Charco Caps - Say Goodbye Naturally to Gas, Pressure and Bloating

With summer coming to an end, the crisp autumn weather will soon be upon us. While we may not be as active as we were during the summer months, it’s still very important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine. Now’s the perfect time to trade in your swim suit for a bike and hit the trails. Head to your local farmer’s market for some fresh fruits and vegetables; but be ware… healthy food is often gassy food.

Though it may seem obvious, what a person eats can directly affect the amount of gas they experience. Whether you’re a healthy eater or trying out the latest fad diet, it’s important to realize that most food that is good for you causes gas, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

According to gastroenterologist Patricia Raymond, MD, here are some guidelines for reducing and preventing gas:

* Take Your Time: When eating, make sure you chew food well and eat slowly to avoid excess swallowed   air. “Most of the gas that is passed during the day is caused from swallowed air that results from chewing gum, drinking carbonated beverages, or eating or drinking too quickly,” explains Dr. Raymond.

* Limit Gassy Foods: Carbohydrates (sugars, fiber, starches) are difficult to digest and often cause flatulence. Foods, such as cabbage, beans, and onions are common foods that cause gas. If you decide to eat gassy foods, make sure to do it in moderation or opt for foods that cause less gas, such as foods with fat and protein.

* Avoid Fad Diets: Some weight-loss diets, such as the Cabbage Soup Diet, require limiting or eating more of certain food groups. This can cause an imbalanced diet and the extra intake of foods, such as cabbage, can increase gas.

* Start a Food Journal: Keep track of your daily diet by downloading the new online food journal. This can be useful to monitor the symptoms you’ve experienced and figure out potential causes of gas after eating or drinking certain foods or beverages. But remember, it can take 4-6 hours for a portion of a meal to be released as gas.

* Use Activated Charcoal: If you do eat a gassy food, take an over-the-counter activated charcoal capsule, such as CharcoCaps Homeopathic AntiGas Formula, immediately. The activated charcoal will adsorb the gas and the odor, providing fast relief of gas discomfort, pressure and bloating.

Visit the CharcoCaps Video Library to view informational videos with Dr. Raymond, including one on using a food diary to determine the cause of your gas.

And don’t forget to take the Gas Etiquette Quiz for a chance to win a monthly pre-paid gas(oline) card (while supplies last).

The information provided by Dr. Raymond and posted on the CharcoCaps Web site is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a personal medical diagnosis or formal medical advice by Dr. Raymond. Please see your physician for evaluation.

CharcoCaps is proud to announce the CharcoCaps Intestinal Gas Relief initiative, allowing you to access the new interactive CharcoCaps Food Diary, as well as the informative “Intestinal Gas Relief” Video Series. These new Web features include Patricia Raymond, M.D., gastroenterologist, author and assistant professor of Clinical Internal Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School, who will help address how activated charcoal works, as well as how to determine the cause of the gas and eliminate jet bloat.

When people experience gas pains, they are often embarrassed to talk about it, even though it is very natural and something we all experience. The Intestinal Gas Relief video series and food journal is a great way to educate everyone of the common causes of gas.

If managing gas is a problem, keeping a food diary is important in determining what the culprit might be, since it can be brought to the doctor’s office to begin a dialogue. Dr. Raymond often tells her patients to keep track of everything that they put in their mouth, since the problem could be from the sweetener in their coffee, or something small that they never would have thought of.

And don’t forget to take the online Gas Etiquette Quiz for a chance to win a monthly pre-paid gas(oline) card (while supplies last).

CharcoCaps provides fast, natural relief of intestinal gas pain, pressure, and bloating. This over-the-counter activated charcoal brand stimulates and supports the body’s own defenses against intestinal gas and the embarrassing symptoms associated with it by adsorbing the gas.

With summer officially here, many of us are trying to fit back into our bathing suits. After months of eating comfort foods, a lot of us now need to re-evaluate what we eat, making sure we consume more healthful options. Unfortunately, there is a down-side to healthy eating – GAS.

Whether you’re a healthy eater or trying out the latest fad diet, it’s important to realize that most food that is good for us causes intestinal gas, including fruits, vegetables and whole grains Gas often results from the food and drinks we consume. Whether it is too much swallowed air or the malabsorption of food determines whether we pass the gas “to the north or south,” respectively.

Food containing carbohydrates, sugars and starches causes more gas, while foods with fat and protein cause less. Some of the worst gassy food culprits  include: beans, cabbage, broccoli, corn, onions, apples, prunes, peaches, pears, oats, milk, cheese, ice cream, fruit juices and alcohol. And don’t forget, food that causes gas in one person might not cause gas in another person.

If you are improving your diet by adding more healthy foods, but finding that you are gassy as a result, taking CharcoCaps  will help. The natural, activated charcoal adsorbs the intestinal gas, reducing both the gas and its odor, and can be used by people suffering from gas discomfort, pressure and bloating. And remember, it takes about four to six hours for portions of a meal to be released as gas; so if you’re feeling gassy, it won’t be from what you just ate.

You can keep track of your daily diet by downloading the new online food diary , which can help you determine the source of your gas discomfort.

And don’t forget to take the Gas Etiquette Quiz  for a chance to win a monthly pre-paid gas(oline) card (while supplies last).

With summer quickly approaching, gas prices are continuing to rise. But if soaring gas prices are leaving you in pain, relief is on its way. The makers of CharcoCaps can help by not only taking the gas pains out of your stomach, but out of your wallet, too. Each month (while supplies last), a lucky winner will be randomly selected to win a $100 pre-paid gas card. To enter take the Gas Etiquette Quiz.

While it is natural to pass gas on a daily basis, some do it with more grace than others. By completing the quiz, not only will you be entered to win the pre-paid gas card, you will also see how your gas etiquette compares to others. You might think you’re Ms. Manners when it comes to flatulence, but in reality, you may be more likely to blame the dog.

Even with these gas savings, before you become the designated driver, remember that a recent survey for CharcoCaps found that 16 percent of adults admit to passing gas during public travel, including a car, making it one of the most embarrassing locales for a bout of flatulence.

CharcoCaps Homeopathic AntiGas Formula, an over-the-counter product that contains Carbo Vegetabilis (activated charcoal), as well as additional homeopathic ingredients, is doctor-recommended to help stimulate and support the body’s own defense system against the discomfort of intestinal gas and the embarrassing/uncomfortable symptoms associated with it, while aiding in the fast relief of gas.

Visit www.charcocaps.com for additional information about the products.

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends and good food. However, intestinal gas and traditional holiday fare also go hand in hand. While we all experience flatulence, we can get it under control, without completely avoiding our favorite Thanksgiving foods .

Some of the gassiest culprits we are likely to encounter at a holiday party include and apple cider, cheese cubes and fried appetizers. Gravies and cream sauces are also likely to cause a gas build-up. While digging into the veggie platter is a healthy alternative, broccoli, cauliflower, corn, radishes and green peppers are very gassy. Instead, opt for lean turkey, mashed potatoes without the skin, winter squash and vegetable soup.

For those of us who can’t refuse fried turkey, the following tricks and remedies can help minimize the gas’ impact and odor:

• Certain foods in moderation: Certain foods have a higher propensity to produce gas, since they are poorly absorbed by individuals, while others cause gas in just about everyone. They include beans, cabbage, onions, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus and corn; fruits such as pears, apples, prunes and peaches; whole grain products and oats; milk, ice cream and cheese; and carbonated drinks, fruit juices and alcohol.
• Deactivate gas with activated charcoal: Take CharcoCaps® Homeopathic AntiGas Formula   to control embarrassing flatulence while at the Thanksgiving table. CharcoCaps (activated charcoal) helps stimulate and support the body’s own defense system against the discomfort of intestinal gas and the embarrassing/uncomfortable symptoms associated with it while aiding in the fast relief of gas.
• Walk it off: Instead of keeping still after a meal or taking a post turkey-eating nap, get moving: take a post-dinner stroll to keep your body moving and the gas flowing. The gas just sitting in the bowels causes distension and pain, so moving around helps it pass easier and faster to make you more comfortable.

If you are going to be taking to the skies this Thanksgiving, be prepared for “jet bloat ,” the body’s increased volume of gas due to airline travel – the higher the altitude, the more the gas in our body expands. To limit added bloat, avoid airport food that you don’t tolerate on the ground and drinking beverages rich in electrolytes, such as tomato or fruit juices. Also avoid alcohol, coffee, tea and sodas that will dehydrate you.

For more information or to take the Gas Etiquette Quiz  and enter for a chance to win a $200 pre-paid gas card, visit www.charcocaps.com.

Experiencing gas can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, but daily flatulence is normal and, actually, necessary. Everybody- including every celebrity, politician, model, and rock star- expels gas about 14 times per day either as burping or flatulence. However, some experience gas more than others, so here are some recommendations from gastroenterologist Patricia Raymond, MD on how to minimize it:

Keep a gas diary: If gas occurs frequently, try to determine if your gas is related to a particular food by noting the volume of gas within six hours of your last meal. It takes about a full six hours for portions of a meal to be released as gas. If you find that you are gassy, note all items in your last several meals to crosscheck against other meal periods where you experience gas.

Determine odor: Non-smelling flatulence results from swallowed air, which is symptomatic of chewing gum, drinking through straws, sucking on hard candies or nervousness, rather than something you’ve eaten. Foul-smelling flatulence is related to the breakdown of actual foods as they go through the intestinal tract.

Deactivate gas fast: Take CharcoCaps® Homeopathic Formula products as a natural and safe way to relieve gas/flatulence. The activated charcoal/carbo vegetabilis in CharcoCaps is commonly used by people suffering from gas discomfort, pressure and bloating, since it serves to adsorb the gas, reducing both the gas and its smell.

Certain foods in moderation: Certain foods have a higher propensity to produce gas, since they are poorly absorbed by individuals, while others cause gas in just about everyone. They include beans, cabbage, onions, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus and corn; fruits such as pears, apples, prunes and peaches; whole grain products and oats; milk, ice cream and cheese; and carbonated drinks, fruit juices and alcohol.

Slow on fiber: If your physician recommends that you increase your fiber intake, do this slowly. Fiber breaks down in the intestines and causes gas.

Walk it off: Instead of keeping still after a meal, take a post-dinner stroll, do some chores around the house, or walk the dog to keep your body moving and gas flowing.

Consult your doctor: If excessive or malodorous gas persists, see a doctor. What’s making your belly bloat might not be gas, but a symptom of an underlying condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, pancreatic insufficiency or lactose intolerance. A gastroenterologist can make these determinations and prescribe proper diet and/or medication.

For More tips and information on managing your gas, please visit the CharcoCaps website and also you can now become friends with Gary Gasman (CharcoCaps spokesperson) on Facebook.

Tis the season for marathon running and participating in a variety of walks. But whether you’re running a marathon or around the neighborhood, running a road race is no fun if you feel like a blimp. In fact, the stomach pains and bloating is often a result of the foods eaten prior to the run. According to a recent survey for the CharcoCaps brand of anti-gas products, eight percent of adults feel that the worst public situation for passing gas is while exercising.

If you want to feel sleek, aerodynamic and less bloated as your feet pound the pavement, do a test drive of the foods you are planning to eat and see how it affects your gut . Many sports supplements are high in sugar, which can travel down stream and cause intestinal gas.

Other common pre-run foods include bananas, grain products, such as bagels and cereal, as well as energy bars, drinks or energy gel. While these carb-filled foods are great for fast energy, they can produce a lot of gas, which can be very painful. Instead, stick to complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain breads and cereals and starchy vegetables, if you can for longer term release of energy.

If you are concerned that you might have eaten too many gas-producing foods, take a CharcoCaps capsule before tying on those running shoes and eating that carb laden pre-exercise spread, to adsorb the gas and offer fast relief of gas discomfort, pressure and bloating.

And don’t forget to take the Gas Etiquette Quiz for a chance to win a monthly pre-paid gas(oline) card (while supplies last).

It’s time to rethink what’s cooking at the tailgate party when the “exhaust fumes” are coming from you, not the parked car. Intestinal gas is one of the body’s most embarrassing functions, especially when the sound isn’t muffled by cheering fans and the odor is pungent. In fact, according to a recent survey for CharcoCaps Homeopathic AntiGas Formula , 72 percent of adults nationwide admit to passing gas in public or in front of someone else.

Most pre-game celebration fare – hamburgers, baked beans and alcohol – have a tendency to trigger intestinal gas. Dr. Patricia Raymond, M.D., gastroenterologist and assistant professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School, says “we all experience flatulence. Yet, we can get it under control if we slightly change our diets – even at a tailgate party.”

To minimize the impact and odor

• Certain Foods in Moderation: High gas-producing foods that are staples at a tailgate party are hot dogs and hamburgers (fatty meats), baked beans, coleslaw (cabbage), and alcohol. Instead opt for less gassy alternatives such as grilled chicken, angel food cake and low-fat frozen yogurt for dessert.
• Deactivate Gas with Activated Charcoal: Don’t forget to pack CharcoCaps Homeopathic AntiGas Formula for a natural and safe way to control embarrassing flatulence while with family and friends at a tailgate. CharcoCaps is commonly used by people suffering from gas discomfort, pressure and bloating to help stimulate and support the body’s own defense system against the discomfort of intestinal gas and the embarrassing/uncomfortable symptoms associated with it.
• Walk it Off: Instead of keeping still during the game, take a half-time stroll to keep your body moving and the gas flowing.

And don’t forget to take the Gas Etiquette Quiz and enter for a chance to win a monthly pre-paid gas(oline) card (while supplies last).

It’s hard to believe summer is already over and Labor Day is upon us. At least we have time for one more BBQ with family and friends before we hang up our white pants and our BBQ tongs.

Unfortunately, traditional barbecue fare “hot dogs, baked beans and alcohol” may leave you gassy. Patricia Raymond, M.D., gastroenterologist and assistant professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School, says that we all experience flatulence and that we can get it under control with some moderation to our diet. Her tips to minimize the impact and odor include:

• Certain Foods in Moderation : High gas-producing foods that are staples at a barbecue are hot dogs and hamburgers (fatty meats), baked beans, cole slaw (cabbage), corn, melon and alcohol. Ice cream and pastries are also high-gas foods. Less gassy alternatives include grilled chicken, summer squash, kiwis, plums and nectarines, followed by angel food cake and low-fat frozen yogurt for dessert.
• Determine Odor: Non-smelling flatulence results from swallowed air, symptomatic of chewing gum, drinking through straws and sucking on hard candies, rather than something you ate. “Foul-smelling flatulence is related to the breakdown of actual foods as they go through the intestinal tract,” says Dr. Raymond.  “If nutrients are poorly absorbed, they ‘feed’ bacteria in the gut, which then produces smelly flatulence.”
• Deactivate Gas with Activated Charcoal: Dr. Raymond suggests taking CharcoCaps Homeopathic AntiGas Formula to control embarrassing flatulence while with family and friends at a barbecue. CharcoCaps (carbo vegetabilis/activated charcoal and other homeopathic ingredients) helps stimulate and support the body’s own defense system against the discomfort of intestinal gas and the embarrassing/uncomfortable symptoms associated with it while aiding in the fast relief of gas.
• Walk it Off: Instead of keeping still after a meal, take a post-dinner stroll to keep your body moving and the gas flowing. “The gas just sitting in the bowels causes distention and pain, so once you have it, you might as well mobilize it,” says Raymond.

And don’t forget to take the Gas Etiquette Quiz for your chance to win a monthly pre-paid gas(oline) card (while supplies last).

With all the added fees from the airline industry, the thought of getting on a plane often causes stomach pains. However, once on-board, these pains won’t just be from shelling out money to check luggage or to get a drink on the plane the pains will be from “jet bloat”.

“Jet bloat” is the body’s increased volume of gas that occurs from airline travel the higher the altitude, the more the gas in our bodies expands. In fact, a survey for CharcoCaps® Homeopathic AntiGas Formula found that 16 percent of adults admit to passing gas during public travel.

While we don’t know the exact cause of excess gas while flying, there are many possible triggers. Excessive gum chewing, candy sucking and air swallowing to equalize the inner ear air pressure for take-off and landing will lead to non-smelling flatulence, while harried eating at the airport is another contributor to jet bloat.

If you find yourself experiencing jet bloat and becoming gassier during airline travel, follow these tips from gastroenterologist Patricia Raymond, M.D., for eating and drinking at the airport and while in flight:

1. When scouring the food court, avoid anything that you’ve shown intolerance for on the ground. If milk intolerance is your downfall - avoid all dairy. Try to avoid foods that will probably make you gassy, such as fried foods, beans, bananas, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, or broccoli. If you get gassy, the volume will expand, even in the pressurized cabin as you reach flight altitudes - so there will be even more volume of gas, which can lead to discomfort from jet bloat.
2. If you do eat gassy food, take over-the-counter CharcoCaps® Homeopathic AntiGas Formula immediately, so you don’t inflate like a bag of pretzels as you reach cruising altitude. The Carbo Vegetabilis (activated charcoal), along with other homeopathic ingredients, will stimulate the body’s defense system against the discomfort of intestinal gas. Travelers sitting near you on the plane will be grateful.
3. Drink beverages rich in electrolytes, such as tomato or fruit juices, which help with hydration. While water is also fine, avoid coffee, tea and sodas since they will dehydrate you, and the carbonation in the soda can cause gas issues. Since alcohol is also a dehydrator, hold off until you are on the ground at the hotel.