Burping and passing gas are natural ways for the body to get rid of the excess air trapped in the gut after swallowing food, water or saliva. To help stop the pain or embarrassment that comes with it, there are certain foods you can avoid.
According to Medical News Today, foods that can cause gas often contain substances that have one of the following characteristics:
- Hard to break down
- Produce gas when the body breaks them down
- Cause the person to swallow air while eating
Below are five foods described by the above-mentioned health publication that may give you gas.
Beans
Beans contain a high amount of raffinose – a complex sugar – that the body has difficulty breaking down. Beans are also rich in fibre, which can increase gassiness.
Onions
A common root vegetable used in many dishes, onions contain fructose, which the intestine breaks down during digestion. This then leads to the breakdown of the sugar to form gas, which is likely to cause an odour.
Chewing gum
People tend to swallow air when chewing gum, which can build up in the stomach and potentially become trapped in the gut. Some chewing gums also contain sugar alcohol, which can cause gas and bloating in the large intestine when ingested.
Fatty foods
This guilty pleasure slows digestion. When the body is tasked to work hard to digest food, gas may become trapped in the gut.
Beer
The gas from the alcoholic beverage’s fermented carbohydrates as well as the carbonation process can lead to excess gas and bloating in the gut.
Also see: Best probiotics for bloating and gas
