Diet Question Time Sundays – What Can I Do About Flatulence ?

 Thisis a very interesting question I have been asked time and again. So let's lookat what flatulence is all about, what are the causes , and what foods can weavoid to eat as well as some tips on how to avoid flatulence.

So let's look atsome of the causes :

Thereare mainly three main causes for flatulence

·       This could be swallowing more air than usual

·       or eating food that is difficult to digest

·       or  if you already have anunderlying health condition that affects your digestive system.

Swallowing Air: -

It isperfectly normal to swallow air while breathing and eating, sometimes it iseasy to swallow a little more usual without realising it.  For instance chewing gum or smoking  causes you to inhale more air than you wouldnormally, or even sucking on things in your mouth like pen tops, or your fingercan also cause you to inhale large amounts of air, and the biggest cause  not chewing your food  properly and thoroughly may cause you toswallow more air if you just tend to swallow large pieces of food and not chewslowly.

Eating  food that is hard to digest:

Herewe look at food that is hard to digest and which causes flatulence.

Muchof the foods that we eat are made up of carbohydrates, and some carbohydratescannot be digested easily  , these areknown as an insoluable carbohydrates . 

Foodsthat contain a high amount of an insoluable carbohydrates include

beans,broccoli, cabbage, raisins, pulses, lentils, prunes, apples, and the all timefavourite brussels sprouts.

Underlying health conditions: - 

Ifyou have underlying health conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Coelicor bloating or other bowel conditions, you may wish to see your clinician or anutritionist to improve your dietary requirements. 

Tips to help improve flatulence:

Eatsmaller regular meals, it is recommended by most nutritionists to each up tosix small meals per day.  Eating smallermeals will help your digest system become more efficient as it is processing smalleramounts of food more efficiently than have larger meals.

Trychewing your food longer and slower, this will reduce the amount of air thatyou swallow with your food, and will also break down the food into much moresmaller digestible pieces. 

Avoidchewing gum, because you swallow air when you are chewing. It is never a goodidea to eat chewing gum when your stomach is empty as you are just churning upmore gastric acid and wind. 

Drinkcarbonated water occasionally, because when your burp it has a relievingeffect.

Eatyour main meal of the day early, try to avoid eating late, as lying down aftera meal increases the build-up of gases and they can more easily enter yourbowel from your stomach.

Regularexercise is essential to help your body function more effectively.   Exercise is important as it helps ourrespiratory system, and circulatory system and our digestive system. Exercisehas been found to be the most effective remedy of flatulence.

SO now its your turn, if you suffer from Flatulence, what tips can you give to others.... comments in my comments box below :)




Colette Morris  SAC Dipl. (Diet &Nutrition)

LFGC Founder

    

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Colette Morris is a qualified Nutritionist and Herbalife Independent Distributor so if you want advice on your diet for weight loss, weight gain or sports nutrition, email LondonFitGirlsClub@gmail.com  or simply click on the tab here  to join our program.