6 Things to address about your gas

6 Things to address about your gas

1. It stinks 2. It stinks 3. It stinks 4. It stinks ... I'm just kidding !

Well, actually yes, having a gas problem does stink ! - Pun intended :p  . It can make social outings unpleasant and uncomfortable, upset yourself esteem , among other effects, probably including you wondering why you have it . A certain amount of additional flatulence is pretty normal for a person who's recently changed their diet to vegan  . Not everyone has a gas issue but, I believe most of us do come across a temporary gas increase .

 Although, some of you may wonder when you are going through it , I tell you It's worth it in the long run ! Gas is normal and healthy however , that doesn't mean you will be having an amount that makes going out uncomfortable or smells up your whole house constantly, forever .  That is not normal but, is pretty normal while your body is adjusting to the change- many people experience it then . Some explanatory reasons are shared below as well as information about the factors that are in your control .
You don't have to add liquor to the fire ! And, you may unknowingly be making the transition phase worse than it needs to be !

#1 Eating too many beans (Western silliness about  protein )
Unfortunately western societies especially the U.S.A. have had it drilled in their heads that they must consume far more high protein foods on a regular basis then is not only necessary but , then is healthy . As a fitness trainer and a graduate of ecornell and Dr. T.Colin Campbell's plant- based nutrition course , I'm telling you the optimum amount of protein to consume is around 10 % of your calories . That means the other approximately 90% are best to be something else ( Carbohydrates and fat ) There is harm in consuming too much protein , it makes your kidneys exhausted as , they have to handle the excess . Consuming animal protein puts people over the threshold and gives them excess protein that is damaging not helpful ! So, far there's no evidence I'm aware of that indicates too much plant- protein will do this however , you can experience other problems - gas being one of them especially and particularly with beans . Consuming large amounts of nuts which someone thinking they need far more protein then they do may also do , is apt to give you, greasy skin ,  acne, and greasy hair more because, they are so high in fat then protein though .
So, don't go out in a fret concerned about getting enough protein ! You don't need to eat beans every day !
Basically , the only people vegan and non with protein deficiency are anorexics , and people who have severe food shortages - such as occurs in 3rd world countries . Essentially, If you are eating (food) you are getting enough protein just as, if you are breathing you are getting enough oxygen ! If you are a hypochondriac, get concerned you aren't getting enough greens and go on a kale and other dark leafy greens seeking mission constantly instead.
With all the messages out there it's not hard to understand why people do this protein panic thing but, it's a detrimental waste of time and you look so, silly and sad to those of us who know better .
Eat beans , lentils, seeds and other healthy high protein foods sure but, don't go crazy with them . The variety of colorful veggies are more important !

#2 Transitioning , detoxing , cleansing (fiber)
When people replace animal products which have no fiber ( a large part of the reason so, many non-vegan people are so constipated ) with more plants which all have fiber the digestive system works better ! It can function the way it's intended to which, is in a sense faster than when it's doing it's best to break down and process those gooey , sticky , clogging animal products ( efficiently may be a better term than faster  ) . Your digestive system; seeing your body full of toxins ( in fat tissues , organs and so forth ) and being able to do it's job more efficiently now will , having more time "looks around " finds toxins and flushes them out of your body . This can happen through an increase in oil or sweat on the skin and more urinating but, most often occurs through more bm and more gas . This is your body cleansing . It's a good thing ! It doesn't  continue to happen at the level of intensity it might in the beginning forever .

#3 Specific other foods
Certain vegetables and fruit are gassier than others and from person to person there seems to be some variation of sensitivities . For some people right now onions are no problem and easy enough to digest and yet for some they are a gas trigger . This doesn't mean you will never be able to eat these foods . It does mean though that you'd be best off to consider removing them or using them sparingly while your body re-adjusts and changes gears from coping with animal products ( hard work ) to working with more fiber like it's designed to and receiving all the good nutrients you are now giving it instead of trash .

#4 Exercise
Exercise particularly a 10 - 20 minute walk after eating helps with digestion . If you are basically sedentary you should know that incorporating regular exercise into your life will likely help . For an immediate and a direct bit of assistance with too much gas though take a quick walk after you eat .

# 5 Raw and cooked and processed
Our bodies don't digest or perform ideally when we take away from them ( or never gave them in the first place ) raw foods . There needs to be a decent ratio of raw to cooked unless you want to eat 100% raw . Cooking can in a few circumstances bring out nutrients as is the case with tomatoes . But, more times than not you are losing some in cooking and our bodies need the pure bestest form of nutrient rich food available AKA raw , just as it comes out of or off of the Earth . It makes sense when you think about it ! Doesn't it ? Processed foods have lost fiber and other nutrients the body uses to break down the rest of the food and adding it back in doesn't seem to be quite good enough .Some people have issues with 100% raw and I think this may be due to a type of adjusting as well but, I'm not an expert in the 100% raw food movement.
So, certainly don't just eat processed foods especially highly processed or you are asking your body to work long shifts and sleep less than 8 hours . What kind of boss does that make you ?! And , what kind of performance do you think you can expect to get out of your body , huh ?

#6 Speed (  Mindful eating principal - chew more eat slower , pace yourself )
 While mindful eating in all it's principals and as a whole can and is apt to help you and everyone else , one particular aspect or principal of mindful eating is going to get brought up here as , a factor on your gas situation . That is the pace at which you eat . Our culture has programmed us to eat ( as well as to do a great many other things ) fast .
  Think of employees with their 30 minute lunch breaks , fast food restaurants and so forth . If you wish to learn more about mindful eating ( which I highly recommend ) here are links to a couple articles I wrote about it - http://sabrinaswellnessbydesign.blogspot.com/2014/02/nurturing-your-food-mindful-eating.html
http://sabrinaswellnessbydesign.blogspot.com/2014/04/check-out-my-guest-blog-post-on-this.html
 When we are not rushed and take our time (which in these cultures means take more time than you think that means ! ) our digestive process is allowed to opporate from a more relaxed position . Think about yourself  . If someone rushes you through reading a book with a deadline that makes you basically use speed reading and read when you don't feel like it are you more or less likely to understand and absorb the information than when you are allowed to read a book at your leisure ? In essence, the point is when your digestive faculties are sent signals to rush . They don't do as mindful of a job as otherwise and a few of the results are - over eating ( because, your body hasn't got around to signaling to your brain you are full before you have stopped )-  added flatulence ( gas) , and - cramps .
 So, eating slower , chewing more realizing eating is not a race is helpful. It's an activity better not rushed through .