There are plenty of circumstances that encourage development of a sore stomach, most of them food related. But there are some little-known facts that may help you avoid those stomach rumbling times and an upset gut.
Not sure what’s causing those tummy troubles? Here are five things that can be giving your problems around the stomach area.
Sugarless Gum
Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener, is a non-digestible carbohydrate that gives sugarless gum its sweetness. But in large doses, it can cause GI problems. Something like a rock, the piece of gum will tumble through the intestines until it encounters acid that will break it down, unfortunately creating gas, diarrhea and cramps as the sugar is broken down to its components.
"Sorbitol works the same way. There is individual tolerance, but if I have a patient who is having a difficult time with excessive gas, I will ask to look in her purse," notes Dr. Bell, who is a gastroenterologist in private practice in Virginia Beach, Va. “Every now and then I'll find it full of gum."
Clothing
Pressure on the abdominal and stomach area can cause acid reflux because of the clothing you may be wearing. Intragastric pressure or intra-abdominal pressure could force stomach acid up toward the esophagus and stomach juncture.
It is not just a middle-aged ailment. About 37 percent of 20- to 30-year olds experience acid reflux. So wear clothes that fit, especially at the waistline and loosen those belts for real comfort.