The average person lets out anywhere between 10 to 20 farts each day. Many of them go unnoticed. Some of them are loud. But the worst of them smell horrible – and that’s when things can get pretty embarrassing. Why do we fart? And why do farts smell? Let’s find out now!
Why do Farts Smell? (And What to Do about it!)
Let’s take a look at some facts about farts. It’s a normal, natural occurrence. A fart is simply air leaving our body. The average fart comprises of :
- Nitrogen in highest proportion
- Hydrogen next in quantity
- Carbon dioxide
- Methane
- Oxygen –just 4%
- Very small amounts of hydrogen sulphide
Out of these gases, the one responsible for the stink is hydrogen sulphide – specifically the sulphur content. And when it comes to the sound, the gases have no role. The sound, in fact is produced by the pressure combined with the movements in the rectum in the process of farting.
Back to the stink
If all farts contain hydrogen sulphide, why do farts smell only sometimes? The reason is that not all farts contain equal amounts of hydrogen sulphide.
Advice from Ayurveda
Ayurveda connects excessive farting and bad smelling farts to an imbalance between the vata and pitta doshas. Vata is concerned with air movement and pitta links to digestion.
Diet and Lifestyle
The composition of your farts has a lot to do with your diet. There are some foods that contain high amounts of sulphur. So obviously, stinky farts indicate that you need to balance your diet by reducing the intake of such foods. Another kind of food that causes stinky farts is carbohydrates. These foods don’t get digested, so your body’s bacteria processes them and releases hydrogen sulphide.
When it comes to what food you should avoid. Ayurveda says:
- Raw food
- Rice (at night)
- Fermented food
- Alcohol
- Caffeinated drinks
- Sodas
- Eggs
- Apples
- Cabbage
- Bread
- Pasta
- Milk and yoghurt
- Cornflakes
- Mushrooms
- Potatoes
- High fat meat
You should avoid these foods only as long as your doshas are out of balance. Before striking any of these foods off your list, consult your doctor.
Aside from what you eat, Ayurveda also answers the question of why do farts smell with lifestyle factors. Other medication, high stress levels, lack of exercise, irregular food timings and even a tendency to chew too fast.
In general, eat a balanced diet to avoid all kinds of gastrointestinal issues.
Should I See a Doctor?
Further, it is important to know whether your farts are a valid cause of concern or not.
If your farts smell particularly bad, and if the frequency rises to above 22 farts a day, you’re having flatulence. You then need to take a closer look at your body. Do you have other symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach ache and fatigue? If yes, then go ahead and talk to your doctor.
On the other hand, if you’re having anxiety, sleeplessness, body ache and such vata-related symptoms, then your vata dosha has possibly aggravated. In this case, see your Ayurvedic expert and get started on a vata pacifying diet as well as lifestyle. With simple changes, you can bring your vata down and your gas situation will improve out as a natural result of balancing your dosha.
If you don’t have these symptoms, it’s probably just the occasional foul smelling flatulence, probably resulting from something you ate – give it a few days and eat fresh, wholesome, body-cleansing food. If it’s gone, you’ve got nothing to worry about!
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