Swollen belly, discomfort, even embarrassment, cramps, abdominal pain… Bloating and intestinal gas are among the most common digestive disorders. And unfortunately, that does not make them any less inconvenient on a daily basis. If taking the time to chew can help limit flatulence, diet also has a role to play. Certain medications and diseases can indeed promote them (gluten intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, digestive infection, etc.). However, some foods have a knack for causing gas after digestion. Before even looking for grandmother’s natural remedies, think about taking a look at your plate!
1) Level drinks, do not be wary of carbonated drinks!
Before talking about foods that give you gas, let’s mention drinks, because there are plenty of them! We often point the finger at the soft drinks (sodas, sparkling water, etc.) which make you swallow air which will then accumulate in the intestines.
However, other beverages can also be difficult to digest. For example, the fruit juice is high in fructose which can promote gas and bloating. L’alcohol is difficult to digest and very irritating for the digestive tract. Its richness in sugar and its irritating nature quickly give stomach aches and the desire to fart. Finally, the black coffee can be too acidic and irritating for a weak stomach. The bloating is then almost immediate, especially if sugar or sweeteners are added (the latter, present in many foods and drinks, greatly promote gas).
2) Cabbage
Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower… This family of foods is unparalleled for giving you gas. It must be said that their carbohydrates (or sugars) are particularly indigestible. It is therefore necessary to pay particular attention to their cooking to ensure that they are well cooked. One can also associate its portion with a portion of green vegetables to help with the digestion of the stomach.
3) Legumes
Beans, lentils, broad beans, peas of all kinds… the reputation of pulses is second to none! In fact, these foods are particularly fermentable. This is due to their high fiber content, which is beneficial for the feeling of satiety and for intestinal transit. However, abusing fiber particularly slows down digestion and that is why it can cause flatulence if abused! They go stagnate in the belly and their non-degradable carbohydrates by the body will take advantage of this to irritate the intestine. To avoid having a swollen belly, let your vegetables soak in water overnight. Then be sure to cook them well to soften the skin enough to eat them.
4) Onion and shallot
During their decomposition in the digestive system, the sulfur compounds of the onion and the shallot are transformed into gas. Garlic is also poorly digestible and is one of the FODMAP foods, a group of foods containing poorly digestible carbohydrates that can cause gas, bloating and stomach aches. In the case of a fragile and easily irritable intestine, flatulence can then be painful. In this case, learn about FODMAP foods and what to replace them with to calm this painful gas.
4) Frying and fatty foods turn you into a gas plant
Stews, fried foods, aperitif biscuits, cakes, red meat and charcuterie… Very fatty foods such as cooked fats can promote bloating and gas. In fact, they are particularly long to digest. As a result, they delay the evacuation of the gastric bolus and this results in intestinal discomfort, especially in people sensitive to intestinal discomfort.
