Stomach noises (also called “borborygmi”) are normal and happen to everyone — they’re usually just your gut doing its job digesting food, liquid, and gas, but they can sometimes be louder or more frequent if something in your digestion is off.

What’s actually making the noise?

Those rumbling, gurgling, or growling sounds are made by your digestive tract, not just your stomach — they can come from the stomach, small intestine, or large intestine. The sounds are caused by:

  • Muscle contractions (peristalsis) that move food, liquids, and gas through the intestines.
  • Gas created during digestion (from swallowed air or gut bacteria breaking down food) sloshing around with liquid and solids.
  • Fluid in the intestines mixing with food and digestive juices.

This is a normal part of digestion, and your gut is actually making these sounds all the time, but you usually only notice them when your stomach is mostly empty or when there’s a lot of gas or movement.

Most common normal reasons

For most people, annoyingly loud stomach noises are due to harmless, everyday things:

  • Hunger
    When your stomach and intestines are empty, contractions can make louder noises because there’s less food/liquid to muffle the sound.

  • Swallowing extra air
    This happens when you:

    • Eat or drink quickly.
    • Chew gum or suck on candy.
    • Drink carbonated drinks (soda, beer, sparkling water).
    • Smoke or vape.
    • Use a straw.
      The extra air enters the gut and can cause more gurgling and bloating.

  • Certain foods and drinks
    These can make your gut noisier:

    • High‑fiber foods (beans, broccoli, lentils, whole grains).
* Fatty foods that slow digestion.

* Sugary foods, sugar alcohols (sorbitol, xylitol), and fructose.

* Dairy (if you’re lactose intolerant).

* Acidic foods (citrus, coffee, tomatoes) and alcohol.
  • Stress or anxiety
    When anxious, the “gut–brain axis” can make your gut move faster or more irregularly, which might increase noisy digestion and bloating.

When could it be a sign of something more?

Frequent, very loud, or uncomfortable stomach noises can sometimes hint at a digestive issue, especially if they come with other symptoms.

Common conditions that cause increased stomach/throat noises include:

  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
    Often includes rumbling, bloating, gas, and changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both).
  • Food intolerances
    • Lactose intolerance (can’t digest lactose in milk/dairy) causes gas, bloating, and loud rumbling after eating dairy.
* Other intolerances (like fructose, sorbitol, or gluten in celiac disease) can also increase gas and noise.
  • Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
    Too much bacteria in the small intestine can make a lot of gas, leading to bloating, loud gurgling, and sometimes diarrhea.
  • Infections or “stomach bugs”
    Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) or food poisoning can cause increased, noisy bowel sounds, plus diarrhea, nausea, and cramping.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
    Conditions like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis can increase bowel sounds along with pain, diarrhea, and sometimes blood in stool.

How to quiet a noisy stomach

If hunger is the main cause:

  • Eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of going long periods without food.
  • Have a light snack (like a banana, yogurt, or crackers) before meetings or quiet situations.

To reduce gas and gurgling:

  • Eat slowly and chew food well to swallow less air.
  • Avoid carbonated drinks, chewing gum, and drinking through straws.
  • Limit known gas‑producing foods (beans, cabbage, onions, broccoli) and high‑sugar foods if they bother you.

To help digestion:

  • Try a low‑FODMAP diet (if you suspect IBS or food intolerances), but only under guidance from a doctor or dietitian.
  • Reduce dairy if you suspect lactose intolerance; try lactose‑free products or digestive enzymes.
  • Cut back on alcohol, coffee, and very spicy/acidic foods if they seem to trigger more noise and discomfort.

Drink enough water, but sip slowly instead of gulping large amounts at once.

When to see a doctor

Most stomach noises are normal, but it’s worth talking to a doctor if they’re accompanied by:

  • Persistent or severe abdominal pain.
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Frequent diarrhea or constipation.
  • Blood in stool.
  • Nausea, vomiting, or feeling very bloated.
  • Noises that suddenly become much louder or more painful.

If loud stomach noises are interfering with daily life (like in meetings, class, or social situations), or if simple changes don’t help, a doctor can check for food intolerances, IBS, or other conditions and suggest proper tests or diet changes.

Bottom line (TL;DR)
Stomach noises are usually just normal digestion at work, especially when hungry or after certain foods. They get louder if there’s more gas, fluid, or contractions, and can be reduced by eating slowly, avoiding gas‑triggers, and managing stress. If they come with pain, diarrhea, or other bothersome symptoms, it’s worth getting checked for food intolerances or IBS.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.