How to Relieve Flatulance

Flatulence is a completely normal part of life. Of course, knowing that fact doesn't make it any easier to cope with a flatulence attack at a job interview, first date or any other situation in which you would rather keep this normal part of life under wraps. The bad news is that you can't completely eradicate flatulence from your life. The good news is that there are things you can do to control it.

Things You'll Need

• Food diary
• Over the counter supplements

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Instructions

• 1

  Identify your triggers. For everyone, flatulence is caused when food makes it to the large intestines without being digested anywhere else along your digestive tract. Bacteria in the large intestines break down the food and release hydrogen, carbon dioxide and sometimes methane. Carbohydrates are the usual culprits behind flatulence but the trick is that not everyone reacts the same way to the same foods. To figure out which foods are a problem for you, spend a week writing down in a food diary everything you eat and when you experience flatulence. Try to determine a pattern between what you eat and your flatulence problem. If you can't see a pattern by keeping this list of foods eaten for a week, keep at it a little longer until you can identify your problem foods.

• 2

  Make dietary changes. Once you figure out which foods cause increased flatulence for you, limit them or avoid them in your diet. Note that this list may include healthy foods, such as certain fruits, vegetables and beans. Soluble fiber, a type of carbohydrate that is difficult to digest, is present in many foods considered to be healthy. It may seem counter-intuitive to be limiting or removing certain vegetables and fruits, for instance, from your diet to improve your health. If you are concerned about the dietary changes you are making, ask your doctor or a nutritionist for help.

• 3

  Consider over-the-counter remedies. Digestive enzyme tablets, lactase supplements and Beano, a product that contains an enzyme that helps you digest sugar, are all recommended by the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The way you take digestive enzyme tablets and lactase supplements depends on the brands you choose. Some of these digestive aids should be taken with meals while some are taken between meals or once a day in the morning. Check the product packaging or insert for usage instructions. Beano should be taken at the start of the meal. They recommend one pill for each serving of vegetables and whole grains on your plate. According to Beano, a serving equals 1/2 cup cooked vegetables or grains, 1 cup cold vegetables or grain cereal, one piece of bread or an ounce of nuts.

• 4

  See your doctor. If dietary changes and over-the-counter remedies aren't enough to help you control the problem, you may have another problem, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Your doctor can help you figure out what is causing your flatulence and how to control it, including prescribing medications to help.