How to Remove Gas from the Stomach Instantly

Gas or trapped wind in the gut can be among the most unpleasant feelings the body has. It can ruin a day and upset your whole rhythm. It can cause terrible cramps, make you grumpy, and affect your mood, both physical and mental. It can also be embarrassing, as you can rarely discuss it easily in social company. Getting rid of it fast is therefore hugely important.

Common Causes of Gas in the Stomach

Eating too quickly

Eating too fast can be a really bad thing for the gut. It can cause serious health issues, such as severe gas, bloating of the stomach, and bad indigestion. This is because when you eat too quickly, your body is unable to properly digest the food, leading to an excess of gas in your stomach.

The body needs time to assimilate and, in effect, consider its food. When you eat too quickly, your body doesn’t have enough time to break down the food or produce enough digestive juices. This then leads to incomplete digestion and the buildup of gas in your stomach.

In addition, eating too quickly also stops your body from releasing hormones that signal to your brain when you’re full. Most people have no idea about this ability the body possesses, and yet it makes sense. So another net effect of wolfing down food is that you end up eating portions that are larger than necessary, leading to even more gas buildup.

Ways to Avoid Excess Gas

High-fiber foods

Fiber is essential for a healthy gut and most people do not get enough of it. You ideally need around 30 grams of good fiber a day. The right intake of fiber can absolutely lessen the likelihood of bloating, trapped gas, and the associated pains.

Ensure that you eat whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fresh fruits and vegetables in good quantities. Consuming more of these foods will definitely help move food more quickly through your digestive system, thereby reducing the risk of developing excess gas and bloating.

In addition to being an excellent source of fiber, high-fiber foods can also help reduce cholesterol, promote weight loss, and even lower the risk of type-2 diabetes. They really are of great importance to your body.

Drinking through a straw

This might sound silly, but there is significant evidence that it works.

The theory is that drinking through a straw adds slight and gradual pressure on your abdominal area, which can help push out trapped gas. Plus, it helps to keep you from gulping, and limits the chances of great mouthfuls of air-filled drinks entering our system, which would add to your gaseous feeling.

Avoid swallowing air or drinking carbonated drinks to excess

It may sound silly, but one often overlooked remedy is to reduce the amount of air that gets into your system. That means cutting back on carbonated drinks. It also means eating more slowly, chewing food properly, and taking time to enjoy your meals. It is healthy, civilized and the right way to treat your body. You will have far less gas if you do so.

Certain medical conditions

There are a number of medical conditions that can influence gas. The most well known is probably gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Other significant diseases include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which in some people can be extremely debilitating and can grind them down, making them tired as well as feeling uncomfortable in the gut. Chronic constipation and lactose intolerance can also result in increased gas production or bloating.

Though the effect is not universal, it is also the case that if you are on antibiotics, antidepressants, or other psychotropic agents, there is a greater likelihood of bloating and feeling gassy. This is due to some of the ingredients in these drugs.

Given the potential complexity of these factors, it is essential to seek medical advice if you have prolonged excess bloating or gas.

Home Remedies for Gas Relief

Exercise

Exercise is your friend when it comes to avoiding bloating and excess gas. It is a very good way of tackling digestive problems and ensuring your body’s rhythms work smoothly.

When you move, you help the body understand the need to digest food, and you assist the core processes of the body. Exercise is how the body hears messages to digest what it has taken in. This is also of great benefit nutritionally, as it means the food is broken down well and that the body gets what it needs and disposes of what it does not, which means less gas.

In addition, exercise is a stress-buster. Lower stress levels also assist in digestion, a fact that is too little known. Healthy people are usually those who have low or modest stress levels. If you’re often gassy, make sure you build more exercise into your life.

Peppermint tea

This is an old remedy, but an effective one. For some, it is their go-to way of solving a gassy stomach. Peppermint’s anti-inflammatory qualities make it an excellent way to reduce the symptoms of bloating, heartburn or indigestion, all causes of feeling gassy.

Generally speaking, a cup or two a day is enough to keep your body in good order and limit the possibility of gassiness. In addition, its taste is uplifting, and its aroma has calming properties, so it is both a stimulant in the morning and a relaxant at night.

Peppermint is also available in sweets form, of course, and for some a strong peppermint sweet that has the right oils is also a fine way to limit gas during the day, when a cup of tea is not possible.

Chamomile tea

Chamomile tea is another excellent remedy for relieving gas in the stomach. It, too, is tried and tested over centuries. Made from dried flowers of the chamomile plant, it is rich in antioxidants, which are excellent at reducing inflammation and bloating. These antioxidants also relax the digestive tract, which makes gas or heaviness less likely.

In addition, chamomile has antispasmodic properties. This makes it terrific in reducing pain and cramping in the stomach. It is also beneficial in being fast-acting. Drinking chamomile tea may reduce stomach gas more or less instantly.

Ginger tea

Another excellent anti-inflammatory is ginger. It is filled with health-enhancing properties. It also possesses natural analgesic properties that can help get rid of stomach gas.

Available in many teas, it is also effective if bought as a root and chopped or sliced into any drink or food. The flavor can be strong, so you do not need a lot. Even a little will make a difference, however, so do make sure to have some at home or in the office.

Lemon water

Lemon is another wonder ingredient for gas. Citric acid helps fight it off. This is due to the fact that the acid in lemon juice helps to break down proteins and other nutrients, both of which can, if present in high amounts, cause gas buildup in your digestive tract. (This is why people who work out hard and who then take protein supplements can often suffer from bloating and bad gas.)

Additionally, lemon water can help to reduce inflammation in the intestines which is often the root cause of excessive gas. It is therefore an excellent natural remedy and a good drinking habit to get into.

Over-the-counter medicine

OTC meds are out there in abundance, so you will always be able to find a medical aid. For example, antacids, anti-foaming agents, bismuth subsalicylate, and proton pump inhibitors are all available in pill or liquid form and can help reduce gas buildup and bloating in the stomach.

These may sound rather frightening, but they are invariably suitable for everyone. They work by neutralizing acid and helping trap gas bubbles so they can be passed more quickly. (You may wish to take them in a space where you can safely release your gas, as they can work quite fast and be quite sudden in their effects.)

Exercises That Benefit Gas Release

Breathing deeply

Exercise, as we saw, is wise, but there are specific ways of breathing that can help with gas.

One of the most effective methods for relieving abdominal pain is deep breathing, or ‘belly breathing’, as it is sometimes called. This involves taking deep breaths and consciously focusing on how your diaphragm moves as you inhale and exhale.

Not only does this stimulate your digestive process, but it also helps your body relax and can help reduce pain and sometimes release gas as you carry out this process.

Certain yoga poses, like the child’s pose and the shoulder stand, can also be beneficial, as they angle the body in ways that alleviate its tensions in the gut and enable gas release. If you keep your breathing steady, slow and measured, the body relaxes and this helps your bloating ease.

Relax and stimulate the core

The stomach muscles are key here. You can sometimes release gas by moving your stomach muscles as much as you can, and this can happen by taking a deep breath and holding it for as long as you can. This creates a pressure around your stomach area that means your body is able to slowly release the built-up gas.

Heat

Additionally, don’t disregard the power of your hands as warming healing agents. If you sit quietly in an upright position and massage your stomach with gentle, circular motions, this can help to break down air bubbles and ease discomfort. Heat works well.

Taking a hot bath or using a heating pad to help relax your abdominal muscles will usually encourage gas release and calm any bloating.

Reduce bloating

Gas-forming foods can often be ‘healthy’ foods, and this can be a bit confusing, as we think we are doing our bodies a favor by eating them. But it is also true they can, if taken in too big a portion, cause significant gas. Beans; legumes; broccoli; cauliflower; baked beans; whole grain breads – these are ‘good foods’, for sure, but it is also the case that they contain high levels of sulfur compounds and these compounds can cause bloating. Moderate your intake, especially if these foods end up together in the one meal.

As a catch-all good dietary habit, regular probiotic consumption can be an excellent way to help balance your gut microflora, which goes a long way to minimizing gas production in the stomach.

Natural remedies and Tips

Drinks and foods to ease you

• Drink herbal teas regularly. Peppermint, chamomile, ginger, and anything with lemon or fennel is a good option. Try to find a health shop, and not just a supermarket, as the health shop will have a better variety and more precise variant mixes than your average supermarket.
• Another natural remedy is adding a teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of warm water. (Make sure it’s not too hot.) This is an old remedy, but a great one, as the baking soda helps neutralize the acidity in your stomach and can ease discomfort.
• Eat small meals when you are feeling gassy. Don’t overload a digestive system that is already struggling to digest what is going through it. Excessive eating will only aggravate the situation and prolong the symptoms.
• Take time when eating. Rushing a meal, or not chewing well, is like throwing a rock into a pond. Make sure you take time to assist the digestive processes by starting the breaking-down of your food in your mouth, not in your stomach.
• Ensure good foods in your diet. Look for foods that are high in natural prebiotics, or make sure to add a probiotic supplement to your day. Fruit, vegetables and grains are all good for you, and these will act as a food source for the beneficial bacteria in your gut, which in turn helps to ease digestive discomfort.
• Avoid foods that are high in simple carbohydrates, especially sugars. Biscuits, cakes, sweets – all these are more or less rubbish nutritionally, so make sure to limit your intake of them. They make digestion much harder.
• Avoid foods that are high in saturated fats. These are also harder to digest than unsaturated fats, such as olive oils. Limit your intake of bad fats and your body will thank you for it by not bloating nearly as much.
• Carbonated water can help. Be aware, though, sometimes carbonated water has perhaps caused a temporary feeling of bloating if you have drunk it too quickly, but the flip-side is that if you drink it again it may enable you to belch out the excess gas that has gathered. It is all about technique, timing and volume here. Don’t glug.

Flatulence help

What exactly is flatulence? Flatulence is what is sometimes called ‘farting’. Simply put, it’s the release of gas from our digestive system.

To reduce the presence of flatulence in your system, the best way is to modify your food intake and control our diet.

Eating smaller meals is a huge boon to your body. Don’t stuff yourself. Avoid foods that are excessively high in carbs or fats. In addition, hydrate well. Drinking plenty of water helps move gas through our digestive system.

There are also many peppermint and other medical aids available commercially to assist in enabling you to pass wind. The pharmacist or supermarket will have plenty of options.

Relieving stomach cramps

Stomach cramps can be horrendous when they arrive. You can feel unable to move, as if you have been paralyzed round your stomach. They come suddenly, and they are deeply uncomfortable. If they come, try the advice offered above for relieving flatulence. Also try an immediate drink of peppermint tea or a mint infusion. Take an antacid too, as these can also be fast-acting.

In addition, a hot compress on the stomach will help ease the pain and increase blood flow to the affected area, which will encourage inner activity.

If you can, try lying down and resting in the fetal position on your left side, as this can also encourage the air to be released.

Enhance digestion with digestive enzymes

Boost your digestive enzymes

Not many people know about this approach, but it can be really helpful. One way to naturally reduce gas and improve digestion is by boosting your digestive enzymes. These are proteins that help break down food in the stomach, so that it can be easily absorbed and used by the body.

One of the best ways to do so is to eat fermented foods, like sauerkraut, pickles, and kimchi, which are naturally rich in enzymes. You can also include probiotic foods, like yogurt and kefir, in your diet. Additionally, taking a digestive enzyme supplement may provide additional digestive support. Talk to your health store for advice.

Help your body break down fats and proteins

Enzymes are again the key to doing this. These are special proteins that help break down the fats and proteins in food, allowing them to be absorbed more easily by the body.

If you want to expedite the bodily digestive processes well, therefore, probiotics are key. These are the live bacteria and yeasts that are found in certain types of food, and have been shown to help break down fats and proteins more quickly. So if you’re looking for a way to reduce the amount of gas in your stomach, consider adding some probiotics to your diet. They will unquestionably lower the chances of your suffering from bloating or excess gassiness.

In terms of foods, some of those that are especially rich in digestive enzymes are pineapple, papaya, and kiwis. Bananas, too, are great for speeding digestive processes along. Eat them, and you will feel less bloated and digestively freer.

Rehydrate

Hydration is essential. But rehydration is when we quickly top up our hydration quite rapidly over a short period. The best way to do this is with water. If you drink a few glasses of water a few minutes apart, research suggests that this can stimulate the stomach lining to contract and release any trapped gasses, helping relieve symptoms almost immediately.

Also, the water will help to replace lost electrolytes and improve digestion, which can further reduce distress.

Over-the-Counter Medicine

Antacids

Antacids are medicines that help to reduce stomach acid and provide relief from uncomfortable symptoms like indigestion and heartburn. They come in a variety of forms, such as tablets, liquids, and chewables, so there’s an option for everyone. Many are extremely well flavored with mint, so they are pleasing to take.

But, how do antacids work? Generally, they work by neutralizing the acid in your stomach, which helps to reduce irritation and provide relief. But it’s important to remember that while they’re effective in relieving symptoms, they don’t treat the underlying cause of the issue. So, if you’re having frequent issues with gas, it’s important to make lifestyle adaptations or talk to your doctor to find a solution.

Anti-foaming agents

Anti-foaming agents are medications often used to reduce bloating and flatulence. They work by forming bubbles around the gas in your stomach, which then makes it easier to expel them out of the body. Of note is that anti-foaming agents often don’t require a prescription, and have very few side effects.

Activated charcoal

Activated charcoal has become more popular in recent years. In summary, it’s a form of carbon that’s been treated in a way that helps it absorb other substances. When taken orally, it binds to the gas in your stomach and flushes it out.

You will find it available in both powder and capsule forms, and, depending on the severity of your gas, you should probably start with a teaspoon or so of the powdered form. For capsules, start with one or two, depending on the severity of your bloating, and take them in line with need.

H2-blockers

H2-blockers are medications that block the production of acid in the stomach. They work by limiting and interfering with the action of histamine, a natural chemical in the body that stimulates acid production. By blocking the action of histamine, H2-blockers reduce stomach acid levels and therefore have a positive impact on bloating.