Helpful Hints for Controlling Gas (Flatus) | Treatments | Patients & Families

Everyone has gas, but for some people the gas may seem extreme, very foul-smelling, and painful. Gas can be let out as flatus (gas passed through the anus) or burping. Changing your diet may help reduce the problem. Different plans help different people. There are many causes of gas, so it is important to remember that there may be more than just one factor leading up to it.

What You Eat

Some foods produce more gas than others. This is different for every person. Try to eat a balanced diet and avoid some of these foods to see if it makes things better for you. Try to cut them out one at a time, so that you can tell which food may be causing the gas.

Hot, spicy foods can speed up how fast food moves through your bowels, leading to gas.
Rich, fatty foods, especially fried foods, may increase gas.
High fiber foods may at first increase the amount of gas you have but should lessen over time. Fiber is important, so do not avoid it.
It may help to keep a food diary. Write down foods that seem to cause the gas.

Drinking

Caffeine can increase bowel activity and increase gas.
Carbonated or “fizzy” drinks can increase burping and gas. Try to pour them into a glass first to let some of the “fizz” out.
Beer can increase gas.
Drink fluids slowly, instead of gulping them down which can cause you to swallow more air.
Avoid using straws. You swallow more air sucking liquids through a straw.

How You Eat

Changing the way you eat may also help reduce excess gas. This is because we can swallow too much air when we eat a certain way. Here are some tips:

Eat more slowly.
Talk less while eating.
Eat meals at about the same time each day.
Eat smaller meals more often.
Reduce or avoid chewing gum and hard candy.
Check your dentures to make sure they are not too loose.

Each person tolerates foods differently. Some foods that cause a lot of gas for one person may cause normal gas for others. The main goal is to reduce gas but still eat a healthy diet. If you try these tips and still feel like you have excess gas, talk with your doctor to see if there may be other causes of your gas. Over the counter medicines may help relieve or prevent gas. Discuss these with your doctor.

Foods Which May Cause a Normal Amount of Gas (Allowed)

Protein: meat, poultry, fish, tofu, eggs
Vegetables: lettuce, some peppers, tomato, zucchini, yellow squash, olives, green part of scallion
Fruits: cantaloupe, honey dew, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, pineapple, oranges
Carbohydrates: rice, white potato, popcorn, quinoa, corn tortillas, gluten-free bread
Nuts: all nuts when eaten in small amounts
Dairy: low lactose dairy like lactose free milk, cheddar, swiss, most yogurts
Sweets: Jello®, fruit ice

Food Which May Cause a Moderate Amount of Gas (Limit or Avoid)

Vegetables: asparagus, green bell peppers, green beans, sweet corn, okra
Fruits: mango, plums, banana, raisins
Carbohydrates: sweet potato, chickpeas, pastries, bread, cookies
Dairy: moderate in lactose dairy such as cottage cheese, blue cheese

Food Which May Cause a Major Amount of Gas (Limit or Avoid)

Vegetables: onions, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli stalks, mushrooms
Fruits: apple, peaches, avocado, blackberries, apricots, dates, prunes
Carbohydrates: bagels, wheat germ, bran cereal/foods, beans, split peas
Dairy: any dairy product that is high in lactose like regular milk, ice cream, evaporated milk, creamy sauces
Other: garlic and fennel, ingredients like chicory root, inulin, and sugar alcohols (found in sugarless gums, mints, and other products) like sorbitol and mannitol

Who to Call

If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions, contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below. You can also visit our website at: www.uwhealth.org/nutrition.

Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH): (608) 890-5500.

Nutrition clinics for UW Medical Foundation (UWMF): (608) 287-2770.