Why Do We Get Gas?

updated 01/14/2008

The collected foods give off gases that can cause bloating. Gas is a natural byproduct of the body processing food from the body. Even when it seems excessive, it generally isn’t. When first produced in the body, gas is an odorless vapor consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, some methane and oxygen. Then how does it get to be so malodorous? The odor is made foul by the bacteria that inhabit the large intestine, since the small amounts of bacterial gas contain sulfur.

There are ways to minimize the occurrence of gas that occurs normally. Some foods cause gas more than do other foods. Knowing which foods cause more of a gaseous reaction will help you adjust your diet to decrease the amount of gas you produce.

Foods containing carbohydrates likely cause gas. Sugars that cause gases are: fructose, lactose, sorbitol and raffinose. Changing your diet, to eliminate gas-causing foods is one way to reduce the gas response. Remember that people respond differently to different foods. Just because it’s on a list, that doesn’t mean it will affect you; know what works for you. And remember that if you need to give up something healthy, then you need to replace it with something else that is comparably healthy.

Some gas producing foods:

• Beans
• Vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, onions, artichokes, and asparagus
• Fruits, such as pears, apples, and peaches
• Whole grains, such as whole wheat and bran
• Soft drinks and fruit drinks
• Milk and milk products, such as cheese and ice cream, and packaged foods prepared with Lactose, such as bread, cereal, and salad dressing
• Foods containing sorbitol, such as dietetic foods and sugarfree candies and gums

Symptoms of gas are:

• Flatulence
• Bloating
• Abdominal pain

These symptoms are also caused by Irritable Bowel Syndrome, constipation, and other disorders of the intestines and not necessarily excess gas.

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