In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleWhat Causes Smelly Farts?4 Foods to Eat for Less-Smelly FartsOther Tips to Prevent Smelly FartsFAQs
In This ArticleView All
View All
In This Article
What Causes Smelly Farts?
4 Foods to Eat for Less-Smelly Farts
Other Tips to Prevent Smelly Farts
FAQs
For kids, farting is often hilarious. But, quickly, you learn that farting in front of others can be embarrassing. As much as you try to hold it in, flatulence (aka farts or wind) is a normal and natural process where the gas passes from the small and large intestines out of the body. Belching, on the other hand, is gas expelled from the upper digestive tract (stomach and esophagus). If you do not pass gas through burping or farting, gas can build up uncomfortably.
Pictured Recipe:Turmeric & Ginger Shots
When you eat, you swallow food, fluids and air. Certain foods cause more burping, such as eating hard candy, chewing gum and drinking fizzy and fermented beverages. When the gas doesn’t get expelled, it moves along the digestive tract to make its way out of the body.
Digestion also produces gas in the small and large intestines. Bacteria live in the gut, releasing gas as they feed on the food. You may be surprised to know that people fart on average 8 to 14 times per day, according to theNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Because everyone’s body may react differently to the same foods, some people may pass more gas than others, so farting up to 25 times daily is considered normal, says the NIDDK.
Sometimes, you may not even know you passed gas if it doesn’t stink. However, certain foods can make farts foul. Read on to find out more about what causes smelly farts, the foods that can help reduce their smell, and other tips to fart less.
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To understand how smelly farts come about, let’s take a step back to understand food chemistry.
Foods are made up of chemical compounds. During digestion, foods are broken down into smaller pieces, and certain types of gas are released, such as hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. While these gases are odorless, according to 2023 research in theJournal of Functional Foods, some foods contain sulfur. When gut bacteria feed on foods with sulfur, they release the notorious “rotten egg” smell. You can find sulfur in a variety of foods, including:
Certain high-fiber foods that contain inulin, like garlic, onions, asparagus, artichokes, chicory root and leeks, may also produce gas during digestion.
Being constipatedcould also lead to rotten-egg-smelling farts. The buildup of stool can make digestion a bit more challenging. Gas, therefore, gets expelled to relieve built-up pressure in the colon.
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman
Whether you’re looking to make your farts less stinky or to improve your digestion, there are fart-reducing foods you could incorporate into your diet.
1. Ginger
Ginger offers a fiery flavor with a comforting kick to foods and beverages. The underground stem of the ginger plant (rhizome) is an edible portionused widely as a remedy in traditional medicinein many cultures. A 2018 review published inFood Science & Nutritionnoted that gingerol, one of the many spicy compounds in ginger root, may help increase movement in the digestive tract, something that may help relieve or prevent constipation. The same review also noted that ginger contains enzymes that may help break down gas within the digestive tract. While ginger may not cure farts or any health conditions, there is no harm in including it, either. Let thesehealthy ginger recipesinspire you to add some zing to your diet.
2. Fennel Seeds
Some cultures use fiber-richfennel seedsmedicinally, most commonly to aid digestion and freshen breath, according to 2022 research inPLoS One. Research published the same year, in 2022, in theInternational Journal of Advances in Nursing Managementnoted that the oils from these tiny seeds might help relieve gas, bloating and constipation thanks to their antibacterial properties. Enjoy the seeds whole like other edible seeds, or grind them up and use them as a spice to flavor your meals.
3. Wheat Bran
If ginger and fennel seeds seem too strong for you, try something more neutral, like wheat bran, which is the outermost layer of the wheat kernel. Because of its high concentration of insoluble fiber, it adds significant bulk to stools and promotes the movement of food along the digestive tract, points out research inCriticalReviews in Food Science and Nutritionin 2021. This can ultimately help relieve and prevent constipation, and wheat bran may also help improve the health of your gut bacteria, according to 2022 research inFood Chemistry: X. While many strains of gut bacteria produce gas after you consume fiber, wheat bran is one the few insoluble fibers that may not cause much flatulence, according to the journalFood & Functionin 2021. There are many ways to include wheat bran in your diet. Add it to your morning cereal, or use it to make our deliciousBanana-Bran Muffins.
4. Probiotic-Rich Foods
If you’re passing excessive gas and are concerned, speak with your primary care provider to find out the root cause to receive appropriate treatment.
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The Bottom Line
Producing and passing gas is a part of normal digestion. Certain foods may cause you to pass more gas than others, and certain conditions, like constipation, can make your farts smelly. While eating certain foods may help alleviate the smell, adopting habits like drinking water, eating smaller portions, eating slowly with your mouth closed and exercising may also be beneficial.
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Frequently Asked QuestionsFarting is the release of gas produced from digestion in the small and large intestines. You may fart 8 to 14 times a day. Farting up to 25 times a day is still considered normal.You usually don’t notice the gas being expelled from the body because farts normally don’t smell, but some foods cause more smell. For example, animal-based proteins, some plant-based proteins, vegetables and whole grains may make the gas smellier than other foods. Constipation also causes gas to be stinkier, due to stool built up in the large intestine.Passing gas is a normal physiological process. If you notice you are passing more gas than usual, connect with your primary health care provider to discuss the symptoms to allow them to further identify the root cause of the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Farting is the release of gas produced from digestion in the small and large intestines. You may fart 8 to 14 times a day. Farting up to 25 times a day is still considered normal.
You usually don’t notice the gas being expelled from the body because farts normally don’t smell, but some foods cause more smell. For example, animal-based proteins, some plant-based proteins, vegetables and whole grains may make the gas smellier than other foods. Constipation also causes gas to be stinkier, due to stool built up in the large intestine.
Passing gas is a normal physiological process. If you notice you are passing more gas than usual, connect with your primary health care provider to discuss the symptoms to allow them to further identify the root cause of the issue.
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