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We fart a lot -

Farting is normal. Most of us do so anywhere from 12 to 25 times a day. Some of us don’t even realize we fart that much, because it also happens during our sleep.

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Not all farts smell -

The vast majority of flatulence is completely odorless. Only a small percentage does smell, and there are a few reasons why this might be.

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You might be eating too much fiber -

One of the things that impacts our flatulence is the food we eat. Fiber, in particular, is one of the main culprits. In short, we don't digest fiber, so when our gut bacteria ferments it, the process releases gas.

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You might be eating too much fiber -

That’s not to say that consuming fiber is bad. Too much flatulence can be a sign that you’re just consuming a bit too much, that’s all. Watch out for foods such as legumes (e.g. beans), dark leafy greens, and cruciferous vegetables (e.g. cabbage and broccoli).

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You might be eating too much protein -

Protein contains sulfur, which is then turned into hydrogen sulfide by our gut bacteria. This is a very smelly gas (similar to rotten eggs).

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You might be consuming too much artificial sweetener -

Artificial sweeteners are a popular substitute for sugar, and while using it in your daily cup of joe might not make a difference, nowadays it’s easy to overindulge on sweetener, as it is added to so many foods.

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You might be consuming too much artificial sweetener -

This is particularly true for polyol sweeteners (aka sugar alcohols) such as sorbitol, lactitol, mannitol, and xylitol. These cannot be digested by gut bacteria, so they are fermented instead, resulting in flatulence.

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You might be swallowing too much air -

We swallow air when we do basic everyday things such as talking, eating, and drinking. Some of this air is passed through burping and/or farting. Too much of it can increase flatulence, so there might be a link between excessive flatulence and the amount of air you swallow.

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You might be swallowing too much air -

Some of the things that can cause you to swallow excessive amounts of air include eating too fast and too much, talking while you eat, using a straw to drink, and even chewing gum.

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You might be swallowing too much air -

There is even a condition for those who swallow a lot of air. It’s called aerophagia. In addition to excessive flatulence, people who suffer from aerophagia also experience other symptoms, including bloating, abdominal pain, and distension.

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You might be swallowing too much air -

Those who are more at risk of aerophagia include smokers, those who breathe through the mouth, individuals with loose-fitting dentures, or those with obstructive sleep apnea that use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine.

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It might be a sign of a digestive disorder -

Some digestive disorders can increase flatulence, as well as make farts smell bad. This is usually the case with people who suffer from inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, to name a few.

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It might be a sign of a digestive disorder -

People who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may also experience discomfort caused by flatulence. Other conditions that may cause excessive flatulence include constipation, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, diabetes, autoimmune pancreatitis, eating disorders, peptic ulcers, and dumping syndrome.

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It might be a sign of a food intolerance or sensitivity -

Some people lack the digestive enzyme to break down certain foods, so when they consume them, they often experience excessive flatulence. A common one is gluten intolerance. Some people are sensitive to gluten, a protein found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.

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It might be a sign of a food intolerance or sensitivity -

Another popular food intolerance is lactose. Some people don't produce enough (or none at all) of the enzyme lactase, so they are unable to digest lactose found in milk and dairy products, resulting in excessive flatulence.

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It might be a sign that your gut bacteria is imbalanced -

Bloating and excessive flatulence may be a sign that your gut bacteria is producing too much gas, and that’s usually a sign of imbalance.

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It might be a sign that your gut bacteria is imbalanced -

In some cases, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may occur. This imbalance of bacteria also causes other symptoms in addition to excessive flatulence and bloating, namely abdominal pain, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and weight loss.

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It might be a mental health issue -

A 2021 study comprising 6,000 participants from different countries found that “gas-related symptoms are associated with poorer quality of life, and higher stress, anxiety, and depression, with breaking wind being the most frequently reported gas issue.”

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It might be a mental health issue -

There are several ways this can happen. For instance, when we’re feeling stressed or anxious, food takes longer to move through our gut. Staying longer in our colon allows it to be fermented by bacteria for a longer period, leading to more gas. Stress and anxiety may also lead to hyperventilation, and swallowing more air.

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It may be a medication side effect -

Some medications not only increase gas production, but also make farts smell really bad. Some of these include antibiotics like ciprofloxacin and augmentin, and diabetes drugs such as metformin. Ulcer meds like rabeprazole and blood pressure drugs such as irbesartan, valsartan, losartan, and lisinopril can also have this side effect.

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It may be a medication side effect -

Other drugs that may cause excessive flatulence include pain meds such as pregabalin and naproxen, lipid or cholesterol-lowering drugs like lovastatin and atorvastatin, and antianxiety and antidepressant drugs such as paroxetine and venlafaxine escitalopram.

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Cancer -

Some cancers can make your gut produce more gas and therefore you will pass gas more frequently. Similarly, cancer treatment such as chemotherapy can also affect gut bacteria balance, leading to not only gas, but also bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.

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You might just be pregnant -

Yes, pregnancy can make you fart a lot more, and often the smell is not pleasant either. This is because pregnant women produce more progesterone, a hormone that, among other things, relaxes the muscles, including the gut.

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You might just be pregnant -

A relaxed gut is a slower gut, so the food stays there for longer and bacteria produce more gas as a result. Add the pressure and compression the fetus makes in the abdominal area during the later stages of pregnancy, and you have a recipe for a very farty time!

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Did you just give birth? -

Pregnancy is a gassy time for a woman, but unfortunately things don’t improve much in that department after giving birth. Postpartum gas is a reality, and it can be caused by a number of things. One being weakness of the pelvic floor caused by injury to the nerves and/or muscles during birth. This can also occur during an episiotomy (a surgery to cut through the perineum to help deliver the baby).

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Did you just give birth? -

Drugs given to women during childbirth can also lead to excessive flatulence. These include painkillers such as pethidine, fentanyl, and morphine.

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It might just be your period -

Menstruation often comes with an array of unpleasant symptoms, and being extra gassy during this time of the month is often one of them. This is mostly caused by hormonal changes, namely the rise in levels of estrogen and progesterone.

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It might just be your period -

When the womb sheds its lining, it also releases prostaglandins, which are yet another contributing factor for period farts.

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It might just be your period -

As for the smell, it’s usually a result of your gut bacteria changing due to hormonal fluctuations, as well as a result of dietary changes many women adopt during menstruation.

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You’re just getting older -

There are many age-related processes that can influence flatulence. One of them is a decrease in production of lactase, which is key in digesting lactose.

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You’re just getting older -

Sadly, many people develop more health problems as they grow old, including diabetes, hypertension, and inflammatory bowel diseases. All of these may result in excessive flatulence.

Sources: (Cleveland Clinic) (Health Digest) (Everyday Health) (Healthline) (Medical News Today)

See also: A guide to staying fit and healthy as you get older

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