Passing wind may not be life-threatening, but it can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, especially if if happens too often. Commonsense changes in your diet and some helpful supplements can provide welcome relief for you – and those around you.
What is it?
Passing intestinal wind is perfectly normal. A typical adult male does it as often as 12 times a day, while women average 7 times a day. But normal doesn't necessarily mean worry-free. Even the average amounts of flatulence can cause discomfort and embarrassment for some people, and for others the frequency of episodes and the amount of wind emitted are well above the average. The only good thing about flatulence is that by itself it is not a symptom of cancer or any other serious intestinal disease.
What causes it?
Flatulence is the result of a buildup of excess gases in the digestive tract – gases that are then expelled through the rectum. Chemical reactions that occur after eating certain foods are the most common cause. The most likely culprits are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, onions and legumes. Because they contain complex carbohydrates, these foods are often not completely digested in the stomach and small intestine. After they arrive in the large intestine, they are broken down by the harmless bacteria that live there, and certain gases – carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and methane – are by-products of this bacteria action. And in some people, milk and milk products induce wind and bloating; this milk-related flatulence is often the result of lactose intolerance.
Hydrogen sulphide and other compounds containing sulphur are responsible for the unpleasant odour of some intestinal wind – though not all wind has an odour. Passing excessive wind can be a symptom of disorders that hinder normal digestion, such as celiac disease. It can also result from stressful situations, because people under stress often swallow a lot of air.
What are the symptoms?
- Frequent emission of wind through the rectum.
- Stomach discomfort and bloating.
Are there any natural therapies?
Ginger, in tablet form or freshly frated root (mixed with a little lime juice) is a good all-purpose digestive aid. It soothes the digestive tract and is useful for relieving flatulence.
Acidophilus and bifidus, two of the friendly bacteria that inhabit the large intestine, help to keep the growth of gas-producing bacteria in check. FOS (fructo-oligosaccharides), indigestible carbohydrates that are present in certain foods, promote the growth of friendly bacteria. Replenishing these bacteria will often relieve flatulence, bloating and other digestive complaints. If this course of action is unsuccessful, use activated charcoal to absorb gas in the intestine and to help reduce the accompanying odour. Activated charcoal is also available in the form of pills or a tasteless powder, which can be mixed in a glass of cold water and sipped through a straw to prevent it from staining the teeth.
What else can I do?
- Avoid carbonated beverages.
- Chew food thoroughly. Large particles cause flatulence when they pass into the large intestine without being completely digested.
- Eat slowly. If you eat too quickly, you tend to swallow more air.
- Soak legumes before cooking, which removes some indigestible sugars. Discard the soaking water and cook the beans in fresh water.
- Give up dairy products for a few days. If you notice an improvement, you may be lactose intolerant.
Did you know?
Even America's Founding Fathers had to come to terms with the problem of wind. Benjamin Franklin once noted: 'It is universally well known, that in digesting our common food, there is created or produced in the bowels of human creatures, a great quantity of wind'.
Upepo wa kupita unaweza kuwa hatari kwa maisha, lakini inaweza kuwa isiyo ya kawaida na ya aibu, haswa ikiwa hutokea mara nyingi sana. Mabadiliko ya akili katika mlo wako na baadhi ya virutubisho vyenye kusaidia vyaweza kukupa kitulizo chenye kupendeza kwako <unk> na kwa wale walio karibu nawe. Ni nini hicho? Kupita upepo wa matumbo ni jambo la kawaida kabisa. Kwa kawaida, mtu mzima wa kiume hufanya hivyo mara 12 kwa siku, huku mwanamke akifanya hivyo mara 7 kwa siku. Lakini kuwa wa kawaida hakumaanishi kwamba hupaswa kuwa bila wasiwasi. Hata kiasi cha wastani cha flatulence inaweza kusababisha usumbufu na aibu kwa baadhi ya watu, na kwa wengine, mzunguko wa vipindi na kiasi cha upepo iliyotolewa ni juu sana ya wastani. Jambo jema tu kuhusu upungufu wa hewa ni kwamba kwa yenyewe si dalili ya kansa au ugonjwa mwingine wowote mkubwa wa matumbo. Ni nini kinachosababisha hali hiyo? Uvimbe ni matokeo ya kuongezeka kwa gesi nyingi katika mfumo wa kumeng'enya chakula <unk> gesi ambazo kisha hutolewa kupitia utumbo wa nyuma. Matokeo ya kemikali yanayotokea baada ya kula vyakula fulani ndiyo kisababishi cha kawaida. Washiriki wa kikundi cha Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, na mchuzi. Kwa sababu vyakula hivyo vina wanga tata, mara nyingi havijaribiwa kabisa katika tumbo na matumbo madogo. Baada ya kufika kwenye utumbo mzito, huvunjwa na bakteria zisizo na madhara zinazoishi huko, na gesi fulani - kaboni dioksidi, hidrojeni sulfidi na metani - ni bidhaa za ziada za utendaji wa bakteria hii. Kwa watu wengine, maziwa na bidhaa za maziwa husababisha upepo na uvimbe; mara nyingi uvimbe huu unaohusiana na maziwa ni matokeo ya kutovumilia laktosi. Hydrogen sulfide na misombo mingine yenye sulfuri ni wajibu kwa harufu mbaya ya baadhi ya upepo matumbo <unk> ingawa si upepo wote ina harufu. Uwezo wa kupumua kwa kiasi kikubwa unaweza kuwa dalili ya matatizo ya kumeng'enya chakula, kama vile ugonjwa wa celiac. Pia inaweza kutokea kutokana na hali za mkazo, kwa sababu watu walio chini ya mkazo mara nyingi hula hewa nyingi. Dalili hizo ni zipi? - Utoaji wa mara kwa mara wa upepo kupitia utumbo wa nyuma. - Maumivu ya tumbo na kuvimba. Je, kuna tiba za asili? Tangawizi, katika fomu ya kibao au mzizi uliochanganywa (kuchanganywa na maji kidogo ya limao) ni msaada mzuri wa kumeng'enya chakula. Inatuliza mfumo wa kumeng'enya chakula na ni muhimu kwa kupunguza uvimbe wa moyo. Acidophilus na Bifidobacterium ni aina mbili za bakteria zinazopatikana katika matumbo makubwa na huwezesha ukuaji wa bakteria zinazozalisha gesi. Fructoligosaccharides (FOS) ni wanga usioweza kumeng'enywa ambao unapatikana katika vyakula fulani na huchochea ukuaji wa bakteria. Mara nyingi kujaza bakteria hizo kutasaidia kupunguza upungufu wa hewa, uvimbe, na matatizo mengine ya kumeng'enya chakula. Ikiwa hatua hii haifaniki, tumia makaa ya mawe ili kuondoa gesi kwenye matumbo na kusaidia kupunguza harufu inayoambatana. Makaa ya mawe ya kuchochea pia yanapatikana katika fomu ya dawa au poda isiyo na ladha, ambayo inaweza kuchanganywa katika glasi ya maji baridi na kunywa kupitia kijiti ili kuzuia meno yasiwe na rangi. Ninaweza kufanya nini kingine? - Epuka vinywaji vyenye kaboni. - Kunywa chakula kwa uangalifu. Chembe kubwa husababisha uvimbe wa moyo zinapopita kwenye matumbo makubwa bila kumeng'enywa kabisa. - Kula polepole. Ukila haraka sana, unaelekea kumeza hewa zaidi. - Nyunyizia mboga kabla ya kupika, ambayo huondoa baadhi ya sukari zisizopatikana. Tupa maji yaliyokuwa yamenyweshwa na kupika maharagwe hayo katika maji safi. - Acha bidhaa za maziwa kwa siku chache. Ikiwa unaona uboreshaji, huenda ukawa hauna uwezo wa kuvumilia laktosi. Je, ulijua? Hata Wazazi wa Marekani walihitaji kukabiliana na tatizo la upepo. "Benjamin Franklin aliandika: ""Ni jambo la kawaida kwamba wakati wa kumeng'enya chakula chetu cha kawaida, kiasi kikubwa cha upepo hutokezwa au hutokezwa katika matumbo ya viumbe vya kibinadamu."""