What Are the Causes of Intestinal Gas?

Intestinal gas is a byproduct of normal digestive processes. It can build up in your system but is almost naturally released through normal bodily functions. Diet, stress and some medical conditions produce more gas at some times rather than at others. Gas can be embarrassing and/or painful and there are times where medical attention should be sought.

Diet

• Some foods cause gas more than others, such as beans, sugary foods, foods high in fat and some starchy vegetables, such as broccoli or cabbages. Apples and dates are higher in fiber than other fruits. Fiber is not processed by the body, but rather acts as a broom of sorts cleaning the intestines and colon. Food that does not process completely sits in the intestines and colon and ferments. Fermentation releases gas as a byproduct.

Medical

• Some conditions such as lactose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome cause more gas than normal. Lactose intolerance means that the lactose found in dairy products are not digestible by some. Their body will treat lactose worse than regular fiber, and the condition can be painful. Sometimes medications, both over-the-counter or prescribed, can cause extra gas.

Air

• Simply swallowing extra air, either on purpose or by accident, can introduce more gas into the intestines if it's not readily released through the stomach via burping. Faster breathing, having hiccups or drinking through a straw can cause you to swallow extra air, and that air can get passed to the intestines.

Prevention/Solution

• First, because gas is a normal byproduct of the digestion process, gas cannot be avoided. Excessive gas in most cases can be avoided. A diet modification should be looked at first. If you know what problematic foods are the cause of your gas, simply remove the foods from your diet. If you don't, remove all forms of sugary foods, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, prunes, ice cream and yogurt from your diet. Introduce one of the possible causes back into your diet and see if it causes excessive gas during a three-day period. If you don't experience any, try adding another one. This is a slow process but will help you identify what foods may be the cause. Other ways of detection require medical testing and intervention.

Warning

• Most types of gas produced in the intestines is completely normal; if too much discomfort is felt, usually simple things can be done to fix it. However, if this happens more often than normal or causes more pain than normal and is accompanied with fevers, nausea or bloody stools, you should call your doctor.