Fascinating facts on flatulence

2 mins to read

Everyone produces gas, but it can be an embarrassing problem for some. Andrew Cate helps to 'clear the air' around some of the common causes of intestinal gas.

Digestive health

The volume of gas that a person produces depends on a number of factors, including their diet, and the individual mix of bacteria in the bowel.

Sydney gastroenterologist, Professor Terry Bolin, and nutritionist Rosemary Stanton, have written a popular book on intestinal gas, Wind Breaks. They say that the amount of gas a man produces depends on his diet and on the kind of bacteria living in his bowel. In a study they conducted, men farted from three to 38 times a day.

Accidently swallowing air is one of the major causes of gas
Swallowing air is a common cause of gas in the digestive tract, some of which reaches the large intestine for release (burping is how most of the swallowed air leaves the gut). It’s not uncommon for people to swallow small amounts of air when eating or drinking, but there are a number of factors that increase the amount of air you take in, including:

Eating aerated foods (such as sponge cake or whipped cream)
Drinking aerated beverages (such as beer, sparkling wine and soft drink)
Smoking, including cigars and pipes
Eating or drinking rapidly
Talking while eating
Chewing gum
Wearing loose dentures
Sucking hard lollies

To reduce the amount of air that you swallow, avoid the causes mentioned above, making sure to eat and drink slowly, and chew your food thoroughly.

Smelly gas can be caused by foods containing sulphur
Gases in farts include hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane. Small amounts of hydrogen sulfide are responsible for bad smelling flatulence.

Having less sulphur in your diet may reduce the amount of bad smelling gas that you produce. Avoid sulphur-rich foods like eggs, meat, and cauliflower. It’s important to note, however, that because of the individual variations in gut bacteria, the types of foods that cause flatulence in one person may not affect another.

You could try eliminating foods or drinks that you think are responsible for gas or odour problems, and then gradually reintroduce them one at a time to help identify the offenders.

Excessive or smelly flatulence may also be produced by too much or too few of particular bacterial species in the intestines.

If you experience gas problems, it may be worth considering a probiotic supplement to help restore digestive balance.

If you hold it in, will you breathe it out?
Hydrogen, which makes up a large portion of the gas produced in the colon, is partly absorbed into the blood supply. This then travels to the lungs, where it is exhaled via your breath.

Beans do make you produce more gas, but it can be reduced
Beans are a unique food, in that they are a good source of fibre and protein. The specific type of fibre beans contain is soluble, and it is not broken down until it reaches the large intestine where it ferments and can produce gas.

Beans also contain a type of sugar called raffinose which can cause gas. Raffinose is also found in smaller quantities in cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and asparagus.

You can reduce the gas-producing potential of beans by presoaking them, then discarding the soaking water and cook them in fresh water. Cooking them longer may also help.

References available on request