12 Natural Ways to Stop Excess Gas

You have certainly been there when your body has decided to swell with abdominal gas that is uncomfortable, embarrassing, and downright annoying. Your stomach distends and flatulence cannot be avoided making you run to the nearest rest room or private location just to gain relief away from judging ears and nostrils alike. Then, of course, there is the problem of fitting into your clothes when your stomach feels two sizes larger making it that much more difficulty to manage.

These 12 natural ways to stop excess gas may be able to relieve many symptoms associated with this condition and a lot easier than you think. All it takes is a few adjustments, stopping and thinking about how your body may react to certain foods and a simple protocol that, in time, could become as normal as brushing your teeth.

Don’t suffer unnecessarily, attached to over-the-counter pharmaceutical gas remedies that simply tamp down symptoms but never actually fix the problem. Using these natural techniques you will finally be able to stop excess gas and fit into those skinny jeans, dress pants or activity wear without holding your breath or breaking wind.

Feel Fine, Don’t Combine

Eating any food you like can be a privilege and a problem all at once. Improper food combining has been linked to excessive bloating and foul gas. Before you grab whatever you like, simply because you are hungry, think about how certain combinations may compromise your gastrointestinal tract.

Dietitian and sports nutritionist Robbie Clark describes food combining to The Huffington Post,

“The idea behind ‘food combining‘ diets is that different foods digest at different rates in the body and require different digestive environments. And, therefore, that foods need to be eaten in groups and at specific times that compliment these factors.”

Celebrity chef Zoe Bingley-Pullin offers the details,

“At its basics the main rules are to eat fruit on an empty stomach to allow for efficient digestion, and don’t combine protein (meat, poultry, eggs, cheese and fish) and starches (oats, rice, pasta, bread, potato, corn etc) at the same meal.”

It is believed that if foods are not combined properly, partial digestion may occur. Some believe food will sit for a while, rotting and fermenting in your gut. As a result this may leave you struggling with bloating, gas, indigestion, constipation or diarrhea.

So, to reduce these symptoms and the wasted energy that goes into dealing with them, try food combining for a while. If it works keep it on your plate, literally.

Activate Your Gas Guzzler

If you do present with bloating, gas and overall gastrointestinal discomfort from food activated charcoal may help. Keep in mind that GI pain can be due to many things so be sure to check with your doctor before applying alternative remedies.

The New York Times reported,

“Studies showed that when charcoal capsules [] were taken before and soon after a bean meal, intestinal gas produced was greatly reduced and the bean eaters reported fewer problems with bloating and flatulence.”

Activated charcoal has been used in many ancient healing practices but is also available at almost any hospital for treating specific GI distress or drug overdose. It is important to note that drinking plenty of water (about two 8oz glasses with each capsule dose) is essential for optimal effectiveness.

According to The University of Michigan,

“…people were given a meal of gas-producing foods along with capsules containing 584 mg of activated charcoal, followed by another 584 mg of activated charcoal two hours later. Using activated charcoal prevented the five-fold increase in flatulence that occurred in the placebo group. Another, small controlled study found that taking 388 mg of activated charcoal two hours after a gas-producing meal normalized flatulence by the fourth hour.”

Get Herbal

Consuming certain herbs before, during or after a meal may prove helpful in reducing excess gas. These have carminative (flatulence relief) properties according to Angela Lemond, RDN and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Ginger comes in as one of the top studied herbs for gas relief which the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology cites as assisting digestion and gastric emptying before gas formation can occur.

Other helpful digestive herbs include:

• Chamomile
• Dill
• Fennel
• Basil
• Caraway
• Cumin
• Parsley
• Peppermint
• Spearmint

Don’t unnecessarily suffer with gas and bloating when you can simply apply these 12 natural ways top stop excess gas. Remember to think twice before choosing gaseous foods such as legumes, dairy, artificial sweeteners, and cruciferous vegetables and always eat clean, organic food whenever possible.