Gas and Bloating: Gas, bloating and flatulence are side effects of our natural digestive processes. A small amount of gas production is normal throughout the day. However, some people experience severe episodes of gas and bloating especially if they have eaten something, which is harder for their intestines to digest. To better understand how gas forms it is essential to understand how food is digested. The digestion of food is like a symphony. The chewing motion of the mouth breaks food into smaller pieces allowing maximal contact with enzymes. Saliva contains digestive enzymes, which start to breakdown starch in foods. Food then goes through the esophagus into the stomach. The hydrochloric acid-rich stomach mixes and churns the food to digest it into smaller pieces. It also adds the very powerful enzymes, pepsin and protease, which breakdown proteins. The food then passes into the beginning of the small intestine, called the duodenum. The duodenum is rich in Brunner’s glands that secrete a lot of mucus to protect the small intestine from the acidic food coming from the stomach. The opening of a duct from the pancreas enters into the duodenum. It releases bicarbonate ions to neutralize all of the acid in the food because enzymes in the small intestine require a higher pH to work effectively. Pancreatic juices also contain the powerful digestive enzymes: lipase (breakdown fat), protease (breakdown protein) and amylase (breakdown starch). The bile duct from the liver and gallbladder also enters into the duodenum. Bile, a salt, is released into the small intestine and combines with lipase to break-up fats and oils into small globules called micelles. The digestive process continues down the ileum and jejunum regions of the small intestine where further digestion and the majority of food absorption into the bloodstream occurs. Leftover food matter enters into the large intestine from the small intestine through the ileocecal valve. The large intestine contains billions of bacteria, which have developed a symbiotic relationship with humans during evolution. These bacteria produce vitamins that are essential for our bodies, produce enzymes, produce antimicrobial agents to protect our body from pathogens and possesses anticarcinogenic activity. If food passes into the large intestine improperly digested than fermentation occurs as the bacteria feed on it. Fermentation produces gas. The more undigested food stuff, the more gas. Finally, the end products of digestion, which include indigestible fibers, food residue, bacteria, yeast and bile, reach the colon. In the colon most of the water is absorbed out of the waste material and back into the body. The mass left goes onto the rectum and is excreted as waste. Gas is a byproduct of the incomplete digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. It can be caused by an enzyme deficiency, inadequate stomach acid, excess fiber, inadequate bile or any of the other missing steps on the digestive path. Switching to a new diet and new foods, pathogenic bacteria or yeast overgrowth may cause gas. It is very important to find out the cause of the excess gas. If the gas production is abnormal, Dr. Metcalfe recommends stool cultures or digestive panel lab tests to determine exactly what is happening along the digestive tract. Signs and Symptoms:
Treatment: Lifestyle Changes:
Dietary Changes:
Natural Solutions:
Other beneficial products:
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