Let’s talk about bloating and gas—the great social equaliser. We’ve all been there, whether it’s the silent-but-deadly variety that makes you fear for your friendships or the earth-shaking, sofa-rattling type.

Now, we love to blame food. “Oh, it must’ve been the beans,” or “That garlic bread is trying to kill me!” But here’s the real kicker—food isn’t actually the problem.

🚨 It’s not what you eat but how well you digest it. 🚨

So, let’s break this down, functional medicine style, and figure out why Jenny (our fictional but very relatable friend) can’t seem to enjoy a meal without feeling like she’s inflating like a human balloon.

The Science of Gas: Why Some Farts Are Loud and Some Are Lethal

Loud, room-shaking farts? That’s hydrogen gas, created when gut bacteria ferment carbohydrates too early in the small intestine.
Silent-but-violent ones? That’s usually methane gas or fermenting protein, courtesy of slow gut motility or the wrong bacteria setting up camp.

Different gases = different underlying issues.

The Gas Breakdown: What Your Farts Are Telling You

So, if Jenny’s gas is silent and deadly, she might have slow digestion and methane-producing bacteria. If it’s loud and proud, hydrogen-dominant fermentation is likely to blame.

It’s Not the Food—It’s Your Digestion That’s Broken

Jenny used to eat apples, garlic, and lentils with zero issues. Now? A single bite, and she’s doubled over with bloating. The problem isn’t the food itself—it’s that her digestion isn’t working properly.

Here’s what might be going wrong under the hood:

1. Low Digestive Enzyme Production

Your body needs enzymes to break down food. Without them, food sits in your gut fermenting instead of digesting, creating gas and discomfort.

Why would someone have low enzymes?
1️⃣ Chronic stress – When your body is in “fight or flight” mode, digestion shuts down (because your body thinks you’re running from a lion, not eating a curry).
2️⃣ Pancreatic insufficiency The pancreas doesn’t make enough enzymes, often due to gut inflammation or long-term digestive issues.
3️⃣ Low stomach acid (HCl) – Stomach acid triggers enzyme production. If you have reflux, bloating, or undigested food in your stool, your acid might be too low, not too high.

🚀 Solution: Support digestion with bitter herbs and test enzyme levels before supplementing.

2. Leaky Gut & Immune Overreaction

If the gut lining is damaged, undigested food leaks into the bloodstream, triggering inflammation, bloating, and food sensitivities.

Signs of leaky gut:
You feel bloated after eating almost anything.
You react to multiple foods (even “safe” ones).
You get brain fog, fatigue, or skin flare-ups after meals.

🚀 Solution: Heal the gut lining with L-glutamine, zinc carnosine, collagen, and probiotics.

3. SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) or Dysbiosis

SIBO happens when bacteria overgrow in the small intestine, causing fermentation too early in digestion. This leads to excess hydrogen or methane gas.

Signs you might have SIBO:
You bloat more as the day goes on.
You feel 5 months pregnant after eating.
High-FODMAP foods (onions, apples, garlic) set you off.
Constipation? Likely methane-dominant SIBO. Diarrhoea? Likely hydrogen-dominant SIBO.

🚀 Solution: Test for SIBO with a breath test before taking random supplements. Use antimicrobial herbs (berberine, oregano, allicin) or a targeted protocol if positive.

Food Isn’t the Enemy—Your Digestion Needs Fixing

It’s tempting to cut out foods like beans, onions, and apples to avoid bloating. But the real solution isn’t to eliminate foods forever—it’s to fix the underlying issue.

When digestion works properly, you can eat without fear.

Functional Medicine Approach: Don’t Guess—Test First

🧪 Recommended Tests:
Comprehensive Stool Test (GI-MAP, GI Effects) – Checks gut bacteria, parasites, and pancreatic function.
SIBO Breath Test – Detects hydrogen/methane overgrowth.
Zonulin & Gut Permeability Test – Confirms leaky gut.

Once you’ve identified the root cause, you can solve the digestive mystery instead of just managing symptoms.

How to Improve Digestion & Beat Bloating

If your tests confirm enzyme deficiency, leaky gut, or SIBO, here’s what actually works:

1. Digestive Bitters (The Forgotten Secret)

Bitter herbs stimulate digestive juices, improving enzyme production and stomach acid levels naturally.

🌿 Best Digestive Bitters:
Gentian root – Boosts stomach acid & bile flow.
Swedish bitters – Supports overall digestion.
Dandelion root – Liver & bile support.
Artichoke leaf – Helps fat digestion.

🚀 How to Use: Take 15 minutes before meals to kickstart digestion.

2. Digestive Enzymes (Only If Needed)

✔ Low stomach acid? Betaine HCl + Pepsin.
✔ Low pancreatic enzymes? Lipase + Amylase + Protease.
✔ Struggle with fibre? Cellulase + Hemicellulase.

🚀 Pro Tip: Test before supplementing! If you don’t need them, they won’t help.

3. Heal the Gut (Not Just Suppress Symptoms)

✔ Leaky gut? L-glutamine, zinc carnosine, colostrum.
✔ Dysbiosis? Spore-based probiotics (e.g. Bacillus subtilis).
✔ Slow motility (Methane SIBO)? Ginger, prokinetics, magnesium citrate.

✔ Gas isn’t random—it’s a symptom of poor digestion.
✔ Food isn’t the problem. If digestion is working properly, you won’t react.
✔ Test first, treat second. No more random elimination diets!

Want to solve your bloating for good? Instead of guessing, let’s figure out what’s really going on.

Drop me a message if you want help getting to the root cause!