Many people in the community experience bloating in their stomach. Although there may be serious reasons behind these bloating, it is usually the food consumed that causes bloating. Failure to relieve gas and bloating in the stomach causes unbearable pain and discomfort. Two things can trigger gas and bloating complaints. The first thing is to swallow air while eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum. The second thing is foods that are especially difficult to digest.
FOODS THAT CAUSE BLASTING
CHEESE
Dairy products such as cheese contain a sugar called lactose. Some people have an intolerance to lactose and cannot really digest it. Bloating can occur when bacteria in the gut ferment the lactose. This process creates gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane that can cause gas and bloating. Reducing dairy products such as cheese, milk or yogurt may be a solution for people with lactose intolerance. A variety of lactose-free dairy products are also good options.
PEAS AND LENTILS
These legumes can cause gas, especially in people who are not used to eating peas and lentils. These two types of beans can trigger gas because they contain indigestible oligosaccharides, namely raffinose. “Our bodies don’t have the enzymes needed to break down raffinose,” explains nutritionist Lisa R Young of RDN. But there are a few tricks you can do to make sure that eating peas and lentils doesn’t trigger gas or bloating. One such trick is to soak the beans before cooking to reduce the raffinose content in peas or lentils.
OAT
Oats are a rich source of carbohydrates in terms of fiber content. But consuming too much fiber can trigger gas. This is because bacteria in the gut produce gas as they digest fiber. There are a few things that can be done to prevent the consumption of oats or other high-fiber foods from causing gas and stomach bloating. One of these is to eat high-fiber foods slowly. Another thing that helps is drinking more water and exercising diligently.
CHEWING GUM
Most sugar-free or low-carb chewing gum products often contain sugar alcohols. This is because sugar alcohols are lower in calories and carbohydrates, but can give a sweet taste similar to regular sugar. Excessive consumption of sugary alcohol can trigger bloating, gas, cramps and diarrhea. Ordinary chewing gum consumption can trigger gas or stomach bloating. This complaint may occur due to swallowed air while chewing gum.