Why Does Your Stomach Growl

Growling is simply associated with the sounds or the noises produced by the stomach. Several reasons are responsible for such kind of stomach noises or stomach rumbling.

If you observe these sounds, not frequently, but at special times of the day, it is absolutely normal. However, when the growling of the stomach is felt time and again along with pain, and bloating, immediate treatment is required.

But, why does the stomach growl?

There are varied grounds concerning the cause of stomach growling or stomach rumbling. And in this article, we will try to understand a few such causes in detail.

Why Does Your Stomach Growl: The Reasons 

In a broad manner, two divisions can be done to know the reasons for the stomach growl.

First, the Common reasons (not serious condition), and second, the varied reasons (very serious reasons)

The Common Reasons

1. Emptiness or Fullness of Stomach

It is quite common to feel a stomach sound when your belly is empty. Such sounds are associated with hunger and thus, your stomach exerts noises. On the other hand, you might feel persistent noises post-dinner as well. This is when your food is mixing, contracting, and digesting.

2. The Movement of Nutrients

When you consume anything, your stomach is deemed to create noise due to the contraction in the body¹ while the food is passed through the intestines.

3. A Food Allergy or a Normal Indigestion Issue i.e. Borborygmi

Borborygmi ²denotes a sound i.e. a rumbling or a gurgling sound due to the passage of liquid or solid in the intestines. Studies have shown that celiac diseases ³and food-related allergies⁴ cause stomach noises. Along with the noises, the impact can also be felt in the digestive tract which too affects the digestive system.

5. The Process of Peristalsis

The function of Peristalsis is to move food or liquid. The core of the process of peristalsis starts from the esophageal line and passes through the gastrointestinal tract (GT).

This process leads to a rumbling sound in the process of passing food and in the intermixing of food with liquid and other mineral nutrients. This creates the contraction and resultantly, sound. Usually, this is not the problem, rather peristalsis is a process that is helpful in digestion but the noise that it causes can be irritable sometimes.

The Varied Reasons

6. Consumption of Acidic Food

Some people observe the problem of acidity from some foods to which they are allergic. Therefore, gastrointestinal disorders are responsible not only for excessive stomach noises but also for abdominal pain and the subsequent complexities caused by the same.

In addition, other related grounds are associated with bowel sounds such as the issue of constipation. How constipation leads to a rumbling stomach? When we are unable to discharge the residual bodily wastes through excreta, this results in constipation. Intestinal blockage ⁵is known to be the cause responsible for the same.

7. Liver Disease

Cirrhosis is in simple words, a liver disease. This is basically the outcome of excess consumption of alcoholic substances. Though, reports show that alcohol consumption might lead to growling noises with gastrointestinal and liver diseases alongside, which is detrimental to our health.

8. Feeling Pain, Bloating, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is one of the major disorders that causes stomach ache, and bloating i.e. a feeling of vomiting and constipation as well as diarrhea. Doctors recommend staying free from any kind of mental stress. Additionally, a proper diet should be consumed to get rid of this disorder.

Consequences of Stomach Growling

Should you consult a doctor?

This is a common question for people who constantly undergo a noisy sound in their stomach. There is no point in concerning or approaching a doctor if you normally have stomach growls or bowel sounds. However, the situation might be considered if you along with bowel sounds face stomach pain because this would be an indication of either digestive distress or other very serious condition i.e. liver issues, or intestinal infection.

If you are advised for the test pertaining to the stomach rumbles or abdominal sounds, there are a few tests that you can have to know whether you are infected by any internal disease or not. The related tests such as a CT scan, endoscopy, and, blood tests are there to know the infection.

How Can We Derail Stomach Growling?

1. Traditional or Ayurvedic Remedies

1.1 A Proper Diet Plan is to be Laid Out:

Generally in this era of LPG, we are adapted to western culture to such an extent that we put taste above our health. Nonetheless, of the consequences, we are submissively eating junk items which in the short as well as in the long run would affect us. However, such negligence is not going to work. A proper diet plan should be penned down and followed by heart.

1.2 A Gradual Water and Food Inflow and Consumption Respectively

We are so engaged in our work presently, that we have minimal or no time to spare this on our health. But, this is to be understood that health is indispensable, and to mitigate physical issues regular and good amount of water is imperative.

1.3 Reduce Acidic Foods Intake

People who suffer from excess gas should avoid acidic foods because such gastric items multiply the chances of stomach growling.

1.4 Avoid Stress and Tensed Ambient

When you are stressed or think negatively, your body, as a result, releases stress hormones. At some point in time, these hormones reach the digestive tract whereby gurgling sounds occur.

This point is simply trying to highlight that excessive negative thinking is wrong because it contributes to several health-related complications.

1.5 Walking, Exercise, or Yoga 

Foremost of all the above-mentioned things are the yogic practices which are not only the exercise of the body but of the psychology per se that acts like a pillar for your growth. Yogic practices are the most feasible and impactful for first, it doesn’t have any side effect (with the condition that it has to be performed with proper guidance and practices).

There are various meditative postures and exercises alongside, which are helpful not only in decreasing bowel or rumbled sounds rather have the potential to end other intestinal issues eg. abdominal pain, including hyperactive bowel sounds. The simple rationale behind the same is that it relaxes our mind which calms us, further, purifies our blood, and gives relaxation from numerous (grown or growing) diseases.

2. Modern or Scientific Remedies

There are resemblances in treating growling sounds among the traditional and modern scientific methods such as, trying to avoid anxiety and a tense atmosphere, eating well, walking after you eat, and so on.

2.1 Reduce the High Sugar Level in Your Diet

The presence of sugar indicates the symptoms of diarrhea⁶ in the body which itself is an important cause for the stomach rumbling or hyperactive bowel sounds sometimes. Thenceforth, denuding sugar consumption in any form would protect one from frequent and excess stomach growling.

3. Other Remedies

3.1 Eating slowly

The practices like eating slowly, chewing properly, and avoiding drinking while eating, are the etiquettes that are to be applied in the loop of ending the rumbling sounds in the stomach.

3.2 Intake Something As Soon As You Feel Your Stomach Gurgling

Consuming immediately when your stomach growls, would help you to not feel irritable about it.

But, practically, the rumbling sound is neither harmful nor unhealthy rather, a part of the digestive cycle.

3.3 Eat Healthy Foods

Certain foods and fruits are prescribed which are beneficial to reduce the high-pitched sounds such as intaking citrus fruits which have the presence of citric acids eg. sweet oranges, mandarins, limes, grapes, and lemons.

Additionally, foods that are prescribed to be avoided are broccoli, artichokes, and cabbage. Artificial sweeteners like sorbitol should be overlooked if you have digestive issues and constant stomach noises.

Conclusion

Through this article, we tried to understand why our stomach growl. Similarly, we studied several reasons. Broadly, we distinguished two reasons to make our study feasible and practical. Eventually, we came to the epilogue that the noise created by our tummy is not serious in most cases. This is only due to peristalsis which is an essential process of digestion. This process emanates noise in our tummy.

However, there could be medical issues pertaining to the growling sounds example celiac disease. 

The rumbling sound is usually created by the abdomen’s acoustics which generates sound in the stomach. So, last but not the least, do you really need to worry about a growling stomach?

However, there is no precise answer but the answer is more leaned towards ‘No’, it does not have any impact on our health for this is just a part of the digestion process. Furthermore, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, it can be a matter of concern if stomach growling is associated with a stomach ache, bloating, or any internal disorder.

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3. Fasano, Alessio, and Carlo Catassi. “Celiac disease.” New England Journal of Medicine 367.25 (2012): 2419-2426. ↩︎
4. Taylor, Steve L., and Susan L. Hefle. “Food allergies and other food sensitivities.” FOOD TECHNOLOGY-CHAMPAIGN THEN CHICAGO- 55.9 (2001): 68-84. ↩︎
5. Horiki, Noriyuki, et al. “Intestinal blockage by carcinoma and Blastocystis hominis infection.” The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 60.3 (1999): 400-402. ↩︎
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Last Updated on January 22, 2024 by ayeshayusuf