Although you might feel embarrassed, passing gas is normal during digestion. Intestinal gas does not mean that your body is not absorbing nutrients. Excessive gas that develops on occasion is most likely the result of the foods you’ve consumed. If you’ve been diagnosed with certain digestive diseases, such as celiac disease, Crohn’s or irritable bowel syndrome, intestinal gas may be a sign of malabsorption. Your doctor can give you a clinical diagnosis and treatment options.
Intestinal Gas
Gas commonly passes through your rectum about 14 times in a day, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Intestinal gas is the result of swallowing too much air when you eat or drink and is part of the natural process of breaking down your food. Some foods are more difficult to digest, such as apples, onions, broccoli, beans and dairy products, according to MayoClinic.com. If you are prone to gas, avoid ingesting foods that increase intestinal gas. Fiber-rich foods are another common reason why you might develop more gas than usual.
Prevention
You might be able to control the amount of gas your form by watching what foods you eat and how you eat them. Do not change your diet without first talking with your doctor. Avoid eating food too fast, over-eating or eating when you are nervous or anxious because you are more prone to swallow air. Drinking through a straw, gulping beverages, chewing gum and sucking on hard candy also increase your chances of swallowing air. Certain over-the-counter enzyme supplements might help prevent intestinal gas when eating certain foods, especially fruits and vegetables.
Food Intolerance
Intestinal gas that leads to bloating is a common symptom of food intolerance. Food intolerance occurs when your digestive system cannot effectively break down the proteins, sugars or carbohydrates in foods that most people digest without problems. Common food intolerances include lactose, fructose, gluten, MSG, food additives and histamine, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, diarrhea and swelling in your abdomen. Food intolerances are commonly confused with food allergies. Food allergies are different because their cause is a malfunction of the immune system, not the digestive system.
Digestive Conditions and Malabsorption
If you suspect that you have a digestive disease and are experiencing malabsorption, call your doctor immediately. Malabsorption will cause other symptoms to develop, such as bulky stools, fatty stools, cramping, bloating, chronic diarrhea, muscle wasting and unexpected weight loss, according to PubMed Health.
