Everyday Wellness
Aug 06Even healthy foods could create too much gas buildup in the small intestine, causing a bloating and puffy stomach.
Watermelon
This summer treat is sweet and refreshing, but it is one of the sneakier foods that cause gas and stomach bloat. Watermelon is high in fructose, a naturally occurring sugar that is often incompletely absorbed by our GI system, leading to gas. Experts estimate one in three people suffer from fructose malabsorption.
Scallions (and other aromatics)
Veggies with strong flavors, like scallions (just the white part), garlic, onions, shallots, and leeks (just the white bottom) are high in fructans, a type of fiber made up mostly of fructose molecules, making them foods that cause gas. Humans lack the enzymes to break down fructans, so no one is able to fully digest them, leading to gut problems like gas and bloating.
Blackberries
Blackberries are rich in antioxidants, but they’re also packed with polyols, the main component in sugar substitutes (which are often blamed for abdominal distress). Polyols tend to hang around our digestive system for a long time and usually aren’t completely absorbed, which can lead to bloating or excessive flatulence.
Artichokes
Beware of this veggie if you’re trying to battle bloat. It’s high in fructans, a fiber that is undigestible and is found in foods that cause gas and bloating problems. These are the most common stomach pains and what they mean.
Healthy Eating – Reader's Digest
