Bloating & Stomach Gas

By Heather Van Vorous, 8/28/23

Stomach bloating (from mild to severe) is one of the most common symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, as defined by the Rome diagnostic guidelines.

Quick Help for IBS Bloating & Stomach Gas

Stomach bloating and stomach gas from IBS can be quickly relieved by medicinal strength Fennel Tummy Tea. Take a peppermint and fennel oil capsule on an empty stomach before a meal to prevent bloating in the first place.

Following the IBS Diet Cheat Sheet can help bloating tremendously.

Bloat in association with constipation can be reduced or even eliminated with a prebiotic soluble fiber supplement such as Acacia Tummy Fiber, which will normalize bowel function while increasing healthy flora in the gut, thus reducing stomach gas.

Read ingredients on EVERYTHING you are eating and drinking, and ALL supplements, and watch out for inulin, FOS, GOS, MOS, XOS, oligosaccharides, chicory, and artichoke extract. These are all rapidly fermenting prebiotics - also known as FODMAPS - and they can cause extreme bloating and gas in people who do not even have IBS. Imagine what they will do to you.

There are also numerous IBS bloating and stomach gas treatments.



Practicing yoga poses specific to bloating can help relieve stomach gas quickly.

Abdominal bloating or swelling is defined as a condition in which the abdomen feels full and tight - this is often, but not always, caused by excessive intestinal or stomach gas. Stomach bloat from Irritable Bowel Syndrome can result from trapped intestinal gas that arises from mis-timed, or irregularly timed, bowel contractions.

Bloating - What Usually Causes It? What Causes Stomach Gas?

Overeating
Lactose intolerance and other food intolerances
Air swallowing (a nervous habit)
Irritable bowel syndrome
Partial bowel obstruction
Constipation
CPAP for sleep apnea can cause excess air in the stomach and lead to burping, belching, farting, bloating

Important but Uncommon Causes of Abdominal Bloat & Stomach Gas

* Ascites (excess fluid in the peritoneal cavity, typically caused by liver disease)
* Tumors in the abdominal cavity
* Ovarian cancer

Help for Bloating & Stomach Gas

If you feel confident that your abdominal bloat and stomach gas stems from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, information is key to managing this disorder - learn all you need to know about bloating and IBS with The First Year: IBS, an essential guide. In general, feeling bloated is one of the most frustrating IBS symptoms, and unfortunately one of the most difficult ones to treat.

There is good news, though. The herb fennel is extremely helpful for bloating and stomach gas, and it has no side effects. Fennel tea can work wonders to ease both bloat, stomach gas, and intestinal gas. Just brew a tablespoon or so of fennel in a tea strainer and drink several cups a day. Fennel tastes like licorice and has anti-gas as well as anti-spasmodic properties, making it especially helpful for IBS. It's also a very safe herbal remedy that you can use daily for bloating and stomach gas without any risks.

The other factor to consider in treating stomach bloating with IBS is your choice of soluble fiber supplement. Soluble fiber is a miracle worker for many people in managing all IBS symptoms, whether cramping, diarrhea, and/or constipation. However, one of the most common fiber supplements is psyllium (sold as Metamucil, Konsyl, Fibrogel, or as bulk husks), which is actually about 1/3 insoluble fiber. Psyllium can actually worsen (or even cause) bloat and stomach gas in many people. In addition, the fiber supplements FOS and inulin ferment very rapidly in the gut, and can cause tremendous bloating and gas.

A much more helpful alternative is Acacia Tummy Fiber, which does not contain psyllium and is actually a prebiotic fiber, which means that it increases good gut flora, and thus actively helps reduce bloating and gas. It also ferments very slowly in the gut, and as a result is considered to have a good gastrointestinal tolerance. In a nutshell, this means that is a fiber supplement that will not cause bloating and gas.

Avoid chewing gum if you're prone to being bloated - it can cause you to swallow a lot of air and exacerbate stomach gas. Eliminate all carbonated beverages from your diet. Carbonation in general is a potential trigger for IBS attacks, and it's particularly likely to exacerbate stomach bloating. Have a nice hot cup of fennel tea instead of soda pop or sparkling water, follow the IBS dietary guidelines, and practice the bloat-specific yoga poses, and you should notice a tremendous improvement in IBS bloating and stomach gas. You can also help take immediate control of IBS bloating with the IBS Belly Bloat Kit.


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