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So, even if you may have scratched your head a little at the headline of the article, definitely continue reading and see for yourself (or rather feel) what your farts reveal about your body.
What exactly are farts?
Farts or wind are a mixture of swallowed air that accidentally enters the digestive tract.
This happens while chewing gum, swallowing saliva, drinking fizzy drinks or even through normal breathing. The other part of farts is gas produced in the intestines during digestion.
Bacteria are responsible for the production of gas in the intestines; they break down sugars and fiber that the body cannot easily digest.
These bacteria produce between 2 and 6 glasses, that is 0.4 to 1.5 liters of gas each day. And after it accumulates in the intestines, it needs to get out somehow.
Regular farting means that you eat enough fiber and that you have a healthy bacterial microflora in your intestines.
Recognizing farts by odor type
If you wonder how on earth the smell or frequency of farts can say anything about your health, you are not alone.
We have therefore prepared a guide for you on how to correctly recognize and learn what this inevitable release of gas whispers to you about your body and health.
1 Smelly farts
Approximately one percent of the gases produced in the intestines are not odorless. They are most often hydrogen sulfide, a gas that is formed when the body processes foods containing sulfur.
Many healthy foods produce sulfur-containing gases during digestion. This gas then leaves the body in the form of smelly farts.
So, if you ate meat, broccoli, cauliflower, beans or dairy products, do not be surprised if your farts smell somewhat.
2 Extremely foul-smelling farts
Let’s face it: most of the farts we smell are not flowery-scented. However, if you notice that they are truly disgusting, it may indicate some health problem.
If you need to pass gas immediately after consuming dairy products, it may mean that your body has trouble digesting lactose. Honestly, most people have more or less trouble digesting it.
In some cases, frequent and extremely foul-smelling farts may herald a chronic problem, such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease or an infection in the stomach and intestines (gastroenteritis).
Other causes can include Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
3 Odorless farts
It will probably be no surprise that odorless farts are completely normal and healthy.
Not all gases coming from our intestines smell. This is especially true if the gas is swallowed air or carbon dioxide from fizzy drinks consumed the previous day.
Odorless gas is similar to belching, only the air exits through a different body opening.
4 Frequent or excessive farting
From a health point of view, frequent farting is not something you should worry much about. A healthy person farts on average about 20 times a day.
People who eat a healthy vegan diet tend to have more frequent wind compared to people who eat meat. The reason is the higher proportion of sugars and carbohydrates in plant-based diets and the fact that a lot of healthy fruits and vegetables are naturally sulfurous.
Examples include onion or garlic, after consuming which farts occur relatively often.
However, there is an exception here.
If excessive farting is accompanied by discomfort, pain or an overly unpleasant smell, it may indicate some food allergy.
If you notice that your bloating increases significantly after eating dairy products or foods containing wheat or other items, it is good to visit a doctor. They will help diagnose the exact type of food to which you may be allergic.
Myths about farting, debunked
There are several myths about farting that we will now try to dispel.
1 Holding in farts versus letting them out: Can holding them in harm your health?
Occasionally holding in a fart in an awkward situation, such as in an elevator, will not kill you, but it can make you uncomfortable.
If you keep gases inside, they will not disappear by some miracle. In fact, they will cause bloating and pain in the abdominal area.
If you feel the need to fart, then just do it and let the gas escape, rather than holding it in.
2 Silent versus loud farting
Some farts are almost deafening, others slip out quietly.
Are loud farts different from silent ones? The answer is: No.
The volume of gas and its loudness have little to do with your health. Much more depends on the position your body is currently in.
Some farts will be loud, others quiet. Some will be out in a moment, others will last for several seconds.
None of these factors have any effect on your health.
3 Male versus female farts: Is there a difference?
Men are often put on the spot when it comes to stereotypes about farting. On the other hand, women sometimes consider themselves angels who do not fart.
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The truth, however, is that men and women fart exactly as often and both sexes also have equally smelly gases.
The traditional etiquette dating back to Victorian times says that well-bred ladies refrain from farting in the company of others. That does not mean they have less of a need to relieve themselves than their male counterparts.
How the smell of farts can actually be beneficial for you
You might not believe it, but hydrogen sulfide, which is responsible for the smell of rotten eggs, can actually be beneficial for your health.
Farting thus becomes not only a natural bodily process, but also a tool beneficial for health.
In a study conducted by university researchers, they found that inhaling even a small amount of hydrogen sulfide has protective effects against damage to cellular mitochondria and even protects against cancer.
Mitochondria are essentially the power plants of cells. Preventing and reversing damage to mitochondria is a key strategy for treating multiple health complications, such as:
- stroke
- heart failure
- diabetes
- arthritis
- dementia
- premature aging
Mitochondria determine whether cells will live or die. They also regulate inflammatory processes. The severity of many diseases strongly depends on the degree of mitochondrial dysfunction.
The mentioned study was published in the journal Medicinal Chemistry Communications.
Follow-up studies in the journal The Nitric Oxide, in collaboration with scientists from the University of Texas Medical School, found that hydrogen sulfide selectively protected mitochondria from damage.
