EVERY DAY WE SWALLOW AIR. THE SWALLOWED AIR IS USUALLY RELEASED THROUGH THE PROCESS OF BURPING OR BELCHING.

Air can also make its way through your gut to the large intestine,
or bowel, where it is released through the rectum as flatulence.

CERTAIN FACTORS CAN INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF AIR YOU SWALLOW:

• Chewing gum
• Eating or drinking too quickly

• Smoking: cigarettes, cigars and pipes
• Poorly fitted dentures
• Drinking fizzy drinks

SOME FOODS ARE POORLY DIGESTED AND ABSORBED BY YOUR BODY.

These foods, mainly sugars and soluble fibre, are broken down by bacteria in your intestines. The breakdown of these foods by bacteria causes the release of gas. This gas is usually hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and in some cases, methane and sulphur.

THE PRIMARY FOOD SUBSTANCES THOUGHT TO CAUSE INTESTINAL GAS ARE:

SOLUBLE FIBRE:

This type of fibre is commonly found in food such as beans, lentils, certain fruits and

vegetables.

RAFFINOSE:

is also found in vegetables such as cabbage and Brussel sprouts.

LACTOSE:

This sugar is found in milk and other dairy products.

FRUCTOSE:

This sugar is found in some fruits and vegetables as well as being a common ingredient
in soft drinks.

SORBITOL:

Sorbitol is naturally found in many fruits and is an artificial ingredient in many sugar-free food items.