Gas is simply waste attempting to leave your body if the foods you consume are processed insufficiently.  Gas can cause your body to react in different ways, one of the main responses being abdominal bloating.  Gas is essentially air in the digestive tract.  Gas leaves the body when people burp through the mouth or pass gas through the anus.  When your body is filled with gas this causes distension in the stomach.  It’s often a tight, swollen feeling that stretches the stomach to its maximum.  Having gas is not uncommon and having too much gas is rare. 

There are numerous signs and symptoms that can indicate gas, many of which occur at the same time.

• Enlarged or swollen stomach/abdominal
• Stomach pains
• Bloating
• Flatus or belching
• Discomfort
• Tightness in stomach
• Loose Bowels or Diarrhea
• Shortness of Breath
• Lower back pains
• Cramping or stomach aches

Gas can result from the diet you keep, certain health conditions, or it can just occur after consuming food in general.  It’s your body’s way of responding negatively to something within your digestive system.  Most gas is the result of intaking too much air during a meal.  This is caused by eating too fast, drinking carbonated beverages, smoking, or sucking on hard candies. Common reasons gas occurs include:

• Lack of Eating/Excess Eating
• Bowel Movement issues (constipation or diarrhea)
• Indigestion
• Water Retention
• Smoking
• Gas Pockets (Trapped Gas)
• Slow Digestive Rate (Dysmotility)
• Food intolerance
• Insufficient Hydrochloric Acid
• Lack of Digestive enzymes
• Minimal Intestinal Flora (Good Bacteria)

• Basic yoga moves like downward dog, seated tree, chair, cat/cow, and knee hugs help your body release trapped gas.
• Ab exercises, jumping jacks, jumping rope and any other core exercises help to stimulate bowel movements and the movement of gas within the body.
• Certain foods are notorious for producing gas.  It can be optimal to eliminate these foods from your diet to decrease the amount of gas you have.  These foods include beans, cabbage, cauliflower, bran, Brussels sprouts, pears, raisins, onions, and the list continues.  Additionally, you can avoid carbonated drinks, eat slowly, and chew your food thoroughly.
• Use ginger as a natural remedy.  Ginger helps to stimulate saliva, bile, and gastric juices, which can help with proper digestion.  The easiest way to reap the benefits of ginger is to make tea.  Pour hot water over freshly sliced ginger.  Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of raw, organic honey.  Drink this once or twice a day until Gas subsides.
• Herbal teas can help soothe digestive discomfort and relieve Gas.  Peppermint, chamomile, carraway, and fennel, teas are the best teas to calm your digestive system.
• Shiatsu massage can help relieve stagnation, congestion, and help unblock all of your energy channels.  It is similar to acupuncture in that it helps establish better circulation and flow in the body.  If your digestive tract is blocked, Shiatsu uses specific pressure points to help create movement where necessary.

• Ginger
• Fennel Seeds
• Peppermint tea
• Okra
• Cinnamon
• Cantaloupe
• Berries
• Grapes
• Lettuce
• Zucchini
• Peppers
• Tomatoes
• Olives