It’s a natural part of life – everyone farts. Medically known as flatulence, or simply gas, passing wind is a normal bodily function. However, if you find yourself frequently asking, “Why Do I Have So Much Flatulence?” or if it’s accompanied by unpleasant odors, it’s understandable to seek answers and solutions. While farting is usually not a cause for concern, understanding what’s normal, what’s excessive, and what you can do about it is key to your comfort and well-being.
Is My Flatulence Normal?
The definition of “normal” flatulence varies significantly from person to person. There’s no magic number for how many times a day someone should fart. Some individuals may experience gas more frequently than others. The important thing is to recognize what is typical for you. If you notice a sudden increase in flatulence, or if it starts to impact your daily life, it’s worth exploring the potential reasons behind it. Changes in your diet, lifestyle, or even underlying health conditions can all contribute to increased gas.
Simple Lifestyle Adjustments to Reduce Excessive and Smelly Farts
If you’re looking to reduce excessive or smelly farts, often simple changes to your daily habits can make a significant difference. Consider these practical steps:
Do These:
- Eat Smaller, More Frequent Meals: Overloading your digestive system with large meals can lead to increased gas production. Opting for smaller portions spread throughout the day can ease digestion.
- Eat and Drink Slowly and Mindfully: Gulping down food or drinks can cause you to swallow excess air, which contributes to flatulence. Take your time, chew your food thoroughly with your mouth closed, and sip beverages slowly.
- Regular Exercise: Physical activity promotes healthy digestion and can help move gas through your digestive system more efficiently, reducing bloating and flatulence.
- Peppermint Tea: This herbal remedy has been known to soothe the digestive tract and may help reduce gas and bloating.
Avoid These:
- Chewing Gum, Smoking, and Sucking on Hard Candies/Pens: These habits increase air swallowing, directly contributing to more gas in your digestive system.
- Loose-Fitting Dentures: Poorly fitting dentures can cause you to swallow more air while eating and drinking.
- Overconsumption of Difficult-to-Digest Foods: Certain foods are notorious for causing gas. Limiting these can reduce flatulence. (See the list below).
- Excessive Alcohol and Fruit Juice: Beer, wine, and fruit juices, especially in large quantities, can contribute to gas production due to their sugar content and fermentation processes in the gut.
Foods and Drinks Known to Increase Flatulence
Certain foods are more likely to cause gas than others due to their complex carbohydrates, fiber content, or specific types of sugars. Being mindful of your intake of these items can help manage flatulence:
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Cruciferous Vegetables: Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts contain raffinose, a complex sugar that the body doesn’t easily digest until it reaches the large intestine, where bacteria ferment it, producing gas.
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Pulses: Beans, lentils, and other legumes are rich in fiber and raffinose, both of which can lead to increased gas production during digestion.
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Dried Fruit: Raisins, apricots, and other dried fruits are high in fiber and fructose, which can be fermented in the gut, causing gas.
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Onions: Onions contain fructans, a type of carbohydrate that can be difficult for some people to digest and may lead to gas.
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Foods and Drinks with Sorbitol: This artificial sweetener, often found in sugar-free candies and drinks, is poorly absorbed by the body and can cause gas and bloating.
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Fizzy Drinks and Beer: Carbonated beverages introduce extra air into your digestive system, and beer contains fermentable carbohydrates, both contributing to flatulence.
When to Seek Help from a Pharmacist for Flatulence
If lifestyle changes aren’t providing sufficient relief from excessive or smelly flatulence, a pharmacist can be a helpful first point of contact. They can offer advice and suggest over-the-counter remedies.
A pharmacist can advise you on:
- Over-the-counter Medications: They can recommend products like charcoal tablets, which can help absorb gas in the digestive tract, or specialized underwear and pads designed to absorb odors associated with flatulence.
- When to Consult a Doctor: Pharmacists can also assess your symptoms and advise if it’s necessary to see a General Practitioner (GP) for further evaluation.
Find a pharmacy near you
When to See a Doctor: Non-Urgent Advice for Flatulence Concerns
While flatulence is usually benign, certain accompanying symptoms warrant a visit to your doctor. It’s important to seek medical advice if:
- Flatulence Significantly Impacts Your Life: If excessive farting is causing you distress, social embarrassment, or impacting your quality of life, and self-help measures and pharmacy treatments haven’t been effective.
- Persistent Stomach Pain or Bloating: If you experience ongoing or recurring stomach pain or bloating that doesn’t resolve.
- Changes in Bowel Habits: If you develop persistent constipation or diarrhea.
- Unexplained Weight Loss: If you’ve lost weight without intentionally trying to.
- Blood in Your Stool: If you notice blood in your feces for three weeks or more.
These symptoms could indicate an underlying health condition that requires medical attention.
Understanding the Causes of Excessive or Smelly Flatulence
Excessive or smelly flatulence often stems from two main factors: swallowing air and consuming foods that are difficult to digest. These are usually benign causes. However, it’s also important to be aware that, in some instances, increased flatulence can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. It is crucial to avoid self-diagnosis and consult a healthcare professional if you have concerns.
Possible Causes of Flatulence and Associated Symptoms
| Symptoms | Possible Causes |
|---|---|
| Difficulty pooing and stomach pain | Constipation |
| Bloating, stomach pain with diarrhea or constipation that comes and goes | Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) |
| Indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, and stomach pain | Coeliac disease |
| Diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain, feeling sick | Lactose intolerance |
It’s also worth noting that certain medications can have excessive or smelly flatulence as a side effect. If you suspect your medication might be the cause, do not stop or change your medication without consulting your doctor first. They can advise on alternatives or management strategies.
Page last reviewed: 07 June 2022
Next review due: 07 June 2025
