Causes of Flatulence

Flatulence has many everyday causes. Most are harmless and linked to diet or habits.

Swallowed air

• Eating or drinking quickly
• Chewing gum, sucking sweets or drinking through straws
• Fizzy drinks
• Smoking
• Loose dentures

Foods that ferment in the gut

• Beans, lentils, chickpeas and other pulses
• Onions, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli
• Wheat, bran and some whole grains
• Fruits such as apples and pears
• Sugar alcohols such as sorbitol in sugar-free products
• Dairy in people who cannot digest lactose

Digestive conditions

• Lactose intolerance and other food intolerances
• Constipation, which lets stool sit and ferment
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Coeliac disease (gluten-related)
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Gut infections, such as giardia
• Pancreatic problems that affect digestion, which are less common

Other causes

• Some medicines, including certain antibiotics, metformin and fibre supplements
• Stress and anxiety, which can increase air swallowing and gut sensitivity
• A sudden increase in fibre intake

The Ayurvedic view

Ayurveda links excess gas to Vata imbalance and weak digestive fire (mandagni), with terms such as adhmana (distension). This is a traditional, interpretive framework.

Why it matters

Spotting the trigger, for example a food or a habit, is often the quickest way to relief.

Pregnancy and ageing

Hormones in pregnancy slow the gut and raise gas. With age, digestion slows and lactose tolerance may fall, so gas can increase gradually.