What causes some people to have more flatulence than others? Does this indicate a health problem?
Flatulence can be caused by several different factors, usually from the food that you eat. Certain foods create more gases when being broken down than others. Here are some examples of what can cause flatulence: Foods rich in fiber These include fruits, beans, peas and oat bran. Foods containing fructose Fructose is a simple sugar that occurs naturally in many fruits, especially figs, dates, prunes, pears and grapes. It’s also found in smaller amounts in onions, asparagus, artichokes and wheat. Fructose sometimes is added as a sweetener to soft drinks, fruit drinks, and some cookies and cakes. Vegetables containing raffinose Raffinose is a complex sugar found in many cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower) and in beans. Beans also contain stachyose, another form of poorly digested sugar. Sorbitol Sorbitol is used to sweeten many sugar-free gums and candies, and it also may be added as an inert ingredient to medicines. Dairy products containing lactose,
