I know this may sound silly, but not only can your body talk, it also does – frequently! Whether or not we listen is an entirely different story. Our bodies try to tell us things in a number of different ways – through aches and pains, growls and gurgles and… you guessed it, toots!

I am a new mom and am sure all of you with your own kids know life becomes consumed with gas and poop. For me, I’ve been on a constant search for answers – what could be causing it? And is it as simple as changing MY diet? The answer can be yes, so, I thought I would enlighten you about the fascinating things your gas and bloating might be telling you.

Whether you feel bloated, gassy or both, it’s important to keep track of when, how often and how much. Knowing if it’s worse by the end of the day, or if you feel it consistently throughout can help identify the root problem, as well as how significant an issue it may be.

This is what your body could be telling you:

1. Food sensitivities: Foods you consume in your diet may be causing your discomfort. These are unique to you, so it’s imperative you identify them.  This is a simple one-pinprick blood test that can be done in office with a Naturopathic Doctor.  If you are a breastfeeding mom, your sensitivities could be impacting your baby’s digestion.
2. Low stomach acid: This is a common problem often overlooked. The two main symptoms of low stomach acid are gas and bloating.  Again, this can be identified with simple testing and is easily treated with stomach acid supplementation.
3. Poor enzyme concentration: Often times, this comes in conjunction with low stomach acid.  Poor enzyme concentration can be identified from symptoms described by a patient and treated with supplementation in meals.
4. Poor gut flora: There may be a need for probiotic supplementation, as this can greatly improve proper digestion and eliminate gas.  Another cause of bloating is something we call leaky gut syndrome.  It means larger particles of food are being absorbed and water follows along with it (osmosis).  This can be very easily combated by ensuring the good bacteria is lining the tract and not allowing for leaking of larger particles of food from the small intestine.
5. Food triggers: Some foods have been identified to cause gas, such as dairy products, cabbage, garlic, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, legumes and a high protein diet.  Gluten-containing grains seem to cause a lot of people bloating. Try eliminating gluten for two weeks to see if you notice a difference.

Often times we over look those low-grade, everyday symptoms and disregard them, thinking that there is nothing we can do about them. We just live day-to-day uncomfortably. But this is simply not the case. We are meant to be in optimal health and slight dietary alterations can greatly improve how we feel.  We are what we eat and how you feel after a meal can tell you a great deal about your state of health.  So do some investigation and be done with the annoyances of having gas or feeling bloated.

Naturopathic Doctors are highly educated in digestive health and address the importance of optimal digestion with their patients.  Speak to an ND about how to optimize your digestion and learn how your current dietary and lifestyle habits are impacting your digestive health.

Dr. Michelle

Dr. Michelle Peris is a Naturopathic Doctor whose goal is to inspire health through educating, motivating and empowering people.  She has a family based practice out of a clinic in Oakville, Ontario.

Contact Dr. Michelle today to book your 15 minute complimentary consult.