Excessive flatulence can usually be treated by making changes to your diet and lifestyle. There are also several over-the-counter treatments available if your flatulence is becoming a problem.
Self-care advice
Diet
Avoid eating foods that are high in unabsorbable carbohydrates (see causes of flatulence for a list).
However, it is still important for you to eat a healthy balanced diet, including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. You should choose foods that contain carbohydrates that are easy to digest. These include:
- potatoes
- rice
- lettuce
- bananas
- grapes
- citrus fruits, such as oranges
- yogurt
It is important to note that different people will react differently to certain foods, so some of the foods listed above may still cause flatulence. It is therefore recommended that you keep a food diary to see whether certain foods make your symptoms better or worse.
You may find it useful to eat six small meals a day rather than three large ones. Smaller meals are easier to digest and may produce less gas. There is also some limited evidence to suggest that drinking peppermint tea can help improve the symptoms of flatulence.
Swallowing air
When eating, make sure that you chew your food slowly to reduce the amount of air that you are swallowing. This will also help with digestion.
Avoid chewing gum because it can also cause you to swallow more air than usual.
Exercise
Taking plenty of exercise can help to improve the functioning of your digestive system and bowel. It has also been shown to help with bloating and the clearing of gas.
You should also give up smoking if you smoke. Smoking can cause you to swallow more air than usual and tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system.
Read more information and advice about how to give up smoking.
Medication and other remedies
There are several over-the-counter remedies that can be used to help treat the symptoms of flatulence.
Alpha-galactosidase is a dietary supplement that has been shown to improve the digestion of carbohydrates and reduce the symptoms of flatulence. It is found in a product called 'Beano', which has been shown to have some effect in reducing flatulence and is available from some pharmacists and health food shops.
Charcoal tablets are another type of medication that is available over the counter from pharmacists. The charcoal absorbs gas in the digestive system, which helps to reduce the symptoms of flatulence.
Charcoal tablets may not be suitable for you if you are currently taking other medication. This is because the charcoal might absorb the medication and make it less effective. If you are taking other medication, you should ask your GP or pharmacist for advice before taking charcoal tablets.
Clothing containing activated charcoal, or charcoal pads that are placed inside clothing, is intended to help absorb the gas that is released during flatulence. This can help mask foul-smelling gas.
Probiotics may also be useful in treating flatulence. Probiotics are a dietary supplement, usually sold in liquid form, which encourage the growth of 'friendly bacteria' in your digestive system. The 'friendly bacteria' should help to aid digestion and reduce the symptoms of flatulence, particularly in those with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
