Trying to avoid embarrassing gas? Some tips

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Sep 20th 2007 12:48AM

Ahh, flatulence. Such a basic but embarrassing part of life. I'll admit that I've been know to let a few slip, and my doctor assures me that it's due to my healthy diet full of fruits and veggies -- so I guess I'll have to live with the consequences. Are you wondering just what causes gas and how to avoid it? I have bad news ... many foods are responsible for gas, so it's not as simple as cutting out one of two according to this article from eDiets. Legumes, veggies, fruits, dairy products, cereals, breads, fried foods, cream sauces and carbonated beverages can all contribute to gas; for a full list click here.

If gasiness is becoming a serious problem for you, consider seeing a gastroenterologist, who can recommend certain foods to cut out or treatments to consider. Or try eliminating soy, dairy, gluten and processed foods from your diet, then introducing them back in one at a time to see what your worst offender is. For me, it's a surprising one: Rice! What's about you?

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Comments (63)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Marge 9-20-2007 @ 12:24PM

what if you have gas constantly - have been to many many gastro's - tried pill after pill - diet after diet. Then what - stay home & away from people ???????????

MontanaXman 9-20-2007 @ 12:29PM

Eat healthy and let it rip baby!

Alfonzo 9-20-2007 @ 12:35PM

The worst offender for me was sugar and alcohol (which converts to sugar). I found out I had candidiasis (which feeds off sugar) and am currently undergoing treatment to eliminate the problem.

joesikspak 9-20-2007 @ 12:32PM

I'm with YOU, Marge: I KNOW that EVERYBODY FARTS, but I'm pretty sure that MOST people have intervals when the DON'T!

regwalk1 9-20-2007 @ 12:39PM

for me a simple, over-the-counter helper is Beano....i take it as religiously as i do my daily vitamins.....maybe it will help some others out there :-)

Barry 9-20-2007 @ 12:56PM

I have to fart right now

Joe 9-20-2007 @ 12:57PM

WHen you gotta rip one, make sure you have everyone's attention and let it fly...smelly ones sure do earn you respect.

Khris 9-20-2007 @ 1:07PM

that one smells like broccoli..........

Paul 9-20-2007 @ 1:08PM

It's a normal part of life. What else justifies your index finger to your children?

JMR 9-20-2007 @ 1:16PM

Try 2 T. of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water 3 times a day. I actually works for me - now my family asks if I've taken my vinegar yet. Try it!

Bil 9-20-2007 @ 1:09PM

Why are so many people worried about letting a few rip now and then? To me it's like beano and plastic surgery are one in the same in the sense that one is trying to avoid what's going to happen anyway. We're going to fart and we're going to get old, so why worry about it....By the way if anyone needs an old copy of "A students guide to farting," let me know.

Paul 9-20-2007 @ 1:11PM

It's a normal part of life. What else justifies your index finger to your children?

Bil 9-26-2007 @ 3:43PM

Back in school it was said that the average adult farts 14 times a day. I've always wondered .... Who was the guy that went around confirming that and secondly, was our tax dollars spent to find this out?

KOL 9-20-2007 @ 1:25PM

Charcoal tablets. Totally natural. Very effective. On the shelves at most pharmacies.

steve 9-20-2007 @ 2:03PM

Gas happens when foods ferment in your digestive tract from not digesting properly. This can easily be fixed by supplementing with a multi-enzyme formula. You can find a good one at GNC. Another alternative is to eat papaya or take papaya enzyme chewables at the beginning of each meal.

kurt ploudre 9-20-2007 @ 1:48PM

I enjoy a good fart. I printed the list of foods so I can really cut loose!

ben micale 9-20-2007 @ 1:50PM

Instead of vinegar, try regular wine; predigest each swallow in your mouth before swallowing it, and repeat it for 4 or 5 times (one jigger, no more!)