It's considered both rude and crude — something you simply shouldn't do around other people. The act goes by many names — cutting the cheese, blowing a raspberry, letting it rip, passing gas, breaking wind and tooting. But it is most known as farting. And, while we are still small children, we develop a fascination with one of our body's most basic functions — the accumulation and expelling of gas through the rectum, known as flatulence. If we didn't pass gas, we would explode," says Dr.
Our bodies have two processes to remove gas: belching or burping and flatulence. Belching is mostly caused by the air we swallow, and it releases gas from the upper GI tract — the stomach and the esophagus. Flatulence occurs in the lower gastrointestinal GI tract.
Most gas passed during flatulence goes unnoticed because there isn't a smell. It may contain odorless gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane, but a small portion includes hydrogen sulfide, which causes it smell like rotten eggs.
Think of hydrogen sulfide as the waste of the microbes helping you digest the indigestible. Then, there are other factors contributing to smelly farts, including compounds that are byproducts from meat digested, and whether there is feces present in the rectum when flatulence occurs. But some foods produce excess gas as well.
This can make the need to control its passing more challenging. If your intestines are sluggish, moving food through your gut too slowly slow motility , excess gas can collect. The longer food sits in your system, the more gas-producing bacteria build up , causing abdominal discomfort.
You also produce more gas as you age due to slowing down of your metabolism and slowing down of the movement of food through the colon. Yes, even the intestinal tract naturally slows down over time. This means chewing sugar-free gum can cause flatulence from both the sweetener and swallowing air.
Certain foods, such as cabbage or onions, can lead to the production of gases containing sulphur, which can result in foul-smelling wind. However, the production of smelly wind can vary from person to person depending on what you eat, so it's up to you to work out which foods cause the most smell. Flatulence, often caused by indigestion , is a possible side effect of many types of medicine, including:. You should try to avoid eating foods high in unabsorbable carbohydrates.
For a list of these foods, see causes of flatulence. Certain processed foods should also be avoided as they can contain ingredients that cause flatulence, including:. However, it's still important to eat a healthy balanced diet , including at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Choose foods containing carbohydrates that are easy to digest. These include:. It's important to note that people react differently to certain foods, so some foods listed above may still cause flatulence.
You may find it useful to keep a food diary to see whether certain foods make your symptoms better or worse. You may also find it useful to eat 6 small meals a day rather than 3 large ones. Smaller meals are easier to digest and may produce less gas. There's some evidence to suggest drinking peppermint tea can help improve the symptoms of flatulence.
There's also some evidence that small amounts of ginger can help with digestion or an upset stomach, which may be causing flatulence. However, pregnant women should consult their doctor before taking ginger. When eating, make sure you chew food slowly to reduce the amount of air you swallow. This will also help with digestion. Avoid chewing gum as it can also cause you to swallow more air than usual. You should also give up smoking, if you smoke. Smoking can cause you to swallow more air than usual, and tobacco smoke can irritate your digestive system.
See stop smoking for more information and advice about quitting smoking. Getting plenty of exercise can help improve the functioning of your digestive system and bowel. It has also been shown to help with bloating and the passage of gas. There are several over-the-counter remedies that can help treat the symptoms of flatulence, some of which are described below.
Charcoal tablets are a type of medication available over the counter from pharmacists. Gas pain can be uncomfortable, or so severe that it can interrupt daily activities. Luckily, plenty of simple home remedies can bring relief. Flatulence occurs when gas builds up in the digestive system. On average, a person passes gas up to 18 times a day, and it is usually harmless and….
Ten facts about why we fart. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Why do we fart Other facts about flatulence Takeaway Flatulence and flatus are medical terms for what is commonly known as farting. Why do we fart? Share on Pinterest Gases produced during the digestive process cause flatulence.
Other facts about flatulence. Share on Pinterest It is normal and healthy for a person to fart. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3.
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