Keep Your Stomach Clean
Monday, December 15th, 2008I have a horribly embarrassing problem of gas. According to my friends and colleagues I expel noxious smells every half hour. I follow a healthy diet of western culture. In fact, I’m pretty lean and active.
Although people frequently attribute various symptoms to excessive bowel gas, neither the volume nor the excretion rate is readily measurable. In reality, many symptoms arising from Irritable Bowel Syndrome are wrongly attributed to gas, so get a proper diagnosis first. Bowel gas or intestinal gas may arise from swallowed air or intake of foods like dried beans, containing oligosaccharides — carbohydrates that are incompletely absorbed in the healthy human small intestine.
A nutritionist can help you make the necessary dietary adjustments. If the problem persists, consult a gastroenterologist. Nutritionist says
1. Instead of milk take plenty of curd, which has the useful bacteria to aid digestion.
2. Eliminate beans and pulses from your diet for a short period and see if it helps.
3. When you do get back to eating throw away the soaked water to get rid of the indigestible gas-forming sugars(oligosaccharides) these beans contain.
4. Fibre is also a culprit in gas formation. So limit raw salad intake.
5. Take a brisk walk for 30 minutes daily. Motion helps expel gas faster.
6. Cut back on fermented rice dishes and replace rice in at least one meal a day.
7. Avoid long intervals between meals. Have a small snack every 3 hours.
8. Take a probiotic(useful bacteria) supplement. A health food store or chemist will stock these.