MAILBAG: Battling Bubbly Guts? Try THIS
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted November 8, 2022
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
“I hate that I can no longer just eat whatever I want. I either seem to have indigestion, bloating, or gas. I’m always taking antacids. It’s miserable and frustrating — what else can I do besides only eating potatoes?”
–– Carl, from Lincoln, NE
Hi Carl,
Let’s start with the first thing I typically tell folks in your situation NOT to do. And that’s to take too many antacids.
Antacids are relatively safe. But in extreme situations, you CAN take so many that you have a calcium overdose. That could lead to kidney stones and even heart problems.
Now, finding the source of gas and bloating can be difficult.
In general, gas is produced by bacteria in your gut. The bacteria consume foods you eat, using them to grow and reproduce. A byproduct of this process is gas production leading to bloating and sometimes indigestion.
So if you can keep the bacteria from munching on their favorite meal, the gas disappears.
The problem is pinpointing WHAT it is the bacteria are eating. The most common bacteria food is carbohydrates or sugars. But some belly bugs prefer protein. (It’s seldom fats.)
These steps typically help:
- Cut the sugars: Avoid soda and other foods high in sugar.
- Take a digestive enzyme: This will help you digest the sugars in the food you’re eating rather than have them become bacteria chow.
- Use salt: Many folks advise avoiding salt to ease bloating. They’re wrong. Salt is necessary to make the hydrochloric acid in your stomach that helps manage bad bacteria levels.
- Try herbs: Basil, dill, ginger, fennel, and mint can help ease bloating.
- Consider potential food intolerances: You may have issues digesting certain foods (a food intolerance). Dairy, wheat, and corn are common intolerances. Using a food diary to track when the trouble occurs can help. Or try eliminating suspected culprits from your diet one at a time to see if it helps ease your symptoms.
Remember to take a good prebiotic and probiotic. The prebiotic feed your good bacteria, and the probiotic grow their numbers.
P.S. Watching WHAT you eat isn’t the only way to boost the health of your gut bugs. It turns out there’s also a weird but powerful “timing trick” you can use to help modify and restore your gut microbiome.
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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