Smoked pork is a popular British food, whether it’s in a bacon sandwich, sausage rolls, or pork pie. But if you regularly feel bloated, sick, or have other unpleasant symptoms after eating pork, you may have an intolerance to pork.
Gas and bloating are common digestive complaints that most people experience from time to time. But if you find yourself plagued by gassiness specifically after eating pork, you may wonder – does pork cause gas?
While gas itself is normal and healthy, excessive flatulence can be unpleasant and embarrassing Understanding the connection between pork and gas will help you manage symptoms.
This article examines why pork may contribute to gas, what components are to blame other culprit foods and simple ways to find relief.
Why Does Pork Cause Gas for Some People?
There are a few reasons why pork may lead to gas and bloating
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Fat Content: Pork has more fat than lean meats like chicken breast, and some cuts are very high in fat, which can make it take longer for your stomach to empty, which can cause indigestion.
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Triglycerides – The triglycerides in pork fat can cause gas since they are difficult for the body to break down fully.
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Protein – Pork is high in protein, which can increase hydrogen production during digestion and lead to sulphur-containing gas.
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Processing – Cured pork products contain sodium nitrites, spices and other additives that can induce gas.
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Salt: A diet high in sodium makes you hold on to water, which makes you feel bloated. Processed and cured pork usually has the most fat, sodium, and ingredients that cause gas. Fresh cuts of pork are less likely to cause issues.
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Intolerance – Some people may have an intolerance to pork, triggering immune responses like gas and bloating. This is rare but can occur.
So while pork itself is not problematic for most people, those prone to gas may see more symptoms after eating fatty or processed pork products.
Other Common Foods That Can Cause Gas
While pork is one culprit, there are many other foods that commonly cause gas and bloating:
- Beans, lentils, legumes
- Cruciferous veggies – broccoli, cabbage
- Onions, garlic, leeks
- Wheat and whole grains
- Carbonated drinks
- Artificial sweeteners
- Dairy (if lactose intolerant)
- Apples, pears, peaches
- FODMAPs foods – inulin, fructans
Some of the worst gas-producing foods include dairy, beans, carbonated drinks, and high-fiber vegetables.
Tips to Prevent Gas and Bloating From Pork
If you experience gas after eating pork, try these simple tips:
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Choose leaner cuts of pork, like tenderloin or chops, rather than ribs or sausage.
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Limit portion size to 3-4 ounces.
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Avoid charring or overcooking pork, which makes it tougher to digest.
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Reduce intake of salty cured pork products like bacon and ham.
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Take a digestive enzyme supplement containing lipase to help break down fat.
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Activate fennel seeds, which relax the gut.
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Take a probiotic supplement to optimize digestion.
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Reduce other gas-producing foods at the same meal.
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Stay hydrated to help expel gas quickly before it causes discomfort.
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Exercise after eating to accelerate digestion and gas expulsion.
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Avoid chewing gum or drinking through a straw, which cause air swallowing.
Making small tweaks to how you select, prepare and consume pork can make a big difference in reducing gas production.
When Gas and Bloating May Indicate a Pork Intolerance
Most people experience occasional gas after eating certain foods. But if you have chronic excessive gas every time you eat pork, even after trying the above steps, it could point to a pork intolerance.
Signs of a possible pork intolerance include:
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Gas, bloating, diarrhea every time you eat pork
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Symptoms appear rapidly after eating pork
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Symptoms persist over many hours after eating pork
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Eliminating pork relieves the symptoms
Pork intolerance is uncommon but can happen. The only way to know for sure is to get tested, such as with a food intolerance blood test. This can identify if your body produces antibodies to pork.
A registered dietician or nutritionist can help guide an elimination diet to determine if pork, or other foods, could be triggering chronic digestive issues.
When to See a Doctor for Gas and Bloating
Occasional gas and bloating after eating certain foods is normal. But in some cases you should consult a doctor:
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If you experience chronic diarrhea along with gas and abdominal pain
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If gas and bloating symptoms disrupt your daily life
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If you experience weight loss, loss of appetite or bleeding along with gas
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If eliminating problem foods does not provide relief from symptoms
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If gas is accompanied by fever, nausea or vomiting
While dietary tweaks can help reduce gas from pork and other trigger foods for most people, severe or persistent symptoms may require medical testing to identify the root cause.
The Takeaway
Eating fatty cuts of pork, processed pork or large portions may lead to increased gas for some people prone to indigestion and gas. Making small adjustments like choosing leaner cuts and reducing portion sizes can help minimize gas from pork. If you experience chronic excessive gas and other GI problems whenever you eat pork, an intolerance may be to blame – seeking testing is advised. For most people, pork can be part of a healthy diet with a few considerations for those sensitive to gas issues.
Testing For Pork Intolerance
If you want to be sure that your symptoms are really caused by a pork intolerance, you should take a food intolerance test. This will show you if your reaction to pork is the only one or if other foods are also making you sick when you eat them. We test for IgG antibodies 1–4 at YorkTest using a finger prick blood sample, which is one of the most accurate ways to do testing.
Based on an easy-to-understand traffic light system, the blood test can tell you which 200 ingredients you may be allergic to and how bad those allergies are. Our expert nutritional therapists can help you understand your food intolerances once you have your results. They can also tell you how to use your results in your everyday diet to make your food elimination diet journey easier.
What Is Pork Intolerance?
Food intolerance occurs when your digestive system reacts adversely after eating a certain food, in this case, pork. Even though it’s not common for people to be allergic to or into meat like chicken, beef, or lamb, it is possible. Meat proteins can trigger IgG immune responses which can be picked up through a food intolerance test.
Some of the symptoms of a pork allergy can be the same as those of a pork intolerance. This can make it hard to tell which is which, which is why testing is so important for understanding your gut.
It’s also worth being aware of a rare, but very real, condition called pork-cat syndrome. This is where someone with a cat allergy also experiences allergy symptoms when eating pork. In those cases, research indicates that the body’s IgE antibodies (part of the immune response to an allergic reaction) cross-react to both cat albumin and pork albumin. As with all food allergies, this can cause a serious, and even life-threatening, reaction. You should seek immediate medical advice if you suspect you have a severe allergy.
Even though the symptoms of a pork intolerance may not be as bad or life-threatening as those of a pork allergy, they can still be very painful because they affect your digestive system and can lead to other symptoms as well.
Pork intolerance may present itself in the following ways:
- Abdominal Pain
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Tiredness
- Skin Problems
- Headaches
- Low mood
Some of the above symptoms can also happen if pork isn’t cooked right, which is called food poisoning and not a food intolerance. It’s very important to ensure you’re eating well-cooked pork meat for this reason.
Unlike food poisoning, which is hopefully a one-off, food intolerance symptomswill usually be recurring. So it’s helpful to keep a food diary to see when your body doesn’t react well to certain foods and to see if a food intolerance test is needed to figure out what’s wrong with your digestion.
Top 10 Foods That Cause Gas And Bloating
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