Stomach growling is one of the most common things. The stomach growling noises are related to your digestive system and indicate that the system is functioning. In other words, these noises occur when your digestive system is functioning. There may be times when you must have noticed your stomach growling after eating – this means that your digestive system is now processing the food consumed and facilitating nutrient absorption.
Generally, when your food reaches the digestive system, the body releases some enzymes to break the food and move the food in the digestive tract. The contracting of gut muscles causes a wave-like feeling, leading to stomach growling.
Stomach growling may at times cause considerable discomfort to you and can be difficult to cope with. However, until the stomach growling symptoms are not grave, there is no need to worry. You can get over this feeling with some minor distractions. Let’s dig deeper into this common condition.
Stomach Growling Causes
Stomach growling but not hungry? Stomach growling is mostly associated with hunger. However, many people complain about the fact that they can hear the stomach growling sounds even after dinner. Let’s understand every cause behind stomach growling:
1. Normal Digestion
The gurgling or the growling sound that you hear from within your body can be due to the normal digestion process. The air and liquid in the bowels and intestine while moving and contracting make an echo-like sound, leading to gurgling.
2. Hunger
If you are starving and have long hunger breaks, then there are high chances that you hear excessive stomach growling noises too frequently. It is a sign that your stomach, especially your small intestine, is empty for about two hours and it’s time to feed it with some good food.
3. Gastrointestinal Disorder
Stomach growling noises can also be caused by a gastrointestinal disorder like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and poor digestion. IBS can also cause other digestive problems like diarrhoea, bloating, gas, and more. Understanding stomach growling symptoms can enable you to raise the right alarm and get the medical attention on time.
4. Food Intolerances
If you are intolerant to a particular food type, then too you can hear stomach growling noises. Some of the common food ingredients that can lead to stomach growling include:
- Gluten
- Dairy products
- Beans and legumes
- Certain fruits and vegetables
- High-fibre whole grains
Breathing difficulties can also cause stomach growling noises.
5. Intestinal Blockage
Excessive and loud stomach growling noises can be an indicator of a bowel blockage. It means that your food is not getting properly digested and is not able to move freely from the stomach to the intestines and rectum. A lot of times stomach growling due to an intestinal blockage is accompanied by cramping in your abdomen, loss of appetite, abdominal swelling, unable to pass the stool, vomiting, etc. It is essential to keep a track on stomach growling closely and identify the stomach growling causes in order to proceed with the right stomach growling remedies or seek timely medical attention.
Effective Remedies for Stomach Growling
Stomach growling noises can be tackled easily. Eating right and thoughtfully should be one of the major steps that you must take to stop stomach growling immediately. There are various stomach growling medicines and supplements that can ease stomach growling intensity and frequency. However, they should be consumed with a lot of agility.
Trying some tried and tested stomach growling remedies can enable one to take care of the causes without much stress.
Here are some of the most effective stomach growling remedies:
1. Avoid Gas-Causing Foods
Foods that can cause digestive distress and gas should be avoided to reduce the intensity of stomach growling. Avoiding alcohol, beans, broccoli, sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, mushrooms, whole grains etc. can help you reduce the symptoms. Also, maintaining a food journal can be one of the greatest steps towards thoughtful eating. It can help you decode foods triggering stomach noises.
2. Eat Tiny but Frequent Meals
Hunger is one of the major stomach growling causes. Thus, ensure your stomach is not empty for much longer. Also, digesting large meals is hard as compared to short and light meals. Thus, it is advised to have smaller several meals throughout the day to avoid stomach growling and digestive issues. Larger meals may be harder to digest.
3. Chew and Eat Slowly
The key to good digestion is eating slowly and chewing your food properly. Eating slowly and chewing every bite of your food can facilitate the nutrient absorption and help you reduce stomach growling.
4. Say No to Artificial Sweeteners
Sorbitol in artificial sweeteners can lead to intestinal noises and digestive issues. Thus, you must avoid gummies, sodas, carbonated drinks, and candies.
5. Practise Breathing Exercises
Improve your digestive health by practising various abdominal breathing exercises. Stay fit, stay healthy, and keep a watch on your fitness and eating routine to say goodbye to excessive stomach growling.
Conclusion
Now, if you ask why is my stomach growling so much, then surely you will have all the answers. Stomach Growling is a normal and common symptom of digestion. There are many causes of the same. One should not be worried about stomach noises unless it is accompanied with other discomforting symptoms of a major intestinal or digestive disorder. However, one must take preventive steps and pay attention to the overall digestive health to avoid problems in future and promote healthy well-being.
