Causes of Flatulence
Flatulence is mainly linked to the composition of the diet and only rarely occurs due to a serious illness .
Foods Cause of Flatulence
Foods capable of causing flatulence are above all those rich in carbohydrates , in particular in oligosaccharides (small carbohydrate chains, often indigestible, which stimulate the proliferation of numerous bacteria present in the colon). Foods such as beans , onions , yeast , milk and foods particularly high in fiber fall into the category .
Meteorism and intestinal fermentation can be avoided by soaking the legumes for a long time , consuming them in the form of purees or dividing them with a spoon halfway through cooking
However, we must not forget that individuality is a fundamental component of the disorder; maldigestion of lactose , for example, can form large quantities of gas, about 250 cc. for every undigested gram that reaches the colon . However , the lack of the enzyme capable of breaking down milk sugar ( B-galactosidase or lactase ) is subjective and as such causes abdominal discomfort (bloating, flatulence and diarrhea ) only in predisposed individuals. Often it is an acquired intolerance due, at least in part, to the reduction in the consumption of milk in adulthood, followed by an abrupt reintroduction of the food into the diet.
Similar examples could be made considering intolerance to gluten ( celiac disease ) or fructose .
Food Associations
A certain amount of intestinal fermentation is also often due to an incorrect combination of various foods in the same meal . Combining many foods in a single meal, perhaps concluding it with a little fruit and a slice of dessert, is often synonymous with increased flatulence.
Among the most prohibitive combinations we mention protein foods with sugary foods and the association of proteins of different nature (eg milk and eggs , legumes and meat ).
Finally, it is also good to pay attention to artificial sweeteners and dietary foods that contain them (chewing gum, jams and dietary juices, etc.). Polyalcohols ( mannitol , sorbitol , xylitol ) belong to this category , sugars with strong laxative properties and are difficult to digest.
