Howard is a high-flying businessman. As part of his job, he has to entertain clients and associates, often at lunch or dinner he would quite enjoy it, if it were not for one thing.

Howard suffers from flatulence. On one occasion, it got the better of him.

He was on the verge of signing a multi-million dollar contract with some government officials. To clinch the deal, he made a dinner reservation at a fancy restaurant. Before dessert, he stood up to make a speech. The room was silent when suddenly, much to his embarrassment, he let one rip.

Howard didn’t win the contract. That memory will remain engrained in his mind forever. If only he’d known a few simple things, the embarrassment could have been avoided.

Flatulence is excessive gas in the stomach or intestines. This can result in uncomfortable feelings of bloating, as well as increased belching or passing of gas from the rectum.

Everyone has it. According to the UK National Health Service, most men will pass wind between 14 to 25 times a day and most women between 7 to 12 times a day.

You can prevent flatulence and social embarrassment with these simple steps.

Eat slowly, chew your cooking well and swallow carefully. Don’t eat too much and limit your intake of potatoes, chewing gum, sour and fatty foods, cakes, coffee, fizzy drinks, alcohol and beer.

Instead, eat vegetables such as rau khoai lang (sweet potato leaves), rau mồng tÆ¡i (basella alba), rau đay (pot-herbs), rau muống (water morning glory), ginger, pineapple, parsley and yogurt. Drink water, lemon juice and cucumber juice. And don’t sit or lie down immediately after eating.

For more drastic action, try these remedies:

- Pour warm water into a glass. Peel the skin off a piece of ginger and slice into small pieces. Add to the water and drink slowly.

- Drink a glass of cool water in the morning after waking up and before breakfast. Then lie on your back for five minutes, turn on your left side for five minutes and then lie on your front for five minutes. Finally, lie on your right side for five minutes. This adjusts your gastric peristalsis and prevents flatulence.

- Grill a piece of ginger about the size of your thumb and scrape off the skin. Grind the ginger and add hot water to it. Stir in some sugar. Sip the mixture slowly and have someone rub your back until you burp.