FitSugar

Embarrassing Yoga Moments: Don't Let Them Happen to You

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:02:18 PDT

Yoga class is supposed to be all serene and spiritual, but it's hard to feel enlightened when you break the silence by loudly breaking wind. We're all adults, so we shouldn't feel embarrassed, but it's hard to bounce back into bliss after such an awkward distraction. Plenty can happen during a yoga class to make you want to crawl under your mat and hide, and although you can't prevent everything, here are some ways to lower your risk for bodily function humiliation.

Loud Outbursts From Your Tush
Gas gets passed. It happens. But it's mortifying when it happens to you in a completely quiet room of people trying to breathe! There are a few ways you can lower your risk of tooting accidentally. First off, trying out that new Mexican place a couple hours before your yoga class is probably not the best idea. Skip eating the foods you know lead to gas like beans, meat, onions, and broccoli, and avoid trying new foods in case your digestive system rebels. Certain poses are also more likely to encourage gas to pass, such as forward bends, twists, and poses where your knees pull into your chest. I'm not telling you to avoid them completely, but move into questionable postures with caution if you know flatulence is an issue. If a barking spider finds it's way into your capris, I find it best to pretend it didn't happen, or laugh to dispel any weirdness.

Keep reading to learn how to prevent being stinky, nip slips, and air in your lady parts.

Make These Hard-to-Digest Foods Easy on the Tummy

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:30:57 PDT

It's not a stomach of steel you're after. You don't need to be able to devour a bowl of spicy chili without even a single burp. You'd be happy with a stomach that could handle a simple apple. Unfortunately every body is different, and some of us are born with sensitive stomachs, but you don't have to take it lying down (or in the bathroom). Some foods are harder to digest than others, but here are some ways to make those hard-to-digest foods easier on your belly.

Green peppers: These veggies are actually unripe, so eating them raw in a salad makes them tough to digest for many people. Instead, enjoy your green peppers grilled, roasted, or sauteed. if it's raw peppers you crave, choose red, orange, or yellow.

For ways to stomach other difficult-to-digest foods,

Dairy: If you're full-on lactose intolerant, you can still enjoy milk, cheese, and ice cream with ease. Just pop a Lactaid pill with your first bite of dairy-containing food and you're good to go. It contains the lactase enzyme (that your body doesn't produce enough of) to break down the lactose milk sugar.
Apples and pears: These high-fiber fruits seem so innocent and healthy, but for many people, eating one leads to uncomfortable bloating and gas. Ease these into your diet by either eating a couple slices at a time, or by eating them with other foods like yogurt or cereal. It may also help to peel the skin and let your body get used to the flesh first.
Beans: Packed with protein and fiber, these little gems are known to cause an embarrassing issue once consumed. To nip this problem in the bud, it helps to gradually introduce them into your diet, and eat them with easily digestible foods like rice or bread. If you soak and boil your own dried beans, pour out the water the beans cooked in once they're done since using this bean water in recipes can make gas problems even worse.

Have any other tricks for making hard-to-digest foods easier on your belly? Share them in the comments section below.

You Asked: Is Holding In Gas Bad?

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 08:00:06 PDT

Dear Fit,
I'm not embarrassed to admit that I'm an extremely gassy person. I know it's a natural bodily function, even though I seem to do it more than the average person, but now I have an embarrassing problem. I used to work from home, so it didn't matter if I let my gas pass, but I just got a new job where I work in a big office. All our desks are in one big room, so there's absolutely no privacy. I've been there for a week now, and have just been holding it so my co-workers don't know my smelly secret. It's been hurting my belly a little, and I'm wondering if this is really bad for my body not to let it out.
- Full of Hot Air

Although most wouldn't like to admit it, we can all relate to your problem of being gassy in public. I don't blame you for not wanting to let 'em go at your new job, or any job for that matter. Who wants to admit that they're the source of smelly gas? I have some suggestions on how to curb your flatulence, so

I really don't recommend holding it in; as you've already said, you end up with a bellyache. Plus your muscles are only physically able to hold it in for so long. So as soon as you relax, it's bound to come out at a surprising time, which can be more embarrassing than if you knew it was coming. To avoid other people knowing, when you feel the gas building up, head to the bathroom and do your business there.

All people pass gas, and it's impossible to stop flatulence altogether, but here are some things you can do to decrease the gas your body makes:

Chew your food slowly. Swallowing air when eating is a major cause of gas.
Avoid chewing gum because it encourages you to swallow air.
Avoid bubbly beverages as the carbonation can also cause gas.
Know which foods trigger your gas. Beans, apples, dairy products, eggs, wheat, broccoli, and onions are known to be gas-producers. If they cause you gas, eat them in small amounts, or avoid eating them while at work.
Eat lots of fiber-rich foods like veggies, fruit, and whole grains to prevent constipation, which can cause bloating and gas.

If none of this helps, it may be worth a visit to your doctor, since excessive gas can be a symptom of conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance, bowel obstruction, Crohn's disease, or celiac disease. It's worth getting checked out for peace of mind.

You Asked: My Vegetarian Diet Is Making Me Gassy

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:47:51 PDT

Dear Fit,
I am trying the vegetarian lifestyle and have finally given up bacon and hamburgers and went meat-free. I have a family history of obesity, heart disease, and cancer, and have read that a diet rich in fruits and veggies can play a huge role in prevention. I've been loading up on the green veggies, beans, fruits, and tofu. My taste buds don't really miss meat, but it hasn't even been a week and I'm having some, well, unpleasant side effects. I'm unbelievably bloated and gassy all the time, and am close to giving up on my veggie quest. Is it possible that my body is trying to tell me that a vegetarian diet isn't right for me, or is there a way to go about this so that I'm not feeling so inflated?
- Puffed Up

First of all, I applaud you for taking your health into your own hands and going meat-free. Your body is greatly benefiting from consuming less saturated fat and more plant-based proteins. I'm actually not surprised that you're experiencing such embarrassing and uncomfortable side effects, but that doesn't mean you can't become a vegetarian. To hear my suggestions

From your diet description, you're doing everything right with your food choices, but there's such a thing as too much, too soon. Vegetarian foods are very high in fiber, and if your digestive system isn't used to that, it translates to gas and maybe even diarrhea. So my advice is to slowly ease into this diet. Be a flexitarian for a while. Consume your old diet that includes meat, and gradually increase your fruit, vegetable, legume, and whole grain intake as you fade out the meat. At first, eat small portions of foods that are especially gas-producing such as broccoli, beans, green peppers, apples, and high fiber cereals. Slowly increase the portion size over time and the gassiness should begin to dissipate. Making the switch to a vegetarian lifestyle overnight is a shock to your system, so all you need to do is move forward slowly, listen to your body, and you'll be meat-free (and less bloated) within a few weeks.

Do You Avoid Foods That Give You Gas?

FitSugar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:00:00 PDT

Eating spicy foods, green peppers, broccoli, beans, meat, dairy products, high fiber cereal, and apples are a few common foods that can result in gas for some people. I'm sure you know exactly what kinds of foods cause your tummy to gurgle and become bloated. So tell me . . .

DrSugar Answers: Belching After Every Meal?

DrSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 05:30:00 PST

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear DrSugar,
It seems like everything that I eat causes gas. I exercise regularly and I try to eat healthy as much as possible. I don't know if I should be eliminating some things from my diet to alleviate the gas. My gas is in the form of belching though. I rarely have gas that is expelled from my bowel area. Can you me help? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.
- Sick of Saying "Excuse Me"

To see what DrSugar suggests to help this problem,

Problems with belching, also known as burping, can be a significant problem for some people. Belching is different from flatulence in that belching is almost always related to swallowed air that accumulates in the stomach. This air is then expelled from the stomach by belching when pressure builds. Swallowing air can occur when drinking carbonated beverages, drinking from a straw, eating food too fast, and chewing gum. Some people also swallow air when they are anxious and often don’t even notice they are doing it. Sometimes belching is also associated with acid reflux or heartburn.

The best methods to prevent frequent belching are: 1) Eat and drink slowly, 2) Avoid carbonated beverages such as soda and beer, 3) Avoid chewing gum or hard candy, and 4) Avoid drinking through straws. If your belching problem is related to acid reflux or heartburn symptoms, it may be necessary to seek medical advice for treatment with antacids or diet modification. For more information regarding the other kind of gas, otherwise known as farting, check out my previous post on flatulence.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Speak Up: What Foods Give You Gas?

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:00:00 PDT

Nobody likes having gas. It is uncomfortable, makes you feel bloated, and can be super embarrassing when you're in a small room with a handful of people. So I was wondering, what foods tend to make you gassy? Do you eat these foods anyway, and deal with the odorous consequences, or do you avoid foods that make you toot?

Source

Another Reason to Love Chai Tea

FitSugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:00:00 PDT

I love a spicy cup of chai tea on a foggy morning or chilly evening. Aside from its exquisite taste, chai offers other benefits further down the digestive line. This wonderful tea can reduce gas. Chai is made from a blend of spices - cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom - that individually combat flatulence, but mixed together seems greater than the sum of its parts.

Check your spice cabinet and chances are high you have all the ingredients to make your own chai tea with this recipe. If not, you can always opt for an energizing Chai Bumble Bar.

Source

DrSugar Answers: Excessive Gas?

DrSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:30:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear Doc Sugar,
I'm having a lot of trouble lately with gas. Yeah, it's really embarrassing, but no matter what I eat (high fiber, low fiber, healthy food, junk food) I start farting constantly. A month ago, I lost a lot of weight because I couldn't handle how bad my gas pains were.

I'm going to give you a few details that might help you, help me. The farts aren't like normal ones. They're high pressured, loud, and sound like I opened a valve to let air out. Sometimes they don't even smell; it's just air. Then I can feel my abdomen deflate. I don't want to go to the doctor yet (because I know they're going to ask for a stool sample, and I think that's so ick), so I was hoping you could help with an explanation and advice.
- One Gassy Gal

To see what DrSugar has to say on this matter,

Flatulence is a normal phenomenon that occurs in everyone, but it can become a big problem for some people, as you have described. Gas comes from two main sources: air that you swallow and gas produced during the digestion of food. Sometimes excessive flatulence can represent intolerance to certain foods such as dairy products or gluten. Eliminating dairy from your diet is a good first step to evaluate whether the problem could be related to lactose intolerance, which is a very common problem. There are also a wide range of foods that have been implicated as “gassy foods,” and an extensive list can be found at GICare. This site also gives information on how to prevent excessive gas, and it might help you.

The fact that your gas is sometimes odorless could provide an interesting clue as to the source of your excessive gas. It has been observed that gas from swallowed air is generally odorless, and gas from the digestion of food usually has an odor. It is possible that your gas problem is from swallowing too much air. Swallowing air can happen when food is eaten very quickly. It can also occur by drinking through straws and drinking carbonated beverages. Try eating slower, taking smaller bites, and avoiding carbonated beverages for a few weeks to see if this helps. If your problem persists, or is associated with pain or diarrhea, it would be best to see a doctor. Many problems can be solved without the dreaded stool sample.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Intimate Problem: Sex and Gas Don't Mix

DearSugar — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:00:00 PST

You met this great guy, you've been going out for over a month, and you just had the best date ever. You know that the evening is going to end with your first time in bed together, but there's a huge problem - the grande burrito you ate for dinner is wreaking havoc on your stomach. So how do you deal with being intimate when you're bloated and gassy?

Since holding it in won't work - it'll make your stomach hurt, and it could end up coming out when you least expect it - here are a few other options for you to consider:

You could lie. Tell him you feel like you're coming down with something - it is going around, after all. Do some fake coughing, hold your throat, apologize for bailing on your sleepover, and tell him that you don't want to risk getting him sick. Chances are he's feeling airy too, so go home, be alone with your flatulence, and the next time you go out, you can eat something more basic so you'll both be ready for getting busy afterwards.
Take the honest route. Tell him that the meal didn't agree with you and you're not feeling well enough for company. Tell him that you want your first time to be really special, that you're really excited to share this with him, but you'd rather not do it tonight since you're feeling so crummy. If he's sensitive, he'll understand and not take it as a blow to his ego.

What else can you do? To find out

Go for a long walk after dinner and get some ginger ale. The walking will help get rid of some of your gas without him knowing, and the bubbly beverage will help to settle your stomach.
Brew some peppermint tea. It won't prevent you from tooting, but it'll help make whatever comes out smell sweeter (it really works).
End your evening earlier, but say that you want to surprise him and take him out for breakfast or dinner the next day. He'll be excited about the future date, and it'll take his mind off not being able to be with you that night. Plus it'll make your first time even more special if you both wait.

Do you have any other ideas? If so, please share them below, since we could all use as many tips as possible!

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