Farting, also called flatulence, is the expulsion of gas through the anus. This gas accumulates in the intestines and results from the absorption of air during chewing or from the fermentation mechanism of food.
Generally, a healthy person expels between 14 and 18 farts per day on average. These can be loud, sometimes causing a loud sound during the evacuation of gas, or they can be silent. Farts can also be odorless or smelly. This is why people force themselves to hold them in when they are not alone. They are afraid of being teased by people around them.
But farting is a completely natural phenomenon, like stool and urine. Better yet, they even have some health benefits.
Discover 7 good reasons to let your farts out the way you want them:
1 – Farts reduce bloating:
This digestive disorder is caused by the accumulation of intestinal gases in the intestine and represents a source of discomfort. It is therefore quite natural that it can be relieved or even prevented by releasing farts, because more farts means less gas in the intestines!
2 – Farting is good for the health of the intestine:
Holding in everything that needs to be passed, whether it’s urine, salts or farts, is strongly discouraged. In the case of farts, holding them in can increase the accumulation of gas in the intestines. The latter must obviously be emptied to prevent digestive problems and to avoid strong pressure on the intestinal walls.
Remember that this problem is not only painful and inconvenient, but can also cause distension of the intestine in the long term.
3 – Farting is an excellent warning sign:
Farting is a natural and unavoidable phenomenon! Note that it is impossible to eliminate all gas from the intestines, which is a good thing because it can tell us a lot about our health. Indeed, having intestinal gas means that this organ is functioning properly, while the opposite case could indicate an intestinal obstruction.
4 – The smell of farts is good for your health:
This is not the kind of information you hear every day, but yes the smell of your farts has health benefits. The foul smell of farts is actually a result of high levels of hydrogen sulfide, which has a positive effect on cells.
According to a study conducted by the University of Exeter in Great Britain, hydrogen sulfide may help reduce the risk of stroke, diabetes, arthritis and heart attacks. This effect can be explained by the fact that when cells are stressed by disease, they secrete less hydrogen sulfide. This helps maintain the role of mitochondria, which allow cells to survive by controlling inflammation.
5 – Farts can help with a balanced diet:
Your farts can reveal a lot about your diet and can also help you balance it. If they are less, this is a sign that you are not consuming enough fiber, because these substances are responsible for the production of gas during the fermentation process.
The food you eat also affects the smell of your farts. For example, if you eat foods that contain a lot of fiber, such as beans or artichokes, your farts will have a slightly unpleasant smell. On the other hand, if you eat a lot of cold cuts and meats, your flatulence will have an unpleasant odor but more sulfurous, because it contains hydrogen sulfide.
6 – Farting shows that you have a good intestinal flora:
Don’t be embarrassed of your farts, be proud of them because they indicate that you have good intestinal flora and that you are eating the right foods. Cabbage and broccoli, for example, are known for their ability to raise the levels of good bacteria in the intestines, which improves the intestinal flora. These bacteria will release gas as a result of the elimination of undigested carbohydrates and fiber.
7 – Farting is good for you:
Yes, farting feels good! We feel free of all the gas that clogs our intestine. This sensation alone is a more than valid reason to never hold back your farts again.
