ICYMI, gas is caused by two things: eating gas-forming foods such as green vegetables, fruits with peels on them, carbonated beverages, cabbage, and beans; or by swallowing air, explains Michael Wolfe, MD, the chair of the Case Western Reserve University department of medicine at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
“People [take in extra air] when they drink with straws, talk with their mouths full, eat too fast, or when they’re nervous,” he says.
If you have a gas problem that you think is causing your stomach pain, take an OTC drug like Mylanta Gas. Beano, Dr. Wolfe says, is another good option, especially if veggies aren’t friendly to your system—it breaks down raffinose, a sugar byproduct in plants that can be tough to digest.
Dr. Bhan recommends knocking back some Pepto-Bismol if diarrhea strikes at a bad time or if it’s so frequent that it keeps you up at night. The pink liquid will attack the diarrhea-causing bacteria in your system, so you can rest and function during the day. You can also take Imodium, which works by slowing down the speed at which fluids flow through your intestines.
