Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 30 April '86 19

Rx Health Watch — by Dr. Robert C Beit man

Undesired gas is a very common problem bringing patients into the office. It's amazing how our culture's attitude toward this problem causes such terrible embarrassment in people. What's also little known is that most cases are fully correctable, whether we're talking about excessive burping, belching, passing gas and its sounding or smelling. Let's take burping. This is usually riot happening because you are producing too much gas but rather because you are swallowing air with your food It takes work buy you can learn not to do this. FURTHER, the so called "gassy foods" aren't really that. Onions, lettuce and cabbage don't cause the production of extra gas that gives you discomfort ; actually all they do is irritate the stomach lining in susceptible individuals. Now let's get to the real trouble topic — gas passed through the rectum. Mo6t of this, although occasionally noisy, is generally odorless. This is because there are three major gases produced in the gut: hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide. These comprise over 95 percent of your gas. The other few percent that may contribute to odor would include for example, hydrogen sulfide. TO CAUSE gas a food must reach the large intestine incompletely digested and it must then be fermentable by the bacteria in the intestine. The gases are a by-product of the fermentation process. The distention, passing of gas and cramps you feel are the pressures of the gases against your colon. The main problem foods are wheat flour, milk products and vegatables.

These contain sugars that "Wait all the way to the large intestine for processing. Incompletely cooked starch products are also a problem because the body's enzymes can't break them down and they end up being fermented in the intestine. YOU'LL WANT to analyze your fully as to the "gas causing" products in it. Try restricting these one at a time to find the culprit. One trick that is reported to work for beans is to soak them in water for several hours, discard that water as unusable and then cook them in fresh water. High on the list of gas causers are: bagels, wheat germ, Brussels sprouts, pretzels, raisins, apricots, bananas, prune juice, carrots, beans, onions, celery and milk and milk products. Those termed "moderately gas causing" are: potatoes, citrus fruits, eggplant, apples, bread and pastries. There are fewgas reduction medications as well. Health Watch is a public education project of the American Cancer Society of which Dr. Beitman is president in Cape May County.

Nugget Trip WILDWOOD - A bus trip to the Golden Nugget Casino. Atlantic City, to benefit St. Ann's School will be held Monday, May 12. The bus will leave the school. Magnolia and NewJersey Avenues. 4:45 p.m. For further information or reservations, call Marge, 522-1113, or Ginny. 729^1973.

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