Farts are made up of a variety of chemicals, of which the loudest is methane, and the smelliest is hydrogen sulphide.
Only a small amount of hydrogen sulphide is required to produce the rotten egg smell, experts say.
Researchers say most farts are odorless and they indicate that the digestive system is healthy.
“Farts that have no smell only mean that too much air has accumulated in the body and is now ready to pass and exit,” physicians say; adding, “In fact, 99 percent of fart comprises odorless gasses, while the remaining one percent is typically sulfurous.”
Speaking on the issue, researchers weigh in as follows:
Bacteria build-up
The large intestine contains bacteria, fungi, and viruses, known as the gut microbiome. The microbes aid digestion by breaking down the carbohydrates in food. That process results in gas, according to General Practitioner, Dr. Chinua Okechukwu.
Again, nutritionists say during digestion, the gut bacteria produce sulfur-containing compounds like hydrogen sulfide that create a stench in the fart.
An Assistant Professor of Clinical Internal Medicine, Etim Usoro, explains further that the number and type of microbes in someone’s gut may affect gas symptoms, including how odorous the farts are.
“Certain people have a certain type of flora inside of them that causes them to produce more gas or smellier gas,” Usoro says
Food intolerance
According to gastroenterologists, the foods you eat can influence the bacteria that live in your colon, which then affects the smell of your farts. For example, some people cannot fully digest sugars like fructose [found in fruits and honey]; and lactose [a sugar found in dairy products like cheese, ice cream, milk, and yogurt].
Those sugars pass through the small intestine unabsorbed if you are fructose or lactose intolerant. The gut bacteria will then break down those sugars in the large intestine, producing excess gas.
High-fiber foods
Eating too much fiber produces excess gas, which may increase the amount of smelly farts, says gastroenterologist Dr. Beatrice Jude. She explained that fiber is a carbohydrate found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains that the body cannot fully digest. Fiber aids digestion and helps regulate bowel movements.
“Most people do not eat enough fiber. However, slowly increasing your fiber intake helps prevent excess gas,” says Dr. Jude.
Constipation
Constipation is another thing that can make farts smell, says Dr. Jude, noting that when someone is constipated, faeces “hangs around the colon for too long, and then bacteria can invade the system and cause lots of gas.”
To avoid constipation, nutritionists advise that you drink plenty water and exercise regularly to keep things from getting backed up.
Medicines
According to Prof. Usoro, some medicines can affect the gut and increase gas production. “The reasons they cause gas differ by the drug,” Usoro stated; adding, “How often medicine makes you pass smelly gas varies from person to person.”
Infections and diseases
Smelly gas is usually nothing to worry about, said Dr. Okechukwu. Still, certain health conditions may cause a change or increase in gas.
Abdominal pain that does not go away after passing gas or having a bowel movement, or changes in your bowel habits, may signal a health condition.
Health conditions
According to Dr. Okechukwu, health conditions that may likely cause smelly farts include:
Bowel obstruction: sSuch as a tumor caused by colorectal, ovarian, or stomach cancer, which blocks the digestive tract.
Celiac disease: People with this digestive and immune disease have a reaction to gluten, which damages the small intestine. Gluten is a protein in bread, cakes, cookies, and pasta.
Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders: These include health conditions that affect the link between your brain and gut, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Gastroparesis: This disease slows or stops food moving through ther digestive tract.
How to reduce the smell of farts
Nutritionists advise adjusting your diet and swallowing less air to help alleviate gas symptoms, including smelly farts. For example, avoiding certain foods or eating small, more frequent meals may reduce the number of bacteria that produce odor.
Find ways to swallow less air between and during meals. For example, avoid drinking beverages with a straw or sit down while you eat. Eating smaller, more frequent instead of three large meals may help, too.
