Why am I So Gassy?

Belching or burping every now and then is completely normal. Passing gas is normal, too, and most people do so about 13 to 21 times every day, according to MedlinePlus. As for bloating and gas pain in the abdomen, that’s also quite common.

Everyone gets gassy sometimes, and usually, it’s no cause for concern. However, you should talk to your family doctor if your gassiness bothers you or if you experience a change in symptoms. Additional symptoms, such as diarrhea, constipation or weight loss, are also signs you should visit your doctor.

The reason you’re so gassy may be any of the following:

Swallowed Air

When you eat and drink, you naturally swallow a small amount of air. You swallow more air if you:

Chew gum
Suck on hard candy
Drink carbonated beverages
Eat or drink too fast
Smoke
Wear loose-fitting dentures

Swallowed air either leaves your stomach when you burp or moves into your intestines, causing you to pass gas.

The Digestion Process

Some of the fiber, starches, sugars and other carbohydrates you eat don’t get fully digested in the stomach or small intestine. Anything that is undigested moves through your large intestine where bacteria break it down—this process creates gas.

Food and Drink

Your diet could be to blame, as many different foods can cause gas, including

Vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, mushrooms and onions
Black beans, kidney beans, navy beans and pinto beans
Cheese, ice cream, yogurt and other milk products
Apples, pears and peaches
Foods that contain bran, whole wheat or other whole grains
Packaged goods with lactose, like some cereals, breads and salad dressings

Certain drinks can also cause gas. Beverages that may lead to gassiness include:

Apple juice
Pear juice
Fruit punch
Milk
Carbonated drinks
Drinks that contain high-fructose corn syrup

Foods and drinks that cause gas in one person may or may not create the same symptoms in others.

Food Additives

Sometimes additives in the food we eat can cause gas. Candies and gums that contain sorbitol, mannitol or xylitol, for example, are known to cause gassiness in some people. The same is often true of processed foods that contain specific types of fiber, like inulin or fructooligosaccharide, to replace fats or sugars. They may leave you thinking “Why am I so gassy?”.

Medical Conditions

Some health issues can cause excessive gassiness. These conditions include:

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: an increase in the number or type of bacteria in the small intestine
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a condition that affects how gas moves through the intestines and creates increased sensitivity to gassiness
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): a chronic condition in which the contents of the stomach flow back up through the esophagus

Lactose intolerance, dietary fructose intolerance, celiac disease and other medical conditions that affect your ability to digest carbohydrates can lead to gas and bloating when you eat specific foods. Conditions that affect the way gas moves through the intestines, such as abdominal hernias, abdominal adhesions and dumping syndrome, and those that create intestinal obstructions, as in colon cancer and ovarian cancer, may also be the cause of excessive gassiness.

If you suffer from painful or persistent gas, contact your family medicine provider for an appointment to discuss underlying causes and treatment options.