The causes of bloating and gas can be varied but generally, the main cause is FERMENTATION. Abdominal bloating and gas are forms and causes of indigestion. Commonly, lower intestinal gas and stomach bloating (stomach gas) are produced when bacteria in your colon cause fermentation of carbohydrates and other foods. When foods aren't digested well in your small intestine, they begin a fermentation process. That fermentation process produces gas.
WHY AREN'T THESE FOODS DIGESTED WELL? The causes are lack of appropriate DIGESTIVE ENZYMES mostly from overcooked food or lack of adequate fruits and vegetables in the diet. Poor food combinations (see our FOOD COMBINING PRINCIPLES), not chewing food thoroughly - which makes food particles harder to digest, lack of high water content fruits and vegetables in the diet.
OTHER CAUSES OF BLOATING AND GAS CAN BE:
ANTIBIOTICS: In some cases of excess gas, antibiotic use may be a factor because antibiotics disrupt the normal bacterial flora in your bowel.
FOOD INTOLERANCE: If your gas and bloating occur mainly after eating dairy products, it may be because your body isn't able to break down the sugar (lactose) in dairy foods. Many people aren't able to process lactose efficiently after age 6, and even infants are sometimes lactose intolerant. Other food intolerance, especially to gliadin (the part of gluten that many people have a problem with), can also result in excess gas, diarrhea, and even weight loss. Food intolerance may be minimized or eliminated by DIGESTIVE ENZYMES.
STRESS or ANXIETY: THE LINK BETWEEN STRESS AND PROPER INTESTINAL FUNCTION IS UNDISPUTED IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. EVER SINCE THE RECOGNITION OF NON-INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISORDERS, LIKE IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME (IBS), THE STUDIES THAT FOLLOWED SHOW VERY WELL THAT THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND STRESS PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN DIGESTIVE HEALTH.
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome): A non-inflammatory condition of the colon characterized by abdominal pain or cramping and changes in bowel function.
SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITIONS. Excessive gas may be one of several signs and symptoms of a more serious inflammatory condition. Always consult your Physician if you feel you may have a more serious intestinal problem: Diverticulitis, Ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, Celiac disease.
I have searched most of my life for the best way to get rid of stomach bloating. Stomach bloating was a drained feeling that I carried around daily that left me endlessly fatigued. The discomfort from the feeling in my abdomen dogged me every day without fluctuation. I can honestly say that ending my stomach bloating has been the best thing that I have ever done for myself. The points below are EXACTLY what I did and continue to do daily that have allowed me to remain bloating free for the last 20 years!
2. FOOD COMBINING:This is an excellent principle to follow that absolutely helps to get rid of bloating. I have been practicing various forms of food combining for about 20 years now. here are easy ways to integrate this into your diet so that it is seamless and doesn't make you appear overly zealous to your friends and family. Check out my Food Combing Principles page.
3. CHEW FOOD THOROUGHLY:If you want to see how important this is, try it for one day! Here's how - chew each bite of food you consume at least 30 times. That's it, that's all there is to it and it REALLY helps. This allows the salivary enzymes to do their job and can be incredibly beneficial for taking stress off of the entire digestive process.