what causes flatulence? and how do you prevent it?
474258
Flatulence is the presence of a mixture of gases known as flatus produced by symbiotic bacteria and yeasts living in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals. Flatulence is released under pressure through the anus, often with a characteristic sound and offensive odor. Releasing flatulence is colloquially known as farting.\n\nThe average human releases 0.5 to 1.5 litres (1 to 3 U.S. pints) of flatus in 12 to 25 episodes throughout the day. The primary constituents of flatulence are the non-odorous gases nitrogen (ingested), carbon dioxide (produced by aerobic microbes or ingested), and hydrogen (produced by some microbes and consumed by others), as well as lesser amounts of oxygen (ingested) and methane (produced by anaerobic microbes). Odors result from trace amounts of other components (often sulphur containing, see below).\n\nNitrogen is the primary gas released. Methane and hydrogen, lesser components, are flammable, and so flatulence is susceptible to catching fire. Not all humans produce flatus that contains methane. For example, in one study of the feces of nine adults, only five of the samples contained bacteria capable of producing methane. Similar results are found in samples of gas obtained from within the rectum. The gas released during a flatus event frequently has a foul odor which mainly results from low molecular weight fatty acids such as butyric acid (rancid butter smell) and reduced sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) and carbonyl sulfide that are the result of protein breakdown. The incidence of odoriferous compounds in flatus increases from herbivores, such as cattle, to omnivores to carnivorous species, such as cats. Flatulence odor can also occur when there is a number of bacteria and/or feces in the anus while being expelled.\n\nCauses\nIntestinal gas is composed of 90% exogenous sources (air that is ingested through the nose and mouth) and 10% endogenous sources (gas produced within the digestive tract). The exogenous gases are swallowed (aerophagia) when eating or drinking or during times of excessive salivation (as might occur when nauseous or as the result of gastroesophageal reflux disease). The endogenous gases are produced as a by-product of digesting certain types of food. Flatulence producing foods are typically high in polysaccharides (especially oligosaccharides such as inulin) and include beans, milk, onions, sweet potatoes, cheese, cashews, broccoli, cabbage, Jerusalem artichokes, oats, yeast in breads, etc.\n\nIn beans, endogenous gases seem to arise from oligosaccharides, carbohydrates that are resistant to digestion. These pass through the upper intestine largely unchanged, and when they reach the lower intestine, bacteria feed on them, producing copious amounts of flatus (McGee 1984 pp.257–8).\n\nIn the case of those with lactose intolerance, intestinal bacteria feeding on lactose can give rise to excessive gas production when milk or lactose-containing substances have been consumed.\n\nInterest in the causes of flatulence was spurred by high-altitude flight and the space program; the low atmospheric pressure, confined conditions, and stresses peculiar to those endeavours were cause for concern (McGee, 1984 pp.257–8).\n\nDietary\nCertain spices counteract the production of intestinal gas, most notably cumin, caraway and the closely related ajwain, turmeric, asafoetida (hing) and konbu kelp (a Japanese seaweed). Many people report that by reducing intake of most refined carbohydrates (such as rice, pasta, potatoes and bread), the amount of flatulence may decrease significantly. The water-soluble oligosaccharides in beans that contribute to production of intestinal gas can be reduced through a regime of brief boiling followed by a long period of soaking, but at a cost of also leaching out other water-soluble nutrients. Some legumes also stand up to prolonged cooking, which can help break down the oligosaccharides into simple sugars. Fermentation also breaks down o
680755
You should be going at least 3x's a week. or more. This is something you should check with you Dr about. If your passing alot of gas and/or are cramping It can be something serious. I had/have this problem for many yrs and I now have IBS.(irritable bowl syndrome) It's not a pleasant thing to have. Taking bulk fiber will help. laxatives can just cause cramps and gas.
1023292
Fermented food produces different types of fumes, some of which smell. Flatulence contains odorless gases, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and methane, but it also contains the "oh-so-nasty" hydrogen sulfide, which causes the smell. If you have not noticed by now, some of the aforementioned fumes are flammable, like methane and oxygen, so you can, in fact, burn farts. Yes, you can set them aflame; it is not a myth, and a great way to impress the girls too... you do know I'm joking?\n\nHow much odor is produced also depends on the food you eat. Vegetarians might fart as often as meat-eaters, but their "serenades" do not smell as much because vegetables produce less hydrogen sulfide. The more sulfur rich the foods you eat, the more your farts will stink because bacteria will generate sulfides and mercaptans as they break down the nutrients. Beware: even though cauliflower is a vegetable, it also makes you stinky, so watch out!
316753
Well what I suggest is eating something that is 1. Well cooked, 2. Smells good, 3. Has either Cheese or a High Sugary Content. It is hard for the body to digest well cooked food so there are lots of waste left so your poop will be larger. You will also have a larger amount of gas created because the body works so hard at digesting it. Also drink cold water before eating. Your body cannot digest cold water. this is a fact. It has to get it up to your internal temperature before it can digest it. So by doing this you kick on your metabolism. Which means the gas factory is primed and pumped when you drop in the first load of fuel. The cheese is because of Lactose. the body doesnt really like it so and it will make you gasy.\n\nAlso Cyfu you should make sure that you have no obstructions in your anal cavity blocking the expelling of farts.
36789
"When we eat, we also swallow air. Also, when the food gets digested in the intestines, gas is produced. These gases when passed out through the intestine form the @nus into the air are called farts. The gases that make farts smell bad contain ammonia and hydrogen sulfide which are made in the intestine. And eating oily spicy food and drinking lots of soda makes you fart even more."
945984
You are not farting enough. The gas gets trapped inside your fecal matter when you don't fart, and it makes it more bouyant. This can be very unhealthy. You should pass gas more often.
500782
Yes it does. Greesy/fatty food, and anything you have trouble processing like milk and dairy cause gas (flatulence). It's caused by the billions of bacteria in your intestine that process the food and let out a gas as a byproduct. Once it accumulates the sound is made by the vibration of the anus, similar to a tuba player buzzing their lips in a mouthpiece. Nice image eh?
182315
Same thing happened to me.  I was lactose intolerant and had IBS.  You have to cleanse your system and then learn which foods are causing it.  Seriously, until you flush your system, everything you eat will cause it.
272151
The author of the question does not mean breathing as passing of gas, but flatus, to use its medical name, or to use the vulgar English term, farting.\n\nThe average human releases 0.5 to 1.5 litres (1 to 3 U.S. pints) of flatus in 12 to 25 episodes throughout the day. The primary constituents of flatulence are the non-odorous gases, in descending order of concentration, nitrogen (ingested), oxygen (ingested), methane (produced by anaerobic microbes), carbon dioxide (produced by aerobic microbes or ingested), and hydrogen (produced by some microbes and consumed by others). Odors result from trace amounts of other components (often sulphur containing, see below).\n\nNitrogen is the primary gas released. Methane and hydrogen, lesser components, are flammable, and so flatulence is susceptible to catching fire. Gas released mostly has a foul odor which mainly results from low molecular weight fatty acids such as butyric acid (rancid butter smell) and reduced sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) and carbonyl sulfide that are the result of protein breakdown. The incidence of odoriferous compounds in flatus increases from herbivores, such as cattle, to omnivores to carnivorous species, such as cats.\n\nI've lasted a good ten seconds letting one rip. Having had appendix problems for nine months (a long story, useless health system in the UK, etc.), I found that during that period, my flatus was more stinky than normal. Having had my appendix removed, it returned to normal in terms of odour.\n\nI find that drinking beer tends to produce the worst smelling flatus about twenty hours later.
920381
On a somewhat serious level:\n\nFlatulence is the presence of gas under some degree of pressure, in a confined space. The term is normally used of the presence of gas in the digestive tract of mammals, usually leaving a distinct odor. However, a balloon is flatulent as is a fizzy drink until the gas is released by opening the bottle containing it.[1] Though confused by the word's use as a euphemism for 'fart', flatulence is distinct from flatus, which is the release of such confined gas.[1] The distinction becomes very important in cases of bloat. In the animal digestive tract, the gas is produced by symbiotic bacteria and yeasts.\n\nDoes IBS or IBD keep you up at night?\nA population-based study by Mayo Clinic researchers on sleep uncovered an association between sleep and some gastrointestinal disorders. The authors found that people who had sleep disturbances were more likely to also have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) than people who did not have sleep disturbances. It is unclear whether the IBS causes the sleep disturbances (or vice versa) or if they are both caused by another condition.\n\nOn a slightly humorous level:\nWe do not hold them in because we are not awake to think about it. Since it is a natural bodily function as gasses accumulate from functions within, it just does the natural thing. Hopefully, if you are sleeping with someone else, they are not awake, unless of course, you would like them to "enjoy" it.\n\nAnd, if you really want to laugh:\nhttp://www.heptune.com/farts.html?&referrer=http://www.jokeaday.com/\nThere is a subheading on sleep "gas passing" entitled:\nHOW LONG WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO NOT FART
1076961
Several things.#1 There is an over the counter medication called Gas X- in chewable or pill form.\n#2 Some people with a lot of gas have to stear away from spicy foods, onions, peppers, prunes and such. \n#3 you might  check out to see if you have a dairy digestion problem. You can buy milk called Lactaid, and there are pills to take or chew to help you digest the milk sugar.\n#4 don't drink from a straw because you are more apt to swallow more air.\n#5 Also take a good walk a little bit after eating, it will help move the gas out.\n#6 There is a over the counter pill called Beano which helps people digest things like beans, broclii etc.\n#7 don't drink soda or other drinks with bubbles in them.\n#8 chew your food well, make sure the digestive juices from your mouth work on what you are chewing. Don't chew and talk at the same time.\n#9 keep a record of what you eat when you get more gas, then try to avoid food that gives you gas or use one of those meds I recommended. \nAlway check with your doctor
345085
Everyone has gas. It's not abnormal even though it is embarassing. Usually it comes from the types of food that you eat. Certain vegetables will cause more gas than others, and greasy food will cause it too. I actually read somewhere that if you are "gassy" that means you are healthy. I'm not sure how true that is, but it sounds good to me!! LOL
873244
Eat more slowly. \nChew your food thoroughly. \nAvoid gum chewing. \nRelax while you eat. \nAvoid beans, cabbage, and carbonated beverages. \nTry Beano, a product sold over-the-counter at most drugstores, if you eat a lot of beans, fruits, vegetables, and other high-fiber foods. \nWalk for 10 to 15 minutes after eating. \nDrink peppermint or chamomile tea after a meal. \nIn the case of those with lactose intolerance, intestinal bacteria feeding on lactose can give rise to excessive gas production when milk or lactose-containing substances have been consumed.\nPlease see the webpages for more details on Flatulence.
924710
What a great description!  I hope this isn't really happening to you, but if it is,  you're probably having a serious problem digesting something & that can lead to other health problems (like malabsorption.) Try eliminaing foods & then reintrucing them to see what's aggrivating you.  (see http://www.food-allergy.org/page2.html ) You can also try immodium a.d. or pepto-bismol. Go see your doctor if you keep having problems.  & wash your shirt & walls!  : )
537614
ROFL!  Look around as if you're looking for where the horrendous odor could be coming from.  I'd tell you more, but just watch for me in the check out line.  You can learn my secrets there.\n\nOh come on people don't take it so seriously.  You flatulate too.  Maybe not in public, but you do it somewhere.
14788
There are many possible causes, from stress to allergies to stomach acid to nutritional deficiencies.  Read the site linked below for more information.
283948
Yes. You could be eating too much fiber, you could have a very slow digestive tract that allows waste to sit there for too long, you could be eating foods that make you build up gas (cabbage, beans, broccoli, etc.), or you could have a health condition. Talk to your doctor for a definite diagnosis. This certainly is not natural.