If you are plagued by flatulence, your antihistamines may be a contributing factor. Antihistamines, along with certain other medications, tend to slow down the stomach and can cause more problems with gas.

It’s normal for humans to produce a certain amount of gas---up to two quarts per day. The bacteria that live in your gut produce gas as a byproduct of digesting the food you eat. But what if your gas problem is painful?

You probably can’t stop taking your allergy medication if you are an allergy sufferer. (However, some individuals find they can lessen their allergy symptoms with herbal remedies, nasal solutions and rinsing.) What can you do then to lessen problems with flatulence?

Your first step would be to reduce your intake of gas-producing foods. Foods that are more likely to cause gas include:

•Beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and peas;

•Oat bran and other high-fiber foods;

•Sodas and other carbonated beverages;

•Foods containing sorbitol (an artificial sweetener);

•Fructose, a natural sugar in many fruits including prunes, pears, grapes, dates and figs, and many sweeteners:

•Lactulose, another natural sugar in apricots, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, gooseberries, grapes, raisins, raspberries and strawberries;

•Lactose, a sugar in milk, custard, yogurt and ice cream;

•Fried and fatty foods that tend to slow down the stomach which allows gas to build up.

Reducing your intake of dietary sugars, refined starches and wheat flour also may help. These foods are turned into gas by your gut bacteria.

You can try eliminating foods and test whether your gassiness is reduced. Don’t try getting rid of everything at once. Keep a food journal and note your symptoms each day. Evaluate what foods may be more problematic. You also will need to read food labels carefully because many processed foods contain sugars.

Many of these foods are healthy. They can be eaten in smaller quantities without producing as much gas. Another aid would be trying digestive enzymes that might help you digest certain foods.