How to get away with farting

Public embarrassment due to farting is not a pleasant experience. Well, you might have thought of escaping those moments. But there is nothing much you can do about it, except to keep your digestive system in order.

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Here we will see how you can avoid those embarrassing moments or at least make them less frequent by keeping your digestive system healthy.

Before you see tips on how to get rid of gas, you need to understand the science behind it.

What is Flatulence or Fart

So what causes gas? There are two main ways that cause flatulence or gas.

• Exogenous Sources: When air comes inside our stomach while we drink or eat.

• Endogenous Sources: When air is produced inside the gut due to indigestion.

More episode of flatulence observed due to endogenous source. When food does not get digested completely in the small intestine and goes into the large intestine. Where, natural bacteria feast on it releasing undesirable gas as a byproduct. This is how a gas or flatus is produced.

Studies suggest that raffinose type oligosaccharides in food are the key factor of flatulence or fart. Beside this, excess consumption of sulfur containing food cause flatulence. Some of the sulfur rich food include cabbage, broccoli, nuts, legumes, etc.

Let see in detail..

Factors responsible for farting

The primary cause of farting or stomach gas is the type of food we eat.

1. Food and drink that consists of unabsorbable carbohydrates or sugars

•   Diet high in carbohydrates or sugars like
  • Raffinose – Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, whole grains, legumesetc .
  • Fructose – Onions, artichokes, pears and wheat
  • Sorbitol- Sugar-free candid and gums, pears, peaches, prunes, etc .
  • Lactose- Dairy products containing lactose. To digest lactose sugar, you need enzyme lactase. People who are deficit of this enzyme naturally cannot digest lactose and may cause flatulence

• Starches- Except the rice almost all starch can cause flatulence
• Fibers- Dietary fiber in excess may cause flatulence. However, the effect of it varies from person to person
• Acute gastroenteritis and Giardiasis
• Psychogenic Aerophagia ( Stress)
• IBS and Constipation
• Bacterial overgrowth in a small intestine
• Lactose intolerance
• Malabsorption
• Intake of oily and spicy food in excess
• Changes in hormonal level- common in case of women

2. Swallowing the air while-

• Chewing gum
• Smoking
• Not chewing food thoroughly
• Loose fitting dentures

How to get rid of gas

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• Use activated Charcoal:

Activated charcoal may help in reducing flatulence. Charcoal is porous, and this internal space is good to trap chemicals. Animal studies show that activated Charcoal can reduce flatulence when combined with Yucca schidigera and zinc acetate. It is not harmful, but it has to be taken under physician supervision. It easily available in any pharmacy store.

• Chew food thoroughly:

Chew food properly. It reduces the air intake as well as the food becomes easy to digest producing less stomach gas.

• Drink warm lemon water:

Lemon water has significant benefits. The acid in the lemon stimulates the production of HCL. This helps to digest food properly.

• Probiotics supplements:

Pro-biotic (yogurt) in your diet can keep your digestive system healthy and less prone to farting. Use probiotics supplements containing live healthy bacteria and yeasts. This bacteria can counteract any loss of good bacteria in your stomach. It helps in better elimination of gas, bloating and indigestion.

• Use of Antibiotic:

Rifaximin is an antibiotic to cure diarrhea. But at an individual level, it can also be useful in treating bloating and excessive gas.

• Using gas-table:

Simethicone Tablet is an anti-foaming agent. It can be used for relief in flatulence and gas pain. This product causes gas bubble to break up and decrease the surface tension. This helps gas to pass easily. Though it is not effective in reducing the gas formation, it definitely helps in relieving the discomfort caused due to gas.

• Enzyme treatment for farting:

An enzyme supplement usually alpha-galactosidase can be used to reduce farting caused after bean consumption. This treatment is effective, particularly in children.

• Medication used for farting:

Bismuth subsalicylate substance binds the sulfide gas or smelly gas in the gut and pulls it out. However, it is not considered safe for regular usage due to the salicylate content in it. Salicylate can cause a severe bleeding problem in a patient having stomach ulcers. So physician recommendation is mandatory.

• Physical exercise:

Sometimes farting is a matter of a faulty diet rather than faulty digestive process. Obstruction to the smooth passage of foods down the digestive tract may also cause farting. Doing some small abdomen stretches or walk can also relieve you from farting discomfort.

Carbohydrates that does not cause farting

Undigested Carbohydrate is one of the key components responsible for flatulence. But carbohydrate is also a primary source of energy. Depleting them to avoid farting can lower your energy level. It may also affect your body’s metabolic activities. In spite of skipping your daily intake of carbohydrate, you can replace them with easy to digest carbohydrates like

• Bananas
• Citrus fruits
• Grapes
• Lettuce
• Rice
• Yoghurt

Some Natural remedies for Farting

People are less likely to see a doctor in such a condition. Therefore, they require some home remedies for gas.

Some natural remedies that can help in gas relief are.

• Fennel Seed
• Anise seed
• Ginger or Ginger Tea
• Caraway seeds and Black seeds
• Apple cider vinegar
• Baking soda & Lemon
• Peppermint or chamomile tea
• Cinnamon and Cardamom (warm water)
• Garlic ( garlic soup)
• Asafoetida
• Pumpkins
• Roasted cumin seed with warm water
• Peach leaves boiled water

Natural remedies for gas are effective if the episode of flatulence or bloating is not too serious.

How to consume food that cause farting

If you can’t compromise the food that causes flatulence, then you can change the way it is consumed. Let’s see some example of our daily food intake that can be consumed with little alteration.

• Dairy Products

Lactose present in the milk product can cause flatus. To avoid farting, you can be selective about your dairy products. Consume those dairy foods that have less lactose. If you are seriously lactose intolerant, then take lactaid pills before consuming dairy products. You can even mix lactose content food with other items to reduce its effect. For example, add milk to cereals, fruits, bread, oats, etc.

• Brocolli and other Vegetables

Slightly saute or steam broccoli before consuming it. Raw vegetables can be harder to digest. This applies to other fiber-rich vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, kale, collard greens, etc.

• Beans

Beans are rich sources of fibers and protein. It can be harder to digest. The best way is to soak beans and then cook. You can also use dry beans.

• Pears

It contains more fiber, which might affect people’s digestive systems. Remove the outer skin of the pear and then eat it. You can also try pear juice. Juice could be easier to digest than eating raw.

• Fiber rich food

All types of fiber cause farting. The best way to consume fiber is to take it in smaller portions. Once your digestive system is habituated, you can consume in bulk. Make sure you take more water while eating fiber rich foods.

How to stop farting during sleep

While some fart in sleep and it may cause disturbance to their sleep. To avoid fart during sleep try following tips,

• Take dinner before 3-4 hours of your sleep
• Avoid sulfur containing food (raw cruciferous vegetables) and legumes
• Don’t overeat
• Avoid eating snacks, alcohol or soda before bed
• Try garlic soup after meal

When to see a physician

You can see a doctor when

• Farting occurs along with abdominal discomfort
• Sudden change in bowel habits
• Burning sensations in the stomach
• Significant bloating
• Frequent constipation or diarrhea.

Although there are no long-term consequences, for not treating farting or flatulence. But if it is caused by some digestive issues or food intolerance, it’s better to see a doctor.

In some exceptional cases, prolonged excessive flatulence may lead to depression and eating disorders.