What can I do to avoid or decrease problems with gas?
Problems with gas may be caused by certain foods, swallowing too much air, and certain medical problems. Some of these include bowel (intestines) surgery, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) (problem that affects the bowel), and lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is a condition in which your body is not able to digest the sugar in milk (lactose).
Making changes to your diet may help to relieve gas, bloating and discomfort. Gas-forming foods commonly cause gas in many people. Avoiding these gas-forming foods may help to decrease gas. Changes in eating habits and physical activity may also help you to avoid or decrease problems with gas.
What diet guidelines should I follow?
Not all common gas-forming foods affect everyone the same way. Try avoiding all gas-forming foods for a few weeks until you feel better. Next, try adding one gas-forming food back to your diet at a time. Continue to add one gas-forming food every few days until you find the foods that are causing problems for you.
Avoid only the gas-forming foods that you know are causing problems for you. This will give you a bigger variety of foods to choose from so that you can eat a balanced diet. You may be able to handle small servings of gas-forming foods better than large servings.
What gas-forming foods should I avoid eating and drinking?
Dried legumes:
Baked beans and pork and beans.
Dried beans, such as kidney, pinto, garbanzos, lima, and navy.
Dried peas, such as split peas and lentils.
Vegetables:
Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower.
Cucumbers and green peppers.
Onions, leeks, and chives.
Pickles and sauerkraut.
Radishes, rutabaga and turnips.
Fruits:
Apples and bananas.
Prunes and raisins.
Melons.
Breads and starches:
Fried breads such as donuts, pastries.
Large amounts of wheat products.
Meats and other protein sources:
Eggs.
Meat, fish, or poultry that is fried or made with gravies and sauces.
Beverages:
Beer, ales, and other drinks that contain alcohol.
Carbonated drinks such as bubbly water or soda.
Artificial sweeteners:
Mannitol and sorbitol are sugar alcohols that are added to food and sugar-free gums and candy.
Dairy foods: Ask your caregiver if you have lactose intolerance and need to avoid dairy foods.
Milk and milk products such as cheese, ice cream, and ice milk.
Cream.
What other guidelines should I follow?
Do not use straws or drink from bottles with narrow openings. Drink fewer bubbly liquids, such as soda, bubbly water, and beer. Do not eat foods that have a lot of air in them, such as whipped cream or meringue.
Eat and drink slowly. Avoid chewing gum and sucking on hard candies. Eating or sipping drinks too quickly, chewing gum or sucking hard candy may cause you to swallow too much air.
Increasing the fiber content of your diet too quickly may cause problems with gas. Increase the fiber in your diet slowly by trying one new food every two or three days. This gives your body more time to get used to the fiber without causing gas problems. Most people can get used to a high-fiber diet over a period of several weeks.
Ask your caregiver about taking lactase enzyme pills if you have lactose intolerance. These pills help break down the milk sugar (lactose) that may cause gas or bloating. There are also lactose-free milk products that you can try. Taking these pills or eating lactose-free milk products may allow you to eat some dairy foods.
Increasing your physical activity may help you pass gas if you have problems with bloating.
Risks: The risks of not making diet changes are continued gas, bloating, and discomfort after eating. These symptoms may cause you to avoid eating a variety of foods. Over time, you may eat fewer calories and nutrients than you need. Not eating enough may cause you to lose an unhealthy amount of weight.
CARE AGREEMENT:
You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your diet. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
