Flatulence is the spontaneous discharge of air through the anal sphincter which is caused as a result of gas built up in the intestinal tract. This gas can be due to dietary issues, digestive problems or due to ingestion of air while breathing through the mouth. When food enters our breathing tract we tend to cough and it is expelled. However, when air enters the digestive tract it is just passed into the stomach and because of the excess air in the stomach, fermentation during digestion of some foods may take place. As far as digestive related flatulence is concerned, this is caused by the improper digestion of some foods that are either too difficult to digest or contain some component that is not suited to the particular person’s digestive system. People who are lactose intolerant will suffer from flatulence when they consume food that contains lactose or milk. Flatulence could also result from following a poor diet. If you are eating an excessively heavy meal, you may not digest it properly, leading to flatulence. It is possible to suffer from flatulence after consuming an excessively spicy meal. Some people cannot digest food easily when it contains too much spice and this can lead to flatulence. This type of flatulence also causes a burning sensation because of the chili in the digestive system. When you are suffering from this type of flatulence, defecation will also cause you to feel a burning sensation around the anus.
You can follow some simple tips to avoid flatulence. Primarily, the focus should be on your diet. Some foods tend to cause or exacerbate the problem of flatulence. These include lactose based foods, beans, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. There are many other foods that induce flatulence and you can check with your doctor about which foods are more likely to affect you negatively. You should also check with your doctor if you are lactose intolerant. If this is the case, your system may be vulnerable to indigestion from foods that would normally not cause you any trouble. Try and increase your intake of dietary fiber as this might calm your digestive process by passing food more smoothly through the intestines. Avoid spicy and oily foods until your flatulence is cured. If you are not lactose intolerant you can try yogurt as a dessert as this will settle your stomach down. Surprisingly, well cooked lean meat tends to bind the stomach and may relive you of flatulence if this is caused by an upset stomach.