Better Digestion Is the Key to Stopping Flatulence.

Antibiotics come with numerous side effects, but here's one that you may not have heard about. They can give you gas, not only when you're taking them but also afterward-and maybe for the rest of your life.

Flatulence is a natural part of digestion, caused by gas-producing bacteria in the intestinal tract. But people who have taken antibiotics may have to deal with it more often because antibiotics do more than kill bacteria that cause infections. They also kill bacteria throughout the body, including the billions of helpful bacteria that normally live in the large intestine, says Pamela Sky Jeanne, N.D., a naturopathic doctor in Gresham, Oregon.

When these bacteria are destroyed, unfriendly bacteria (and other organisms, such as yeast) take their place and begin generating toxins that can lead to gas, bloating, and diarrhea. This condition is called dysbiosis-too many bad bacteria, too few good.

Restoring the body's natural bacterial balance is an essential first step for controlling flatulence. In addition, there are things you can do to help your entire digestive system work more efficiently, which will go a long way toward reducing the discomfort (and embarrassment) of flatulence.

PROBIOTICS: Restoring the Good Bacteria

Since antibiotics invariably disrupt the intestine's normal bacterial balance, or what doctors call the intestinal flora, alternative practitioners believe that you can restore the balance by taking a probiotic-a supplement that contains helpful bacteria. Look for a supplement that contains 2 to 3 billion units of acidophilus, bifidum, or other organisms, says Dr. Jeanne.

Just be sure to buy supplements that are refrigerated in the store. That way, you'll know that the organisms are alive and active, she advises.

You need to take probiotics during antibiotic therapy and for a minimum of 2 weeks after finishing the antibiotic dose. Follow the dosage recommendations on the label.
"Probiotics work," adds Elizabeth Lipski, a certified clinical nutritionist in Kauai, Hawaii. "They really keep the bad bacteria under control.

DIGESTIVE ENZYMES: After Each Meal
The body produces lots of digestive enzymes, chemicals that help break down food so that it can be absorbed through the wall of the intestine. Some people don't produce enough of these enzymes, however. This is especially common once you pass your 50th birthday, since levels of digestive enzymes tend to decline with age.

"A digestive enzyme supplement will help your body digest food more quickly and easily, " says Lipski. She recommends taking a digestive enzyme after each meal, following the directions on the label. Many people find that they get the best results when they combine digestive enzymes with probiotic supplements, she adds.

FOOD: Round Up the Gashouse Gang
Some people are sensitive to the proteins and sugars in certain foods, which results in poor digestion and gas, Lipski says. Food sensitivities can be tricky to identify because it's hard to know what's causing the problem.

She recommends experimenting with different foods by eliminating them from your diet, one by one, for 10 days. If your gas is reduced, you'll know you've found the culprit. Here are some of the worst offenders.

• Dairy foods, because many people lack an enzyme called lactase that the body needs to digest the sugar (lactose) in milk and other dairy foods.
• Fruit juices, which contain a sugar called fructose that causes gas in many people. Even people who aren't sensitive to fructose may have gas when they drink more than three glasses of juice a day, Lipski says.
• Artificial sweeteners such as xylitol and sorbitol, which are found in many candies and baked goods and can make people gassy.
• Wheat, because many people are sensitive to its protein, gluten.
• Beans, cabbage, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cucumber, which all contain a potential gas-producing carbohydrate called raffinose. In the long run, however, these otherwise healthful foods can actually reduce gas because the body's bacteria will undergo alterations in order to deal with the raffinose, Lipski says.

GINGER: A Digestive Boost
Ginger is an excellent herb for preventing or clearing up flatulence, says Mark Stengler, N.D., a naturopathic physician in San Diego. It works by stimulating digestion and relaxing the muscles of the digestive tract so food spends less time in the intestines.

Take two capsules, or 250 milligrams, with each meal, he says. Look for a product that has been standardized for 1 percent gingerols, one of the active ingredients.

CHLOROPHYLL: Deodorize Your Insides
A chlorophyll supplement can reduce gas and odor by detoxifying partially digested food in the digestive tract, says Lipski. Chlorophyll is entirely safe, and you can take it whenever you're feeling uncomfortable, following the directions on the label.

FENNEL SEEDS: A Digestive Aid
"Chewing on fennel seeds after a meal is an excellent way to relieve flatulence," says Dr. Jeanne. The oils in the herb aid the digestive process, she explains, so you may want to nibble some seeds after every meal. Chew 5 to 10 seeds well, then swallow them to get the full effect, she advises.

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: For Reliable Short- Term Relief
You're about to be in a social situation where gas is a no-no, but you're in the middle of a gas attack! What do you do? Try a supplement of activated charcoal, says Andrew Gaeddert, a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild and director of the Get Well Clinic in Oakland, California.
Charcoal works by binding with toxins and other substances in the digestive tract and ushering them out of the body-quietly. The supplement should relieve gas in about 30 minutes.
Gaeddert recommends taking one to two 200- to SOD-milligram tablets before occasional social situations, but never for more than 2 weeks at a time.