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10 Things Your Primary Care Doctor Does That Should Make You Run for the Hills
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Dr Orrange received her BA in Biology at the University of California San Diego and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health She received her MD from the USC Keck School of…
FAST FACTS
Everyone reacts to foods differently but we can all relate to how uncomfortable and inconvenient gas can be. The finale of a gurgly, noisy, crampy abdomen is usually the passage of intestinal gas (flatus) through the rectum. Flatulence (a fart) is normal and we do it at least 14 times a day, but too much gas is a complaint we hear about in primary care. Too much gas is often caused by factors that can be controlled and your first job is to keep track of the foods you have eaten.
Why is that? Flatus, or intestinal gas, comes from two sources: swallowed air or the work of intestinal bacteria on undigested food. Bacteria in the intestines can produce gas when they process foods that pass into the colon without being digested higher up in the digestive tract. So here goes! Common examples of foods that tend to cause gas:
1) The Vegetable culprits: Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage are the huge offenders. Cauliflower, asparagus, corn, cucumbers, leeks, onions, peas and peppers are also gas producing foods. Additional items that I think you can do without if you are passing a ton of gas are radishes, sauerkraut and turnips (easy to avoid, right?)
2) Carbonated beverages
3) Beer
4) Red Wine
5) Fried and fatty foods. This is a hard one, think of the really greasy fatty foods in this group to avoid
6) Sugars: Poorly digested sugars like raffinose, lactose, fructose, and sorbitol may cause problems. Hang in there for some details here because this is tricky. Raffinose is a sugar found in many of the vegetables listed above (Brussels sprouts, cabbage, etc). Lactose is the sugar found in many dairy products including milk. People who are lactose intolerant will find milk, cheese and ice cream may leave you with a painful rumbling stomach and lots of crampy gas. Fructose is a sugar that occurs naturally in many fruits like figs, dates, prunes, pears and grapes. Watch it because Fructose is added as a sweetener to some soft drinks, cookies and cakes. Sorbitol is a frequent culprit of lots of gas and diarrhea. Sorbitol is used to sweeten many sugar-free gums and candies, and it also may be added as an ingredient to medicines.
7) Beans and other legumes: baked beans, garbanzo beans, kidney, lentil, lima, navy and pinto beans
8) Wheat and wheat bran
9) High flatus fruits: apricots, cantaloupe, prunes, raw apples
10) Milk and other dairy products, including highly fermented cheese (Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, blue cheese, etc)
11) Eggs
12) Undigestable fats such as Olestra found in potato chips are a huge offender.
There are also some behaviors to pay attention to. If you are upset, excited or nervous you may gulp too much air. Eating or drinking in a hurry, chewing gum and smoking also contribute to gas.
Remember you don't have to completely eliminate these foods but decreasing your intake for a few days when you feel gassy will help. Several nonprescription antigas medications containing simethicone (Mylanta, Maalox, Di-Gel) or bismuth (Pepto-Bismol) will also help.
Good luck!
Dr O.
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Displaying comments 26-7 of 26
Got a Question?
I can see it now the newly drafted "Broccoli Bill".
And down at the federal Jail.
Question: What are you in for?
Answer: Not paying my cabbage tax!!!!
Oh what a world!
Who made farts embarrassing in the first place? That's like being embarrassed because you're tired or for women, because you're bloated rom your period. Why should anyone be embarrassed because of any natural bodily function you can't control?
That said, I find farts hilarious. Maybe because I find it ridiculous that society has deemed them "wrong", and they just happen in spite of it. :p
I probably gulped to much air.
I guess I overate as there was nothing healthy on the menu.
God Bless