Acidity and gas can occur together, this is often referred to as the condition of heartburn and acidity and is closely linked to each other.
They can worsen the condition and certain underlying medical conditions further makes the condition critical.
Both prebiotics and probiotics support the helpful bacteria in the gut and maintain good colon health.
The link between acidity and gas
A person may be experiencing acidity and gas separately or combined with each other.
Although both the conditions are related o digestive issues they are necessarily caused by different reasons.
How do we identify acidity and gas?
Acidity or heartburn occurs as a common symptom of acid reflux, according to the data of the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases, an estimated 20% of people in the United States suffer from the condition, which is broadly termed gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Some of the common sensations associated with acidity are, pain and burning in the chest, burning feeling moving up to the throat, a sensation of tightening on the throat and chest, and at times sharp pain in the chest.
Whereas gas formation is a natural part of the digestive process in humans. Throughout the day, we pass gas multiple times through our mouth or rectum.
Gas can sometimes become trapped in the digestive canal because of swallowing or breaking down of food particles when it passes through the large intestine during the digestion process.
The foul smell in the gas is mainly caused by the bacteria of the digestive tract, which takes part in breaking down the food.
Foods that cannot be broken down by the body are taken up by the bacteria and as the volume of such food increases, the bacteria produce a stronger smell in the gas.
Role of prebiotics and probiotics:
Prebiotics and probiotics promote the beneficial bacteria in the colon which helps in digestion, thus keeping the issues of acidity and gas under control.
Prebiotics are abundantly available in fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, while probiotics are concentrated in fermented food products like yogurt, sauerkraut, and tempeh.
Prebiotics forms a component in the food that the body cannot digest on its own, this can form food for the beneficial micro biome in the gut.
Since the prebiotics promotes healthy probiotic concentration in the gut, it is linked with having better digestion, lesser antibiotic-related health issues, and certain other health benefits.
Some scientists suggest that the beneficial effects of prebiotics include, improved calcium absorption, quick processing of carbohydrates by the body supporting the probiotic gut bacteria growth that enhances metabolism and digestion.
Natural food sources for prebiotics and probiotics:
Some natural probiotic-rich food sources include yogurt, kefir, kimchi, kombucha, fermented buttermilk, and fermented cheese, like Gouda.
Ensuring enough prebiotics in the diet can be achieved by marinating a balanced diet that includes, high fiber foods, nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
The key takeaway:
Gas and acidity, if experienced occasionally is not a point of concern, as it forms a part of normal digestive processes.
However in case of severe and persistent conditions, one should seek medical help without delay. People who follow a healthy and well-rounded diet dos not require to consume any prebiotic or probiotic supplements, however in case one feels the need to review their diet, expert opinion should be considered.