Q:

Hello! Thank you for providing this service!

I sometimes feel very gassy and I am not sure why. What are some ways to reduce flatulence? And what is a normal vs. problematic amount (roughly), if there is such a thing?

 

A:

These are not straight forward questions! Any gas seems like a problem to some people. Some amount of flatulence is normal, of course, but when it becomes difficult to control, then it is problematic.

There are gas-producing foods, such as legumes, onions, brassica vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and some people with food intolerances, like lactose (dairy) will have more gas. People with air swallowing from gum chewing or eating too quickly will have more gas.

The best way to evaluate your situation is to keep a food diary, and (no kidding) a flatulence diary, and review both with our dietician Jill Kelly to see if she can help you find any correlations.

~The Doc