This is the chapter from my book 'The Best Things To Eat and Drink When You Fly' on Flatulence. I hope it gives those of you who fly frequently some helpful insights and practical tips on this delicate topic. :)
Chapter 4 -- Flatulence, aka
‘Gas’
Bottoms up! A common toast to good health – quite
pertinent to this topic J
Go on…. feel free. …come out with it…. (no puns intended)….say
it --it’s gross!
Being the recipient of second-hand gas, or even the
protagonist of a single-whammy ‘great escape’ or a series of silent ‘releases’,
is embarrassing, unpleasant, and, at times, upsetting – especially if the
emission(s) are particularly pungent or foul L And, admit it, we all have our usual ways on
how we deal with it when it happens: 1) stay aloof acting as if nothing happened,
2) shake our head with a grimacing frown -- while motioning to the person in
front of us, next to us, behind us, across from us – indicating to our seat-
and cabin-mates that we ‘knowingly’ disapprove, 3) the blink-quick apology,
hoping it ‘all’ goes away fast and all is forgotten and forgiven – ah – at
least, until the next ‘event’ happens.
Flatulence does not discriminate. It occurs in first, business,
world, premier, club, ‘whatever’ class just as often, if not more so, than in
economy. It afflicts CEOs. presidents, top executives, lords and ladies, famous
celebrities, and ‘whomever’ who sit in the luxuriously spacious and revered
private seats and cabins at the front of the plane , as much as it does the
folk who sit in economy, at the back.
My worst encounter was the one time, by a stroke of luck, I
flew first class. The obvious ‘top man’ type across from me was pleasant enough
while we were sitting. But, then, a couple hours into the flight, he undressed
in full-sight, put pajamas on, tucked himself comfortably in his cot, and slept
like a baby for the rest of the ten hour journey. I, on the other hand, not
only didn’t sleep a wink after this, but had to endure his snoring and frequent
‘releases’, up until 20 minutes before we landed! It was the most horrible
flight I’ve ever had! The silver lining in that story is that I no longer pine
for a first-class ticket.
There’s more good news. People, I believe, generally do not
intentionally want or set out to be
crudely insensitive or offensive to others. The fact of the matter is – it’s physics! That is, there are clear,
well-founded explanations as to why we feel ‘gassier’ -- why we accumulate a
greater amount of flatulence -- when we fly. As altitude increases, pressure
decreases. And, according to the laws of thermodynamics, when pressure
decreases, volume increases – including our bowel air volume!
So, increased bowel air volume
does not discriminate. No matter who you are, what shape you’re in, what your
muscle: fat ratio is, what your knowledge of air etiquette is, and what you’ve
eaten or drunk been before your flight, you will feel the effects of this
‘ideal gas law’. But, there are things you can do to minimize flatulence – modify how much you produce-- and/or to neutralize it -- modify how foul or
pungent your gas will be.
Dietary Modifications To Prevent or Minimize Flatulence
1)
Although cruciferous vegetables are highly recommended
as part of an optimal healthy diet, it is best to avoid cruciferous vegetables
like broccoli, cabbage, kale, bok choi, the day or two before and during flying.
Here is a more complete list of cruciferous vegetables:
Cruciferous Vegetables
- Arugula
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Chinese cabbage
- Collard greens
- Daikon radish
- Horseradish
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Land cress
- Mustard greens
- Radish
- Rutabaga
- Shepherd's purse
- Turnip
- Watercress
2)
Avoid foods that are notoriously known for producing large amounts of gas, such
as beans, lentils, starchy peas, other pulses, onions and artichokes; the
cruciferous vegetables mentioned above; some fruits, particularly raisins,
apples, prunes; some breads and high-fiber foods; and dairy products. You probably know, yourself, what particular
foods give you gas, so, avoid them before you fly!
For beans and foods made with
beans, like chili, Beano supplements can help decrease gas and may even help
with decreasing gas in other foods.
Other foods and drinks
containing sweeteners called sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, (such as
sugar-free gum or slimming products), or a type of sugar called fructose
(such as the sugar in fruit juice), can also cause flatulence. In Chapter 6–Other GI Issues, there is a special diet
that helps people who suffer from functional gastrointestinal upset for no particular
known reason, called the FODMAP-free
diet. Foods and ingredients high in
FODMAPs (which stands for ‘fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides,
monosaccharides, and polyols’) can aggravate the occurrence of painful gas.
Have a look at this diet and if you see foods on the list that cause you
increased gas, avoid them and choose from the ‘suitable alternatives’ list: FODMAP-free
diet http://www.ibsgroup.org/brochures/fodmap-intolerances.pdf
3) Be well-hydrated! Drink still water or another type of still, flat
fluid – 8 oz. (240 ml) for every
hour of flight—water is best, but electrolyte-rich drinks are also good
provided they do not contain too much sugar. Avoid carbonated beverages, too
much coffee or tea, except for herbal teas and infusions, especially, ginger
and peppermint teas, both of which have been found to settle gaseous intestines.
Avoid excessive alcoholic drinks.
4) Avoid milk and milk products,
especially if you know you are prone to feeling gassy with these foods, even if
you are not lactose-intolerant. Lact-Aid supplements can help decrease gas from
milk and milk products.
Yogurt, especially plain yogurt
that contains live bacterial cultures, should be well-tolerated. Yogurt(s)
containing live cultures are part of a group of foods called probiotics, which have been known to
help relieve flatulence. Probiotic foods are those that involve fermentation in
their production; including miso, pickles, sauerkraut and fermented dairy
products such as yogurt, as stated above, and kefir. Other probiotics include:
sourdough bread, tempeh, sauerkraut, onions, oats.
Of course, any probiotics, such as
onions, that may be gas-producing, need to be avoided while in flight.
5) Eat as basic, fresh, and as balanced as you can! Eating a
well-balanced diet in portions that are appropriate for your needs will help
you feel lighter and more comfortable for flying. For more specific guidelines on
how you can do this, see Chapter 3 on Weight Management and Control. Eating
healthy enhances overall gastrointestinal health and will enable a healthy
bowel movement before your flight. This often decreases gas and flatulence.
Avoid rich, fatty, too-sugary,
fried foods and foods that are too spicy. All of these types of foods may
interfere with your ability to have a good, thorough bowel movement before your
flight.
6) It is also important to chew
foods well and to avoid gulping and eating too quickly to decrease the
probability of swallowing air between bites and sips.. Dividing meals into
smaller, more frequent ‘feedings’ also may help.
7) Avoid chewing gum while in
flight as this increases the probability of swallowing air. If you want to chew
gum to freshen your breath, wait until it’s almost time to land.
Taking over-the-counter charcoal
pills and tablets have also been suggested to decrease flatulence during flights.
There are some attempts to try to install charcoal filters in seat cushions and
blankets on airplanes to control unpleasant odors and effects of the inevitable
increased flatulence associated with air travel.
Just having an awareness of the
intestinal challenges we face when airborne is a great help that will guide our
choices away from foods that will increase flatulence. Flatulence will happen,
nonetheless, but at least we will be more empathetic and forgiving toward one
another as, we’re all in the same boat on this one – I mean – plane! J
References:
Eating cruciferous vegetables may lower inflammation
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/28/us-cruciferous-vegetables-idUSBREA2R18D20140328
List of cruciferous vegetables http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=btnews&dbid=126
Top gas-producing foods http://www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health-pictures/7-top-gas-producing-foods.aspx#/slide-1
Probiotics and Prebiotics http://nutrition-now.com/2009/06/probiotics-healthy-digestion-healthy-immune-system/
Five Foods To Avoid Before Flying.
http://www.independenttraveler.com/travel-tips/air-travel/five-foods-to-avoid-before-flying
Ways To Reduce and Neutralize Flatulence http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/3-ways-to-reduce-and-neutralize-flatulence/
Pommergaard HC, Burcharth J, Fischer A, et al. Flatulence on
airplanes: just let it go. N Z Med J 2013 Feb 15; 126(1369)68-74.
Causes of Flatulence http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Flatulence/Pages/Causes.aspx
Let Your Flatulence Fly
http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/let-your-flatulence-fly-scientists-urge-passengers-1C8431651,
Flatulence on Planes http://www.farecompare.com/news/scientists-study-flatulence-on-planes/
FODMAP-free diet http://www.ibsgroup.org/brochures/fodmap-intolerances.pdf
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