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When you eat, your digestive system works to break down food into usable energy to power the cells and the body's many processes and functions. But your gut finds certain foods too difficult to break down into just energy and waste, and gas is the leftover product when those foods sit in your colon.

Portions of foods that can't be broken down and digested by the intestines travel to the colon, which is full of bacteria. The bacteria in your colon ferment these undigested particles of food, resulting in gas, burping, and flatulence.

Everyone's body reacts differently to different foods — some people have no trouble digesting milk products, while other people suffer excessive gas from it. To figure out what's triggering your flatulence, pay attention to the foods you eat, and keep a diary to link symptoms of excessive gas to your diet.

Keep in mind that excessive gas can also be caused by certain medications, health conditions, and swallowing too much air when you chew gum or eat too quickly.

Foods that produce minimal gas include rice, bananas, citrus, grapes, hard cheese, meat, eggs, peanut butter, non-carbonated beverages, and yogurt made with live bacteria.

Other strategies that may help:
1) Eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of three large meals.
2) Avoid high-fat meals.
3) Chew meat and other protein foods carefully. Avoid excessive protein in your diet.
4) Taking activated charcoal tablets can help to remove the odor.

Avoid certain foods that are inherently gas-producing. Gas-producing foods include beans, cabbage, onions, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, fluffy wheat products such as bread, apples, peaches, pears, prunes, corn, oats, potatoes, milk, ice cream, and soft cheese.

Be well,
Dr. Kimberly