Farting is normal. However, if you fart too often, you should not take this condition lightly. This is because frequent farting can be a sign that you suffer from certain diseases.
When there is too much gas in the digestive tract, the body expels it through farts or belching. People generally fart an average of 13–20 times per day. If you fart more than 20 times a day, it could be a sign of a health problem.
Various Causes of Farts
There are several reasons why a person farts too often, including:
gut bacteria
One of the causes of gas in the digestive system is bacteria in the intestines. These bacteria can produce gas when breaking down the remains of food that has not been digested completely.
Swallowed air
When you eat, drink, chew gum, or smoke, you may swallow air or gas. This swallowed air will then accumulate in the digestive system.
Process of digestion of food
Farting is the body's natural mechanism for expelling gases resulting from the process of breaking down food in the digestive system. Therefore, farting can be a sign that the body is functioning properly.
Certain diseases
There are times when farting is caused by certain digestive diseases or disorders, such as:
- Diabetes
- Eating disorders
- Inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome
- Gastric disorders, such as GERD and gastroparesis
- celiac disease
- Crohn's disease
- Lactose intolerance
- Ulcerative Colitis
Foods that can make farts worse
Even though your digestion is working well, it is possible to fart with excessive frequency. This is usually related to the type of food that enters the body.
To prevent farting too often, avoid or reduce the consumption of some foods with the following ingredients:
High foodsugar
Foods that contain types of sugar, such as lactose, sorbitol, and fructose, are generally difficult to digest and absorb properly by the body. The remnants of sugar are usually used as a fermentation material by intestinal bacteria. This fermentation process then creates gas in the digestive tract.
Carbohydrate food
Foods with high carbohydrate content, such as bread, cereal, corn, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and pasta, can produce a lot of gas when digested by the body. Meanwhile, rice does not cause excess gas even though it is high in carbohydrates.
Fizzy and alcoholic drinks
Fizzy and alcoholic drinks contain additional air in the form of foam. Consuming this type of drink can make you swallow more air, thus farting more often.
Dairy products
All dairy products can cause excess gas production because they contain lactose. Lactose is one type of sugar that is difficult to digest, especially if the body lacks the enzyme lactase.
In addition to the foods and drinks above, there are several other types of food that can also produce gas when digested, namely:
- Nuts
- Vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, onions, cauliflower, and celery
- Fruits, such as apples, mangoes, oranges, watermelons, peaches, and pears
How to Reduce Farts
To reduce the frequency of farting that you experience, there are several ways you can do, including:
1. Avoid fart-triggering foods
One way to deal with frequent farting is to avoid foods that can cause excess gas production as mentioned above. You can also steam gassy foods before consuming them.
2. Eat food slowly
Chewing food slowly can reduce the amount of air that enters the digestive system. In addition, chewing slowly also makes food softer, making it easier for the body to digest.
3. Drink water before eating
Drinking water about 30 minutes before eating can help your stomach digest food better and reduce gas production.
4. Exercise regularly
Exercise can release gas trapped in the stomach. You can try various types of exercise to deal with complaints of frequent farts, such as walking after eating, jumping rope, or running.
Don't hesitate to consult a doctor if your complaints of frequent farting are accompanied by other symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, blood in the stool, flatulence that does not improve, or weight loss for no known cause.