Little Bites, Chew
By Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson

My husband has a lot of gas. It is very embarrassing. Is there anything he can do about it?

A certain amount of gas, or flatulence, is a normal part of digestion, but excessive gas, in addition to causing embarrassment, may cause generalized abdominal bloating and sometimes severe pain - occasionally severe enough for a trip to the emergency room.

A common cause of excessive belching is swallowing air, often the result of eating too fast. People also may swallow air to ease nausea or help relieve the discomfort of heartburn, reflux, or hiatal hernia. Or swallowing air may be a nervous habit that has become so regular it goes unnoticed.

Odorful digestive gas is usually a sign that food is not being properly digested in the intestinal tract. Slowing down at mealtime can make a real difference. When food is eaten in large bites that are not thoroughly chewed, it is not digested properly, and residue ferments in the digestive tract, creating uncomfortable, odorful gas. Chewing mashes food into smaller pieces that are more easily digested.

Saliva contains enzymes that begin the digestive process, especially the conversion of complex starches to simple sugars. When carbohydrates aren’t adequately mixed with saliva, they break down later in the digestive process in the lower gastrointestinal tract, where different chemical reactions result in increased gas.

Cooking techniques such as soaking dried beans overnight before cooking can reduce the gas resulting from certain dishes. Foods such as cabbage, broccoli, and onions are gas-forming; limiting these foods also helps. Changes in eating habits may be enough to provide permanent relief.

Digestive difficulties such as lactose intolerance also can exacerbate gas. Lactose intolerance is most common in adults who rarely drink milk and in people of some ethnic backgrounds. The body loses its ability to make the enzyme lactase, which digests the sugar in milk.

People who are lactose intolerant suffer from diarrhea and gas when they consume milk products. Gradually introducing small amounts of dairy products can sometimes induce the enzyme and resolve the problem. Otherwise, eliminating these products from the diet may be necessary.