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Thread: Embarrassing question: Gas

  1. #1
    Pascale's Avatar
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    Default Embarrassing question: Gas

    It's very embarrassing for me, but I'm having a lot of problems with bloating and gas. It's hard during school for obvious reasons. I've actually had problems like this on and off for over a year, but it seems a little extra bad right now (I don't think I've changed anything in my diet). I've started taking probiotics and simethicone to help and I'm going to try eliminating all soy and whole grains from my diet to see if that helps too. I'm thinking that maybe I'm eating too much fiber? But that seems hard to believe. I'm also going to try eating flax seeds only a couple of times a week rather than everyday. I've also started drinking peppermint tea which helps a little bit. Any other suggestions? I really want to get rid of this problem as soon as possible. I know I'll always have some gas because that's natural, but it's been way too much constantly and it's very stressful and painful.

  2. #2
    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas


  3. #3
    steven1222
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    Quote Pascale View Post
    I'm also going to try eating flax seeds only a couple of times a week rather than everyday.
    Give up the flax seeds. The worst gas I have ever had was after eating flax seeds. If you are really concerned about ALA, look for another source or take a supplement. The flax seeds are not worth it.

  4. #4
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    It could be too much fibre, or too much of one particular kind of fibre - I think more people have trouble with the "insoluble" kind, including wheat bran (my personal bete noire!). You may need to experiment with temporarily eliminating or reducing different foods to find the cause.

    If it's bad you might want to see a doc to help you find out what's causing it.

  5. #5

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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    Most people I know fart. We think farting is normal.
    It is not normal to suffer pain and bloating though!
    Always make sure your dry beans are soaked at least 24 hours before cooking and then cook them until they are very soft.
    Never eat rice which has not been cooked long enough.
    Always throw hummus away after max 3 days, it ferments and causes severe discomfort if it is starting to ferment.
    Also cabbage type veg must be very fresh, if they are going off a bit they will give you too much flatulence.
    Keep a food diary and see what gives you the pain and bloating.
    The pain and bloating could be IBS. If it does not respond to your efforts to find trigger foods, chat to your doc.

    A song I recall from childhood (1960s)
    proves farting is normal:
    Beans, beans they good for y' heart,
    the more you eat the more y' fart,
    the 'more y' fart the better y' feel,
    so eat y' beans at every meal.

    Doe anyone know the origins of this song? Is it an advertising jingle?
    See my local diary ... http://herbwormwood.blogspot.com/

  6. #6
    Queen of Beans dreamqueen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    It's a misconception, unfortunately, that peppermint tea is good for digestion - indeed it's known to make these things worse. Peppermint tea is good for you brain though and increases mental alertness.

    What is good for the belly, in terms of tea, is either camomile or ginger tea.

    Another thing that's helped me when I've eaten something my belly doesn't like is to eat, raw, a handful of fresh parsley. Doesn't taste great but I find it helps almost immediately.
    Check out the Toronto Vegetarian Podcast at veg.ca/tvp !

  7. #7
    cedartree cedarblue's Avatar
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    interesting dreamqueen i fin peppermint helps and fennel tea also

  8. #8
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    I know peppermint is to be avoided if you have heartburn, but a lot of people seem to find it calms intestinal problems. Agreed - fennel's good too.

  9. #9
    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    What's fennel tea taste like though? I've tried roasted fennel before and didn't like it at all.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    I've never had fennel tea either, but I like most teas so I'd like to give it a try.

    As for peppermint, it is known to help with gas. I used to take gas pills until I looked at the ingredients and found "peppermint extract" right at the top. Now I just forget the pills and drink the tea instead.
    "Man can do as he wills, but not will as he wills" - Arthur Schopenhauer

  11. #11
    baffled harpy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    Quote Roxy View Post
    What's fennel tea taste like though? I've tried roasted fennel before and didn't like it at all.
    It does have a bit of an aniseed-y flavour (which on the whole I'm not a fan of either) but it's quite mild, depending on how long you leave the teabag in of course Some people also chew fennel seeds, but you might not like that.

  12. #12
    Queen of Beans dreamqueen's Avatar
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    Quote Yoggy View Post
    I've never had fennel tea either, but I like most teas so I'd like to give it a try.

    As for peppermint, it is known to help with gas. I used to take gas pills until I looked at the ingredients and found "peppermint extract" right at the top. Now I just forget the pills and drink the tea instead.
    Hmm, well I guess I've been misinformed about peppermint.

    I stand by my ginger tea and camomile tea recommendations though!

    Fennel tea is good too, and helps with stress as well.
    Check out the Toronto Vegetarian Podcast at veg.ca/tvp !

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    Smile Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    Quote Yoggy View Post
    I've never had fennel tea either, but I like most teas so I'd like to give it a try.

    As for peppermint, it is known to help with gas. I used to take gas pills until I looked at the ingredients and found "peppermint extract" right at the top. Now I just forget the pills and drink the tea instead.
    Get some whole fennel seeds, crush them and make a cup of tea out of them. Really simple, and tastes very good.

  14. #14
    cedartree cedarblue's Avatar
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    Default Re: Embarrassing question: Gas

    carbs and gas - anyone know anything about this at all - if they can produce gas/bloating?

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