Intestinal gas is a normal byproduct of ___1___
. Producing intestinal gas is a sign that your digestive
system is working properly. Although intestinal gas ___2___
perfectly normal, it can be bothersome. Modifying your
diet or taking certain medications may help prevent or
reduce intestinal gas. More than 99 percent of
intestinal gas is a ___3___
of the same odorless gases that are present throughout
the environment. These include nitrogen, oxygen, carbon
dioxide, hydrogen and occasionally methane. The
nitrogen, oxygen and most of the carbon dioxide in
intestinal gas come from the air you swallow when you
eat, drink, chew gum or smoke. Chemical reactions in
your stomach also produce some of the carbon dioxide.
During the fermentation process, bacteria normally
present in the large intestine feed on undigested food
and produce the hydrogen and methane in intestinal gas.
Carbonated beverages can ___4___
gas. So can carbohydrates because they often contain
indigestible sugars, starches and fiber. Milk and milk
products such as cheese and ice cream, as well as some
processed breads, cereals and salad dressings, contain
the sugar lactose. Some people ___5___
difficulty digesting lactose because they do not produce
any or enough of the enzyme lactase, which splits
lactose into digestible parts. Without lactase, milk and
other lactose-rich foods ferment in the intestine,
releasing excessive gas. Dietary fiber, found in beans
and wheat bran, also tends to produce gas. |