Gas / Flatulence

Menopause is a time of many changes, which include both emotional and physical changes. Compared to your mother's menopause, where menopause tended to be shrouded in secrecy, many women are openly discussing their menopause symptoms. In fact, the majority of menopause women note that their personal health during menopause is a top health concern.

Over the last few years, it has become quite apparent that a very common symptom of menopause is bloating in the intestinal tract due to the production of gas.  Recent survey results have found over two-thirds of women experience stomach gas during menopause.

                                     (National independent survey conducted on behalf of Beano by Market Research Institute)

Due to the significant prevalence of this symptom among women, a detailed explanation of gas and flatulence will be provided, along with helpful hints and treatment options.  

Contents:

Gas Explained

Foods That Cause Gas

Medical Conditions That Cause Gas

             Lactose Intolerance

             IBS

Is Gas Related To Menopause?

How To Prevent Gas

Gas is a normal product of digestion and is rarely an indication of a serious medical condition. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by burping or passing it through the rectum. Normally, when foods are eaten the gastrointestinal tract breaks down these foods to digestible elements. One by-product of this process is gas production. The gas is colorless and contains carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sometimes methane. Certain foods are more likely to cause gas compared to others. For example, many vegetables and beans cause gas production. The reason is that the body does not digest and absorb some carbohydrates (the sugar, starches, and fiber found in many foods). The most problematic carbohydrates (also known as polysaccharides) are raffinose and stachyose. As the undigested sugars pass from the small intestine to the large intestine, normal harmless bacteria break down these elements. This leads to the subsequent production of gas and leads to bloating and flatulence.

Most foods that contain carbohydrates can cause gas. By contrast, fats and proteins cause little gas. Many common foods contain raffinose and stachyose that can lead to gas. Most starches, including potatoes, corn, noodles, and wheat, produce gas as they are broken down in the large intestine. Rice is the only starch that does not cause gas.

Many foods contain fiber. The fiber found in oat bran, some vegetables and most fruits dissolves easily in water and is not broken down until it reaches the large intestine, where digestion causes gas. In contrast, the type of fiber found in wheat bran does not get digested and passes through the GI tract without gas production.

Lactose intolerance is a very common problem that increases with age. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest significant amounts of lactose, the predominant sugar of milk. Lactose intolerance is due to a diminished amount of the enzyme lactase, which is normally produced by the cells that line the small intestine. Normally, lactase helps to break down milk sugar into an easily digestible form that can be absorbed from the GI tract. When a deficiency of lactase is present, a patient may experience distressing symptoms of nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea, which begin about 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating or drinking foods containing lactose. Milk and foods made from milk are the only natural sources that contain lactose.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a very common disease with many symptoms. Common symptoms include gas, abdominal pain and bloating. In fact, colon gas production is higher in IBS patients¹. Eating foods that cause an increase in gas production may increase IBS symptoms. Click here for a detailed explanation of IBS

Is gas a Menopause issue?

While gas and bloating are very common symptoms during menopause, it is unclear if this is related to the actual hormonal adjustments of menopause or solely an issue of aging . Since approximately one quarter of women have noted increased gas during menopause, some doctor's have suggested that decreasing hormone production may play a role in this process. Other experts have stated that a change in diet around the menopause transition may lead to more gas and bloating. In fact, over 60% of women were eating more fruit and vegetables and over 70% have made changes in their diet during menopause according to a recent survey.

The North American Menopause Society recommends that menopause women eat diets low in saturated fats, high in whole grains, vegetables and fruits to defend against menopause symptoms and increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Soy enhanced diets have been advocated to decrease menopause symptoms and reduce heart disease. This typical diet includes vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, legumes such as beans and peas, and dairy products, whole grains and soy proteins. All of these are nutritious; however, they are all gas producing substances.

How to prevent gas:

There are many approaches to reducing gas and flatulence. Fortunately, eliminating healthy gas producing foods does not need to be done. Use these helpful hints to prevent or reduce gas, while still enjoying a healthy diet:

1)   When ingesting gassy foods such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, legumes, grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, and whole-grain breads consider a digestive aid to eliminate gas.  Many foods that are part of a healthy diet can cause gas. Click here for an expanded list of 'gassy' foods.

 Beano is an all-natural product that helps prevent gas before it starts. It contains an enzyme that works with your body and helps to break down the problem complex sugars that cause gas. By breaking down these complex sugars into easy digestible elements before they reach the colon, gas is prevented before it starts.

Beano is easy to use. One table or five drops of Beano liquid per ½ cup serving of gassy food is recommended. Since the average meal consists of 2-3 servings of food, a rule of thumb is to take three Beano tablets or 15 Beano drops with each meal. For optimal effectiveness, Beano must be taken with your gassy food. Swallow, chew or crumble the tablets when taking with gassy food. If taking the liquid drops, add the correct amount to your gassy food.   Click here to learn more about Beano.

Click here for a list of foods that Beano works with to prevent gas.

2)  If excessive gas occurs, gas reducing agents may be helpful. The majority of these agents contain simethicone as an active ingredient. These medications do not eliminate gas production and have no effect on intestinal gas. By breaking up gas bubbles that already exist in the stomach, simethicone can allow gas to be more easily belched away. An example is Phazyme. These medications need to be taken after meals and at bedtime.

3)  Lactose intolerance - Dietary control of lactose intolerance depends on people learning through trial and error how much lactose they can handle. Lactose reduced milk is available. Lactase enzymes are available to help digest foods that contain lactose.

4)  IBS - working with a physician by using medications to reduce intestinal spasm, increase bulk and using Beano when ingesting gassy foods can be helpful to patients with IBS.

5)  Carbonated beverages are a common source of intestinal gas. Try to drink plenty of water, and non-"fizzy" liquids. Try not to drink liquids that cause gas, like soda and beer. If you do drink these liquids, pour them into a glass first to let some of the "fizz" out.

References:
1) King TS, Elia M, Hunter JO.  Abnormal colonic fermentation in irritable bowel syndrome.  Lance 1998 Oct 10;352(9135):1187-9.

2) http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/irrbowel/irrbowel.htm