Some people experience an increase in gas when starting a new diet. While not a symptom of any serious condition, gas can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Here are a few ways to cut down on gas:
- Reduce sugar alcohol intake. One of the unfortunate side effects of sugar alcohol consumption is excessive gas production. Since sugar alcohols are found in a variety of sugar-free foods, it's very likely that they are the cause of your troubles. For this reason, it's recommended that you limit your consumption of sugar alcohol-containing foods to no more than 75 calories per day.
- Give it more time. The South Beach Diet™ encourages increasing dietary fiber intake, and increased fiber leads to increased gas production. Once your body has grown accustomed to the increased fiber, gas production should settle down.
- Reduce gas-producing foods. If time doesn't correct the problem, you may need to identify and reduce problem foods. Beans, cauliflower, and cabbage are notorious gas producers. Try cutting back on the number of daily servings of each of these foods.
- Cut back on fiber supplementation. Taking a daily fiber supplement like Metamucil will also increase gas production. Try easing up on your daily use of these supplements and see if your gas problem clears up. If it does, you may want to cut back on your dosage of these supplements and concentrate more on getting fiber from natural sources.
- Pay a visit to your doctor. If none of the above culprits are responsible for your troubles, it may be time to see a doctor. Excessive gas production can also be attributed to lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, or antibiotic use. Your doctor should be able to help you figure out an appropriate solution.
