HOW TO GET RID OF GAS

Everyone burps and everyone farts–except for the select few who claim otherwise or call it a more polite name. Although gas can be embarrassing sometimes, if you hold it in, it can cause increased pain.

Whether you blame it on your dog or not, the average person releases gas around 13 to 21 times per day according to some studies.

Gas comes from 2 sources:

• The air we swallow
• Foods that don't get digested and absorbed

Knowing that, there's a few things you can do to lessen the air you swallow:

• Don't chew gum
• Eat and drink more slowly
• Avoid drinking from straws
• Recognize if you swallow air when you are nervous or uncomfortable
• Don't make yourself burp
• Cut out smoking

Know the foods and beverages that can increase gas:

• Beans
• Gassy Vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts and onions)
• Carbonated drinks (sodas, mineral water, beer and champagne)
• Lactose (60 percent or more of people on the planet are lactose intolerant)
• Spices (pepper, cloves, curry, chili powder, garlic, mustard nutmeg and horseradish)
• Sorbitol and xylitol (sweeteners that are often in gum and diabetic candies)

Sometimes gas can be lessened with activated charcoal (available over the counter). Some claim that certain spices and herbs may work

• Anise
• Chamomile (tea)
• Coriander
• Curcumin (turmeric)
• Fennel

If these suggestions don't work, keep a diary of what foods you eat and what you drink when the gas is the worst, and whether you are also having diarrhea. This kind of symptom diary can give you clues about other foods or spices that may be causing your problems (sugary or starchy foods can cause problems for a small group of people).