Five reasons why you're farting so much - and what makes them smell so bad
We fart on average fourteen times a day, but there are a few reasons why the 'quality' and quantity can change for the worstWhether you find farting funny, disgusting or like to pretend you never do it, it's a bodily function we all perform.
Also known as passing wind among other, less polite names, on average we produce half a litre of fart gas a day.
If everything is ticking along nicely , this fart gas is spread out over fourteen daily farts.
But admit it, there are times when it seems as if you are exceeding this daily average. Why is this?1. In-flight fartingHave you ever noticed how you're a bit more liberal with the farts when you're on an airplane?
There is a genuine reason behind this. Research has shown how high altitude causes the gas in our bodies to expand.
airplane taking off
High altitude can lead to excessive flatulence
In turn, this leads to bloating and eventually flatulence. Bearing in mind how packed commercial flights can be, it's enough to put anyone off getting on a plane ever again.
2. Healthy eatingNot all the food we eat gets digested. Anything our small intestine doesn't process gets passed on to our large intestine where it brews.
Unfortunately, we owe our smelliest farts to the healthiest foods.
Fruit, vegetables, whole-grains and legumes all generate a stink.
Some broccoli
Is broccoli the culprit of your bad farts? (Image: Getty)
Onions, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and sprouts contain a carbohydrate called raffinose, which the stomach and the small intestine are also unable to digest.
Why some farts smell so bad - and how to stop producing them
3. Too much airThere are two 'sources' of our farts. One is the gas produced in our large intestine.
The other is the air we swallow, which makes its way through our digestive tract.
Intestines
Our large intestine is where a lot of gas ferments (Image: Getty)
The good news is if you're swallowing a lot of air, the farts which are a by-product tend to be odourless, rather than the silent-but-deadly variety.
It's called 'aerophagia' and it's caused by eating your meals quickly, chewing gum, or drinking lots of carbonated beverages.
Read more: Chinese pong-detecting robot FINALLY allows you to 'solve mystery' of who farted
4. AbsorptionNow on to the silent-but-violent variety.
When farts are particularly unpleasant, it may be because our bodies are having trouble absorbing certain nutrients.
Carbohydrates of bread, pasta, rice and potatoes
The carbohydrates in bread, pasta, rice and potatoes might have consequences (Image: Getty)
We all react differently to various food types, but the most common one people experience problems with are the sugars from carbohydrates followed by lactose.
5. Something more seriousThe quantity and 'quality' of our farts will differ from day to day.
