Does Bread Cause Bloating?

Irritable bowel syndrome, abbreviated IBS, Crohn's disease, celiac disease and fructose malabsorption are a few of the many gastrointestinal conditions that can cause abdominal bloating. If you often feel bloated, you should consult your doctor to have more investigation done, especially if your bloating is accompanied with symptoms of abdominal pain, cramping, flatulence, diarrhea or constipation. Bread contains both fructans and gluten, two elements that could be responsible for your bloating.

Fructans

Breads made from wheat or rye are rich in fructans, a molecule made from a chain of fructose. Some people with a condition called fructose malabsorption do not react well to fructan-containing foods, which also include onions, garlic, Brussels sprouts and watermelon. As a result, the fructans attract a lot of water from your tissues into your gastrointestinal tract, and your bacteria ferment the fructans, creating gas. This extra water and gas present in your intestines induce bloating in addition to abdominal discomfort, pain, cramping and changes in the regularity or consistency of your bowel movements.

Gluten

Gluten is one of the protein found in breads containing wheat flour, rye flour, barley flour or oat flour. These breads and any other ingredients made from these gluten-containing grains can be especially problematic for people with celiac disease, which affects 3 million Americans, or gluten intolerance, which affects 18 million Americans, according to the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research. Bloating and IBS-like symptoms are common symptoms in people who do not tolerate gluten.

Ask to be Tested

If you have noticed that eating breads makes you feel bloated, consult your doctor and mention your observations. Ask to be tested for celiac disease, gluten intolerance and fructose malabsorption to help you determine whether gluten or fructans are responsible for your bloating and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Some people may be intolerant to both fructans and gluten. Whether your problem is due to fructans or gluten, eliminating the foods containing the elements you are intolerant to will help you prevent bloating in addition to making you feel better and healthier overall.

Eliminate the Problematic Foods

Once you have been able to determine what compounds found in bread are causing your bloating, you should be referred to a registered dietitian who will help you determine what other foods in your diet contains fructans or gluten, depending on which of these elements is problematic for you. Removing bread from your diet will definitely help you reduce your bloating, but if you still have considerable amounts of fructans or gluten from other foods in your diet, you may not get complete relief from your symptoms.