Case Study: Diet + Intestinal Gas

Erica has been reading about the health benefits of dietary fiber. She realized that she was not eating many foods high in fiber so she made some radical changes. The following chart details what she used to eat in a typical day compared with her new eating plan.

Meal

Previous Typical Day

New Eating Plan
Breakfast:
Bagel and orange juice
Package of oatmeal and a banana
Lunch:
Turkey sandwich on sourdough bread, chicken noodle soup, potato chips
Veggie sandwich on whole-grain bread, lentil or split pea soup, grapes
Dinner:
Spaghetti with meat sauce, iceberg lettuce, salad, garlic bread
Chili made with meat and beans, coleslaw, cornbread
Snacks:
Chips, cookies, crackers, fruit snacks
Popcorn, granola bars, trail mix, fresh and dried fruit

Erica enjoys the new foods she is eating, but she has found that she has a problem with intestinal gas. It can be quite uncomfortable, and she is worried that it may become embarrassing in meetings at work.

Question 1: Why is Erica producing more intestinal gas than before she changed her diet?

Question 2: How can Erica increase her dietary fiber intake and minimize her gas problem?

Question 3: What else would you want to know about what Erica eats and drinks that could contribute to her problem with intestinal gas?