Bad Gas

Stomach or intestinal gas is nothing but a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. Stomach gas can be termed as the byproduct generated during the process of digestion. It is generally expelled from the body, either through the mouth or through the rectum. When intestinal gas is expelled through the mouth, it is known as belching or burping, while passing gas through the rectum is called flatulence or flatus. The gas passed through the rectum may or may not smell. If it does, it is most commonly caused by the fermentation of the food or waste materials in the colon. Such fermentation causes the generation of sulfur gases, which produces that foul odor.

What Causes Flatulence?

A number of factors can be responsible for causing bad stomach gas and bloating. Out of these, one of the most common causes is swallowing air while eating food, which is termed as aerophagia. It can cause both belching and flatulence problems after eating. However, it usually does not cause bad-smelling gas. Bad-smelling gas can be due to digestion of food by the intestinal bacteria. Certain foods contain a high amount of fiber and complex carbohydrates like, polysaccharides, which cannot be completely digested by the stomach enzymes. This gives the intestinal bacteria an opportunity to digest these semi digested foods and produce gas in the process. This is the reason why foods like beans, legumes, cauliflower and wheat products cause smelly gas or flatus.

Even ingestion of dairy products can produce smelly gas in individuals with lactose intolerance. In the case of lactose intolerance, body cannot completely digest cow's milk and the food products made from it. This again allows the intestinal bacteria to ferment the semi digested dairy foods and produce gas. Apart from these, it can be caused by conditions like constipation, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Many times, overuse of laxatives like, sorbitol, lactulose, as well as intake of certain medications such as, antibiotics can be also cause this problem.

Symptoms of Flatulence

• Farting or passing smelly gas
• Bloating
• Belching
• Abdominal distension
• Abdominal cramps
• Burning sensation in the stomach
• Rumbling in the lower abdomen

How to Get Rid of Foul-smelling Gas?

To reduce excess stomach gas and the associated discomforts, you can take activated charcoal. However, the best way to prevent this condition would be making some changes or modifications in your diet and lifestyle. First of all, try to eat slowly by chewing the foods properly. This would reduce the amount of air that you ingest while eating, and also facilitate the digestion of carbohydrates. Along with this, pay attention to the kind of food you have been eating lately. This would help you to find out specific foods that cause bad stomach gas. If a particular food is responsible for causing bloating and gas, then cut down its consumption.

If you have lactose intolerance, then reduce or avoid the consumption of dairy products to get rid of gas problems. Also, lower the intake of carbonated beverages. Even eating too much of fatty foods can cause gas problems. Therefore, cut down the amount of these foods and try to follow a healthy and balanced diet. Reduce the amount of fiber rich food in your diet temporarily. Then reintroduce them in your diet slowly and gradually, so that your bowel gets habituated to these foods. As far as home remedies for this condition are concerned, you can try ginger, peppermint tea, clove, fennel seeds, cardamom seeds, cinnamon and coriander. Cumin, coriander, turmeric and asafoetida can reduce this problem after eating.

Usually, dietary and lifestyle changes along with the above mentioned home remedies would help you to get rid of gas problems. But, if the problem persists for a long time, talk to your physician regarding the use of over the counter medications like activated charcoal. Apart from activated charcoal, probiotics and digestive enzyme supplements can be used for intestinal gas relief. If all these treatment options fail, then get the condition properly evaluated with the help of a physician, as excessive foul-smelling gas can be caused by certain underlying health problems of the digestive tract.