We all fart. Here's why, and when to be worried about excessive flatulence.
Flatulence, passing wind, passing gas, "flatus", or simply farts: we all know what they sound like and what they smell like. What are they, though? Why do certain foods cause flatulence, how much gas is too much, and what can you do if you think you are dealing with excessive flatulence?
Why We Fart
Everyone farts. The British NHS says we pass wind an average of 15 times over a 24 hour period, something that amounts to about 600 ml worth of gas. Because not all farts have the same composition, not all of them smell. And because we often pass wind while we're asleep, we may not even be aware that we're doing it.
Why do we fart? There are two reasons:
- The air we swallow when we eat, drink (especially carbonated beverages), or even just swallow saliva has got to come out somehow. If you don't burp, you'll fart. Smoking, chewing gum, not chewing your food properly or having ill-fitting dentures can lead to an excessive ingestion of air.
- Your digestive system is home to over 700 different species of bacteria. These bacteria are pretty essential within the human digestive system, and they'll process the foods we can't. Like us, they produce byproducts when they digest foods. In their case, it's gas — which, once again, has to come out.
The average fat willl contain nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen, in varying degrees. They can also contain compounds that cause your gas to smell, notably hydrogen sulfide gas, the same stuff that makes rotten eggs smell terrible, a bit of ammonia, and tiny particles of feces.
Why Do Some Foods Make You Fart?
Carbonated drinks lead to flatulence because they contain lots of air. We also take in air when we eat anything at all. Any air that isn't expelled by burping enters the digestive system, where it will leave the body in the form of flatulence. That's completely normal, and there's nothing you can do about it.
As for "gassy foods", carbohydrates lead to special trouble. These foods include ones we all know to cause flatulence: beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, raisins, arthichokes, lentils, pulses, Brussels sprouts, and onions.
They lead to flatulence because they contain molecules that are too large to be absorbed by the small intestine, namely oligosaccharides like stachyose and raffinose. Beans would require the alpha-galactosidase enzyme to fully digest, and that's something we simply don't have. Unable to break these molecules down, the body passes them onto the large intestine fully intact. There, they encounter the bacterial colonies we mentioned earlier. What we can't digest, they can. The bacteria that thrive on oligosaccharides are going to increase in number after you eat meals rich in this form of sugar. Nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen are all byproducts of the digestive process, in which bacteria play an integral role.
Foods that are full of unrefined fiber and processed foods that contain sorbitol or fructose also lead to more gas than normal.
Can You Reduce The Flatulence Caused By 'Gassy Foods'?
Yes, you can. Soak dried beans overnight, and you'll reduce the oligosaccharides that your digestive system has trouble with. Believe it or not, you can also buy and use special enzyme supplements that will reduce flatulence. They include bromelain tablets, papain tablets, and Lactaid.
When Excessive Flatulence Isn't Just Caused By The Usual Suspects: What Can You Do?
Quite a few health conditions cause excessive flatulence. If you are constantly passing gas and you know it isn't because you've been eating gas-producing foods, it may be time to see a doctor. Let's take a look at the conditions that can lead to excessive flatulence, and the other symptoms they produce.
Indigestion
Indigestion is a rather common condition that affects most of us from time to time, but not for long periods of time. It can manifest in the form of heartburn or dyspepsia, discomfort in the upper abdomen. It's usually caused by food, but can also be related to smoking, stress, pregancy, alcohol, or the use of certain medications.
Bloating, feeling full quickly, heartburn, nausea and vomiting and either burping or flatulence can all be symptons. If you experience indigestion regularly, especially if you are over 55 and have lost a lot of weight suddenly, it is time to see a doctor — indigestion can be the symptom of a serious underlying condition, including stomach cancer.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, is a long-term condition of the digestive tract that is characterized by alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea. Stomach cramps are also a common symptom. IBS is believed to be caused by problems during the digestive system and an extra sensitive gut, though experts have not identified a definite underlying cause yet. People with IBS will often experience excessive flatulence, along with mucus secretion from the anus and the feeling that they have not completed a bowel movement.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is an oversensivity to gluten, a protein present in wheat, barley and rye. Its symptoms are abdominal discomfort, bloating, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and — you guessed it — flatulence. Because many of the most popular foods contain gluten, people with celiac are going to encounter these symptoms rather a lot. The answer lies in diagnosis and then following a gluten-free diet.
Lactose Intolerance
People with lactose intolerance are not able to digest lactose, a sugar mainly found in milk and dairy products. This leads to a bloated stomach, cramps, diarrhea, and flatulence. Once diagnosed, the key to keeping those nasty symptoms away is avoiding lactose.
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis, typically caused by viral or bacterial infections, is a condition in which the stomach and intestines become inflamed. Fortunately, gastroenteritis is of a temporary nature, caused by food poisoning or the norovirus for instance. That doesn't make its symptoms any better though: vomiting, severe diarrhea, a fever, aching limbs, and headache are some of the tell-tale signs you can expect — along with a lot of farting.
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar to you? Don't continue to suffer! Get checked out by your healthcare provider, who will be able to offer diagnosis and hopefully treatment or management that will make your excessive flatulence a thing of the past very soon.
Sources & Links
- Photo courtesy of ToddMcCann via Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/toddmccann/7490208296
- Photo courtesy of Cornish Cactus via Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/110342926@N07/14173678102