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Main Causes and Treatments for Gassy Stomach Pain

Gas can be a bothersome, embarrassing, and uncomfortable problem that can become concerning, especially if you have stomach pain and bloating. If you're struggling with excess gas, it's important to know that nutrition plays a critical role in both its development and management. This is because the foods you eat influence both your microbiome as well as your digestive strength. The good news is that there are some easy strategies you can follow to reduce your gas and feel better!


What are the main causes of gassy stomach pain?


In short, the main causes of gassy stomach pain involve poor digestion and microbial digestion of food (fermentation). Poor digestion can occur when digestive organs like the stomach, liver, gall bladder, or pancreas aren't functioning properly.


When this happens, your microbiome (collection of microorganisms in your gut) pick up the slack and start digesting food for you. This is a good thing because the food gets digested, but also a bad thing because the by-product of their digestion is the uncomfortable gas that you feel!

If there's a lot of gas being produced, that's when the stomach pain can start. It's a buildup of gas that's putting pressure on your digestive system. Plus, if you don't have regular bowel movements, the pain can become even worse.


Illustration of human intestines with magnified bacteria. Blue bacteria float around in a light blue background. Detailed, scientific view.
Even though it seems they like they don't belong, microbes are a key part of digestive health.

It's not always the case that the gas is from digestive weakness. Some foods are naturally just difficult to digest. Take beans for example, which contain complex sugar molecules that have to be digested by bacteria.


Other Causes of Gas


If you have anxiety, leaky gut, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, or generally any chronic condition involving your gastrointestinal system, it can make you more gassy!


This is because these conditions impact the strength and function of your digestive system, resulting in delayed, weakened, or altered digestion. Also, there are usually changes in your microbiome population, meaning that certain bacterial species are higher in number than they should be.


Here are a few other potential causes of excessive gas:


  • coffee

  • vitamin C

  • dairy products (especially if you're lactose intolerant)

  • protein powders

  • probiotic supplements or drinks


Do probiotics help with gas?


Probiotics can sometimes help with gas and other times worsen it. If you're taking a probiotic that's increasing the population bacteria which are already digesting food for you, they are going to digest even more food for you! The end result is worsened gas.


In other cases, if you have decreased populations of certain bacterial species, then supplementing with those species might balance your microbiome. Increasing the levels of one bacterial population may decrease the levels of another population. If the bacterial population that decreased was producing gas, probiotics may help.


It can be hard to know which probiotics you should take, if any at all. That's why I like to use the GI-MAP microbiome stool test. It tells me an approximately how many of each bacteria are in your gut.
This then allows us to target problematic bacteria and increase beneficial species. This approach can make a huge difference in your digestion.

There's no need to guess with probiotics, and you shouldn't take random probiotics even if they're advertised on TV. The GI-MAP is only a few hundred dollars and will save you potentially hundreds more dollars spent on the wrong probiotics.


How can you reduce your gas?


Here's a few easy strategies that you can try without seeing a doctor:


Support digestive function


Naturopathic physicians frequently encounter digestive complaints in their practices. Personally, I see gastrointestinal disorders on a regular basis. Most patient need some form of basic digestive support, and that's where herbs can be hugely helpful.


Digestive bitters are a commonly needed, easy to access cornerstone of naturopathic medicine. If you're experiencing both gas and constipation, consider trying bitters. You can find them in your local health food store. Bitters for short, these are herbal medicines that literally have a bitter taste. Anything with a strongly bitter taste stimulates digestion.


Iberogast bottle and box with leaf design. Text highlights "Dual Action Digestive Relief" and benefits like nausea relief. Green and white colors.
Iberogast is an accessible, mild bitters formula that may help to relieve your gas.

There are many bitter herbs in naturopathic medicine. Some examples include gentian, ginger, hops (yes, the same ones from beer), and andrographis.


You may be able to find a bitters formula called Iberogast at your local CVS or Walgreens. This is an herbal formula that can help support gas and digestion.


Eat bitter foods


Now you know about some of the bitter herbs, but you can also eat bitter foods too! Think salad: arugula, raw spinach, artichoke, watercress, romaine, etc.


All of these vegetables are commonly used in salads. That's why many cultures incorporate salads before or after meals. They stimulate digestion!


P.S. beer is also a bitter food! But you didn't hear that from me.


Follow the blood type diet


The blood type diet is a specific diet that you follow according to your blood type. Do you know your blood type? Some foods work better with some blood types than others. For example, blood type B+ does better with beef rather and chicken.


This has to do with certain proteins called lectins that interact with your blood cells, causing them to clump together. When you eat foods that are not agreeable for your blood type, the lectin response is stronger, resulting in sluggish digestion and slower metabolism.


If you've never tried the blood type diet, give it a go! It may help reduce your gas right away. I tried the blood type diet in my first semester of medical school when I had some unusual gas problems. It worked!


Drink more water


Water is one of the key elements that helps move food along your digestive tract. When you're not hydrated, stool sits in your intestine for longer, feeding bacteria for longer periods. The end result? Yep . . . more gas!


Key Takeaways


Remember that when you eat, you're not only feeding yourself, but also a whole community of microorganisms inside of you. The choices you make influence their health, and subsequently, the health of your entire body.


If you're gassy all day, it's essential to pay attention to your nutrition. A good place to start is to avoid foods that are known to cause gas, like beans and protein powders.


If you've tried changing your diet with no success, I would recommend visiting a naturopathic physician to help evaluate the potential causes of gas and to rule out a condition like irritable bowel syndrome, which may not respond to dietary changes.


With the right approach, you can start feeling better soon! Stop by my office for an evaluation and we'll get you on track to better digestion.







(959) 333-9128

Hamden, CT

© 2020 by Dr. Pistoia, PLLC

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