Gas, also called flatulence, can be extremely socially embarrassing. According to Merck Manuals, people normally pass gas 13 to 21 times daily. Gas is produced by bacteria in the intestine. Excessive or uncomfortable gas has many possible causes. Abdominal gas can also result in uncomfortable bloating, or distension. Bloating can also be a symptom of serious disease, such as ovarian cancer or colon cancer, and should be evaluated by a physician.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is caused by the inability to digest the sugar found in dairy products, called lactose. It results from lack of an enzyme, called lactase, needed to break down lactose in the small intestine, according to MedlinePlus. Lactose intolerance is common and harmless in adults. Symptoms occur after consuming dairy products, and include excess gas, abdominal bloating and cramping, diarrhea, malodorous stools, vomiting and weight loss. Treatment includes avoiding lactose in the diet or taking the enzyme lactase when dairy products are consumed, explains MayoClinic.com.
Sweeteners
According to the Harvard Medical School publication HEALTHbeat, low-calorie sweeteners known as sugar alcohols or polyols contain only a few calories per gram, and are 50 to 92 percent sweeter than sugar. These sweeteners include sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol and D-tagatose. They are absorbed slowly and incompletely by the intestine, and cause gas and diarrhea if too much is consumed.
Foods
Lower intestinal gas is produced when carbohydrates that the small intestine cannot digest are fermented by bacteria in the large intestine, explains MayoClinic.com. Foods that cause gas are typically high in fiber, such as beans, peas, whole grain breads and cereals, and cauliflower. Other causes include onions, brussels sprouts, bananas, apricots, prunes, prune juice and raisins. Many of these foods are healthful, and effort should be made to identify which ones affect a particular person instead of avoiding all of them.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a chronic inflammation of the small intestine caused by the inability to digest gluten, a protein found in certain grains. Wheat, spelt, kamut, rye, barley, triticale and possibly oats contain gluten, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Symptoms include gas, abdominal pain and bloating, diarrhea, weight loss and fatigue. Celiac disease can have serious complications, including osteoporosis, anemia, cancers of the esophagus and small bowel, and non-Hodkin's lymphoma, according to American Family Physician. Treatment of Celiac disease is a gluten-free diet, which is essential.
