Controlling Intestinal Gas Naturally

Intestinal gas, flatulence, farting or breaking wind is a natural part of the digestive process. This odorless gas, although at times embarrassing, is the result of good digestion. Every day our body produces one to three pints of gas that is ultimately passed. Intestinal gas is made up of oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. If we notice an unpleasant smell, it is because the gas contains other compounds, including hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.

Bacterium that lives in our intestinal tract is what produces most intestinal gas. It digests the food we eat; primarily sugars, starches and cellulose. When ingested sugars are not been properly broken down, they can ferment and produce gas as they pass through the small intestine. Contractions of the small intestine propel this gas through the large intestine, where it is expelled out the rectum. This prevents gas from accumulating in the body, which can cause cramping.

Certain foods produce more gas then others. Some healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, beans and peas often are the worst offenders. These foods are high in soluble fiber. Fiber slows the digestion of starches in the small intestine, thus promoting increased gas. Fiber, however, has many benefits including promoting a healthy digestive tract, regulating our blood sugar and maintaining normal cholesterol levels.

Normally we pass gas about fourteen times a day. Intestinal gas is only considered excessive if it is being passed over twenty times per day. If someone complains of excessive gas, but isn't passing it over twenty times a day, then something else may be going on. Perhaps the real concern is the foul odor to their gas, an inability to hold gas back, or even a problem with soiling their undergarments when gas is being passed. Thankfully there are a number of natural, alternative health remedies we can try which may help to reduce or eliminate the embarrassment of intestinal gas from our lives.

Recommendations For Wellness

Avoid foods such as beans, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, coffee, eggs, fish, prunes, radishes, dates, figs - or artificial sweeteners like sorbitol - which can promote gas production.

Limit high fat foods. Fats slow the digestion of foods through the stomach and small intestine.

Avoid milk and milk products, especially if you suspect you are lactose intolerant.

Try taking a digestive enzyme or digestive bitter tonic before meals to help improve carbohydrate digestion.

Activated charcoal tablets, when taken before a meal, have been shown to greatly reduce gas formation.

Ginger, either fresh or in tablet form, is useful in relieving flatulence.

Catnip and fennel are herbs that are often used to ease bloating and reduce intestinal gas.

Nature's Sunshine's Anti-Gas Formula contains a blend of herbs that assist the body's efforts to expel gas.

Supplementation with probiotics such as a cidophilus and b ifidophilus supports healthy bacteria in the digestive tract and keeps gas-producing bacteria in check.

Nine Facts About Fiber

If you've been looking for a way towards a high octane diet, you'll find fiber to be exactly what you need.  Even though research has shown fiber to be powerful, many people aren't taking this nutrient seriously.

To help you fuel your health with fiber, here are  10 facts to help.

1.  Fiber fights diseases.  A diet high in fiber can help to prevent colon cancer and heart disease. High fiber helps the body to eliminate cholesterol by binding it in the digestive tract.  For thousands of years, fiber has been used to stop constipation.

2.  Fiber can actually help with overeating.  All high fiber foods will take longer to chew and digest, making you feel satisfied longer

3.  Most popular foods don't have enough fiber. If you like the more popular foods, you probably need to increase your intake of fiber.

4.  Grains offer the most fiber.  Dietary fiber is actually plant matter that we cannot digest.  The best sources are whole grains and concentrated grain products.  

5.  Kids need fiber as well.  Children that are older than 2 years of age should consume a daily intake of fiber.  Kids are most receptive to fiber found in fruits, vegetables, and even fortified breakfast cereals.  

6.  More fiber needs more water.  In order to keep fiber moving through your digestive tract, you'll need to consume a lot of water.  With your diet of fiber, you'll need eight or more glasses of water every day.

7.  Fiber cannot be cooked out.  When you cook your fruits and vegetables, don't worry about cooking the fiber out, as it stays.  The fiber found in fruits and vegetables aren't just in the skin or in the peel.

8.  You can get enough fiber.  If you eat more than 50 grams of fiber in a day, you can get diarrhea 
and bloating, which can interfere with your body's absorption of other key minerals.

9.  Getting the right amount of fiber in your diet doesn't have to be hard.  Even though you may think
so, getting the amount of fiber you need isn't very hard to do.  All you have to do is eat the right 
foods and you'll be well on your way to a fiber rich lifestyle.

As one of the key ingredients to healthy eating, fiber is something you don't want to skip.  Fiber can
serve many different purposes, which were covered above.  If you aren't getting enough fiber in your 

diet - you should do something about now instead of waiting until it is too late.