It’s normal to produce some intestinal gas. The average person passes gas between five and 15 times a day. If you produce more gas, or it is associated with abdominal cramps, bloating or other symptoms, this could be problematic. It can feel extremely uncomfortable, be embarrassing, or may be a sign of a digestive illness.

Why do we produce gas? Some of it is there because you swallowed air while talking or eating, and other gases are produced by the microbes that live in your intestines. If the gas is caused by an overgrowth of microbes in the gut, it may be associated with symptoms such as foggy head, low mood or anxiety and unrefreshing sleep. That’s because the microbes produce wastes that enter your bloodstream and travel to your liver, stressing this vital organ.

Excess gas may be caused by one or more of the following factors:

  • Swallowing too much air. This can occur from talking while eating, eating while hurried or distracted, chewing gum or drinking through a straw. Sleeping with an open mouth or snoring can also cause too much air to enter your digestive tract.
  • Excess intake of fiber or fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs). Examples include cauliflower, onion, garlic, stone fruit and legumes. The carbohydrate and fiber in these foods can act like party food for your gut bugs, encouraging them to grow and multiply. Some people are far more sensitive to fiber and FODMAPs than others. It is usually because they are suffering with a condition called Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Bactoclear capsules act as a natural anti-microbial for the gut, helping to reduce levels of undesirable bugs. They contain the essential oils of clove, oregano and thyme, as well as berberine.
  • Eating too quickly. If you eat too quickly, you won’t chew your food thoroughly. This means your digestive system won’t be able to break down the food thoroughly. Undigested food can putrefy, enabling bad gut bugs to proliferate and over produce gas as a waste product of their metabolism.
  • Food intolerance can cause irritable bowel syndrome, and one common symptom is excess gas, bloating and cramping. Common food culprits include gluten, wheat, dairy products, eggs, soy, corn and nuts. You may wish to do a trial elimination of these foods, or be guided by a naturopath or nutritionist.
  • Insufficient production of digestive juices and enzymes. Not producing enough stomach acid, bile and digestive enzymes are all common causes of gas. Fortunately all of these can be taken in supplement form. Stress is a major cause of deficiency of all these factors, and production declines as we age.
  • Anxious people are more prone to produce too much gas because of the points listed above; they aren’t relaxed while eating, thus can swallow air and not chew thoroughly. Magnesium is very helpful because it is a nerve and muscle relaxer. It helps you to feel calmer and handle stress better.
  • Constipation can cause or aggravate gas because waste stays in the intestines for longer, leaving more time for microbes in the gut to ferment the food. Constipated people can produce more methane gas and this inhibits the intestinal contractions, worsening constipation. Drinking water and eating fiber isn’t enough to resolve constipation for some people. Fibertone is a gentle fiber supplement that sweeps the intestines clean, helping prevent the accumulation of waste.
  • Having a fatty liver and/or fatty pancreas. This can impair the ability of these organs to produce digestive secretions. Insulin resistance is the most common cause of both those conditions. The eating plan in the book Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It will give you the tools you need.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.