You’re sitting in a quiet meeting or perhaps on a first date, and suddenly, it happens. That familiar, gurgling pressure starts to build. It feels like a literal balloon is inflating under your ribs, and the only thing you’re thinking is: how can i get rid of gas in my stomach before I actually explode?
It's uncomfortable. It's embarrassing. Honestly, it’s just plain distracting.
Gas isn't just one thing. It's a mix of swallowed air and the byproduct of your gut bacteria having an absolute field day with that kale salad you had for lunch. While everyone farts—roughly 14 to 23 times a day according to the Mayo Clinic—sometimes the air gets trapped. When it stays put, you get that sharp, stabbing pain or the "distension" that makes your jeans feel three sizes too small.
The "Right Now" Fixes for Trapped Gas
If you are currently pacing your living room wondering how to get relief in the next ten minutes, stop pacing and start moving with intention. Gravity and body positioning are your best friends here.
Most people just sit there and suffer. Don't do that. Try the "Child’s Pose" from yoga. You drop to your knees, sit back on your heels, and fold forward until your forehead touches the floor. This position compresses the abdomen slightly while relaxing the pelvic floor, which basically creates a clear exit ramp for trapped air. Another solid move is the "Happy Baby"—lying on your back and grabbing your feet. It looks ridiculous, but it works because it aligns the lower digestive tract in a way that allows gas to move toward the exit.
Heat helps too. A heating pad or even a hot water bottle placed directly on the belly can relax the muscles in the gut. When those muscles are tense or cramping, gas can't move. By relaxing the smooth muscle tissue of the intestines (the enteric nervous system), you’re effectively greasing the wheels for that air to pass through.
Peppermint is another heavy hitter. But not just any peppermint. You want enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology highlighted how peppermint oil acts as an antispasmodic. It relaxes the "valves" in your digestive system. If you just drink tea, it might help a little, but the concentrated oil is where the magic happens for serious bloating. Just be careful if you have GERD, as peppermint can sometimes relax the esophageal sphincter and give you heartburn.
✨ Don't miss: 2025 Radioactive Shrimp Recall: What Really Happened With Your Frozen Seafood
Why Your Stomach Is a Gas Factory
We need to talk about why this is happening in the first place. You’re likely doing one of two things: swallowing too much air (aerophagia) or eating stuff your bacteria can't handle.
Aerophagia sounds like a fancy disease, but it’s basically just "air eating." Do you chew gum? Drink through straws? Talk while you’re eating? Every time you do that, you’re gulping down nitrogen and oxygen. That air doesn't just disappear. It has to go somewhere. If it doesn't come back up as a burp, it travels through thirty feet of intestines. That’s a long journey for a bubble.
Then there’s the food.
We’ve all heard about beans. But the real culprits often fly under the radar. Take cruciferous vegetables—broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage. They contain a complex sugar called raffinose. Humans lack the enzyme to break down raffinose in the small intestine. So, it travels whole into the large intestine where your gut bacteria fall upon it like a pack of wolves. The byproduct of that feast? Hydrogen, methane, and sometimes sulfur. That's the gas.
The FODMAP Connection
If you feel like you’re constantly asking how can i get rid of gas in my stomach regardless of what you eat, you might be sensitive to FODMAPs. This stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols. It’s a mouthful, but basically, these are short-chain carbohydrates that the small intestine sucks at absorbing.
Monash University in Australia has done some incredible work on this. They found that for people with IBS or general gut sensitivity, cutting out high-FODMAP foods can be a game-changer.
🔗 Read more: Barras de proteina sin azucar: Lo que las etiquetas no te dicen y cómo elegirlas de verdad
- Garlic and Onions: These are huge triggers. They contain fructans. Even a little bit of garlic powder can trigger a massive gas response in sensitive people.
- Artificial Sweeteners: Check your sugar-free gum. Sorbitol, xylitol, and erythritol are sugar alcohols. Your body can't really digest them, but your bacteria sure can.
- Dairy: Lactose intolerance isn't always a "run to the bathroom" situation. Sometimes it's just a slow-burn gas build-up because you lack the lactase enzyme.
Over-the-Counter Saviors
Sometimes lifestyle tweaks aren't enough and you need the pharmacy.
Simethicone is the active ingredient in products like Gas-X. It doesn’t actually "remove" the gas from your body. Instead, it acts as a surfactant. It breaks up the surface tension of small gas bubbles, merging them into larger bubbles that are easier to pass. It’s basically like turning a thousand tiny, painful bubbles into one big one that you can actually move.
If the problem is the food itself, enzymes are the answer. Beano contains alpha-galactosidase, which is the enzyme you need to break down that pesky raffinose in beans and veggies. You have to take it with the first bite, though. Taking it after the gas has already formed is like trying to put out a fire after the house has already burned down.
Activated charcoal is another option, though the science is a bit more mixed. Some people swear by it for absorbing excess gas, but it can also turn your stool black and interfere with other medications you might be taking. Always check with a doctor before making charcoal a habit.
The Long Game: Fixing Your Gut
If you’re dealing with this every single day, you have to look at your "migrating motor complex" (MMC). This is the electrical wave that sweeps through your GI tract between meals. It’s the "housekeeper" of the gut. If you graze all day and never give your gut a break, the MMC never gets to do its job, and debris (and gas) just sits there.
Try to leave 3–4 hours between meals. This gives your system time to clear itself out.
💡 You might also like: Cleveland clinic abu dhabi photos: Why This Hospital Looks More Like a Museum
Also, consider your fiber intake. Fiber is good, right? Usually. But if you suddenly jump from eating zero fiber to eating 30 grams a day, your gut is going to freak out. You have to "low and slow" your way into a high-fiber diet. If you’re currently bloated, back off the raw veggies and go for cooked ones. Cooking breaks down some of those tough fibers before they even hit your mouth, doing half the work for your stomach.
When to Actually Worry
I'm not a doctor, but I’ve read enough clinical journals to know that gas isn't always just "gas."
Most of the time, it’s just a byproduct of a tuna sandwich. But if the gas is accompanied by "red flag" symptoms, you need to book an appointment. We’re talking about unexplained weight loss, blood in your stool, or pain so sharp it wakes you up at night. These can be signs of Celiac disease, Crohn's, or even a bowel obstruction.
Also, SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is becoming a much more common diagnosis. This happens when bacteria that should be in your large intestine migrate up into the small intestine. They start fermenting food way too early in the process, leading to extreme bloating almost immediately after eating. If you feel like you look six months pregnant after every meal, ask your doctor for a breath test.
Practical Steps for Immediate and Long-term Relief
Don't just read this and go back to chewing your sugar-free gum. Take action.
- The 2-Minute Walk: After your next meal, don't sit on the couch. Walk for just two to five minutes. It stimulates peristalsis—the muscle contractions that move food and gas through your system.
- Ditch the Bubbles: Stop drinking carbonated water for three days. Just three days. See if the "how can i get rid of gas in my stomach" question goes away. Often, we are literally pouring gas into our bodies and wondering why we feel gassy.
- The Ginger Trick: Chew on a small piece of fresh ginger or drink ginger tea. Ginger is a "prokinetic," meaning it helps speed up gastric emptying. The faster food leaves your stomach, the less time it has to sit and ferment.
- Slow Down: Set a timer for 15 minutes for your next meal. Force yourself to chew until your food is basically liquid. Digestion starts in the mouth with salivary amylase. If you skip the chewing, your stomach has to work twice as hard, creating more gas.
- Try a Magnesium Supplement: Specifically Magnesium Citrate or Glycinate. It helps relax the muscles of the digestive tract and can keep things moving if constipation is the underlying cause of your gas.
Gas is a biological reality, but it shouldn't run your life. By combining physical movement, targeted enzymes like alpha-galactosidase, and a better understanding of your specific food triggers—like those hidden FODMAPs—you can actually get your gut under control. Start with the Child's Pose today, and maybe leave the onions off your burger tonight. Your stomach will thank you.