According to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation, the average person passes gas 13 – 21 times a day.
Flatulence is a normal bodily function, yet we are shocked and embarrassed when one squeaks out.
Sometimes, our toots smell; sometimes, they don’t. They can be silent or sound like a foghorn. Passing gas is a part of life we can’t escape, and we all do it whether we live in Canada or France, are a child or adult, or are a prince or a queen.
Although many cultures consider passing gas in public a social no-no, flatulence has been the butt of many jokes dating back thousands of years. The oldest fart joke, “Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap,” can be traced back to the Sumerians in 1900 BC.
Passing gas regularly is a sign of a healthy gut, but when we have too much gas, it can be very uncomfortable.
Toot. Pass gas. Cut the cheese. Tush tickler. Fluffer doodle. Whatever term you use, it’s time to unmask the gas-tly truths on farts!
Causes of Flatulence
Passing gas is the normal release of intestinal gas produced as part of digestion. Bacteria in our colon breaks down the food we eat, creating gas.
However, there are several reasons why you might experience a bit more gas than usual at times.
- Food choices: Certain foods can increase gas production because they take longer to digest. These foods include:
- Starchy foods like potatoes, corn, and wheat
- Whole grains like bran, lentils, nuts, and beans
- Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and bok choy
- Dairy products like cheese and ice cream
- Fruits like apples, peaches, and pears
- Artificial sweeteners like sorbitol and xylitol
- Carbonated beverages like pop, beer, and sparkling water
- Digestive Health: Conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, colon cancer, celiac disease, and indigestion can affect how gas passes through our intestines. Food intolerances, such as lactose and fructose intolerances, can also cause discomfort. These conditions can all contribute to making us a bit gassier than normal.
- Aerophagia: Swallowing too much air can lead to gas. This happens when we eat quickly, don’t chew our food well, gulp down beverages, chew gum or suck on candy, smoke, or wear dentures. Using a CPAP machine can also increase the amount of air we take in.
- Menstruation: Some women experience bloating and increased gas during their cycle due to changes in hormones.
- Aging: Our digestive system can become less efficient as we age. Slower digestion, reduced enzyme production, and changes in diet (more fibre) and gut flora can lead to more gas and abdominal discomfort. Medications taken by older adults can also contribute to increased gas.
Understanding how these affect our bodies can help us manage flatulence and improve comfort.
Symptoms
All of us have experienced gas pain at some point in our life. Common symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Fullness or discomfort in the stomach area
- Abdominal cramps
- Pain or pressure in the lower back
- Pain or pressure in the chest
Management and Treatment
- Eating Habits: By reducing our intake of gas-producing foods and beverages, we can manage the amounts of gas. As the Health Insider wrote, mindful eating improves digestion. Eat slowly and chew your food well to reduce the amount of gas created. A balanced meal and choosing easy-to-digest foods like rice, bananas, citrus, and avocados also help prevent excessive gas. While eating, drink water to help with digestion and limit talking to avoid swallowing too much air. Also, avoid using straws, as they cause excess air to be swallowed.
- Lifestyle Modifications: Make some lifestyle changes to help alleviate excessive gas. Quit smoking to minimize the intake of swallowed air. Choose clothing that fits properly and avoid anything snug around your midsection, as it makes digesting food and passing gas more difficult.
- Over-the-Counter Medications: There are over-the-counter remedies available that can help with gas. Antacids, simethicone, activated charcoal, and pre-and probiotics help with digestion and break up the bubbles in your tummy.
- Regular Exercise: Stay active to aid digestion and reduce bloating and gas. “Fart walks” after dinner are becoming more popular and get your gastrointestinal tract moving, which is an important part of digestion. Ten minutes is all you need to move things along.
Yoga is another excellent way to help alleviate flatulence. It helps with relaxation in your bowels and intestines. Poses such as knee to chest, happy baby, child’s pose, downward dog, and malasana squats can calm and relax the tension and tightness in your abdomen and help you toot!
- Home Remedies: Herbal teas like peppermint, chamomile, fennel, or ginger can help digestion and reduce gassiness. In fact, fennel seeds, either chewed after a meal or made into a tea, is known to be one of the most effective and natural ways to reduce bloating and gas. Heating pads or a hot water bottle placed on your abdomen relaxes the muscles and can help get the gas moving.
- Self–massage: An easy way to get gas flowing is a tummy massage. Start on the right side of your stomach near the pelvis bone and, using circular motions, rub up towards your rib cage. From the rib cage, move across to the left side in the same circular motion. Work down your left side toward your hip. Do this for a few minutes to help release gas.
Our bellies tend to be more vocal in the evening, with some extra gas flair. Busy days, large dinners, and drinking bubbly liquids all add to the effervescent gathering in our tummies when we sit down and put our feet up. As our body and digestion system relaxes, a symphony of trumpets awakes.
Sign of a Health Problem
See your doctor if you are concerned with any of the following:
- Excessive amounts of gas
- Bloody stools
- Change in frequency of bowel movements
- Weight loss
- Constipation/diarrhea
- Constant nausea and abdominal pain
- Chest pains
You know your body best, so listen to it.
For a bodily function that embarrasses us, there are over 250 slang terms for flatulence. Understanding why we pass gas and taking steps to relieve the discomfort is important. Next time you feel the bubbles in your tummy growing, remember everyone has gas, so just let it out!
~ Read more from The Health Insider ~
- Flatulence Exposed: Interesting Facts About Your Toots
Flatulence is a natural and common bodily function that, while often embarrassing, is an important aspect of the digestive process. - Gut Health and Microbiome: What You Need to Know
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The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.