Go ahead: Laugh it up, crack a dirty joke, or call us immature. But we're taking your farts seriously. Because really, everyone does it (and don't you dare deny it). It's a natural bodily function that occurs when your digestive system breaks down food through your gastrointestinal tract.
After food makes its way across your GI tract, waste remains in your colon until you need to expel it, says Aziz Aadam, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center. It's here that your intestinal bacteria ferments leftover nutrients, such as fiber and carbohydrates that weren't absorbed into the body. This creates the gas sulfur, which is what creates farts' fragrance and makes you gassy.
So that's the gist, but what else should you know about tooting? We spoke to the experts to ask the hard-hitting questions about flatulence.
1. Fragrance-free farts come from swallowed air.
2. Healthy foods that are high in sulfate—like broccoli, cauliflower, almonds, and Brussels sprouts—lead to fouler farts. A sulfur compound called mercaptans, which is found in meats and dairy products, can also be to blame.
3. The average person farts more than 10 times a day.
4. Over 24 hours, the average person can release up to two liters of gas, says Anish Sheth, M.D., author of What Your Poo Is Telling You.
5. Excess farting could indicate a bowel problem, such as an intolerance to dairy or gluten.
6. Men fart more often than women—probably because (a) they eat faster than women, and (b) they tend to be less embarrassed about passing gas.
7. Sucking on candy or chewing gum can make you gassy, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.
8. It is possible to light your farts on fire. See below:
"There's a misconception that methane is what causes the flammability," says Sheth. "But it's not found in most people's flatulence." Instead, hydrogen—which people produce when they fart—and exposure to a flame actually creates this party trick. Good to know.
9. Bigger poops lead to quieter farts: People who have bigger anal canal openings—possibly because they've passed larger stools—tend to toot silently.
10. The company Shreddies has created specific underwear to filter farts and deodorize the smell.
11. The strength of your sphincter muscles determines how good you are at holding in farts.
More from Women's Health:
10 Cancer Symptoms Most People Ignore
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Everything You (Secretly) Ever Wanted to Know About Snot
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