Best Supplements to Help With Chronic Gas and Bloating
On occasion well-timed flatulence can be hysterically funny. From "Blazing Saddles" to "Dumb and Dumber," it's a comedy staple. What about when it's not so funny?
Read on to discover why you're experiencing chronic gas and bloating symptoms, and which gut health supplements you can take to find relief.
What are the Main Causes of Gas and Bloating?
Abdominal discomfort of the "Am I six months pregnant with a giant buffalo wing?" variety can have many reasons behind it:
- Food sensitivity, including gluten intolerance and allergies
- Eating too fast
- Eating too much fiber
- Carbonated beverages
- Sitting down for too long
- Gastritis
- IBS, SIBO, or "leaky gut"
- Chronic stress
- Dysbiosis
- Smoking
The good news? It's possible to find quick relief for many of those triggers above.
Symptoms to Look Out For
How do you know if it's gas, bloating or something else? By donning your imaginary lab coat and performing a quick symptom self-check.
Bloating Symptoms
The most common symptom of bloating is feeling full in that "I really, really regret that sixth slice of pizza" way. You may experience mild stomach discomfort fluctuating to even sharper and more intense pains. Gas is also prevalent, which brings us to our next group of symptoms to watch out for…
Gas Symptoms
Signs of trapped air include:
- Burping
- Flatulence
- Bloating
- Cramps and other sharp abdominal pains
- A visibly distended (bigger) stomach
Supplements to Relieve Chronic Gas & Bloating
As countless children's books are quick to remind us, gas and bloating are totally normal. They're also totally manageable with the smart use of supplements. Here's what to take for bloating and gas.
Herbs for Gas Relief
If you experience gas and bloating on the regular, consider stocking the pantry with these five flatulence fighters.
Peppermint
Peppermint has long been a staple of good digestive health. Studies suggest that the flavonoids present in peppermint stop the overgrowth of specific cells in your gut that contributes to bloating.1 It may also prevent intestinal spasms — another common cause of bloating — by soothing your digestive tract and causing it to relax.
While peppermint is available in capsules, peppermint tea is up to six times more potent. It's delicious, too.
Ginger
If you've ever been pregnant or had a pregnant partner, some ginger candy likely made its way into your house. This spicy herb has been a popular remedy for stomach discomfort for thousands of years. It relieves nausea, hence its adoration by morning sickness sufferers everywhere. It can kickstart an ailing tummy's elimination process, thereby making you feel better faster. And it's also been shown to curb bloating, gas, and abdominal cramps.
Ginger is available in both capsules and tea leaves. You can also boil fresh ginger to infuse the water. No matter how you take it, you'll be getting the gingerols. They may sound like a '60s girl group, but they're the compounds in ginger that provide all the awesome health benefits.
Chamomile
Chamomile tea is a classic tummy tamer, and here's why: It contains flavonoids and other compounds shown to treat gas, indigestion, and other gnarly stomach ailments. Research suggests that this flowering herb may stop certain bacterial infections that commonly cause bloating and ulcers.2
Fennel
If black licorice is your jam, meet fennel. Its seeds have been used to relieve symptoms of stomach distress for centuries, including gas, bloating, and abdominal pain. Studies suggest it can ease constipation, for example, which is typically accompanied by bloating.3
Preliminary research also demonstrates a link between fennel and protection against ulcers.4 (Ulcers are yet another culprit behind chronic bloating.) Herbal teas containing fennel are often effective. You can also crush fennel seeds at home and use the product of your Hulk-like strength to brew your own tea.
Wormwood
Studies suggest that leafy green wormwood really gets the digestive juices flowing.5 For you, that means healthier digestion and less bloating.
Don't worry: It only sounds like something you have to buy in a glowing vial from some dude's cart by the side of the dirt road up to Mordor. It's usually consumed as a tea sweetened with honey and lemon to counteract wormwood's bitter taste… unless you're pregnant. Due to the presence of thujone, a compound that may cause contractions, expectant mothers should wait to get their wormwood on until after the baby is born.
Polisorb Digestive Tract Detox
If herbal tea won't do the trick or you simply don't feel like waiting, a digestive detox may be your best bet. Polisorb Digestive Tract Detox gently works through your digestive tract in about 15 minutes, essentially acting as a magnet attracting one-time irritants and eliminating them from your gut.
If chronic digestive discomfort has stopped your enjoyment of life in its tracks, consider resetting your gut microbiome with the five-day digestive tract cleanse. This cleanse couldn't be simpler to use, either. Just mix the recommended amount of flavorless powder with water, and down the hatch, it goes.
Reset Your Gut Microbiome Start Your 5-Day Digestive Tract Cleanse Today
Take Daily Prebiotics & Probiotics
It seems like every time you turn on the TV, there is somebody hawking a yogurt or fizzy drink that's loaded with pre-and probiotics. (We're looking at you, Jamie Lee Curtis.)
Do these popular bacteria live up to all the hype? For many people, they do. Both are good for you, but not in the same way.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are plant fibers that feed the good bacteria in the lower part of your gut and help them grow. They also prevent constipation by causing food to ferment faster, and they help you soak up calcium. You can find them in oats, flaxseed, wheat, legumes, and a variety of fruits and veggies.
Probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria and live yeasts that help your digestive system run smoothly. Scientists have barely scratched the surface of what probiotics can do and why, but one thing research shows is that they positively impact the nerves in charge of gut movement, which keeps your digestive tract working like a well-oiled machine. Probiotics are most commonly found in dairy products and fermented foods such as kimchi.
Increase Your Vitamin D Intake
One surprising cause behind chronic gas and bloating is the malabsorption of vitamin D. When your body doesn't get enough vitamin D, it can react with burping, wind and constipation — a terrible trio (and even worse band name).
It's impossible to prevent all instances of gas and bloating. Just when you need your digestive system to be the most chill, symptoms of both can pop up. When they rear their ugly heads, consider taking a detox for quick relief and following it up with a regular supplement to soothe your stomach.
RESOURCES
1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16767798/
2 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27551250/
3 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16628544/
4 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30611829/
5 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26074998/
