84 Burnett St Bundaberg
Passing gas through burping or farting is a normal part of the human body’s processes. But if you find yourself always doing one, other or both, you might wonder why it happens.
Let’s take a look at why excess gas builds up in the digestive tract and what you can do to prevent it.
You’ve been swallowing air
Whenever we eat, drink or even swallow saliva, we swallow small amounts of air. If you swallow larger amounts due to drinking or eating too quickly, talking while you eat or chewing gum, this can lead to a build-up of air in the gut.
Depending on where this build-up occurs, it can lead to burping, farting, or a combination.
The solution? Slow down when eating or drinking and avoid talking while you chew your food.
You consume carbonated drinks
Another source of gas in the digestive tract is carbonated drinks such as soft drinks, beer, kombucha, sparkling water and mineral water. These drinks introduce carbon dioxide into the gut, leading to burping, bloating and passing wind.
If you want to reduce your excess gas, reducing or even removing carbonated drinks will go a long way.
You’ve eaten something you are intolerant to
When you consume something you are intolerant to, your gut is unable to digest it properly. The undigested food can then interact with the microbes in the gut and produce gas.
This can lead to belching, passing wind, or a combination of the two. For example, lactose intolerance can cause burping, bloating, diarrhoea and passing wind. This can lead to further gas build-up as the ‘bad’ microbes can overgrow and produce gas.
The simple solution here is to reduce or remove any foods that you are intolerant to. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to identify whether you have a food intolerance.
If you’re unsure or you suspect an intolerance, it’s best to work with a healthcare practitioner who can help you to test the most likely suspects.
You’ve eaten a food that is high in fibre
One of the healthier reasons behind excessive wind is that you’ve consumed a high fibre food that can lead to gas production. Some people are more sensitive to high-fibre foods when it comes to gas. For example, you might find that you’re gassy after eating:
In this case, you don’t necessarily have to eliminate them completely. After all, high-fibre foods are good for the gut! But you might want to watch your portions and avoid having multiple high-fibre foods in one meal.
You have an underlying health concern
In some cases, burps and farts can be a sign of something more serious going on. Conditions that can cause issues include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), H. pylori overgrowth, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome or even colon cancer.
If you experience frequent burping and farting along with other digestive symptoms such as pain, diarrhoea, constipation and bloating, seek advice from your healthcare professional.
Are you concerned about your belching or flatulence? Here at Burnett House, we’re here to help.
Our naturopath Trish can arrange any relevant testing and create a tailored treatment plan to optimise your gut health and reduce any underlying causes of burping and farting.
To book an appointment with Trish at our Bundaberg clinic, call us on (07) 41522372
