Hello, this is Dr. Ellen. In this month’s newsletter, I want to tell you about a new supplement designed to decrease gastrointestinal gas and bloating. This is a problem I have addressed with so many of my patients over the years. It is an extremely common problem that also accompanies irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other so-called ‘functional’ bowel problems (i.e., they are diagnosed without specific conventional test findings). Let’s take a look at this issue and at a new digestive enzyme-based supplement I now offer on my website to help decrease the problem.
By the way, if you haven’t had a chance to see my previous newsletters, you can find them on my website, www.drellencutler.com under ‘Free Resources’.
Causes of Gas, Bloating, and Flatulence
Almost all people have experienced gastrointestinal discomfort secondary to the presence of too much gas in the gut. Although gas can accumulate in the gut from swallowing too much air when eating (aerophagia), by far the leading cause of uncomfortable excess gas leading to bloating and flatulence is the overproduction of gas in the bowels. The bacteria that live in the gut (the microbiota) normally (and beneficially) produce this gas as a byproduct of the fermentation of what would otherwise be undigested food. The resulting fermentation products are very important to our health and wellbeing.
A number of factors can lead to the production of excess gas in the gut. For us to absorb the essential nutrients from the foods we eat, they need to be properly digested. This requires the breakdown of these foods into absorbable nutrients. The process begins in the mouth, where adequate chewing of the food and initial exposure to moistening (saliva) and digestion take place. Foods need to be adequately chewed to break them down into much smaller pieces and particles, allowing greater surface area to be exposed to digestive enzymes throughout the digestive process. Too much water and other liquids may dilute available digestive enzymes as well.
People with IBS can be extremely sensitive to gas, which can cause pain, cramping, and diarrhea. Another condition that was more recently identified is small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Most healthy people have relatively few bacteria in the small intestine. Those with SIBO have, as the name implies, an overgrowth of bacteria in their small intestines.(1) They are often initially diagnosed as having IBS with diarrhea, and SIBO may in fact be a major underlying cause of IBS.(2)
However, the most common problem underlying excess gas production is due to fermentation of undigested food, primarily in the large intestines. This is especially true with specific types of food, particularly those containing highly fermentable single or short-chained saccharides (carbohydrates) and/or sugar alcohols. Examples are beans and other legumes, dairy products, fruits and honey, and erythritol. Excess gas production can be helped by avoiding the foods causing the problem. For some, a diet that restricts most of the highly fermentable foods, referred to as a low FODMAP diet, can be helpful,(1) but it is restrictive and requires planning to ensure avoidance of high FODMAP foods while getting adequate nutrients. In my clinical practice, I use Ellen Cutler Method (ECM) energetic testing to identify the problematic foods and ECM clearing methods to help reduce or eliminate the food and related sensitivities. I also recommend a plant-based full spectrum digestive enzyme blend at the beginning of each meal to further aid in decreasing the sensitivities.
ECM GasEnd Supreme
For those with uncomfortable excess gas causing bloating and flatulence, I recommend ECM GasEnd Supreme. It contains a plant-based full spectrum digestive enzyme blend to supplement the digestive enzymes naturally produced by the body. It also contains α-galactosidase to help digest the α-galactosides (short-chained saccharides) in beans and other legumes(3), as well as cellulase (and hemicellulase), which may significantly increase the number of beneficial gut bacteria.(4) Additionally, ECM GasEnd Supreme contains three herbal extracts – Fennel seeds(5) and caraway seeds,(6) which have traditionally been used as carminative agents (i.e., for relief of flatulence) and dandelion leaf, used traditionally as a digestive stimulant.(7)
I have received feedback from those using ECM GasEnd Supreme and almost all have experienced great results with it. Even my ECM testing has shown improvements in specific food sensitivities attributable to the plant-based full spectrum digestive enzyme blend. The only real problem we have had with it is keeping it in stock! I highly recommend it for those with uncomfortable excess gas causing bloating and flatulence.
Please be well, be healthy, but remember…
“… Researchers are finding evidence that irritation in the gastrointestinal system may send signals to the central nervous system (CNS) that trigger mood changes.
These new findings may explain why a higher-than-normal percentage of people with IBS [irritable bowel syndrome] and functional bowel problems develop depression and anxiety. That’s important data, because up to 30% to 40% of the population has functional bowel problems at some point.”
― https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection
Dr. Ellen
