8 Reasons You're So, Um, Gassy

Unfortunately, many of the foods that are best for your health are also the most problematic for your gut. Fruits, vegetables and, of course, legumes contain high amounts of sugars called oligosaccharides that can't be digested by the enzymes in the small intestine, explains Yoshida. When these sugars are instead fermented by bacteria in the colon, they cause the production of hydrogen, which is what causes gas to be released in rapid-fire flatulence. Wheat and oat flour also revs up the production of hydrogen. However, it's worth making the change. "Eating healthy may make you feel a little bloated, but it will also decrease your risks of heart disease, colon polyps or colon cancer," says Yoshida. And there's a chance your body will become used to the increased gas production so that you won't feel quite so bloated and uncomfortable.