Intestinal Gas
The human large intestine, or colon, is home to many microorganisms, such as the bacterium Escherischia coli (E. coli). Certain kinds of foods contain large amounts of carbohydrates that our digestive enzymes cannot break down. When these carbohydrates reach the large intestine, our gut microbes respond by "having a party." The windfall of food spawns a rapid population growth in these organisms, which give off gases such as methane and hydrogen sulfide as natural by-products of their activities. This is the cause of the discomfort and flatulence associated with eating beans, cabbage, and other gas-promoting foods.Fortunately for gas sufferers, the enzymes that enable our microbes to break down complex carbohydrates are now available in pill form. If these are taken before a meal, the enzymes break down the carbohydrates in the small intestine so that they can be absorbed by the body before they reach the hungry throngs of bacteria living in the colon.