Farting or passing gas is a natural part of life, even though it may be a little embarrassing, especially in an office or elevator. Most people don’t think twice about their farts, as flatulence is the byproduct of the digestive system breaking down food and nutrients. When you chew, eat, and swallow, gas builds up in the gastrointestinal tract. The body is able to absorb some of this gas, and it releases what it can’t absorb in the form of burps or farts. 

As much as you don’t want to admit it, farting is a good thing, as it helps you avoid gas build up in the digestive system. When too much gas builds up in the body, you can experience bloating and uncomfortable stomach pain. Just because passing gas feels good and helps you avoid bloating, you shouldn’t ignore your farts. Health experts encourage people to pay attention to frequency, smell, and whether or not they accompany other digestive symptoms. Your farts can clue you in to what’s going on with your health. Continue reading to learn what they are trying to tell you.

Scent-Free Farts

These are the dream, right? To tell you the truth, most gas is odorless and stems from swallowing air, according to gastroenterologists. If you inhale your food quickly, chew wads of gum, or drink a lot of carbonated beverages, it is very common to pass gas or burp. This is normal, but if you want to reduce the amount of flatulence you produce, consider dialing back your carbonated beverage intake. Additionally, eat more slowly and make sure that you chew your food thoroughly. 

Your Farts Smell So Bad

As stated previously, most gas is odorless, but every now and again, a fart is so powerful that it can clear a room. If your farts stink to high heaven, it’s time to look at your diet. Consuming lots of sulfur-rich foods, including Brussels sprouts and broccoli, can give your farts that rotten egg aroma. The same stench that comes from those cruciferous vegetables can also come from cheese, beans, dried fruit, wine, garlic, and onions. More often than not, you don’t have to worry, but you may want to see a doctor if the stink persists. The last thing you want is for irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease to be the culprit. 

You Fart And Poop More Often Than Normal

Stress can affect so many areas of your health, which means it can affect your digestive system as well. Health experts say that people under a lot of stress tend to have poor digestion. Oftentimes, this stems from eating late-night snacks, processed foods, and lots of air that you swallow unintentionally. Anxiety can also do a number on your digestive tract. If you feel that you are farting and eliminating more than usual, ask yourself if you are stressed. If you find that you are battling stress, take time to relax with meditative techniques. Use aromatherapy, meditation, deep breathing, and other relaxing practices to get your digestive tract back and eating habits to normal. 

Burning Farts

If it burns going in, then it burns going out. Eating too much spicy food can have a severe effect on your digestive tract. The body contains receptors that recognize capsaicin, the compound in chiles that gives them their spice. That means that the body recognizes capsaicin as heat, so cut down on the spice if you want to pass gas that doesn’t burn on the way out. Spicy foods can also cause diarrhea, which can irritate the anus. Gradually up your fiber intake and allow your body a few days to adjust. 

Smelly Farts And Digestive Distress

If you feel abdominal pain when you pass gas, then a food intolerance may be the culprit. For example, if you drink milk or eat cheese and feel cramps and experience lots of flatulence that wreaks, you have lactose intolerance. That means that your body cannot absorb lactose until it gets to the small intestine. Bacteria break it down there and the body releases foul-smelling farts as a result. If you have stomach pain and pass smelly farts but don’t know what the culprit is, consider taking a food allergy test to see what isn’t agreeing with your system.

Vincent Stevens

Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.