It is completely normal for our intestines to make noises, as they are fully occupied with digesting our food. In principle, the bubbling only indicates that our intestines are in motion. But how many noises are normal?
Intestinal flora: why these 4 habits are so harmful
Causes of bowel noises
Gases are produced during the digestion process. The more difficult the food is to break down, the more challenging the task is - flatulence and a feeling of discomfort are often the result. This can be observed time and again with high-fiber raw foods, sulfur-containing legumes and cabbage, but also with sugar and white flour products and yeast. The digested chyme is then transported from the stomach via the small and large intestine to the anus. Many muscles are involved in this process, which cause noises.
The aforementioned gases and the air that we swallow when eating and speaking also cause intestinal noises and want to get out again: we fart or even have flatulence.
Strong bowel sounds: when should you be careful?
If the noises get out of hand, this may be due to very strong bowel activity. This is also known as hyperperistalsis. There are causes for this such as
- food intolerance
- irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammation of the stomach lining
- Inflammation of the small intestine
If the strong bowel noises persist over a longer period of time, you should consult a doctor. Keep a diary of your eating habits so that any conclusions can be drawn about individual foods. Your doctor will also ask you about this if he or she is unable to identify any inflammatory foci.
At the latest when other symptoms such as blood in the stool occur, a visit to the doctor is essential in order to rule out or treat serious illnesses such as bowel cancer.