What causes gassy & bloated feeling?

Why am I so gassy?

All of us pass gas. Occasionally it might be disagreeable to you or those around you, but it is a standard part of the digestion procedure. Normally, people pass gas 5-15 times daily. Dietary changes, changing eating patterns, and identifying food intolerances can help prevent excessive flatulence. Being gassy occasionally is common, but it could be an indication of a medical matter when it becomes excessive. 

Our bodies produce gas for several reasons. Swallowing an excess of air will cause us to burb. We will pass gas when gas accumulates in our intestines as bacteria break down the food that we eat, food accumulates in the colon, there is bacterial overgrowth in the intestine, because of a gluten or lactose intolerance, or due to celiac disease. Some flatulence is perfectly normal, but excessive farting is often a sign that the body is responding strongly to particular foods. This may indicate a food intolerance or a person has a digestive system disorder, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Gassiness can be associated with a mechanical disturbance, obstruction, or obstruction in the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. The blockage could be due to inflammation surrounding the colon, a cancer growth, hernias, or a scar that may have formed after operation.

Congestion will stop gas from going past the blockage website, causing the stomach or intestine to become bloated. In situations where there is no stomach or bowel blockage, gassiness might be brought on by diet, constipation, a dietary intolerance, certain medications such as narcotics, or irritable bowel syndrome.

See: Home remedies for gas & bloating pain

Common flatulence concerns

If you fart more than the average person, you might wonder what's happening in your digestive tract and if it is a symptom of a more serious health condition. Excessive flatulence has a few common, benign causes like swallowing air, gas-producing foods and beverage, anxiety, childbirth, and the effects of aging. But, excessive gas and bloating may be signals of health conditions. Find out more about what's expected, what you can do to reduce gas and bloating, and when to discuss your symptoms with your health care provider.

Your physician might encourage you to count the number of times you pass gas each day and begin a food and beverage journal to attempt and discover the cause of the extra gas. Anything over 23 events daily is considered more than normal but still might not warrant concern.

What does the smell mean? Gas smell depends on the food you eat and your digestive health. Soluble fiber found in fruits and vegetables may lead to gas, with a mild odor, but animal proteins like meat cause more foul-smelling gas.

A foul odor does not imply anything by itself, but for the potential embarrassment when passing gas occurs at an inopportune moment.

See: Yoga Poses For Constipation, Gas & Bloating Relief

Causes for feeling gassy & bloated

Excessive quantities of gas can be triggered by customs, food, and a few health conditions.

- Swallowing Air

You may not understand that you have habits that allow you to consume air frequently. You might burp a lot of it out, but a few can stay on your gut and eventually be published in the opposite end when you pass gas. Things that can lead to consuming air include smoking, chewing gum, sucking hard candy, drinking carbonated beverages, eating or drinking too fast, or sporting loose-fitting dentures. Anxiety may also make you swallow more air, resulting in more gas. You may try addressing these problems to determine if it reduces your amount of emissions daily.

- Diet & Foods

Most people today understand what foods will upset their stomach and make them bloat or pass gas. As an example, cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower, are typical gas-causing culprits. Eating lots of carbs, such as bread and pasta, can also cause Additional gas.1 Additional flatulence-forming foods and beverages include:

Lentils and beans

Dairy foods, such as milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt

Soy products (tofu and soy milk)

Whole grains and bran

Alcohol (especially beer, that can also be carbonated)

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, asparagus, mushrooms, cabbage, radishes, artichokes, onions, sprouts, and cucumbers

Fruits such as peaches, pears, apples, and fruit juices

Carbonated drinks and People with high-fructose corn syrup

Sugar-free chewing gum and candies

As you get older, you might have more issues with these foods than you did when you were younger.

Many foods that can cause flatulence are also healthy for you. In this sense, having a high-normal quantity of flatulence may just be a sign that you're eating a wholesome diet. Lots of individuals note that the amount of gas they pass raises when they choose to become fitter and include these foods in their diet.


SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. When there is an excess bacteria in the small intestine, it becomes busy fermenting the food we consume and generates higher amounts of these hydrogen and methane gases, making up gas. "One way to diagnose SIBO would be to perform a breath test and quantify methane and hydrogen. The condition can cause the stomach to become bloated because the intestines become complete with gas.

- Health Conditions

The majority of the time, excess gas is because of what you're eating and drinking and habits which cause you to swallow air. However, it may be a symptom of certain health conditions. Some other causes of excess gas include:

Irritable bowel syndrome

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Lactose intolerance

Celiac disease

Fructose intolerance

Malabsorption issues

Stomach disease 

Conditions that cause an intestinal tract blockage

Childbirth induces new moms to pass more gas for weeks.

- Dysbiosis

Dysbiosis is an imbalance of the microbes that reside in the gut. It is an imbalance of the "good microbes" compared to the"less healthy microbes" that strike the appropriate balance in a healthy situation. Things like drugs, alcohol, antibiotics, and changes in your diet may all alter the balance of your gut microbiota.

- Yeast overgrowth

Yeast overgrowth can also result in gas and bloating. Yeast is a significant part of the microbe mix in a healthy intestine, but if the intestine bacteria are out of equilibrium, it may allow the yeast to grow unchecked. A diet high in sugar and carbohydrates, excessive alcohol consumption, and antibiotics may increase your risk of yeast overgrowth.

- Lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance is different than milk sensitivity. People that are lactose intolerance have a deficiency in lactase (a digestive enzyme). This enzyme is responsible for breaking down the lactose so that we can process it properly. Without enough of this enzyme, lactose can not be broken down properly. The result is that bacteria ferment it in the gut to create an excessive amount of gas.

- Excess fiber

Although fiber is an integral component of a healthy diet, it can create a gassy state for many. It can occur from eating things like beans and certain vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables. While that is certainly not true for everybody, it is something lots of people do experience.

- Infections

Certain infections may also cause additional gas. This could include parasitic ailments and would be considered worst-case situations. Parasites can commonly be picked up in contaminated water or food.

See: How to heal leaky gut naturally

Where does gas come from?

How much gas is normal?

It is tough to define what is normal since it changes so much from person to person. It makes more sense to consider what's not normal. When you are feeling bloated--many men and women describe looking like they're pregnant. Occasional flatulence is quite normal, but if you feel uncomfortable on your belly, that demonstrates that something is happening with your digestion. A change in your bowel habits may also indicate that something is amiss. If you are particularly gassy after meals, that is also a great sign that something's wrong with your digestion.

What is gas? It is the air that is trapped in your digestive tract. It can be there primarily from many sources:

air that you swallow; 

air produced when bacteria in your gut break down undigested food. 

Types of food you eat

Chemically, it is mostly composed of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane. Occasionally, other gases, such as hydrogen sulfide, can be added to the mixture based on the foods you have eaten. It's these gases which may cause an unpleasant odor.

All stages of digestion have to maintain balance to never develop excessive gas. The first step is simple: Be sure to thoroughly chew your food. Even though it is so basic, it is very significant. A lot of people eat in a rush and do not chew properly. And that is the first phase of digestion. After you swallow your chewed food, your stomach acids and enzymes, small intestine, gallbladder, and pancreas have to perform their tasks of breaking the food down further. If the food that goes into your intestines is not well digested, the bacteria will ferment these foods and produce more gases.

See: Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine for Abdominal Bloating

How to stop excessive farting

What can you do about excessive gas farting?

Based on the root cause of gassiness, there might be a few things you can attempt to increase your symptoms. Keep track of if you encounter excessive gassiness. 

Log what you are drinking and eating for two to three months. Foods like beans, broccoli, onions, dairy, and carbonated beverages can lead to gas. Try removing one thing at a time to find out if it makes a difference.

If you suspect a dietary intolerance, think about a low FODMAP diet on that you avoid wheat, dairy, certain vegetables and fruits, and a few low-calorie sweeteners.

Stay hydrated. Drinking eight glasses of water daily (or more) can help.

Treat constipation using an over-the-counter laxative or fiber supplement. Dietary changes by adding more fiber might help.

If the gas is accompanied by bleeding, weight loss, or persistent pain, seek medical care. Your symptom/food journal, family history, and evaluations like abdominal imaging can help your doctor determine the cause of the gassiness and create a treatment plan. In the event of an obstruction, surgery may be required to relieve the blockage.

- Be sure to chew your food well.

- Regular exercise can be effective in handling stress and anxiety. Stress is a significant inhibitor of proper digestion. A stressful state may result in gastrointestinal symptoms such as gas and bloating and changes in bowel movements. Exercising is an excellent antidote for stress and just helps encourage regular digestion. And be sure you're staying hydrated. Drinking lots of water is essential for digestion. 

- An elimination diet can help rule out food sensitivities and lactose intolerance. You can do it by eliminating many different foods, then reintroducing them one by one. When removing milk, the result can be pretty immediate. Within a couple of days of cutting out milk, you may see a decline in gas when you have lactose intolerance.

Consult your doctor who can methodically test for ailments like SIBO, yeast overgrowth, and inherent ailments that could be causing your gassiness. By nailing the root cause, you can get the ideal treatment program and finally get your gasoline in check.

See: Effects of Glycyrrhiza Glabra in the Treatment of Gastritis


If you feel gassy all the time, there are a few points to take into account. Gas is normal, but excessive gas may be an indication that something deeper is going on. You are likely familiar with what intestinal gas feels like. Everybody burps and farts. It's only part of being human. In actuality, most individuals pass gas more than 15 times each day, according to the National Institutes of Health. However, excessive gas that is different from what you usually encounter or turns into an uncomfortable nuisance might be a sign that you ought to tune into your gut. If your flatulence and bloating concern you, then discuss these symptoms with your physician.  Before your consultation, keep a journal of what you're drinking, eating, and doing and your episodes of flatulence. Make certain to review gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, a change in your bowel habits, or rectal bleeding.

See: Role of gut microflora and probiotic effects in the irritable bowel syndrome.


1. Farting (flatulence). (2019). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/flatulence/

2. Abraczinskas, D., et al. "Intestinal gas and bloating." Sept. 12, 2018. .

3. Symptoms & causes of gas in the digestive tract. (2016). https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract/symptoms-causes

4. Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. "Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome Similarities and Differences." July 2014. .

5. International Foundation for Functional and Gastrointestinal Disorders. "Understanding Bloating and Distension." Sept. 6, 2015. .

6. NIH; National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. "Probiotics: In Depth." October 2017. .

7. Azpiroz, F., et al. (2014). Effect of a low‐flatulogenic diet in patients with flatulence and functional digestive symptoms. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24548289

8. Controlling intestinal gas. (2018). https://www.iffgd.org/symptoms-causes/intestinal-gas.html

9. Foods that may cause gas. (2015). https://www.iffgd.org/symptoms-causes/intestinal-gas/foods-that-may-cause-gas.html

10. Masoodi, M., et al. (2016). Frequency of celiac disease in patients with increased intestinal gas (flatulence).  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4954875/

See: Rheumatoid Arthritis And Gut Bacteria

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