Stomach Gurgling after Eating

I have experienced stomach gurgling myself and have been unfortunate enough to get those awful looks from people because of this anti social behavior (though not a behavior in real sense). Yes. I'm talking about stomach gurgling after eating. It has the potential to land yourself in embarrassing situations. Read on to find out what makes our tummy roar.

Picture this- after lots of hard work you've finally asked your dream girl out. You take her to a restaurant for a lavish dinner followed by a long drive. You've probably rehearsed for this moment many days, weeks or even months in advance. You begin with a few romantic lines from a Robert Burn poem, but before words can come out from your mouth she hears a strange noise coming straight from your belly. Disaster.

Unfortunately, noises from the stomach, or stomach gurgling, is a pretty common occurrence, and there may be several reasons for it. However, it is mainly the process of digestion, and not any stomach problems, that cause this noise in our stomach. Digestion remains one of the major causes of stomach gurgling after eating. In the following article, let's take a look at the other possible causes of stomach gurgling.

What Makes the Stomach Gurgle after Eating?

It would be interesting to know that the symphony created by our stomach is known as borborymus (plural borborygmi). It is believed that the Ancient Greeks were the first to coin the word to describe the sounds made by the craving stomach. The movement of gas in the stomach and intestines causes these rumbling sounds, as it produces air pressure. What goes on inside is, that after a meal, the food is being squeezed slightly forward and backwards through the digestive tract. This squeezing helps to break the meal and absorb the nutrients from it. The digestive juices inside try to wipe out anything left behind. This activity in the stomach is the reason for the loud stomach gurgling after eating.

Symptoms of Stomach Gurgling After Eating

Like any other disease, stomach growling has few symptoms which need to be understood. Sometimes excessive stomach noise can be a symptom of a gastrointestinal disorder, like Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It occurs when the nerves and the muscles of the intestine do not coordinate while digesting the food. Ultimately, it results in abnormal bowel movements, producing gas. But in some cases, this growling is associated with other symptoms such as bloating, cramping, diarrhea or excess gas. Sometimes stomach gurgling is also accompanied by abdominal pain. If the symptoms persist, visit your doctor and get it examined.

People who suffer from excessive stomach gurgling after eating need not fret, for it is just the normal digestion that goes on inside the stomach. The digestive process depends on the individual. It is normally between 24-72 hours for healthy adults. It takes almost about 6-8 hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine. It then enters the large intestine as the digestion process advances for absorption of water. The process of removal of the unwanted material left behind usually begins after 24 hours.

Ways to Stop Stomach Gurgling

Thankfully, there is an easy regime that can be followed to stop stomach gurgling noises. Mentioned here are few ways to stop these embarrassing noises from the stomach.

• Chew, chew, chew. Chew your food as much as possible. Chewing helps to break down the food intake in small portions, so that it makes much easier for the organs to digest it. If not chewed properly, it takes much longer to break the food rather than digesting it, increasing the chances of stomach gurgling.
• Drink something warm. Particularly peppermint tea, for it has the ability to calm down your stomach. However, remember that it should be warm and not hot. Lukewarm beverages will do the trick. Something too hot or too cold can induce a spastic responses in your stomach, increasing pain and pressure.
• Avoid taking deep breaths. Taking deep breaths to stop stomach growling is futile, as ultimately you are letting more air into your stomach, air being one of the reasons why the stomach growls. If you were to yawn or take a deep breath try not to swallow the air.
• Avoid eating gassy foods. Stop eating foods with which you can produce gas, as it would just add up to the level of gases inside. Vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, beans, etc are mostly gassy foods. As far as possible eat bland food for few days at least, so as to remove the gases already inside.

The above ways to reduce stomach noise will definitely help you get rid of this problem. If the stomach gurgling after eating still persists after trying out the above options, then it is advisable to visit a doctor or a health care professional to get it checked. Until then eat healthy and be healthy.