The 5 surprising foods that make your farts stink revealed – and signs you must see a doctor
FARTING is a normal occurrence – but some foods can make your gas stink.
Most people swab about 20 times a day, with most being completely odorless.
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Research shows that bad smells only occur in about 1 percent of farts.
However, certain foods can make the air you breathe smell awful because your gut has trouble breaking them down.
Alex Glover, chief nutritionist at Holland & Barrett, explained that the chemical behind spongy farts is hydrogen sulfide.
This occurs when intestinal bacteria break down sulfur in food.
While smelly farts can be annoying, they don’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with your gut.
The NHS said: “Don’t self-diagnose. See a GP if you’re concerned about your farting.”
Here we look at the foods most likely to make your farts stink…
1. beef and pork
Eating red meat, like beef and pork, can cause lazy farts in particular.
Rob Hobson, head of nutrition at Healthspan, said meat — especially fatty cuts like beef and pork — “might get a bit smelly.”
He said: “They can take a long time to be digested in the gut, which requires them to ferment.
“Fatty meat in particular is rich in methionine, a sulphur-containing ammonia acid.”
2. protein shakes
Another surprising food that causes a whiff is protein shakes.
While great for building muscle, the supplements can pose a challenge to your body.
Should I be worried about my farts smelling?
The NHS says you should see a GP if farting is affecting your life and pharmacy and self-help treatments have not worked.
You should also see a doctor if you experience abdominal pain or bloating that doesn’t go away or keeps coming back.
If you keep getting constipation or diarrhea, or if you have lost weight without trying, you should also see your GP.
If you’ve had blood in your stool for three weeks or more, it’s important to get help.
These symptoms can be due to problems like constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.
But if in doubt, go and get checked out.
Alex Glover told The Sun: “The body produces more hydrogen sulphide when it breaks down protein-rich foods.
“That’s why we may notice that our farts smell stronger after a meat-heavy meal or a protein shake.”
3. broccoli
Although broccoli is a nutritious superfood, it also contains large amounts of pong-causing sulfur.
The chemical is the culprit behind the egg smell that makes farts stink.
Like other cruciferous vegetables — including cauliflower, cabbage, and kale — broccoli provides it in a form known as glucosinolates.
But that shouldn’t put you off the foods, as they’re also high in fiber and associated with a healthy diet.
4. beer and wine
A heavy night on the town can often make going to the bathroom less comfortable the next day.
Beer and wine not only harm general digestion and cause diarrhea, but are also sources of sulfur.
They contain sulphites, sulfur dioxide compounds naturally found in ingredients used to make alcoholic beverages.
The compounds prevent bacterial growth and can make the drink cloudy — but also cause smelly farts.
5. Peas
Everyone knows that beans can cause an unpleasant odor.
As the old saying goes, “Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you fart”.
But a more surprising source of pongs are peas.
They belong to the same family of foods known as legumes, which contain sugars and fiber that are difficult for the body to digest.