Sydney Roberts / Digital Vision / Getty Images
What’s Normal?
If you pass gas between eight to 25 times per day, this is considered completely normal.You are more likely to pass gas when you are going to have a bowel movement, but it is also normal to pass gas at any time throughout the day.
If you experience uncomfortable bloating, or if you notice that frequent episodes of particularly smelly gas that are interfering with your day and your interaction with others, you may have a medical problem that treatment could help address. Even if such an issue is not to blame, you may want to reduce your symptoms, at least for times when you are around others.
These tips can help.
Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
If you have frequent stomach upset, diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, or burping, you could have an undiagnosed gastrointestinal issue that can be managed with a special diet or with medication, such asinflammatory bowel disease.
You may also experience gas and bloating if you have thyroid disease, diabetes, an infection, or as a side effect of a medication.
Identify Food Sensitivities
You may notice that you are gassier and bloated after eating a specific type of food. An allergy, intolerance, or food sensitivity can trigger symptoms, including stomach upset, pain, nausea, vomiting, gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
Try to watch for foods that make you gassy and see if avoiding them reduces the problem.
Adjust Your Diet
Certain foods contribute to gassinessfor almost everybody. Foods with carbohydrates such as fiber, starches, and sugars, in particular can contribute to gas.
Many of the foods that commonly cause gas are healthy, such as legumes, artichokes, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, mushrooms, onions, apples, peaches, pears, bran, whole wheat, yogurt, and cheese.
In your effort to reduce gas, be sure you replace any foods you eliminate or reduce with other good-for-you options. For example, you could choose easily digestible foods such as roasted chicken, low-fat soups, and stewed foods.
Non-Gassy Foods: What to Eat to Reduce Gas and Bloating
Change What You Drink
Carbonated beverages are a common cause of gas and burping.The carbon dioxide infused into carbonated beverages is a gas, and when it goes into your digestive system, it has to come out as a gas, too. You might feel bloated as the carbon dioxide is passing through your digestive system, or gas may come out shortly after you drink as a series of burps.
Sugary fruit drinks, and drinks with high fructose corn syrup, which are not considered particularly nutritious, also commonly cause gas and bloating.
Finally, alcohol can damage the liver, altering your gut microbiome and interfering with digestion.This may contribute to gas, burping, bloating, indigestion, heartburn, and diarrhea.
Take Gas Medicine
Sometimes, medication can help reduce gas and bloating. There are a number ofover-the-counter medications for gas, and you can usually get some relief.
Some people use these medications when they know they will be in a gas-inducing situation (or one in which they especially want to avoid passing gas), such as a social gathering or a professional meeting.
If you have a medical condition that predisposes you to gas and excessive bloating, your healthcare provider may give you a prescription for medication to reduce your symptoms.
Try Probiotics
Some people use probiotics, as a pill supplement or a dietary additive, to relieve the symptoms of gas and bloating. The evidence for its effectiveness is not consistent, and it may be useful for some situations more than others. That said, they are considered safe and you may find them worth a try.
When to Use Supplements for Bloating & Gut Health
Quit Smoking
Smoking affects the muscle function in your esophagus, stomach, and intestines, causing gas, bloating, and indigestion. Quitting is important for everyone, but it’s particularly important if a medical condition is the cause of your gas.
Avoid Swallowing Air
Some people notice that habits associated with swallowing excessive air—eating too quickly, talking while eating, chewing gum, using a straw, and sucking on hard candies—can increase gas and bloating.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of gas in the digestive tract.International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Controlling intestinal gas.International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Foods likely to cause gas.Larijani B, Esfahani MM, Moghimi M, et al.Prevention and treatment of flatulence from a traditional Persian medicine perspective.Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016;18(4):e23664. doi:10.5812/ircmj.23664Pohl K, Moodley P, Dhanda AD.Alcohol’s impact on the gut and liver.Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3170. doi:10.3390/nu13093170Treatment for Gas in the Digestive Tract.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract/treatment.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of gas in the digestive tract.International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Controlling intestinal gas.International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Foods likely to cause gas.Larijani B, Esfahani MM, Moghimi M, et al.Prevention and treatment of flatulence from a traditional Persian medicine perspective.Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016;18(4):e23664. doi:10.5812/ircmj.23664Pohl K, Moodley P, Dhanda AD.Alcohol’s impact on the gut and liver.Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3170. doi:10.3390/nu13093170Treatment for Gas in the Digestive Tract.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract/treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of gas in the digestive tract.International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Controlling intestinal gas.International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Foods likely to cause gas.Larijani B, Esfahani MM, Moghimi M, et al.Prevention and treatment of flatulence from a traditional Persian medicine perspective.Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016;18(4):e23664. doi:10.5812/ircmj.23664Pohl K, Moodley P, Dhanda AD.Alcohol’s impact on the gut and liver.Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3170. doi:10.3390/nu13093170Treatment for Gas in the Digestive Tract.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract/treatment.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of gas in the digestive tract.
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Controlling intestinal gas.
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Foods likely to cause gas.
Larijani B, Esfahani MM, Moghimi M, et al.Prevention and treatment of flatulence from a traditional Persian medicine perspective.Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016;18(4):e23664. doi:10.5812/ircmj.23664
Pohl K, Moodley P, Dhanda AD.Alcohol’s impact on the gut and liver.Nutrients. 2021;13(9):3170. doi:10.3390/nu13093170
Treatment for Gas in the Digestive Tract.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gas-digestive-tract/treatment.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
