There are few things men are more proud of than a good rip. From poet laureates and clergy to classroom pranksters and artists, few things still garner more laughs from your peers than an ill-timed or unexpected flatus “” if I may use the scientific term. The word itself dates back to at least Old English.
Comedy aside, if you are concerned that you’re inspiring too much admiration, don’t. Farts, which are caused by trapped air, is usually a good sign that all is working just as it should be. On average, people toot 16 times a day and release upwards of a half liter of gas. (Though the women in our lives would like us to believe this is only a “man thing,” studies show they pass as much gas as we do.)
That gas is composed of about 59 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen and 9 percent carbon dioxide. The rest is a mix of hydrogen sulfide and other forms of sulfur, depending on what you’ve eaten lately. And it’s the sulfur that makes a stink.
The smell can also be a pungent sign that microbes in your gut that are an important part of digestion are alive and well. Eating fiber-rich foods like beans and broccoli deliver much-needed nutrients to the microbes. When they’re getting the types of foods they need to survive, they create gas. A side benefit of that process is giving a boost to your immune system and protecting the intestinal lining.
As beneficial that flati are, you still have to pick your spots.
The boardroom is hardly the place for the “pull my finger” gag, but some doctors say holding them in can be damaging, leading to bloating and discomfort to hemorrhoids and a distended bowel.
If you’re convinced that you are the flatulent equivalent of Vesuvius, do mention your problem to your doctor. Some problems like irritable bowel syndrome and lactose intolerance can contribute to your new nickname of “Stinky,” but can be controlled by slight change in diet or medication.
