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Menopause & Intestinal Gas

Many women make great efforts to get through peri-menopause and into menopause as smoothly as possible, doing all the right things so as not to further aggravate rioting hormones. However, the irony is that these women have made a concerted effort to improve their diets, eating the right things, and what happens? They're gassier than ever.

  1. Healthy Diet, Lots of Gas

    • Dr. John Sunyecz, president, MenopauseRx, Inc., notes that certain foods, including fruits, vegetables and fiber, are good for us, as are soy-based foods, which reportedly reduce the symptoms of menopause, but these foods are infamous for causing bloating and gas.

    Hormones? Food?

    • Approximately one-fourth of all menopausal women report gas as being a problem during this period of their life. However, the medical community isn't sure whether the increase in flatulence has to do with hormonal changes or is solely due to the changes in the diets of these women, who are trying to eat better.

    Less Efficient Digestive System

    • As we age, nothing works as efficiently as it once did and which most of us took for granted. According to Scott Olsen, who is a naturopathic doctor, our digestion system, just like the other systems in our body, becomes less efficient over time. Poor digestion leads to flatulence. The majority of gas is caused by stomach bacteria; however if you are gulping air while eating, chowing down on gaseous foods or not combining the right foods together, this is going to up your chances of being full of gas.

    Medications

    • Many "older" people, including women who are menopausal, may be taking medication for various disorders. The medication, combined with your less than efficient digestive system, compounded by the foods that we choose to eat, can lead to what Dr. Olson refers to as "room-clearing" gas. Ask your physician if your medication may be exacerbating your gas problem.

    Avoid Saturated Fats

    • If you are gassy and menopausal, a wicked combination, take the advice of the North American Menopause Society and eat meals that are high in whole grains, vegetables and fruits, to help combat menopausal symptoms (night sweats, hot flashes and so on), but low in saturated fats.

    Soda

    • According to Puristat.com, one of the worst offenders when it comes to gas is soda. Dr. Olsen points out that a 2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey concluded that not only is soda the major source of calories in the United States but it overwhelms even the best digestive capacities and feeds gas-producing bacteria. If you are menopausal and struggling with flatulence, you might want to seriously consider eliminating soda from your diet or limiting your consumption.

    Bean-o

    • Consider taking Bean-o. Many people have had great success with this anti-gas pill.

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