Excessive bloating after meals, bloating, pain in the lower abdomen, and flatulence are major digestive problems that bother most people today. When the food we eat is not digested properly, excessive gas is formed in the body due to the activities of bacteria in the large intestine. Here are the 5 main scientific reasons behind this gas problem:
Eating food quickly and swallowing air (Aerophagia): When we swallow food quickly without chewing it properly, we swallow a large amount of air along with it. In addition, eating while talking, drinking juice through a straw, and chewing gum also cause unnecessary air to enter the stomach, which later turns into gas.
FODMAP Foods: When certain foods reach the large intestine, the bacteria there ferment them, producing gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Tuberculosis (potatoes, yams), legumes, peas, cabbage, bagged flour desserts, and carbonated soft drinks are all known to cause excessive gas.
Gut Dysbiosis: There are millions of good bacteria in our intestines that help with digestion. However, due to excessive antibiotic pills or consumption of junk foods, the balance of these bacteria can be lost. This can cause even light meals to remain undigested and cause severe gas problems.
Food Intolerance: Some people’s bodies have a reduced ability to digest certain foods. For example, those who cannot digest the ‘lactose’ in milk (Lactose Intolerance) will experience severe gas and diarrhea if they drink milk. Similarly, those who are allergic to the protein ‘gluten’ in wheat (Celiac Disease) may have chronic gas problems.
Constipation and lack of exercise: In people who do not defecate properly, the stool that accumulates in the intestines will start to be decomposed by bacteria. This can cause the stomach to fill with strong, foul-smelling gases and cause the stomach to swell and become bloated. In people who sit still after eating and those who do not do physical exercise, the digestive process will slow down, causing gas to increase.