Treating flatulence

Excessive flatulence can usually be treated by making changes to your diet and lifestyle.

There are also several over-the-counter treatments available if your flatulence is becoming a problem.

Self-care advice

Diet

Avoid eating foods high in unabsorbable carbohydrates (see causes of flatulence for a list of these).

However, it’s still important to eat a healthy balanced diet, including at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Choose foods that contain carbohydrates that are easy to digest. These include:

• potatoes
• rice
• lettuce
• bananas
• grapes
• citrus fruits, such as oranges
• yogurt

It is important to note people will react differently to certain foods, so some foods listed above may still cause flatulence. Therefore, you may find it useful to keep a food diary to see whether certain foods make your symptoms better or worse.

You may also find it useful to eat six small meals a day, rather than three large ones. Smaller meals are easier to digest and may produce less gas.

There is also some evidence to suggest that drinking peppermint tea can help improve the symptoms of flatulence.

Swallowing air

When eating, make sure you chew food slowly to reduce the amount of air you are swallowing. This will also help with digestion.

Avoid chewing gum because it can also cause you to swallow more air than usual. Sugar-free chewing gums also contain chemicals which can cause flatulence (see causes of flatulence for more information).

You should also give up smoking if you smoke. Smoking can cause you to swallow more air than usual and tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system. See stop smoking for information and advice.

Exercise

Getting plenty of exercise can help improve the functioning of your digestive system and bowel. It has also been shown to help with bloating and the passage of gas.

Medications and other remedies

There are several over-the-counter remedies that can help treat symptoms of flatulence, some of which are described below.

Charcoal tablets

Charcoal tablets are a type of medication available over the counter from pharmacists. The charcoal absorbs gas in the digestive system, which helps reduce the symptoms of flatulence.

Charcoal tablets may not be suitable for you if you are currently taking other medication. This is because the charcoal might absorb the medication and make it less effective. If you are taking other medication, ask your GP or pharmacist for advice before taking charcoal tablets.

Clothing containing activated charcoal, or charcoal pads placed inside clothing, can help absorb foul-smelling gas released during flatulence. These products can be purchased online.

Simethicone is another over-the-counter medication that can sometimes help with gas problems.

Dietary supplements

Alpha-galactosidase is a dietary supplement that may help improve the digestion of carbohydrates and reduce symptoms of flatulence. It is found in a product called ‘Beano’, which has been shown to have some effect in reducing flatulence and is available from some pharmacists and health food shops.

Probiotics may also be useful in treating flatulence. Probiotics are a dietary supplement, usually sold in liquid or capsule form, which encourage the growth of ‘friendly bacteria’ in your digestive system. The ‘friendly bacteria’ should help digestion and reduce the symptoms of flatulence, particularly in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

See flatulence medicines information for more information about treatments for the problem.