Flatulence is a normal manifestation of our body… It causes social embarrassment, but is usually not a sign of real medical concern.

Whenever air is swallowed while eating, drinking, or digestion of food produces gas in the intestine, these must be expelled. For this the body has two options: belching (more commonly, burping) or emitting gas. The billions of bacteria in the intestines help digest foods that the body couldn’t digest on its own. While doing their job, these bacteria also produce gases as they use fermentation to break them down.

On average, we all produce gas (or more commonly “farts”) 13 to 21 times a day. Producing more than normal is probably simply due to food. Don’t panic, this should pass after the food is completely digested.

Most gas is odorless, but it can occasionally emit smelly gases. The odor is usually caused by the presence of sulfur compounds in the diet, and is rarely a cause for medical concern.

Whenever air is swallowed into the stomach, it must escape and this can lead to gas. For example, eating or drinking too quickly, smoking, chewing gum, or consuming carbonated drinks.

But the main cause of gas is diet. Some foods are more likely than others to cause bloating. Especially those rich in carbohydrates (sugars), such as:

• foods that contain whole grains such as cereals, breads and crackers;
• fruits and juices, as well as processed foods containing high fructose corn syrup;
• dairy products because they contain lactose, which is a sugar;
• drinks and diet foods that contain artificial sugars and sweeteners.

Certain vegetables are also known to promote intestinal gas. Let us quote for example:

• beans, broad beans and peas;
• lentils;
• cabbage family, like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, ect. ;
• the onions.

More rarely, certain diseases can be the cause of flatulence. Among these, the most frequent are:

• inability to digest lactose in dairy products (or lactose intolerance);
• celiac disease, which is an inability to digest gluten (a sugar found in wheat and other grains;
• digestive infections by bacteria or parasites, such as Ascaris lumbricoides.

Some laxatives that help fight constipation can cause gas, especially those that contain bran as it is a cereal and therefore high in carbohydrates.

More exceptionally, the change in atmospheric pressure, for example during air travel, can be the cause of flatulence.

With age, the digestive system slows down. This can lead to constipation, bloating and gas.

There are dietary supplements available without a prescription that help limit gas. These contain enzymes that help break down sugars and thus make food easier to digest.

If you are prone to gas, the best prevention is to watch your diet and avoid foods that promote gas. It is also recommended to eat more slowly to avoid swallowing air in the stomach, but also to chew food better, as this facilitates their digestion and therefore limits the production of gas by intestinal bacteria. Exercise, by strengthening the abdominal muscles, can also help reduce bloating and gas.

If despite all these precautions you still have profuse gas and other symptoms, such as stomach or bowel pain, see your doctor. They may do a medical exam to determine if you have an infection in the gut or an illness that affects your digestion.