Got Gas?

Here are some gas facts!! And I'm not talking about the gas station gas!! This is about the stinky gas us humans produce, and it's a normal part of life, and everyone has it.

We call it gas, but it's called flatulence.

Flatulence is the gas accumulated in the lower digestive tract (colon) and gas passed out of the body is called flatus.

Most people "produce" about 1 to 3 pints of flatulence a day, and "pass" flatus about 14 times a day, ranging between 3 and 40 times, depending on their diet.

"Fizzy" liquids can give you flatulence.

Foods that produce flatulence in one person may not cause flatulence in another.

Carbohydrates produce more flatulence than fats, and proteins.

Most of the time flatulence is odorless. When there is "odor" it comes from hydrogen sulfide made by hundreds of harmless and normal bacteria in the large intestine (colon).

There, now you know you are normal!!

Abdominal Pain and Discomfort

It is rare for a person to have too much gas. But, gas in the intestine causes abdominal pain and discomfort for some people.

When it collects on the left side of the colon, the pain can be confused with heart disease.

When it collects on the right side of the colon, the pain may feel like the pain associated with gallstones or appendicitis.

The symptoms of gas may resemble other conditions or medical problems. If you feel like you have too much gas, you may want to see your doctor. Consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Source of information is from www.nexiumresearch.com/why_do_i_have_gas.html

I have a buddy I visit a few hours away from here occasionally whos girlfriend I always call and ask what he's been eating all week before I'll visit.

If he's been eating cabbage I'm not going anywhere near there. His cabbage farts are the most rancid thing I've ever smelled in my entire life and I've left things in the toilet at a cabin in the woods during a family vacation that forced everyone in the cabin to clear out years ago.

The first time I experienced, yes you experience these things, not smell them, it was soo nasty that after we'd all had a few drinks I started thinking about how I could lace his drinks with Gas-X. If the thought of explaining why my hand was superglued to his butt to his girlfriend when she woke up to the two of us wrestling when I try to superglue his butthole shut hadn't crossed my mind, I would have done it.

Cabbage is definitely one of the foods that can cause gas. And it sounds like your friend has the stinky hydrogen sulfide "odor".

Hydrogen Sulfide:

Different bacteria in the intestinal tract digest different kinds of carbohydrates.
Some make more methane, others help hydrogen to combine with sulfur (from other foods or water) to make hydrogen sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide is the smelly flatus.

Does Gas-X work in a way that it gets your digestive tract back on track? Or does it reduce your symptoms temporarily but maybe make them worse in the long run? Kinda like covering the gas up for a while the way gum covers up bad breath? I heard taking too much of any kind of gas reducer or laxative isn't good for you...

What about Beano? How is that different from Gas-X?

I think both Gas-X and Beano are used for temporary relief. I don't know about the side effects if a person were to take it a lot. I checked on the internet for more info, and couldn't find much. I found this from the Beano website:

Beano is a dietary supplement, a food enzyme from a natural food source. It is not a drug.
Beano is made from a safe, food-grade mold. However, if a rare sensitivity occurs, discontinue use.
Galactosemics consult your doctor.
By taking Beano at the beginning of a meal, you can help prevent gas, bloating and other discomfort from beans, broccoli, grains and all kinds of gassy foods.
This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Being allergic to penicillin, that part caught my attention and prompted me to look into it a little more.

I don't like how they worded this at all, it seems like they know someone's had a reaction and want to dance around the issue. I'll definitely not be trying it, I'd rather have gas than break out in hives.

I would definitely be concerned too if I were allergic to penicillin.