When Is Gas a Sign of Declining Health? Gas after meals is often a sign of poor digestion. But some gas is normal and perhaps even an indicator of a healthy inner ecosystem. A diet exclusively focused on fiber-rich plant foods could change the inner ecosystem in a matter of days. According to Dr. Purna Kashyap, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, “A healthy individual can have up to 18 flatulences per day and be perfectly normal. Bacteria and other microbes living in the colon (or large intestine) eat up undigested food, like fiber. A natural byproduct of this activity is gas. We need to nourish the microbes living in the gut in order to reap the benefits of a healthy inner ecosystem. These benefits include: A well-balanced immune system A sealed gut lining The ability to ward off infection The Benefit of Fiber-Rich Foods Gas throughout the day is a sign of healthy digestion, unless gas is excessive, foul, and painful. Bad gas may be the sign of a wounded inner ecosystem. If releasing gas several times a day is a sign that the microbes living in the gut are healthy and happy, then it is important to feed them. As Dr. Kashyap explains, Eating foods that cause gas is the only way for the microbes in the gut to get nutrients. If we didnt feed them carbohydrates, it would be harder for them to live in our gut. In December 2013, Dr. Lawrence David and his colleagues at Harvard University found that a plant-based diet (versus a meat-based diet) could rapidly improve the landscape of the inner ecosystem. Researchers found that a diet exclusively focused on fiber-rich plant foods—like granola, rice, onions, garlic, squash, legumes, and bananas—could change the inner ecosystem in a matter of days. This tells us that the microbes living in the gut rapidly respond to the food we eat. On the Body Ecology Diet, we encourage the moderate use of four grain-like seeds: Quinoa Buckwheat Amaranth Millet Along with grain-like seeds, the best way to build your inner ecosystem is with cultured vegetables full of fiber and beneficial bacteria and yeast. When Is Gas a Problem? When we release gas from the colon, there is no pain. This type of gas is normal. Excessive gas or gas with an extremely foul odor may be a sign that you are not properly digesting your meals and that your inner ecosystem is wounded. This is especially true when there are other signs of a wounded inner ecosystem, like: Constipation (less than one bowel movement a day) or diarrhea Cramping pain in the abdominal region, a sign of bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. In this case, we recommend closely following the Body Ecology Principles of 80/20 and Food Combining: When rebuilding the inner ecosystem, too much animal protein, sugar, or fiber-heavy foods can easily throw off digestion. If not broken down fully, these foods can ferment in the intestines and cause gas and bloating. To aid in the digestive process, Assist Digestive Enzymes were formulated to support the breakdown of gas-forming foods.
Posted on: Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 +0000
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