Many people are embarrassed with passing of gas in front of other people. However, passing of gas or wind, burping and even bloating are all normal physiological processes. The digestive system of a healthy adult, on average, produces about 1 to 4 pints of gas everyday and will release the accumulated gas either by burping or through the anus in the form of flatulence. It is normal for a person to pass out gas from the body 6 to 20 times daily.

Intestinal gas is produced as a result of swallowing of air while eating or drinking and by the numerous bacteria which inhabit our gastrointestinal tract. The gas is then passed out of the body either by burping or through the rectum. Most of the intestinal gas is in fact produced by intestinal bacteria through the breaking down process of undigested food molecules that contain fats and carbohydrates. The gasses produced are usually carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane. If it smells like rotten egg when you pass out gas through the anus, the unpleasant smell is due to the presence of hydrogen and traces of sulphur.

While it is normal to produce and eliminate gas from the body, the digestive systems of some people produce more gas than normal. One way to know whether you are concerned with this problem is to pay particular attention to bloating symptoms of the stomach. Bloating not only affects the stomach but also the intestines. Bloating is a more common problem than thought and the majority of people fail to recognize this condition. The leading cause of bloating is the consumption of unhealthy foods such as oily and fatty foods which leads to indigestion. Indigestion in turn results in excessive production of gas which causes bloating symptoms. Noticeable bloating symptoms include:

• Bulging stomach: The excessive gases accumulate in the stomach and cause the stomach to bloat and bulge. The stomach is also hard and distended.
• Marked increase in the gut size:It is normal for the gut size to increase both before and after a meal. However, when the gut expands considerably during the day, it is a bloating symptom. For instance, your clothes fit you well in the morning but become tight in the afternoon, it signifies that your body is accumulating excessive gas.
• Frequent flatulence:Flatulence is the passing of wind through the rectum. Frequent flatulence having unpleasant smell is also an indication of a bloated stomach.
• Pain in the abdomen:Bloating may also be accompanied by abdominal pain which varies according to the severity of bloating.

Common causes of excessive gas production are the consumption of foods rich in carbohydrates and certain vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, bread, beans, potatoes, onions etc. Certain fruits such as apples, prunes and bananas also trigger production of gas. These food items contain cellulose or starches that are not easily digested by the body. Furthermore, people who are lactose intolerant and gluten intolerant are also susceptible to bloating. It is commonly believed that eating too rapidly causes the swallowing of air. However, air swallowed during eating rarely reaches the intestines and it is eliminated most of the times by burping.

In order to limit bloating, you can reduce your consumption of carbohydrate rich foods and starches which cannot be readily digested by the body. Also, avoid lying down after a meal and make sure you drink plenty of luke warm water as drinking too hot or cold water will degenerate digestive enzymes.