Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

You might not like having a growling, grumbling stomach, but it’s extremely normal. Whether you’re hungry, digesting loudly, or experiencing indigestion, keep these tips in mind to both reduce and prevent stomach growling.

If you’re experiencing regular stomach growling from indigestion along with frequent abdominal pain, nausea, or diarrhea, make an appointment to see your doctor. This could be caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), slow gastric emptying (gastroparesis), or other, more serious stomach conditions.

How to stop stomach growling: Top 10 natural remedies

There are reasons why stomach growling occurs, some of which are described here:

To help digestion

When food reaches the small intestine, the body releases enzymes to help break down the foods and to facilitate nutrient absorption. Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscular contractions that take place to move the food along the digestive tract.

These activities, which involve the movement of gas and partially-digested foods, contribute to the growling and rumbling sounds of borborygmi.

To signal hunger

Even if no food has been consumed in the previous hours, the body will regularly undertake the process of peristalsis. The stomach and intestines will also release acid and enzymes to prepare for the ingestion of food.

The noises can persist for up to 20 minutes at a time and may recur every hour until food is consumed.

To indicate underlying issues

Sometimes, stomach growling can be linked to an underlying medical issue, particularly if accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, constipation, or diarrhea.

Issues that can cause stomach growling include:

• food allergies
• food intolerances
• gastrointestinal infections
• intestinal blockage
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

While stomach growling is a part of normal digestion, there are times when rumbling noises can be a source of embarrassment. Here are 10 natural remedies to stop stomach growling:

1. Drink water

Share on PinterestDrinking water may help to stop stomach growling.

Drinking a glass of water can be an effective solution to stomach growling, particularly if it is not possible to eat something at the time. Water aids the digestive process while also filling the stomach.

Both of these actions help to prevent stomach growling or muffle the sound of it, at least.

For best results, water should be sipped slowly throughout the day. Consuming large amounts in a short period can lead to gurgling sounds from the stomach.

2. Eat something

Once the stomach has been empty for a while, growling noises may signal that it is time to eat again. Eating a small meal or snack may temporarily quell the sounds. Having food in the stomach also lowers the volume of stomach growling.

If stomach growling happens regularly or occurs at the same time every day, it may be a sign that more regular meals are required. Some people may wish to eat 4 to 6 small meals a day, instead of the standard 3 large meals, to prevent hunger and stomach noises.

3. Chew slowly

Digestion begins in the mouth, through the physical act of chewing food. Stomach growling that is linked to indigestion may be prevented by more thoroughly chewing food and eating more slowly.

Chewing food properly also reduces the amount of air that is swallowed, which prevents gas and digestive distress.

4. Limit sugar, alcohol, and acidic foods

Alcohol, sugary foods, and acidic foods can all trigger stomach sounds. Sugars, such as fructose and sorbitol, are especially problematic. Acidic foods, including citrus fruits and coffee, are also known to cause stomach growling.

Alcohol irritates the digestive tract and can cause stomach noises. It also increases acid production and causes inflammation in the lining of the stomach. High doses of alcohol can delay gastric emptying and cause stomach pain.

5. Avoid food and drink that cause gas

Share on PinterestAvoiding foods that produce gas such as cauliflower, onions, and beans, may help to stop stomach growling.

Certain food and drink produce more gas than others. If stomach growling is caused by large amounts of gas moving through the digestive tract, then avoiding these foods and drinks may solve the problem of borborygmi.

Gas-producing food and drink include:

• beans
• beer
• broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• cabbage
• cauliflower
• lentils
• mushrooms
• onions
• peas
• sodas
• whole grains

It may be beneficial to remove one food or drink at a time to pinpoint the source of the excess gas and intestinal noises.

6. Discover food intolerances

Intolerance to certain foods can increase gas and stomach growling.

For example, lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of lactase, the enzyme that helps to digest lactose. Approximately 65 percent all people have difficulty digesting lactose, although the prevalence varies widely among ethnic and racial populations.

The best way to manage a food intolerance is to avoid the foods that cause symptoms. People with chronic stomach growling should discuss the possibility of a food intolerance with their doctor.

7. Practice portion control

Stomach growling and other noises may become more noticeable after eating big meals, particularly meals rich in fats, sugars, red meats, and other foods that may be hard to digest.

Eating smaller portions at more regular intervals, along with thoroughly chewing food during meals, reduces the risk of overeating.

8. Stay active

Going for a walk after meals has been proven to aid the digestive process by speeding up the rate at which the stomach empties. This faster emptying can reduce stomach rumbling.

A post-meal walk can also benefit digestion in other ways. Research indicates that a 20-minute walk 15 minutes after eating lowers blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. However, high-intensity activities should be avoided immediately after eating.

9. Stay calm

Stomach growling can be more apparent during certain stressful situations, such as job interviews, presentations, and tests. This is because gut activity increases during periods of anxiety, regardless of whether the stomach is full or empty.

Being stressed is also known to slow down digestion and contribute to symptoms of indigestion, including heartburn and stomach noises.

People can reduce levels of anxiety and stress by meditating, practicing deep breathing exercises, and using progressive muscle relaxation techniques.

10. Address gastrointestinal issues

More serious underlying disease processes, such as infection or intestinal blockage, are possible causes of borborygmi. Hence, if stomach rumbling is bothersome and associated with others signs or symptoms, it is important to see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

IBS can also frequently be at the root of stomach growling and addressing this underlying condition may be the only way to reduce these sounds.

Though normal, stomach growling can be tempered by taking certain steps that include eating regularly, avoiding problematic foods, and managing anxiety.

It is important to see a doctor if stomach growling is a regular occurrence, especially if accompanied by other symptoms, as this can be a sign of a gastrointestinal infection or a more serious condition.

Read this article in Spanish.

Why is my stomach growling?

Contents:

Rumbling in the stomach can be very embarrassing and reduce the quality of life. In addition, borborygmas, as the rumbling is called, can be a sign of health problems that should be addressed. So, why can rumbling in the stomach and how to deal with it?

When is rumbling a sign of trouble?

Borborygms - sounds made by the stomach, are our companions all our lives. This is a simple natural process that occurs due to the increased work of the muscles of the stomach and intestines. In an adult, rumbling in the stomach can be in the process of digestion, in addition, there are a number of products that provoke gas formation and, as a result, seething inside. Stress is also a cause of borborygmas. But most often the stomach rumbles simply from hunger. These are natural conditions that provoke "sound" effects in the abdomen, they do not require special attention and do not cause much discomfort, as they quickly pass.

Attention should be paid when these phenomena become regular, the sound is unusually loud or accompanied by discomfort or pain.

What does the rumbling mean?

Loudness, character, location, and even the time when the stomach grumbles most often can tell you what problem causes it:

• loud, bubbling sounds - there are not enough substances for normal digestion of food, may indicate enzyme deficiency;
• rumbling is permanent, lingering - the absorption functions of the gastrointestinal tract may be impaired;
• sounds are supplemented by bloating - there is definitely flatulence, as well as the initial stage of pancreatitis or intestinal ailments;
• pain during rumbling indicates the processes of inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract;
• repeated gurgling sounds indicate a violation of the absorption function and an excess of fluid;
• rumbling in the morning or after breakfast may be a sign of gallbladder problems;

• nocturnal rumblings signal weakened motility of the gastrointestinal tract;
• in a horizontal position, on the back - bowel disorders;
• in a horizontal position, on the left side - indicate diseases of the pancreas;
• in a horizontal position, on the right side - problems in the biliary tract;
• borborygmas are felt on the left side - enzyme deficiency;
• borborygmas are felt on the right side - problems in the biliary tract;
• borborygmas are felt in the lower part - colon dysfunction.

How to deal with rumbling?

Rumbling itself is not a disease, it is a sign of physiological processes or a syndrome of problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Borborygmas associated with physiology can be eliminated by satisfying natural needs. If the stomach rumbles with hunger, you should eat, if the rumbling occurs after eating and is not overshadowed by other uncomfortable phenomena, you should consider the diet or check the enzymatic functions. But the most common cause of rumbling in the stomach is flatulence or bloating.

Do not worry if the stomach is actively "singing", it happens to every person. In order to worry less about borborygms, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should be excluded, as well as preventive measures should be taken.

Control the feeling of hunger

Avoid hungry "grunts" of the stomach. If you feel that the feeling of hunger is creeping up on you, have a snack or a full meal. The best solution would be to avoid feeling hungry in principle. This can be achieved if you always eat at the same time and follow this regimen without interruption.

Help Your Stomach

Take prebiotics, probiotics and gastrointestinal supplements. It is better to give preference to complex preparations, such as Lactoflorene® Flat Stomach.

Lactoflorene® Flat Stomach is a multi-pronged multi-pronged gastrointestinal formula. The composition includes not only plant extracts and digestive enzymes, but also probiotics. All components Lactoflorene® Flat Stomach in combination eliminate various causes of flatulence and protect the gastrointestinal tract, through the normalization of the intestinal microflora. Live bifido- and lactobacilli gently normalize the balance of intestinal microflora, inhibit the activity of gas-forming and putrefactive bacteria. Digestive enzymes break down food into simple compounds so that the body absorbs them better. The herbal extracts in Lactoflorene® Flat Stomach have a carminative effect, help reduce bloating in the gastrointestinal tract and promote the elimination of already collected gases, as well as have an anti-stress effect and promote relaxation.

Drink plenty of fluids

Sufficient fluids help the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract to function fully. But you should not abuse it, as an excess of liquid will have the opposite effect and possibly with a loud gurgling.

Avoid provocative foods

Flatulence can cause loud rumbling, and foods with a high gas-forming potential can contribute to bloating. For example, cabbage, legumes, fermentation drinks. Remove such food from your diet, or rather reconsider all your eating habits. The digestive tract will work well if you follow a healthy diet and exclude sweets and starchy foods.

Look after your health

Avoid stress and negative emotions, try to walk more in the fresh air. Make sure you get enough sleep. Do sports that you enjoy. Choose healthy food and quality products. Eliminate bad habits such as alcohol and smoking.

Walk after meals

Fresh air promotes good digestion. A light, 15-minute walk after a meal is enough to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. To make the walk easier, try not to overeat.

FEEL EASY EVERY DAY WITH SLIM STOMACH

gluten free

lactose free

Flatulence - bloating due to excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines

• restoring the balance of intestinal microflora
• elimination of abdominal pain syndrome, diarrhea and constipation
• digestion of complex carbohydrates and dairy products
• stress relief

made in italy

We use cookies. By continuing to use the site, you agree to their collection and processing. Learn more about our Policy and User Agreement.

Where does rumbling in the stomach come from and when is it dangerous?

Share

You can listen to a short version of the article. If it's more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.

Where does rumbling in the stomach come from

The stomach and intestines are hollow organs, the walls of which are made of smooth muscles. Thanks to the latter, the body digests food efficiently.

Think about how you knead the dough while kneading to give it a uniform texture. Approximately the same process occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. Muscles contract, compress the contents of the stomach and intestines, crush and mix it, hold it in one place and make it move faster towards the anus in another. This process is called peristalsis ^{Peristalsis / U. S. National Library of Medicine.}

In addition, various liquids and gases are released during digestion. And sometimes a small muscle contraction is enough to make this cocktail make a gurgling sound. Sometimes such sounds are called ^{Rumbling (Borborygmus, Borborygmi) / Academician. Medical Dictionary Borborygms.}

These are the cases in which he purrs most often.

1. You just ate

If you are healthy and full, your stomach growls ^{Why Does Your Stomach Growl? /MedicineNet. Absolutely right.}

Jay W. Marks

MD, gastroenterologist, in a comment to MedicineNet.

Since food, liquid and gases are most often present in the intestines after eating, rumbling at this time is especially inevitable.

True, the food distributed over the walls of the intestines serves as a kind of soundproof pad. Therefore, from the outside, borborygms are not too audible. Although there are exceptions.

2. You drank a lot of liquid on an empty stomach

Its movement through the gastrointestinal tract may be accompanied by a characteristic gurgle. Especially if the drink was carbonated ^{Gas and gas pains / Mayo Clinic, that is, increased the amount of gases in the intestines.}

3. You are hungry

This is another common reason ^{Why does your stomach growl when you are hungry? / Scientific American rumbling.}

Mark A. W. Andrews

Associate Professor of Physiology, commentary to Scientific American.

Although the speed and force of peristalsis usually increase in the presence of food, the activity of the walls of the stomach and intestines also increases if you have not had a snack for about two hours.

Since there is no food in the intestines to muffle the sounds, the rumbling sounds especially loud in such cases. Now subsiding, then intensifying, it lasts an average of 10-20 minutes. And then it will repeat every hour or two, until you finally eat.

4. You have problems with the microbiome

That is, with the bacteria inhabiting the intestines. Sometimes it happens that the number of microbes increases dramatically, and they all produce ^{Why Does Your Stomach Growl? / MedicineNet abnormally large amount of gas.}

Jay W. Marks

MD, gastroenterologist, in a comment to MedicineNet.

A large amount of gases and more active contractions of the muscles of the intestines, caused by gas pressure on its walls, lead to regular loud rumbling in the stomach.

This condition is called ^{Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) / Mayo Clinic bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. Among its possible causes are diabetes, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, and other conditions and diseases that can slow down the movement of food through the digestive tract.}

5. You ate something that increased the amount of gas in the intestines

The more gas, the higher the risk of rumbling. Here are a few foods that can cause this ^{Gas and gas pains / Mayo Clinic:}

• Legumes: beans, peas, lentils.
• Vegetables and fruits with a high fiber content: cabbage (white, Brussels sprouts, Beijing, cauliflower), carrots, apples, apricots, prunes.
• Fiber-based nutritional supplements.
• Food with artificial sweeteners. Look for aspartame, xylitol, sorbitol in the composition.

In addition, there are products that affect the content of gases in the intestines in an indirect way. These are, for example, chewing gum and lollipops: when you chew and suck them, you swallow excess air. The same effect is given by cocktails, lemonades, juices that you drink through a straw.

6. You have an overly active intestine

This means that its walls are contracting too quickly and strongly. Food, liquids and gases move through the hyperactive gastrointestinal tract in jerks, and this movement is often accompanied by a sharp and loud rumbling.

Such an increase in intestinal activity occurs ^{Abdominal sounds / U.S. National Library of Medicine, for example, for diarrhea. But it may not have any obvious reasons.}

7. You may have polyps or a tumor

Abdominal sounds may occur ^{Abdominal sounds / U. S. National Library of Medicine and if there is something in the intestines that interferes with the passage of food. It can be a polyp (a cell growth on the intestinal wall), a spike-scar, diverticula, a tumor.}

To push food through the narrowed intestinal cavity, smooth muscles begin to contract more strongly. And this leads to a loud rumbling. Borborygmas caused by such a cause are accompanied by painful abdominal cramps.

If the obstruction is not removed, the GI muscles will eventually get tired and stop working. Spasms and rumbling will disappear, but food, gas and liquid will continue to accumulate in the intestines to the point of obstruction. This is how deadly intestinal obstruction occurs.

8. Maybe it's your personality

British scientific journal The BMJ describes ^{Abhishek Sharma, Kieran Moriarty, Hugh Burnett, Marius Paraoan, David Thompson. Intractable positional borborygmi – an unusual cause diagnosed by barium contrast study / BMJ Case Reports is one curious case.}

A 48-year-old woman complained for a long time about a strong rumbling in her stomach, which literally ruined her personal and social life. The borborygmas increased after eating and almost did not stop when the patient was standing. And only if the woman held her breath or pressed her left hypochondrium with her hand, the rumbling subsided. Also, the intestines did not make sounds in the supine position.

In an attempt to determine the cause of the obsessive rumbling, the doctors conducted a lot of examinations. Gastroscopy, colonoscopy, CT scan of the abdomen, laparoscopy, biopsy of various parts of the intestine, the study of the transit of the small intestine - all showed that the patient is completely healthy, and her gastrointestinal tract does not have the slightest deviation from the norm. It was possible to find out what was happening only after the woman was offered food with barium. Then, with the help of x-rays with contrast, the doctors traced how the food moved through the intestines.

One of the lower ribs on the left was to blame. It deviated slightly and squeezed the gastrointestinal tract, causing increased activity of the intestinal muscles. When a woman pressed her hand to the left hypochondrium. changing the position of this bone, or holding her breath (that is, slightly changing the position of the diaphragm), the pressure on the intestines decreased and the sounds disappeared.

How that story ended is not entirely clear. It is known that doctors suggested that the patient wear a corset that would provide a "silent" position of the ribs, but this did not help. This is where the medical case ends.

But one simple conclusion can be drawn from it. Sometimes obsessive rumbling in the stomach is not at all a sign of hunger or medical problems, but simply an individual feature.

When to see a doctor urgently

Most often, borborygms are harmless and cause only psychological suffering. But there are symptoms ^{Abdominal sounds / U. S. National Library of Medicine, in which it is necessary to complain about rumbling to a general practitioner or gastroenterologist. Here they are:}

• You notice streaks of blood in the stool.
• Rumbling accompanied by painful cramps in the abdomen.
• In addition to borborygms, nausea and vomiting are present.
• Your stomach is actively rumbling for hours on end, and you continue to have constipation or diarrhea all this time.

It is also worth talking to a doctor if annoying sounds come from the intestines day after day. In this case, it is necessary to exclude possible diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and metabolism.

What to do so that your stomach does not rumble

If there are no dangerous signs, but rumbles only from time to time, try to get rid of borborygmas at home.

• Avoid foods that cause gas.
• Eat slowly and avoid chewing gum and carbonated drinks to avoid gas.
• Eat 5-6 small meals a day.

  ---

  Learn more

  • 
    How to help your child become more independent
  • 
    Giving your children up for adoption
  • 
    How to claim child maintenance
  • 
    16 week pregnant belly first baby
  • 
    Where does ectopic pregnancy occur
  • 
    Bloody nose and dizziness
  • 
    Baby sleeping long
  • 
    Severe swelling pregnancy
  • 
    Causes of cramps in legs while sleeping
  • 
    Itchy vag while pregnant
  • 
    Maternity tens unit