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What foods cause gas and bloating?
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Digestive Health
Question #12422
45 days ago
76

What foods cause gas and bloating? - #12422

Aadhyant

I am dealing with some pretty annoying digestive issues lately and I could really use some insight here. For the past few weeks, I’ve been experiencing a lot of gas and bloating, like, I can’t remember the last time I felt comfortable after a meal. It feels like no matter what I eat, I’m just going to blow up like a balloon. I tried keeping a food diary, thinking of what foods cause gas and bloating, but honestly, it all seems to overlap. My breakfast usually involves oatmeal and fruit, but sometimes after lunch, which is typically a salad with beans, I feel even worse! I even started avoiding dairy because I thought it might be the culprit, you know? But then I read about how certain veggies, like broccoli and cauliflower, could be what foods cause gas and bloating as well. I’m really confused about what to focus on next. Is there a specific list or something that can clearly tell me what foods cause gas and bloating? Like, I need to find a solution fast. Anyone else been through this and found any relief?

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Doctors’ responses

Gas and bloating can indeed be frustrating, and the culprits often include a variety of foods. Let’s start with some common offenders. High-fiber foods such as beans, lentils, and certain vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and onions can cause gas. They contain complex sugars that your body might have a hard time breaking down, leading to gas production as bacteria ferment these sugars. Your oatmeal and fruit breakfast can also contribute; oatmeal is high in fiber and some fruits, especially apples and pears, have high fructose levels, which can be another trigger for bloating. It’s wise to consider that some people can be sensitive or intolerant to lactose, found in dairy products, which might explain why cutting dairy seemed a logical step. Foods that are high in fat and fried foods can slow digestion, leading to bloating. Carbonated drinks are also notorious for increasing gas in the digestive system. It might help to start by keeping a detailed food diary, making a note of when symptoms occur in relation to your meals. This can highlight which foods exacerbate your symptoms. Another approach is a low-FODMAP diet, which focuses on reducing specific fermentable carbohydrates that can cause gas and bloating. This structured dietary plan needs to be done under professional guidance. It’s essential to chew food thoroughly and eat at a slower pace, which can reduce the amount of air swallowed during meals. If these dietary adjustments fail to give relief, consider consulting with a healthcare provider or a dietitian to ensure there aren’t any underlying conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) contributing to your symptoms. If sudden and severe symptoms occur, or if accompanied by weight loss, changes in stool consistency, or blood in stools, see a healthcare professional promptly.

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