If you are bothered by excessive belching or flatus, and your doctor has determined that you have no serious disease, the following suggestions may be helpful to reduce flatulence:
- If you wear dentures, check with your dentist to make sure they fit well.
- Avoid chewing gum or sucking on hard candies (especially sugarless gum or dietetic candies that contain sorbitol).
- Eliminate carbonated beverages and reduce foods containing high-fructose corn syrup from your diet.
- Avoid milk and milk products or try milk in which the lactose is already broken down, if you have lactose intolerance.
- Know the common gas-producing foods such as cauliflower, brussels sprouts, bran, beans, broccoli and cabbage. Eating these healthy foods may come at a price.
- Exercise! Running and pretty much every other exercise activity helps to stimulate the passage of gas through the digestive tract.
*If your symptoms persist or worsen, see your doctor to make sure that the condition is not caused by abnormalities in your digestive tract.