Internal Gas: What Do You Need To Know
Most individuals who often seem to be healthy tend to worry that they might have too much internal gas. This is something that is caused due to the malfunctioning of the digestive tract that they have. While the gas might not be too dangerous of a problem, it is the inability of the people to control the passage of it which might cause some implications in social gatherings and much more. So, in this article, we are going to learn more about intestinal gas. We hope that this helps in clearing out the concept of the issue.
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Gas in the Human Intestines: What is It?
Some studies have proved that the human body generates about 0/6 to 0.8 Liters of gas every single day. This might come from many different sources such as gaseous particles produced by colonic bacteria or the air that people swallow. When it comes to human gas, it can be said that it is composed mainly of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen.
The particles such as nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide tend to come from the air that people swallow. However, hydrogen and methane tend to be produced inside the body from breaking down the food that people have. There are probiotics which are known as good bacteria that tend to reside inside the body or more specifically, the colon of the body. Well, with careful analysis of the gas in the intestines, it can be said that the exogenous air is the main component of it rather than the endogenous air.
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It can be said that about 1% of the entire gas has an odour. However, there are certain bacteria that are present in the intestines which tend to produce certain sulfur-containing compounds. These are the main causes of the primary odour that comes from intestinal gas.
Some Main Symptoms of Intestinal Gas in Human Body
Due to the presence of a certain percentage of carbon in the human body, it tends to produce gas. Hence, there are certain ways to make sure that doesn’t happen. Well, in order to do that, one must know about the symptoms of intestinal or internal gas. While there might not be too visible of a symptom, there are people who experience certain discomfort during the intestinal gas. Frequent belching as well as burping, uncomfortable bloating in the abdomen, repeated flatus, and other symptoms are often included in the signs of intestinal gas. It is advised that the person has some medication in handy if they want to deal with the situation in the best way.
Management of Intestinal Gas
There are certain things that people can do in order to make sure that the digestion intestinal gas is controlled in the best way.
In the case of exogenous gas, there is no doubt that one needs to swallow less air. One of the main things to do is to make sure that you have a healthy diet in the first place. There are certain activities such as chewing gum, smoking, poorly fitted dentures, and chronic pain that cause people to inhale more air in the first place. It should be your goal to make sure that you don’t do that in the first place. This is one of the main ways to make sure that there is no presence of gas in the intestines.
When it comes to endogenous gas or the gas that is produced in the small intestine, there are some other methods that people can use. We all know that endogenous gas is something that is produced in the small intestine due to bacterial concentration being low. This could be one of the main reasons. It is important for people to make sure that they are consuming a healthy diet in order to ensure that the level of bacteria in the small intestine is restored. Overall, a good diet along with other important practices are enough to treat the intestinal gas problems that occur in the bodies of human beings.
Some Helpful Efforts of Reduce Gas in Human Body
Here we have some important tips to help in the reduction of the gas that is present in the body of people.
You must eat in a slow manner and chew your food properly.
You should refit your loose dentures if there are any
You should take care that their postnasal drip is not faulty and if it is you should get it treated
You need to increase the physical activity level
You need to keep a check on the lactose load in case you are intolerant
You need to increase fibre in your diet and that too gradually
FAQs on Intestinal Gas
1. What exactly is intestinal gas and what are its primary components?
Intestinal gas, also known as flatus, is a natural mixture of gases found within the digestive tract as a byproduct of digestion. Its main components are typically odourless and include nitrogen (N₂), oxygen (O₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), hydrogen (H₂), and in some individuals, methane (CH₄). The distinct odour, when present, is caused by trace amounts of sulphur-containing compounds.
2. What are the two main biological sources of intestinal gas?
The gas in the digestive system originates from two primary sources, which explains its composition:
- Exogenous Gas: This is air that is swallowed (a process called aerophagia) while eating, drinking, or even talking. It is mostly composed of nitrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere.
- Endogenous Gas: This gas is produced internally through the microbial fermentation of undigested food in the large intestine. The gut microbiota break down complex carbohydrates, producing hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane.
3. Explain the role of gut bacteria (microbiota) in producing intestinal gas.
The human large intestine is colonised by a vast community of bacteria known as the gut microbiota. When food materials, especially complex carbohydrates like fibre, are not fully digested in the small intestine, they become fuel for these microbes. Through a process of anaerobic fermentation, bacteria break down these substances to generate energy for themselves, releasing gases like hydrogen and carbon dioxide as byproducts.
4. What types of foods are most likely to increase the production of intestinal gas?
Foods that are high in certain complex carbohydrates are often associated with increased gas production because they are prime candidates for bacterial fermentation in the colon. Common examples include:
- Legumes: Beans and lentils contain oligosaccharides like raffinose.
- Cruciferous Vegetables: This group includes broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
- Dairy Products: For individuals with lactose intolerance, the undigested lactose sugar is fermented, causing gas.
- Whole Grains: Foods rich in fibre can lead to more fermentation and gas.
5. Why do different people produce varying amounts of gas even after eating the same foods?
This variation is primarily due to the unique composition of each individual's gut microbiota. The specific species and population of bacteria in a person's colon determine how efficiently certain foods are fermented and which gases are produced. For example, not everyone's microbiome contains methanogens, the microbes that produce methane. Other contributing factors include differences in digestive enzyme production, the speed of gut motility, and an individual's sensitivity to gas accumulation.
6. How does the digestion of carbohydrates differ from proteins in terms of gas formation?
The type of macromolecule being digested has a significant impact on the gas produced. Carbohydrates, particularly undigested fibres and starches, are the main source for fermentation, which produces large volumes of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. In contrast, undigested proteins undergo a different process called putrefaction in the colon. While protein putrefaction produces less gas by volume, it is responsible for generating the odorous sulphur-containing compounds like hydrogen sulfide.
7. What is the scientific explanation for why intestinal gas sometimes has a strong odour?
While over 99% of intestinal gas is composed of odourless gases, the noticeable smell comes from trace amounts of sulphur-containing compounds. These are primarily generated during the bacterial breakdown (putrefaction) of sulphur-containing amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. The main gases responsible for the odour are hydrogen sulfide (smells like rotten eggs), methanethiol, and dimethyl sulfide.
8. Can the composition of intestinal gas provide information about a person's gut health?
Yes, analysing the gases in the gut can be a valuable indicator of digestive health. The types and amounts of gases produced reflect the activity of the gut microbiome and the efficiency of digestion. For instance, abnormally high levels of hydrogen or methane, often measured through a breath test, can be a sign of conditions like Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) or specific carbohydrate malabsorption issues, such as lactose or fructose intolerance.
