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.
Excessive Gut Bacteria
Excessive bacteria in the small intestine can cause extreme amounts of rotten-smelling gas and belching, causing your breath to have an unpleasant smell. This condition is referred to as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Other symptoms of SIBO include: Loss of weight and appetite.
There is no smell to detect leaky gut. Leaky gut is the idea that increased permeability of the intestine allows toxins and bacteria to enter the body, potentially leading to inflammation and other symptoms. Foul smelling stool may be due to what you ate or certain medications, or from poor absorption or infection.
The Digestive System and Bad Breath
Most people who have bad breath from the digestive system describe a rotten egg smell. This is due to gut microbiota that break down sulfur, releasing an eggy-smelling gas. For some people. However, the smell is a more rotten, putrid smell.
Flatulence, or farting as it's more commonly known, is a very natural and normal biological process, and we all do it. However, if you find yourself passing wind more than normal, or if your farts are particularly smelly, it can be a sign of an unhealthy gut.
"Leaky gut syndrome" is said to have symptoms including bloating, gas, cramps, food sensitivities, and aches and pains. But it's something of a medical mystery. “From an MD's standpoint, it's a very gray area,” says gastroenterologist Donald Kirby, MD, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the Cleveland Clinic.
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, can cause a person's breath to smell like feces because the stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. This acidic wash irritates the esophagus, which can cause extreme discomfort as well as foul breath.
Breath which smells like rotten eggs often indicates an issue that stems from the digestive tract. Because the gut microbiota breaks down sulfur, an eggy-smelling gas is released. Causes for this can include Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD. GERD occurs when the stomach acids creep back up the esophagus.
“Left untreated, we know that a leaky gut can cause gastrointestinal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease and Crohn's disease, among others.”
These foods include refined sugars, grains, legumes (beans), nightshades, and more. If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune or thyroid disease or believe you have a leaky gut, you should avoid these inflammatory foods: Grains and pseudo-grains include wheat, barley, rye, quinoa, buckwheat, chia seeds, and more.
So, how do you know if you have a leaky gut? Well, you can consider getting a zonulin test, an increasingly popular option [1]. Zonulin is a family of proteins that regulate the tight junctions of the small intestine. Zonulin levels can be measured in the blood or stool but zonulin antibodies can also be measured.
An unhealthy gut lining may have large cracks or holes, allowing partially digested food, toxins, and bugs to penetrate the tissues beneath it. This may trigger inflammation and changes in the gut flora (normal bacteria) that could lead to problems within the digestive tract and beyond.
Bacteria break down carbs in your large intestine, releasing a gas that smells like rotten eggs. You may have excess smelly farts if more bacteria rapidly break down carbs in your large intestine, which releases more gas than usual.
And -- as odd as it may seem -- it also plays a critical role in protecting blood vessels from the complications of diabetes. Hydrogen sulfide is a foul-smelling gas with an odor resembling that of rotten eggs.
Poor digestion can cause an imbalance in the bacteria in our gut, causing them to work harder and produce more incomplete byproducts. The body has a harder time dealing with these and will allow them to be released through skin pores.
Rotten Egg Smell
That's because gut microbiota break down sulfur, releasing that eggy-smelling gas. Causes for this can be Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, which occurs when stomach acids creep back up the esophagus, or other digestive concern.
An Ulcer. OK, the ulcer itself may not be the problem. But a type of bacteria that causes ulcers, Helicobacter pylori, can also trigger bad breath, according to a study in the Journal of Medical Microbiology. Treating the bacteria may get rid of the stink.
Other signs include areas of irritation on the tongue and gums, and sour smelling breath. Dr. Cram says that if it's suspected that your bad breath and GERD are linked, your dentist will suggest a visit to your primary care physician or a gastroenterologist for diagnosis and treatment.
Upper GI issues often cause heartburn and pain or discomfort in the stomach or chest. Problems with the lower GI tract can cause cramping, constipation, or diarrhea.