My grandma called it "passing gas," followed by a giggle. My mom calls it a "toot." My aunt called it a "fluff." Most kids call it a "fart." It is a natural part of the body functions. It is part of the way the body works. Normal farts are a mix of swallowed air (caused by chewing gum, drinking carbonated beverages, eating too quickly and even talking too fast) and the gas produced by the variety of microbiome that live in our gut.
Although modern society places farting high up the embarrassing-bodily-function scale, the truth is farting is usually a sign of good health. A varied and active set of microbiome is key to a healthy gut. These communities of microbes like to chow down on the sugars, starches, carbohydrates and fibers that our body can’t easily digest. But whenever they’re busy at work, they’re also busy expelling a bunch of waste gas – and all that excess gas needs to escape somewhere. So the next time you need to pass a little gas, remember up to 18 farts per day is perfectly normal.
However, there are a few signs of trouble you need to look out for…
While the ideal gut microbiome is a healthy balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria, too much of anything is never good. Good gut bacteria thrives on certain fibers in our diet while the not-so-good bacteria feast on high-sugar foods. If your diet has too much of the good or the bad, the whole microbiome system may get out of whack.
Smelly farts are normal and can be caused by eating a variety of food, including fructose, onions, beans, sugar-free gum and wheat. But if you’re also experiencing other symptoms such as nausea, fever, headaches or abdominal pain there could be something else at play, so consult your healthcare professional.
"Passing Gas" is a good thing, so take a walk and let it rip!
