10 Tips on Belching, Bloating, and Flatulence

1. Belching is caused by swallowed air from:
   • Eating or drinking too fast
   • Poorly fitting dentures; not chewing food completely
   • Carbonated beverages
   • Chewing gum or sucking on hard candies
   • Excessive swallowing due to nervous tension or postnasal drip
   • Forced belching to relieve abdominal discomfort
2. To prevent excessive belching, avoid:
   • Carbonated beverages
   • Chewing gum
   • Hard candies
     
   Simethicone may be helpful
3. Abdominal bloating and discomfort may be due to intestinal sensitivity or symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. To relieve symptoms, avoid:
   • Broccoli
   • Baked beans
   • Cabbage
   • Carbonated drinks
   • Cauliflower
   • Chewing gum
   • Hard candy
4. Abdominal distention resulting from weak abdominal muscles:
   • Is better in the morning
   • Gets worse as the day progresses
   • Is relieved by lying down
5. To prevent Abdominal distention:
   • Tighten abdominal muscles by pulling in your stomach several times during the day
   • So sit-up exercises if possible
   • Wear an abdominal support garment if exercise is too difficult
6. Flatulence is gas created through bacterial action in the bowel and passed rectally. Keep in mind that:
   • 10-18 passages per day are normal
   • Primary gases are harmless and odorless
   • Noticeable smells are trace gases related to food intake
7. Foods that are likely to form gas include:
   • Milk, dairy products, and medications that contain lactose--If your body doesn't produce the enzyme (lactase) to break it down.
   • Certain vegetables--baked beans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage
   • Certain starches--wheat, oats, corn, potatoes. Rice is a good substitute.
8. If flatulence is a concern, see your doctor to determine if you are lactose intolerant.
9. Identify offending foods. Reduce or eliminate these gas-forming foods from your diet.
10. Activated Charcoal may provide some benefit.