The world of Tzu Chi December 2020(Vol.129)

2020 • 12 58 ellness Translated by Chang Yii Yong How to Avoid Flatulence through Diet? Once, when I was preparing food purees for my child, I blended the chickpeas beforehand and kept a portion for myself. This led to the unexpected discovery that blended chickpeas can reduce my flatulence! W hile chatting with a friend, we found that both of us had bloating and stomach gas issues; hence we had an in-depth discussion about our experiences, including the different approaches in dealing with these gastrointestinal problems. I also shared my dietary strategies which had proven to be more effective for me in the prevention of gas. Bloating varies from person to person. This is how I described mine to my doctor: “I feel as though I’m pregnant, like there is a baby in my lower abdomen, stretching his hands and legs. Sometimes there is a mild pain and sometimes it’s alright.” Although many would laugh at my description, it was indeed how I felt. Different people deal with physical ailment differently. Some are reluctant towards seeking medical treatment; they prefer to solve it without using medication or seeking medical advice even when their children are feverish! What’s more flatulence which is a small matter to them. Others think that flatulence is not as major as heart disease, hence without any reservations, they give their leftover medications prescribed by the doctors, to their relatives. Then there are those, who proactively seek medical help. But, when they do not recover after strictly following the doctors’ advice and taking medication, they abandon everything. Then, whenever they are recommended a good doctor, even in a small town, they would not mind travelling long distance to seek medical treatment, just to give it a try. I have always been bugged by gastrointestinal problems, mild and otherwise. While I do not reject the idea of seeing a doctor for physical examination, I am not the type who will repeat the process of “getting a doctor’s diagnosis, taking prescribed medications, return to the doctor” if my conditions do not improve. I am not sure whether it is because I was taught self- reliance since young, for me, expecting a doctor to cure my gastrointestinal problems completely is a little too optimistic. After all, the human body is complicated and our illnesses are caused by various factors, not just one. On my days off, I would spend most of my time reading. I would take a stroll in the park when my eyes are tired, eat when I am hungry, lie down and rest anytime of the day when I feel tired. Honestly speaking, I hardly feel the existence of gastrointestinal problems during these times. However, on my working days, I have to race against time, deal with people with different characteristics, and even have to hold back bodily functions during meetings and presentations. Sometimes, I would even have excessive stomach acid at night. Thus, when faced with these ailments, apart from