We often give a great deal of attention to flatulence but not to its causes. If nothing else, it at least causes a great deal of discomfort and embarrassment.

It must be noted that a certain degree of flatulence is considered as a natural body function and is certainly not a sign of serious health trouble. The problem arises when there is excessive production of gas.

When the partially digested food reaches the large intestines (colon), the bacteria present in our tracts churns the undigested and unabsorbed dietary fibres to produce gas. Thus, some amount of gas will be formed in the intestine due to this process.

Here is a list of some of the things that cause flatulence beyond the ordinary:

• Excessive fibre in the diet: The body generally produces excessive gas if there is a great deal of fibre in the diet. Thus, first and foremost, if flatulence is an issue, it will always be helpful to check the consumption of fibre. Reducing the intake of bran and such food items should make a difference. At least large quantities of fibre must not be taken all at once and should be spread over the day.

• Low bacterial counts in the digestive tract: It has been observed that if there is a reasonably high count of intestinal bacteria of the beneficial kind, then flatulence remains well under control. Regular intake of curd and fermented foodstuffs as well as probiotics is of great help in this matter.

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