10 Common Causes of Flatulence
Reviewed: Dr. Mera
Cause #8: Eating or Drinking Too Quickly
It’s important not to gobble your food down or chug your drinks too quickly. Digestion starts in the mouth because by chewing our food we divide it into more manageable portions. This increases the surface area for enzymes on our saliva (i.e. amylase, lipase) and in the rest of the digestive tract to act upon.
If you chew your food too quickly, the time for these processes is reduced and intestinal absorption of these foods will be slower. As a consequence, the undigested food that reaches the colon will be processed by the gut bacteria, possibly leading to the production of gases that cause flatulence and bloating. Additionally, when you eat too quickly you are more likely to swallow air, which can cause similar symptoms.
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