How many times should you fart in a day – and when it could be a sign of something deadly
WHETHER you’re a king or a queen, truck driver or tourist, we all pass wind – but some people fart more often than others. We pass wind because of the gas in our bodies that builds up throughout the day. The NHS says the average person lets off around a pint of intestinal gas a […]
WHETHER you’re a king or a queen, truck driver or tourist, we all pass wind – but some people fart more often than others.
We pass wind because of the gas in our bodies that builds up throughout the day.
The NHS says the average person lets off around a pint of intestinal gas a day – generally tooted out in between five and 15 times a day.
But if you’ve noticed you’re passing wind more than usual, it could be down to an underlying health condition.
From a change in diet or routine to more serious allergies and illnesses like Crohn’s disease an increase in farts could be dangerous.
Health experts however say there are simple tricks and tips you can follow to have a healthy gut.
Irritable bowel syndrome
Excessive farting is one of the key symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS.
Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead at Treated.com says: “Irritable bowel syndrome affects the digestive system and can be uncomfortable.
“Flatulence can be a sign of the condition, as can stomach cramping – particularly after eating – bloating and constipation.
“The condition is life-long and can be managed by lifestyle changes such as getting enough exercise, cutting back on the amount of spicy food you eat and avoiding the foods that are harder to digest such as beans and broccoli.”
Change in diet
If you’ve just changed your diet you might find you’re passing wind more than usual as your gut adjusts to the change in food.
Most healthy diets include a wide range of vegetables, some of which can make you need the toilet more and can also increase how many times you pass wind a day.
Foods don’t affect everyone the same way and most people know what foods make them pass wind more, but common culprits are beans, eggs and cabbage.
But if you’re farting more after meals and you don’t know why you may have enzyme lactase.
This is essential as it help your body correctly digest dairy products.
You can be born with a lactose intolerance or it can develop as you age.
How to keep your gut healthy
If you think you're farting more than you should you might need to rethink your gut health
Dr Lisa Das, Consultant Gastroenterologist at OneWelbeck says simple pleasures such as enjoying meals with friends and family can become life-changing when the gastrointestinal tract starts acting up.
She said there are things you can do at home to try and prevent problems.
- Check your stools: “When working well, it’s a pleasant and satisfying end to our digestive process”, Dr Lisa says. “It’s good to know what your ’normal’ is as that varies quite widely. If there is any prolonged deviation from your ‘normal’ that’s a cue to see your doctor.”
- Skin signs: “A blistering rash that’s very itchy in patches may be a sign of Coeliac sprue which is a gluten-related disease”, Dr Lisa adds. “If both palms are redder than usual, this may signify too much alcohol use or liver diseases.”
- Oral health: While we all brush our teeth twice a day, Dr Lisa says there are other signs to look out for. “Small aphthous ulcers occur in many around colds/flu, but if they’re not healing in a reasonable time or if they’re recurring, these can be a warning sign for more serious problems such as inflammation of the bowel or intestines
Inflammatory bowel disease
Breaking wind may be a sign that you have inflammatory bowel disease, according to Dr Atkinson.
He says: “Inflammatory bowel disease tends to refer to ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
“With Crohn’s disease, any part of the digestive system can be affected rather than just the colon with Crohn’s disease.
“The symptoms of IBD include pain or swelling of the stomach, fatigue and recurring diarrhea – these tend to come and go in flare ups.”
Coeliac disease
If you’re farting more than you think you should you may have Coeliac’s disease.
Dr Atkinson says: “Flatulence is one of the symptoms of Coeliac’s disease, alongside constipation, abdominal pain and indigestion.
“As the small intestine becomes inflamed and cannot absorb nutrients as we would expect it to, it can be very painful.
“The reaction comes to having gluten, which is commonly found in a wide range of foods like pasta, breakfast cereal and bread.
“Opting for gluten-free alternatives will help to manage the symptoms of the disease.”
How can you avoid passing wind?
Speaking to The Sun registered Dietitian Dr Megan Rossi who is working with Poo-Pourri said if you’re staying safe at home with the family or housemates at the moment you might be feeling some poop anxiety.
“It’s worth knowing that ignoring the urge to poop allows more time for the water to be absorbed, which can mean a hard and dry poop that can lead to constipation.”
She also gave her top tips to avoid flatulence.
She said it’s important to avoid sweeteners as they are hard for your small intestine to absorb.
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As well as this she added: “If the smell is getting to you, watch how much protein you’re eating.
“Try limiting protein to 1g per kg of your body weight daily for two weeks. If you then want to increase, try balancing higher protein with fibre (e.g wholegrains or vegetables) at each meal.”
For those who like a drink though Dr Rossi said you should limit your consumption of wine because of the amount of sulphates it contains.
She added: “Try peppermint oil capsules, especially with trapped wind as it relaxes the gut.
“There’s no clinical evidence for peppermint tea, as it’s probably too low a dose – but it won’t hurt if you feel it helps.”