Some patients have a nervous habit of belching frequently. To do this, they swallow air, which they then belch. Unfortunately, the patient seldom is able to belch out all of the swallowed air, thus producing intestinal gas. Rapid eating increases the amount of air that people swallow. Patients should pace their eating and chew each bite thoroughly.
Gum chewing and sucking on hard candies also increase the amount of air swallowed.
Patients should reduce these habits. The most well-known source of intestinal gas is certain foods, such as beans. These starches pass into the intestine, where bacteria normally found there can use them as a food source. When bacteria use them as food, they produce gas as a by-product. In addition to beans, such foods as broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts and cauliflower cause uncomfortable excess gas.