Smelly gas is not uncommon and is often considered normal. Some foods or medications can cause excessively smelly farts. There are, however, some instances when smelly farts can be an indicator of an underlying infection, digestive issues, or a disorder.
Common causes of foul-smelling gas can be a food intolerance, high - fiber foods, certain medications and antibiotics, and constipation. More serious causes are bacteria and infections in the digestive tract or, potentially, colon cancer.
Natural gas has no odor. Gas companies add a harmless chemical called mercaptan to give it its distinctive “rotten egg” smell. All natural gas and propane pipeline gas in Connecticut is odorized. If you smell gas near an appliance, it may be just a pilot light that has gone out or a burner valve that is open slightly.
What Foods Cause Gas to Smell More? Since sulfur compounds produce the odor related to gas, eating foods high in sulfur compounds will increase the pungency of your flatulence. Foods high in sulfur include meat, poultry, eggs, onions, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts and cauliflower.
If you smell gas anywhere, including in your home, go outside and call 1-800-892-2345 or 911 immediately. Do not assume that someone else has already reported the emergency.
Excessive or smelly farts can be caused when you swallow air or eat foods that are difficult to digest. It can also sometimes be a sign of a health condition. Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you're worried about your farting.
Foul-smelling farts are often caused by a diet high in cruciferous vegetables and animal protein. These foods contain organic sulfur compounds that bacteria can turn into hydrogen sulfide, a gas that smells like rotten eggs.
There are several reasons why we get gassy during physical exertion. First, heavy breathing causes excess air to get trapped in our digestive tract, which is released through the anus, Women's Health reported. Plus, all that moving stimulates the digestive process, which also contributes to gassiness.
Irritable bowel syndrome, a condition in which dysfunction in the large intestine causes digestive issues like bloating and abdominal pain, and bouts of diarrhea and constipation, is yet another common culprit behind particularly smelly farts, according to the Mayo Clinic.
In many cases, foul-smelling stools occur due to the foods people eat and the bacteria present in their colon. However, foul-smelling stools can also indicate a serious health problem. Diarrhea, bloating, or flatulence may occur with foul-smelling stools. These stools are often soft or runny.
Although it may seem strange, many people do experience gas (burping and flatulence) connected to their anxiety. Not only can anxiety cause gas problems and bloating - the gas problems themselves can lead to other symptoms that can actually increase anxiety. This can create a vicious cycle of anxiety and gassiness.
Prebiotics and probiotics
Probiotics help eliminate or decrease common gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, gas, reflux and even nausea/vomiting. These foods help fill your gut with healthy bacteria that will assist in the healthy breakdown of the food you eat.
Yogurt's probiotics (good bacteria) help your gut digest and absorb food, so there's less gas and bloating. Go for plain yogurt with active cultures, and sweeten it with a little fruit.
Can stress cause gas? "Sometimes stress can make [gas and bloating] a major issue," Dr. Raj says. "What's happening there is the stress is affecting how you digest your food and then your food is producing more gas—more air in the system—which leads to that distended feeling."
Even foul-smelling stools can be due to changes in your diet. However, atypically foul-smelling stools may be a symptom of a health condition. Examples include celiac disease, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and intestinal infections.
Healthy Poop Should Sink in the Toilet
Floating stools are often an indication of high fat content, which can be a sign of malabsorption, a condition in which you can't absorb enough fat and other nutrients from the food you're ingesting, reports Mount Sinai.
Foul-smelling stools may also be a sign of an intestinal viral, bacterial (like E. coli or Salmonella), or parasitic infection. These infections can occur after eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water (which can also happen when swimming).
Regularly farting is normal, even healthy. Farting a lot isn't necessarily bad, but it could be a sign of a digestive issue or improper diet. One of the easiest adjustments for gas issues is making sure you're getting a good balance of protein and plants, like fruits, vegetables, and grains, in your daily diet.
Choosing to “hold in” or delay flatulence from escaping is often the polite thing to do. But holding in a fart for too long isn't good for your body. If you decide not to release a fart, some of the gas will be reabsorbed into the circulatory system.
Of course, farting can make you feel lighter, even if it doesn't ~actually~ make you lighter. Turns out, that satisfying feeling is likely due to bloat—or rather, getting rid of it. “The bloated feeling in your abdomen can be resolved after passing gas. That's why people feel lighter,” Dr.