Feeling stomach grumbling is a fairly common experience, as explained in an interview by Dr. Beatrice Salvioli, gastroenterologist in Humanitas. Stomach grumbling is common when we are hungry, but also after meals. Let us see why.
“The thought, sight and smell of food stimulate the cerebral cortex, which sends nervous and hormonal messages to the stomach. The cells of the stomach produce excess gastric juices, which cause the grumbling we feel. In practice, the stomach emits those bubbles to alert us that the time has come to eat and that it is preparing to receive new food.
How to fight the grumblers?
A stomach that grumbles in public can cause some embarrassment, the doctor suggests: “Before an appointment or meeting, it may be helpful to avoid drinking carbonated drinks, both sweetened and the classic carbonated water, which could promote the formation of air in the belly. It would also be useful to keep something to nibble on hand, such as crackers and cookies.
If we eat something before an important event, to make sure that the stomach is “good” without making annoying noises, we must avoid chewing gum, vegetables and legumes that lead to an increase in gas in the stomach and intestines, and some fresh “sugary” fruits such as persimmons and plums, because they increase fermentation processes and therefore the gases responsible for the rumbling.
What happens after meals?
After meals, “If we fear that our belly may be noisy, we should beware of fruit that could cause problems if consumed at the end of a meal, especially if we have chosen fats that slow down digestion and result in greater intestinal fermentation. The choice of pineapple or papaya after a meal is good, because it helps the digestion of ingested proteins. Finally, it is good to pay attention to some foods such as legumes, cabbage, broccoli, onions, potatoes and artichokes because they can also promote fermentation and therefore it may become even more difficult to prevent the stomach from grumbling,” concludes the specialist.
