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Five Surprising Causes of Gas

April 20, 2024
Everyone loves surprises. Birthdays, anniversaries, unexpected bonuses at work, a visit from an old friend – all are welcome additions to the thing we call life.

But one surprising visitor is never welcome, admired or desired. We’re talking about gas, which sometimes arrives without warning in the form of flatulence or burping. Both expel unwanted nitrogen, often erupting out of nowhere to expel noxious fumes throughout the room. It’s embarrassing, socially unacceptable and certainly not attractive to potential mates.

Although everyone from the President to the Pope suffers from gas at some point, it can be a problem for people who develop excessive amounts of gas. This can cause chest pain, which is often mistaken for angina or stomach distress and abdominal pain. It can cause you anxiety if it becomes a problem and certainly won’t make you any more popular with your coworkers or family. Readers' Digest magazine estimated that about 74 percent of Americans suffer from some form of digestive trouble, so it is a problem that most of us will face at some point in our lives.

Here’s the Process

Fermentation produces gas is in the intestinal tract. The foods you eat gradually are broken down and stripped of nutrients in the digestive process, and some of the consumed items that are slower to digest can produce gas. How quickly you expel the fermentation from your system will go a long way in cutting the amount of gas your body produces. If you gulp food or drink, you can inhale a lot of excess air, which can build up in the system and produce gas.

Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to cut back on your gas production. There are several over-the-counter medications that can attempt to reduce it. Beano is a well-known product that is added before consuming beans or vegetables. This must be done before you take your first bite. While it’s not a total cure, it’s been found to help cut back on at least some gas production in most individuals.