Holistic Health and Natural Healing Articles ~
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Holistic Health and Natural Healing Articles ~ |
Holistic Health Tools Suggests Digestive Enzymes for Flatulence
 Flatulence a problem? Gas, or flatulence, is a common problem among many people and can be difficult to discuss with your doctor because of the stigma attached. Excessive gas is most often produced by bacteria in the colon (large intestine). The colon has hundreds of different bacteria growing within it and rely on the indigestible food we eat for their own nutrition. Certain foods are more likely to cause certain bacteria to thrive and be considered "gas formers". These foods generate gases such as hydrogen, methane nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Gas is often produced by foods that have indigestible or excess carbohydrates, which are not absorbed when they get to the colon. If we digest carbohydrates, little gas is formed. Most of us are not "good digesters" and have 200-odd bacteria waiting to do the job for us causing gas production. (flatulent, flatuelence, flatulance) Foods That Contribute to Gas Production: ~ Legumes: Especially dried beans, peas, baked beans, soy beans, and lima beans ~ Milk Products: Milk, ice cream, and cheese (Many of us lack the enzyme needed to digest lactose.) ~ Vegetables: Cabbage, radishes, onions, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, sauerkraut, kohlrabi, and asparagus (Vegetarians produce more gas than meat-eaters because the intestinal enzymes can't digest the cellulose in a vegetable's cell wall.) ~ Root Vegetables: Potatoes, rutabaga, and turnips ~ Fruits: Prunes, apricots, apples, raisins, and bananas ~ Cereals & Breads: Pastries and all foods containing wheat and wheat products (Check labels.) ~ Fatty Foods: Pan-fried or deep-fried foods, fatty meats, rich cream sauces, gravies, pastries, and any high-fat food (Check labels.) ~ Liquids: Carbonated beverages, fizzy medicine Helpful Steps To Take To Reduce Excess Gas: ~ Eliminate one category of gas producing foods for at least a week. If there is no lessening of gas, put the foods back in the diet and go on to eliminate another category. Follow this procedure until reaching a level of gas that is tolerable. ~ Take digestive enzymes with every meal and this will aid the body with the digestive process. Anyone who is eating the Standard American Diet is lacking these critical enzymes. ~ Consider a good detox program to help cleanse the colon of the harmful bacteria and establish the delicate balance that the colon needs of friendly bacteria. ~ Eat more yogurt or take probiotics. Visit Enzyme Essentials - Learn About
Digestive Enzymes for Flatulence |