Your tummy usually makes a rumbling sound that everybody around you can definitely hear when you are hungry. If you have an empty stomach and the sight of food comes along, it may also make some noise. However, it’s also very much possible for your tummy to grumble while digesting most especially foods that are high in carbs and fiber.
Basically, that noise is created by air that’s pushed around as the involuntary wave-like contractions of the GI tract takes place. Your belly creates noise whether you are hungry or full, but it’s when you haven’t eaten anything that the sound seems to be louder as there is no solid or liquid in there to leave the sound created muffled a bit.
Certain medical conditions involving the GI tract may also make the tummy grumble louder and more often than usual, such as irritable bowel syndrome or IBS, lactose intolerance, Crohn’s disease, Celiac disease, colitis and food allergies, too. Diarrhea and flatulence (having excess gas) are usual causes as well.
By the way, you may notice that your stomach also tends to create lots of embarrassing noises when you are nervous, excited or tensed. This can be expected because medical experts say that anxiety and stress can make your tummy grumble. Oh, and there’s actually a medical term for this attention-grabbing phenomenon: borborygmus.
What can you do to pacify that nosy stomach of yours? The following are some of the things that you may do:
Drink Water
Sometimes a grumbling stomach is a sign that your GI tract is not in a top-notch shape. One way to make sure that it’s operating smoothly is by drinking plenty of water — about 2 liters or half a gallon — per day.
Have a Cracker
Got no access to a square meal? Then reach for a light snack such as a cracker. Oftentimes, putting solid food in your stomach is enough to pacify your complaining belly. However, see to it that you have a full meal the minute that you get the opportunity to enjoy one.
Be More Active
One way to make sure that your GI tract is working optimally is by being physically active. So if you don’t want your noisy stomach to cause a lot of heads to turn towards you, get on your feet more and be on your behind much less.
Avoid Coffee
Drinking coffee, most especially if your stomach is empty, can only make your grumbling tummy worse. That’s because coffee is a stimulant, and it will only increase the wave-like contractions of your GI tract. Alcohol is another beverage that you should steer clear from if you have a noisy stomach.
Calm Down
As mentioned earlier, anxiety and stress can also cause your stomach to make noises. It’s for this reason why learning how to relax can help put an end to that grumbling tummy of yours.
