On average, a person farts 15 times a day and that number can go up to 40! Farting is caused by trapped air and bodily gases. While it is a completely normal process, it can be loud and embarrassing at times and that is the reason why most of us try to hold it in. However, doing so might not be such a great idea.
Holding in your farts can cause you some major problems. Bright Side has listed some of them below for our readers. At the end, you’ll find a bonus consisting of tricks to stop your farts from smelling bad.
1. Your body might reabsorb it.
When you force your body to hold in your fart, the body is left with few options, one being to reabsorb it. It is put into circulation again and escapes through your breath.
2. It can lead to pain and heartburn.
When you contract your muscles to avoid farts from escaping, it builds pressure inside your body and can lead to pain, indigestion, and heartburn. If done regularly, it can also cause swelling in your digestive tract.
3. It affects your colon health.
Farting eliminates the pressure in your body. While farting is good for your colon, holding it in can irritate it and can also trigger hemorrhoids.
4. It will make you feel bloated all the time.
While it is still debatable whether holding in farts makes you actually bloated or not, it has been found that keeping them inside voluntarily makes you worry and gives you the impression that you might be bloated.
5. It might be signaling a worse problem.
While farting is completely normal and healthy, its pattern and odor can actually point to potential health issues, like food intolerances and digestive issues. Extremely stinky farts may also indicate a high sulfur content in your diet.
Bonus: Tricks to use to avoid stinky and loud farts
- Avoid drinking carbonated drinks since they produce more gas in your body.
- Eat smaller portions and chew slowly.
- Consume foods like bananas, potatoes, cereal, and wheat regularly to prevent farts from smelling bad.
Have you ever been in a situation where you were forced to hold in your fart? Share your stories with us in the comments!
Let it be noted that if your farts feel painful or something other than normal to you, we suggest that you consult a doctor.
Please note: This article was updated in February 2022 to correct source material and factual inaccuracies.
