Excess wind

Each day a human produces 1-2.5 litres of intestinal gas, passing wind 12-20 times.

Excess wind can cause bloating, distension pain and embarrassing intestinal noises known as borborygmi. Bowel gases come from several different sources, including fizzy drinks (avoid) and swallowing air, but most are produced in the large bowel from bacterial fermentation of dietary fibre.

There is no real medical treatment for excess wind, although your doctor may recommend peppermint oil. Some people lack the right enzymes to digest certain foods, especially dairy products, which require the enzyme lactase to break down milk sugar (lactose). If you don't produce enough lactase, lactose sugar is not absorbed and instead passes down to the large bowel where it is fermented by colonic bacteria to produce wind and loose motions. If symptoms improve dramatically on cutting out milk products, seek medical advice.

Self-help measures:

• Avoid 'windy' foods such as: beans, lentils, onions, beans, celery, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts; raisins, bananas and apricots.
• Supplements that could help:
• Ginger helps to relieve flatulence.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

IBS affects at least a third of the population at some time, even if only mildly. According to the criteria used to diagnose the condition, there must be at least 12 weeks of symptoms (which need not be consecutive) in the preceding year, with abdominal discomfort that is:

• Relieved with defecation;
• Associated at onset with a change in frequency of stool;
• Associated at onset with a change in form (appearance) of stool.

The following symptoms also support the diagnosis of IBS: 

• Fewer than three bowel movements a week;
• More than three bowel movements a day;
• Hard or lumpy stools;
• Loose (mushy) or watery stools;
• Straining during a bowel movement;
• Urgency (having to rush to have a bowel movement);
• Feeling of incomplete bowel movement;
• Passing mucus (white material) during a bowel movement;
• Abdominal fullness, bloating or swelling.

Some people have predominantly loose bowels, some are predominantly constipated, while some have intermittent episodes of both.

IBS is not a condition you should diagnose yourself, as similar symptoms can occur in other more serious bowel problems needing medical or surgical treatment. If you think you may have IBS or notice changes in your bowel habit, always seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Medical treatment:

•     Painkillers, anti-spasmodic drugs and treatments to help diarrhoea or constipation.

Supplements that could help:

• Probiotic supplements provide friendly, lactic-acid producing digestive bacteria which discourage the presence of other less beneficial microbes.
• Cynara artichoke improves digestion of dietary fats by stimulating bile flow. It has been shown to reduce IBS-like symptoms by over 70 per cent within an average of ten days.
• Aloe vera has a soothing effect on bowel function. It normalises bowel contraction, improves protein digestion and absorption, aids stool bulk and promotes a healthy balance of bowel bacteria.
• Psyllium husks provide additional fibre that can help overcome both diarrhoea and constipation.
• Peppermint oil improves digestion by stimulating secretion of digestive juices and bile, and also relaxes excessive spasm of the smooth muscle lining the digestive tract. Peppermint helps to relieve intestinal cramps, flatulence and is widely prescribed for IBS.

IMPORTANT: Any persistent change in bowel habit should always be reported to your doctor. If you pass blood in your bowel motions, tell your doctor as soon as possible.

Dr Sarah Brewer is the author of Eat to Beat IBS (Thorsons) which also includes 60 recipes by Michelle Berriedale-Johnson.