Latest news with #farting
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Here's Why Your Farts Smell So Bad, According to Science
Reviewed by Dietitian Karen Ansel, M.S., RDN Key Points Passing gas is a normal part of digestion. But sometimes things can get unusually smelly. To find out what's normal and what's not, we spoke with digestive health experts. Food intolerances, digestive disorders and eating too much fiber are common culprits. Nobody likes to talk about farting. But gas production is a normal byproduct of digestion. In fact, most people toot an average of 8 to 14 times per day (sometimes even more). Luckily, most farts are odorless, but not always. So, why do farts sometimes smell so awful, and what can you do about it? To find out, we asked digestive health experts to share their insights on what is going on behind the scenes, tricks to combat smelly farts and when to be concerned. What Causes Farts to Smell? You Started Eating More Fiber Fiber does all kinds of great things for your body, like preventing constipation, helping with weight management, regulating blood sugar and lowering cholesterol. But if you suddenly start eating loads of it, things could temporarily get kind of stinky. 'It's pretty normal for the smell of your farts to change depending on the foods you're eating, especially if you're working on increasing your fiber intake,' says Amanda Sauceda, M.S., RDN. That's because higher-fiber foods take time to digest, so as they sit in your gut, they begin to ferment. That doesn't mean you shouldn't eat fiber. 'Your gut microbiome needs some time to adjust to the increased amount of fiber, which it uses as fuel and also produces gas as a result,' says Sauceda. Once your gut adjusts to your new eating pattern, things will likely start to calm down. In the meantime, try to increase fiber slowly rather than all at once. If you're wondering if some high-fiber foods are more problematic than others, the answer is yes. For instance, functional fibers, like inulin, that are added to foods to boost their fiber content, can sometimes be to blame for smellier gas. One unlikely, yet trendy, place you'll find inulin is in prebiotic sodas, says Sauceda. So, if you've recently started drinking prebiotic soda and your farts are smelling off, that might be the reason. You Eat Lots of High-Sulfur Foods Another factor to blame for stinkier gas is sulfur-containing foods. 'The pungent smell of passed gas is mostly due to sulfur-containing compounds that are produced when bacteria in your gut break down undigested food products,' says gastroenterologist Adam Pont, M.D. '[While] this is a normal part of digestion, the odor intensity may increase if you eat foods high in sulfur.' And the list of sulfur-containing foods is long. Cruciferous veggies like cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and arugula are all major offenders. So are eggs, ham, beef, chicken and fish., That's not a reason to give them up though, especially since they're packed with nutrients that do your body good. But if things are smelling off, try to ease back on the cruciferous veg a bit and add in more non-cruciferous veggies. You Have a Food Intolerance If you've noticed that your farts are especially pungent and are accompanied by other symptoms like bloating or diarrhea after you eat specific foods, you might have a food intolerance. For instance, some people are unable to fully digest lactose in dairy products or fructose from fruit and honey. Many people can eat these without issue. But if you have a lactose or fructose intolerance, you aren't able to fully break down these sugars in the small intestine. Instead, they travel intact to the colon, where bacteria that live there break them down and produce excess and potentially foul-smelling gas. Just because you have a lactose or fructose intolerance doesn't mean you have to avoid dairy or fruit entirely. 'There are lower-lactose foods, like yogurt or hard cheeses, as well as completely lactose-free products,' says Sauceda. If fructose is an issue, try eating fewer high-fructose apples, pears, cherries, mangoes, figs and watermelon and opt for other fruits instead. You're Constipated Constipation isn't just uncomfortable. It can also cause smellier-than-normal farts. Common constipation symptoms include having less than three bowel movements per week or having stools that are dry, hard or difficult to pass. The problem is that when you aren't pooping regularly, bacteria and odor can build up. Fortunately, making small adjustments to your diet and lifestyle can help tackle constipation and the stinky wind that comes along with it. For less constipation, try slowly upping your fiber intake, drinking more water, managing stress and incorporating movement into your day. You Have a Digestive Disorder Gas and bloating are common symptoms of several digestive disorders like celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). But it's not just about the amount of gas. 'There is even thought that those with digestive disorders may remark on more stinky types of farts,' says Sauceda. 'People with inflammatory bowel disease have remarked on more odor compared to those without IBD.' It's not their imaginations, either. One study found that people with IBD really do have smellier farts, most likely due to unfavorable changes in their gut bacteria. Speaking of bacteria, you may also experience funky-smelling gas if you have a bacterial overgrowth called SIBO (short for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). This can result in excessive fermentation and odor when bacteria produce gas while breaking down food, explains gastroenterologist Ritu Nahar, M.D. When to Be Concerned 'While occasional bad-smelling gas is normal, there are a few signs that may warrant medical attention,' says Nahar. 'If the foul odor is persistent and accompanied by other symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, unintentional weight loss or fatigue, it could indicate an underlying condition such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease or a gastrointestinal infection.' An unusually strong or constant odor without any change in diet is also cause for concern, she says. 'In those cases, it's a good idea to check in with a health care provider to rule out more serious digestive issues,' she advises. Our Expert Take Tooting is a normal and healthy part of digestion. While most farts are fairly odorless, there are times when you may notice that they are a bit more pungent. Don't panic! Smelly farts can be caused by a variety of factors, like eating more fiber- or sulfur-rich foods. They can also be the result of food intolerances, digestive disorders and even constipation. While digestive health experts say the occasional foul-smelling fart is nothing to worry about, you might want to follow up with your health care provider if you also start experiencing other symptoms like diarrhea or weight loss. Otherwise, small tweaks like easing up on fiber or eating smaller servings of cruciferous veggies, eggs, dairy, meat, chicken and fish or avoiding high-fructose fruits may help. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Brad Pitt makes shock confession about his own on set behavior that shut down filming
Brad Pitt has confessed that he once caused production on one of his movies to shut down because he couldn't stop farting. The Hollywood actor, 61, revealed he had been filming in a small café with 60 people on the set when 'nature took its course' and the crew swiftly evacuated. For the scene, Pitt had to quickly eat a huge plate of beans and bacon because his character hadn't eaten for several days. And being the A-list star that he is, Pitt opted to go 'method' and ate the food that was laid out in front of him. Speaking to brothers Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce on their New Heights podcast, he recalled: 'I just powered down this plate of beans. 'Take two, do the same thing. Take three, I do the same thing. Take four, I do the same thing. Something hit me. 'There was nothing I could do. I was stuck in this chair, nature took its course.' At first, Pitt believed he might have evaded any notice, but seconds later the entire crew 'fled the cafe.' 'And then, suddenly, the entire crew, the most diabolical something-something descended on the crew in the whole room, and they fled the café,' he continued. 'Fled. 'Ever since then, I pace myself.' While Pitt didn't name the movie that he let his foul stench wreak havoc on, he did eat baked beans in Tom DiCillo's 1991 film Johnny Suede. On the same podcast, Pitt revealed that only two women have ever left him stars truck. 'When I first met Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, I was. Yeah,' the two-time Oscar winner admitted of feeling initially stars truck around his former Thelma & Louise costars. He continued: 'I got over it quickly, though.' Pitt's role in the 1991 film, Thelma & Louise, propelled him to stardom as the charming and charismatic hitchhiker, J.D., who sleeps with Thelma (Davis), before stealing her money and vanishing. Previously, the father-of-six praised Davis for being 'so sweet and kind and delicate' during their sex scene during an interview with W Magazine in 2023. 'That love scene, I think, went on for two days of shooting. She took care of me,' he told the publication. Despite still establishing his name in Hollywood, at the time, Sarandon said the then-rising star 'really impressed' her with 'his sense of humor' in addition to 'his good looks and great body.' 'I thought, "Ah, this guy's interesting, you know, he's not just a really gorgeous face,"' she told Extra in 2021. The Dead Man Walking went on to note that Pitt has 'continued to push the envelope' throughout his career. During his interview with the Kelce brothers, Pitt shared his love for Travis' team, the Kansas City Chiefs. This prompted Taylor Swift's boyfriend, Travis, 35, to apologize for their Super Bowl loss. 'We got you this year. I let you down,' the tight end told the actor. Pitt replied that hardships were 'what makes sports movies so special.' 'That's what I mean about life. Life throws struggles your way. Sometimes everything goes quiet, it's perfection, it's sublime. Other periods, life throws these struggles at you and it's how you deal with those and how you come back from those,' Pitt explained.
