Eating carbohydrates can cause some people to experience bloating and gas. A segment of the population is more sensitive to carbohydrate metabolism, and because of the digestive distress these people encounter, they may avoid foods that would otherwise be healthy for them. Understanding the causes of this condition is the first step in finding treatments that help.
Bloating
Bloating, burping and passing gas are natural bodily functions and have two main causes -- swallowed air and the breakdown of food when it is digested, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most people occasionally experience bloating or gas, but if it is happening with increasing frequency, it might be time to see your doctor. When gas is created and does not pass through by either belching or flatulence, it can build up in the abdominal area and cause bloating. It is often accompanied by mild or intense pain, which is relieved by passing gas or having a bowel movement.
Carbohydrates and Bloating
Diets that emphasize low fat often allow high levels of carbohydrates. Eating large amounts of carbohydrates can increase the amount of insulin produced. Insulin helps store the additional carbohydrates as fat. According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, an osteopathic physician and author of "The No Grain Diet," as high as 40 percent of the population is unable to process carbohydrate sugars and starches efficiently, resulting in intestinal bloating. A condition called Complex Carbohydrate Intolerance, or CCI, describes the range of symptoms that can occur. Because of a shortage of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase, incomplete carbohydrate digestion occurs, causing fermentation and eventual bloating, pain and digestive distress.
Offending Carbohydrates
Some of the offending vegetables include beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, leeks, lettuce and sweet peppers. Legumes such as black-eyes peas, chickpeas, field beans, lentils, lima beans, peanuts, peas, pinto beans, red kidney beans and soybeans can also cause bloating. Grains, nuts and seeds, such as barley, breakfast cereals, granola, pistachios, rice, bran, rye, sunflower flour, wheat bran and whole-wheat flour are also problematic. Other foods such as baked beans, chili, lentil soup, pasta, peanut butter, soy milk, tofu and whole-grain breads, apples, peaches, pears, hard candy, carbonated drinks and chewing gum are on the list as well.
Reducing Symptoms
By avoiding certain foods, you can reduce symptoms, but many complex carbohydrates are healthy additions to your diet. Peppermint and ginger are herbs that can help soothe the digestive tract. Over-the-counter products are also available. The enzyme alpha-galactosidase is found in Beano, a preparation you can take before meals, to break down sugars and prevent CCI.
