How to Stop Gas After You Eat

Intestinal gas can be both embarrassing and painful. Everybody produces gas as the foods we eat are digested in the stomach. However, for some people, this natural process can create excessive amounts that interfere with daily activities. There are many causes of excessive gas, including the effects of medication taken, eating difficult to digest foods or food to which you are intolerant, medical conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or gastric reflux and swallowing large amounts of air while eating. Although the production of intestinal gas cannot be stopped, there are ways to reduce the quantity produced and therefore the embarrassing and painful effects.

Things You'll Need

• Food diary worksheet
• Peppermint tea

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Instructions

• 1

  Keep a food diary for one or two weeks. Write down everything you eat and drink, and make a note of any symptoms that occur. Identify specific foods or drinks that affect you most. Try to avoid these foods.

• 2

  Adjust your diet. Avoid foods to which you are sensitive, food with a high fat content and dairy products. Some high fiber foods also produce large amounts of gas during digestion. Common problem foods include beans, peas, lentils, cabbage, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, bananas, raisins, whole-wheat bread and salads.

• 3

  Change your eating habits. Eat smaller meals more frequently during the day and avoid drinking during a meal as this dilutes the acid in your stomach. Avoid carbonated drinks, such as beer and soda, because they introduce gas directly into your stomach. Replace carbonated with still drinks.

• 4

  Relax before and during a meal and don't eat if you are feeling stressed or emotional. Eat slowly and don't gulp food because you will swallow more air and exacerbate the problem.

• 5

  Drink a cup of peppermint tea after a meal. This will aid digestion and also reduce the amount of intestinal gas produced.

• 6

  Take a walk for 10 to 15 minutes after a meal. This will also help digestion and make you more relaxed.

• 7

  Visit your dentist, particularly if you wear dentures. Poorly fitting teeth can cause you to swallow more air when eating.

• 8

  Speak to your pharmacist about over-the-counter remedies, especially if you also suffer from indigestion or heartburn.