient does help stop flatulence once it’s started. But be careful not to use it too much. As I understand it, if you overuse Pepto, it will eventually lose it’s effectiveness. Note that Pepto Bismol will make your stool dark black.
Hope this helps.
Bonnie
I know most married couples probably share most things, but gas need not be one! Until you’ve determined the cause , when you feel it coming on, get out of bed & go to the bathroom. Then HE won’t get out and go to the sofa. There are some things you just don’t share.
Becky
Oregon
I have found that sugarless products give me gas. I try to stay away from all sugars but sugar free are bad too. They not only give me gas but cause diarrhea.
Brenda
texas
I had this same problem that it didn’t matter what I ate. then I found out I’m gluten intolerant and cut flour/breads out of my diet. All my gassiness went away! My doctor just wanted to prescribe Prevacid but it also kills good bacteria in your intestines, so I did a food allergy diet, eliminating everything that might possibly cause an allergic reaction and after 2 weeks gradually added back into my diet things such as wheat, tomatoes, eggs, milk, etc. Turns out it is the wheat that caused it all. And this came upon me in my 50’s! Why does this happen???
Eleanor K.
Chapel Hill , NC
PLEASE – I cannot tolerate any dairy – it is not just the lactose. Every health care provider should know that.
Gail
Virginia
I’m in my 60s and recently started having more gas. I notice that it seems to be worse after restaurant meals than after eating food I cook at home. Does anyone know what they use in restaurants that could be causing this problem? I use very few processed food at home, preferring to make things from whole foods so I know what’s in my food. However, I enjoy having someone else do the cooking, so I don’t want to stop eating out altogether.
Ark
NC
Try drinking ginger tea with your meal or by itself several times a day.
KC
USA
What helped me was to keep a food diary and also strip my diet down for about 24 hours to basically water, some fruit and some protein…no flour, no cow milk, no sugar, no vegetables. See how it goes and then start to add back other foods one by one. Also, I stopped all supplements. This helped me figure out that I needed to take onions out of my diet, switch to red chili flakes instead of tomato based salsa and switch to cashew milk.
I did this and then saw my doctor to rule out other possible medical conditions. I also take Beano if I know I am going to eat fatty foods.
Good luck!
L
Something else to consider is fructose malabsorbtion. Testing for this consists of drinking a sugar mixture and then after a time a breath test is done.
People cutting out gluten think they have it bad, imagine cutting out all wheat products and fructose.
Fructose is in all fruits and many vegetables.
It’s different for everyone.
Rebecca
Houston
I have the same flatulence problem. I started taking fennel capsules (3-4) every morning. It has worked miracles for me. Not all fennel on the market is equal in its efficacy. Make sure you are buying a good quality product.
Susan
Missouri
In addition to the above recommendations: My physician advised me to eat slowly. Hope that helps too.
Alex
Cary
Try the Low-Fodmap diet.
The best resource is the book: Sue Shepherd, Peter Gibson, “The Complete Low Fodmap-Diet”. There are also many resources on this on the Internet, but not all are reliable, so look for those endorsed by Sue Shepherd and Peter Gibson (the diet’s pioneers).
It works very well for most IBS problems.
cynthia
cavalier, nd
I definitely had this problem for many years, and visited numerous specialists, none of whom could figure out the cause. I asked one gastroenterologist if I could possibly have an ulcer, and he replied that it was not possible, since gas was not one of the symptoms.
Finally one doctor tested me for celiac disease, and discovered that I did indeed have a massive duodenal ulcer. Unfortunately, the medicines that they gave me at the time, tagamet, did not help that much. I used licorice tea (which can raise your blood pressure if you consume too much-although it seemed not to affect me in this way) with good effect.
I also had gall stones, and the problem was much relieved after my gall bladder was removed. Still, I suffered off and one with this problem–UNTIL NOW!
I began using the probiotic SACCHAROMYCES BOULARDII all by itself, not in a mixture of probiotics. The gas stopped within a day or two and has not recurred. I can eat anything! I have since learned that for sensitive people, the mixture of probiotic bacteria can worsen intestinal problems, and that some gastroenterologists who are familiar with the uses of probiotics prescribe only the probiotic yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii for those whose digestive tracts are particularly sensitive.
It has worked for me. No gas problems at all for many months–something I would not have dreamed could happen. Also, if you have an ulcer or gall bladder issues, be careful with turmeric. You probably can still use it -certainly in food, and probably in reasonable quantites as a supplement-but large amounts can worsen your stomach problems.
Kat
Florida
I started having gas quite frequently which would release whenever I bent down to pick up my grandson or sometimes just walked down the hallway. My diet had not changed, and my lactose Intolerance was controlled, so I started taking a high quality probiotic a couple of times a day. That has helped tremendously, so I will continue with that regimen.
Lynne
Texas
Yes, try probiotics. They are inexpensive and may make all the difference. The generic for the brand Align worked for me.
diane
texas
i went thru the same kind of problem….it gradually escalated. we used to have a wellness dr. on our local radio station, and he addressed this very problem one day, suggesting a pro-biotic (not the cheap stuff). worth a try….and IT WORKED (i stayed with it for a good 3-4 months, but was much better after just one month). it was almost like my tummy had become irritated over time. the pro-biotic healed my gut, and everything cleared up.
i have had a few flare ups and i go right back to my pro-biotic.
spd
Peshtigo, WI
Kambucha (drink) is a great diet addition and other fermented products like it. I drink a bottle over 1-3 day period. It’s helped to lower gas production and speed up digestion. Some food combinations are just lethal. Onions alone are interesting. Cooked, uncooked, fried with butter or oils etc. then add other foods and in certain combinations it’s bad news. However, remove just one ingredient or change how its prepared and voila, the issue almost goes completely away. Eat foods that fill your gut with good flora and experiment with food preparation/combinations. My number 2 cents!
Debbie
NC
My brother-in-law had a similar problem. After being treated for a Helicobacter Pylori Infection, it cleared up. Might be worth checking out. Because he didn’t have severe gastric symptoms, his doctor was reluctant to test and treat but finally did. Made a tremendous difference in his quality of life for him – and my sister ;-)
Janna
Greensboro
Re: gas-forming foods, add sugar free, fat free products such as Jello instant pudding. I think it’s the sugar alcohols.
Linda
Tampa
In reference to Janna’s comment regarding sugar free foods. She is absolutely correct. Mallitol, Sorbitol are an example of additives used in ice cream, candy etc. Also heavily hydrogenated products can produce this effect. Sometimes it can be challenging to pinpoint causes. I consume a high quality probiotic, use digestive enzymes but will still toot, mostly air.
Allergies and Candida can be culprits as well.
Cheri D.
For both my husband and myself, when sugar is consumed, gas is the result.
The sugar can be from ice cream, cake, candy, cookies, soda, sweet drinks, orange juice, fruit, dried fruit – whatever. If you eliminate all forms of sugar from your diet, you will have quick results and at least some improvement.
Good Luck and Best Wishes!
Nancy
London
Try drinking a mug of Fennel tea. Use fennel only, not a mixture, and leave to steep for 5 minutes. After removing the teabag sip the tea – you can come back to it over the day and drink it cold if you want. Very quickly that will settle everything. Also, do you chew sugar free chewing gum or anything similar? Sorbitol etc., can cause digestive upsets.
Nancy
London
Try drinking a mug of Fennel tea. Use fennel only, not a mixture, and leave to steep for 5 minutes. After removing the teabag sip the tea – you can come back to it over the day and drink it cold if you want. Very quickly that will settle everything.