It is something that very few of us discuss, yet it is something all of us do. It doesn’t matter what you call it, it is a natural bodily function. There are many different types of farts and depending upon several different factors, it may actually reveal something about your health!
Farts may be uncomfortable, embarrassing and at times, unavoidable. Even though they are the butt of many jokes, they are certainly no laughing matter. It helps to keep our body in balance and for most people, it is something that occurs approximately 15 times per day.
The following are different types of farts and what they may mean for you.
Loud Farting – It doesn’t matter if they have odor or not, loud farts are likely the most embarrassing of any type. The sound of the fart is really only a matter of the vibrations that are caused by the gas exiting the body. More than likely, you feel a degree of relief after expelling the gas, that is, after you leave the presence of those who are laughing.
Farts with No Odor – There may be a degree of relief involved in this type of fart and fortunately, the embarrassment tends to end once the noise is forgotten. The vast majority of flatulence is odorless and it occurs because of a breakdown of food that results in a build up of hydrogen or carbon.
Smelly Farts – Like farts with no odor, smelly farts also contain carbon and hydrogen but they may also contain sulfur. This is due to the digestion of fibrous healthy foods, such as cabbage, broccoli or other green vegetables. A gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic said that the smell of farts may play another role in our health as well. According to him, the bacteria that makes sulfide gas is really important. Farts can be smelly but it also reduces the amount of gas flow that is occurring.
Excessive Farting – If you fart more than 23 times per day, it may be a sign that something is wrong. Although it is not unusual to fart that much if you are on a high fiber diet, it can also be caused by other issues, such as lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome and even colon cancer. Excessive farting may be combined with bloating, constipation and abdominal pain. If you are eating a normal fiber diet and consistently fart to an excessive degree, you might want to check with your physician.
Misconceptions about Farting
We tend to be embarrassed about farting, which makes it seem as if we fart more frequently than what we actually do. If you begin counting your farts, you may find that you are more in line with the norm than you first realized.
In addition, if you make a little too much noise or are too fragrant with your flatulence, don’t assume that you are leaving an unhealthy life. Although it is true that a high fiber diet will cause more gas, removing fiber from the diet may have negative consequences as well.
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