Our guts not only make us sound from hunger, but actually also produce noise during digestion. In this article we explain why it happens.
Surely it has ever happened to you: you are on a date, an awkward moment, a presentation, etc. and all of a sudden, your guts are pounding. It happens to all of us and, most of the time, we associate it with a strong feeling of hunger. However, do you really know why it happens?
The noises that our guts produce is called rumbling. They are sounds that are due to the movement of gases and liquids in our digestive system and are completely normal.
However, although it is something common and physiological, sometimes, the noises of our guts can be accompanied by other symptoms. For example, from pain or flatulence. In these situations, the cause of more sounds may be pathological.
It is important to know how to differentiate the sensations that accompany the agitation of our guts, since it will not always be due to hunger, nor will eating be the solution. In this article we explain why guts ring most of the time.
Do the guts sound from hunger?
This is a controversial issue. Since always, popular belief tells us that our guts always ring when we are hungry. However, scientists say that it doesn’t have to be this way.
In other words, it is true that hunger is usually accompanied by a noise in the gut. This is so because when we are hungry or think about food, our body sets in motion a series of mechanisms that prepare us to eat food and to digest.
First, the amount of saliva in the mouth is increased to better chew food. In general, the entire digestive system experiences something similar: the muscles contract and their movement is increased even more.
It is important to highlight this. Our digestive tract is always in constant motion. These are the so-called peristaltic movements, which consist of the muscles of all the organs contracting in a coordinated way so that the food passes from the mouth to the anus.
This means that, although it is true that when we are hungry our guts sound due to these movements, in reality at any other time these movements are also occurring. Therefore, the guts can sound to us without hunger.
The cause of the loudest noise when we are hungry seems to be in a vacuum. That is, when we have an appetite because we have not eaten for a long time, that same void in our digestive system intensifies the sound.
Are there other situations in which our guts blow?
As we mentioned at the beginning, the sound of our guts can be related to other symptoms. If it is also a situation in which we have just eaten and, therefore, it is not due to hunger, the causes of these noises may be other.
For example, when there is a problem in digestion, it is very normal for the guts to roar with intensity, either due to an infection or a simple heavy digestion. This is usually because, in these situations, both the amounts of liquid and gas in our digestive system increase. Therefore, if in addition to these uncomfortable sounds, you experience pain, nausea, diarrhea or another similar symptom, it is important that you consult your doctor. It could be an infection or intolerance that can be treated.
Nor can we forget that, during digestion, the movement of our digestive organs increases and, with them, the noise that our guts make. It is another physiological and frequent situation.
Is there a way to fix this?
The most effective is to avoid spending many hours on an empty stomach. Therefore, it is recommended to eat five smaller meals a day. Thus, you will reduce not only the feeling of hunger and the desire to eat, but also, these sounds will be reduced a little.
Another solution is to try drinking more fluids, preferably water. In the same way, you should try to eat slowly and avoid foods that can increase gas and flatulence.