- Eat more fresh fruits, dried fruits such as apricots, prunes and figs, cooked or raw vegetables and whole-grain cereals and breads
- Drink lots of water, juices and other fluids
- Do things that keep you moving and active like going for walks or taking care of your yard
- Eating too many foods that are high in fat and low in fibre, like fast foods
- Not drinking enough water or fluids
- Lack of physical exercise
- Not wanting to use public bathrooms
- Feeling stressed because of school, friends or family matters
- Starting a new school year so children can’t go to the bathroom whenever they feel the need and have to change up their bathroom routine as a result
Gas gets into the digestive tract in two ways: by swallowing air and by the formation of gas from the bacteria that normally live in the gut. The swallowed air is released by burping whereas the gas produced in the gut is released as flatulence (also known as passing gas). Flatus is the medical name for the gas. The gases produced by the bacteria are hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide.
Gas forms in your large intestine (colon) when bacteria ferment carbohydrates such as fibre, some starches and some sugars. Certain foods can cause excessive gas formation such as cabbage, broccoli, baked beans, onions, bran and other high-fibre fruits, grains and vegetables. But while high-fibre foods might cause too much gas to be produced, fibre is very important to keeping your gut functioning normally.
The following are some symptoms of stomach upset:
- Belching and gas
- Acidic taste
- Stomach noises or rumbling
