Gas and the resulting belching it causes are a subject most people find embarrassing. Nevertheless, gas, that uncomfortable, expanding feeling in your stomach or upper intestines, is talking to you. What is it saying? That depends on a number of things: what you just ate, how you ate it, whether you smoke, how tense you are, and how often you are bothered by it, among other things.
Description
Gas is simply too much air in the stomach or intestines. The digestive system is an "open" system, meaning it is open to the outside of the body. Food goes in, waste comes out. The doorways to the outside, the mouth and the anus, allow air into the system. Some air is easily processed and does not cause trouble. But if we take on too much air, we can find ourselves uncomfortable, bloated, even cramping. When air pressure in the stomach builds up enough, it has to go somewhere. That somewhere is out. Belching is the sudden release of air pressure in the stomach or upper intestines through the mouth. The more air built up, the louder the belch.
Causes
The discomfort of gas is caused by either swallowing air or producing it in the intestines. Eating too food too quickly, gulping food or drink, and chewing gum all create aerophagia, or the swallowing of air. Drinking carbonated sodas adds to the problem, as they already have air bubbles in them. Smoking produces excess saliva, which causes some people to take in more air. Loose fitting dentures are another cause of aerophagia.
Undigested or partially digested food in the intestines allows food to ferment and create gas by-products. The body has a hard time breaking down some types of carbohydrates, such as simple sugars like lactose. Also, starches, such as potatoes and pasta, naturally produce gas as they pass through the digestive tract.
Asafoetida
One of the most popular home remedies for gas and belching is a spice called asafoetida. Also known as stinking gum, devil's dung and food of the gods, asafoetida is native to Iran and has been used as a digestive aid for centuries. A pinch in warm water may provide relief from gas. Or mix it with 1/2 teaspoon of dry ginger powder and a little salt in eight ounces of warm water. Asafoetida can also be sprinkled on food as a spice. It works to reduce gas in foods such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. You can also make a poultice by soaking a cloth in hot water with 1/2 teaspoon asafoetida and placing it directly on the abdomen for cramping. Note that asafoetida has a very strong smell and must be stored in an airtight container.
Other Remedies
Take digestive enzymes to help digest food. Enzymes are crucial for digestive health and to reduce gas, bloating and belching. A daily probiotic supplement also helps digestion and cuts down on gas. This is especially important if you are over 40, because we have less enzymes and digestive flora in the gut as we age. Check out http://beatthebloat.com/ to buy enzymes and find helpful information.
If these measures are not getting the results you need, it is time to avoid gas producing foods, such as beans, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, onions, cauliflower, whole wheat flour, radishes, bananas and apricots. If you are lactose intolerant, add dairy products to that list, or take lactic acid bacteria as a supplement to help you digest milk products.
Finally, drink chamomile tea after meals or at bedtime. It improves digestion and helps release trapped gas in the system.
Considerations
For most people, gas and belching, while an embarrassing nuisance, are a normal part of life. But for others, chronic belching is a sign of an upper gastrointestinal disorder such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), delayed gastric emptying or even a peptic ulcer. Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, also may present itself as too much gas and belching. If belching is constant or excessive and these home remedies don't give relief, be evaluated by a doctor to rule out a more serious condition.
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