Why smelly gas

Flatulence , which is sometimes called passing wind, passing gas, or farting , is a biological process that helps to release gas from digestion. Though in some cases they are silent and odorless, farts can become uncomfortable when they are loud and foul smelling. Smelly gas is not uncommon and is often considered normal. Some foods or medications can cause excessively smelly farts. There are, however, some instances where smelly farts can be an indicator of an underlying infection, digestive issues , or a disorder.

There are a number of reasons why your farts smell bad. In most cases, foul-smelling flatulence is associated with the foods you eat and an unbalanced diet. However, there can be more serious causes of rotten-smelling gas. Many high-fiber foods can make you pass more gas. It takes longer for these foods to break down in your digestive system , so they ferment over time. High-fiber foods also sometimes smell, which means your farts may smell too.

This is especially true with strong-smelling vegetables such as:. Your gas may smell like rotten eggs because of the sulfur in fiber-rich foods. Sulfur is a natural compound that smells like spoiled eggs.

Many vegetables are sulfur-based. If you have a sensitivity or reaction to certain foods, your gas could have a foul odor. As a result, it is fermented by bacteria in your gut. Gluten intolerance , or in its more severe form as Celiac disease , can also cause smelly farts. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where there is an immune response to the protein gluten.

This leads to inflammation and injury in the intestine, leading to malabsorption. Flatulence can be a result of this. Other than bad-smelling flatulence, Celiac disease can cause other symptoms:. Talk to your doctor to get tests and determine if you have any food allergies or sensitivities that may be making your farts smell. Although uncommon, certain medications can cause smelly flatulence. Antibiotics kill off harmful pathogens in the body. They also destroy some of the good bacteria in your stomach, which aids digestion.

Without this good bacteria, your gas may smell. You could also experience bloating and constipation. Explosive diarrhea may be a symptom of inflammatory bowel disease IBD , which includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Painful flatulence can understandably be concerning if accompanied by other symptoms of colorectal cancer. However, in most cases, the pain will be linked to a localized irritation. Oftentimes, something as innocuous as gas can cause pain if there is an anal fissure , hemorrhoids , or even irritation caused by prolonged diarrhea.

Oftentimes, gas will leak through the anal sphincter without any sound or even feeling, especially during sleep. So, if you think you're making a lot of gas, it's probably because you're simply hearing or feeling it more. On the other hand, it may not be healthy to retain your gas. Holding it back can lead to bloating, rectal pain, and, in extreme cases, distention of the colon. If you're worried about the sound or smell of your gas, don't hold it.

Simply excuse yourself and go to the bathroom. Passing a lot of gas may be embarrassing, but there's no reason to think it will cause you any harm. Moreover, just because a person makes a lot of noise doesn't mean that they are producing more gas than anyone else. If uncertain about any symptoms that accompany it, don't be shy. See your healthcare provider and have it checked out. In many cases, gas that smells especially bad is simply due to something you've eaten.

Meat, eggs, cabbage, onions, garlic, or excessively fatty foods all contribute to foul-smelling gas. Alternatively, if you are lactose-intolerant and have any dairy products like milk, cheese, or yogurt, it's possible to create sulfurous odors.

In most cases, there's no need to treat excessive flatulence. However, if you experience pain, bloating, cramping, or bloody stool in addition to excessive flatulence, then it may be worth contacting your healthcare provider. Even if it might feel a bit embarrassing, there's nothing wrong with reaching out about any concern. Constipation can play a part in causing bad gas. During constipation, food is being fermented in the digestive tract for an extended period of time. As a result, when the digested food is finally expelled, any accompanying gas can be especially foul.

Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Hasler WL. Gas and Bloating. Gastroenterol Hepatol N Y. American Cancer Society. Key statistics for colorectal cancer. Updated January 24, Azpiroz F. Intestinal gas dynamics: mechanisms and clinical relevance. A systematic review of the effectiveness of palliative interventions to treat rectal tenesmus in cancer.

Palliat Med. Pathophysiology of IBD associated diarrhea. Ever had gas that smells like rotten eggs? Other foods that can lead to sulfide-related smelly farts include garlic, sulfite-containing wines, and dried fruits preserved with sulfur dioxide, says Ferraz Valles. FODMAPs , a family of short-chain carbohydrates found in all sorts of foods, can also cause digestive issues that stink up your gas. For sensitive people, this can lead to more—and worse-smelling—gas.

Unfortunately for sensitive stomachs, all sorts of foods contain FODMAPs, including certain fruits like watermelon and mangoes and vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts , high-fiber grains, onions, dairy, and the list goes on, says Dr. Fiber , the indigestible parts of the plants we eat, is an incredibly important part of our diet.

In addition to supporting a healthy digestive system and regular bowel movements , it also makes us feel satiated after eating, helps stabilize our blood sugar, lowers cholesterol, makes maintaining a healthy weight easier, and helps us live longer, per the Mayo Clinic. Beans and legumes, for example, are a common culprit here. Often, it takes a few weeks for the digestive system to adjust to increased fiber intake, which is why Ferraz Valles recommends gradually increasing intake to the recommended amount 25 grams a day for women under 50 and 38 grams a day for men under 50 and drinking plenty of water alongside fibrous foods like oats, apples, lentils, and berries.

Sad but true: All sorts of prescriptions, OTCs, and dietary supplements—even those meant to ease stomach issues—can affect your farts, says Ferraz Valles. NSAIDs think Advil , antacids , diarrhea medications, chemotherapy drugs, multivitamins, and fiber supplements can cause changes in flatulence frequency and odor, she says. Lactose, a natural sugar found in dairy products, is famously difficult for many adults to digest.

Since different dairy products contain different amounts of lactose milk contains more than hard cheese, for example , people may notice worse symptoms after eating different types of dairy, says the NIH. However, abdominal pain , bloating , nausea , and lots of smelly farts 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating dairy indicate lactose intolerance.

Gluten , the always-controversial protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye, can also contribute to problematic flatulence. In both cases, consuming gluten can also contribute to a slew of digestive issues, as well as headaches , fatigue, and mood issues, according to the Celiac Disease Foundation.