The two sources of GI tract gas and bloating are: Gas and
bloating due to exogenous gas Most people swallow air without
ever realizing that it’s happening. When air is introduced to
the stomach, most of the time it is released back up through the
esophagus and mouth, with a complicated series of motilities and
functions. The air that does not escape through belching, will
move into the intestinal tract, where small amounts are absorbed
into the blood stream and escape as vapors through exhaled air,
and the rest is passed through, as flatulence. Gas and bloating
due to endogenous gas Endogenous gas is a more complex culprit,
and while a certain amount is perfectly normal, much intestinal
gas can be prevented. The intestinal tract is enriched with as
many bacteria as there are cells in the body. However if these
friendly flora in the colon are out of balance due to a poor
diet, undigested food, or the overuse of many medications,
including antibiotics (aging is also a factor) then the bacteria
responsible for c