Why farting is actually really good for you

Flatulence is one of the few bodily functions viewed the world over as an em­barrassing social transgression.
Awkward elevator encounters in which someone is pretending they didn’t just gas the space, and uncomfortable shifting when sit­ting at the dinner table and pray­ing for a soundless cutting of the cheese, all contribute to society’s anxiety about a bodily function that’s as natural as breathing. The sound—and occasionally, the ac­companying odor—usually lead to rushed and murmured apolo­gies or riotous laughter. There’s hope, however! Flatulence—or farting, for the mature crowd—is actually a very healthy and a good way to keep track of one’s colon health. Here’s why:

It removes a slew of unhealthy (and untasty) chemicals from the body

So the fart has happened, the smell is settling in the air like a dense and foul-smelling fog, and if one is lucky, they are among friends. At worst, one can expect to be blasted–roasted, if you will–for letting one rip so recklessly in a confined space. At best? High fives all around, congratulating you on your healthy colon and for risking eating the beans for dinner.

Gas is produced in the body constantly, and usually exits one of two ways: out the front door (a burp), or out the back (the other end). As explained by Unity Point, when the hu­man body consumes oxygen, it’s not just oxygen being inhaled — it’s nitrogen and carbon di­oxide as well. Most of the gas in your body tends to exit through a burp or belch, such as when one consumes large quantities of carbonated beverages. However, refusing to belch reminds the body that when the front door is locked, the back door is an equal­ly viable exit. It’ll simply push the gas further down until it reaches the digestive track. And then, the roast material.

But there are more wonderful chemicals our toots force out of our bodies. The culprit behind what we’ll call That Face™ — the infamous “eww face” we make when we smell (or emit) some­thing far worse than the rottenest of rotten eggs That’s due to traces of sulfur found in the foods you eat. Those got to go too, and if you have to apologize for the stench, both to others and your­self, that’s just a small price you pay for claner insides.

It’s a great way to handle our digestive tract’s many, many weaknesses

The cause of the gas can also be due to the fact that, according to Dr. Lawrence Kim, human bod­ies are ill-equipped for digest­ing certain foods properly. That’s right! For being the only spe­cies on the planet that has built the civilization, humanity’s still incapable of properly breaking down just so much yum-yums. Lentils, beans, broccoli, cauli­flower, whole-grain foods like cereals and certain breads, sug­ars found in artificial sweeteners … we honestly might as well not eat those at all. When we do, our body works hard — and noisily — to both discharge what it can’t break down, and remind you to not feed it that garbage ever again. Seems like all that talk from Mom forcing us to eat our broccoli was simply a set-up for gassy times ahead, huh?

That stench might help you live longer

While it certainly seems weird, did you know that there are ac­tually health benefits to smelling farts, including your own? See, the average human being releas­es gas 10-20 times throughout the day (or 10-20 per hour after a burrito run). Preliminary re­search from the University of Ex­eter suggests that the compound, hydrogen sulfide, which is pro­duced in minute amounts within human farts, may have an impact on preventing mitochondrial damage. While toxic to the sys­tem in large quantities, getting a good whiff every now and again might actually benefit you in the long run! Guess whoever smelt it not only dealt it, but gets to deal for many, many more years to come.

Letting it go versus holding it in

There’s a common suggestion that holding in one’s farts can have detrimental effects on our digestive track, so you should just risk a few That Faces™ and just let it out. However, accord­ing to Dr. Lisa Ganjhu of NYU’s Langone Medical Center, re­search suggests that, while this may result in a very uncomfort­able time for you and your guts, there is no long-term negative effect involved. The only thing you risk by holding it in is in­flating your digestive tract like a balloon animal, only without the cool shapes or the happy ending. You’d be better served just taking the plunge and relieving yourself, social no-no or not.

Conclusion: let it out and feel awesome for it!

So, while releasing a fart can certainly be embarrassing, most of the embarrassment comes from society’s perception of farts: loud, smelly, and sloppy. How­ever, scientifically, this gaseous phenomenon is no different than breathing, and should be just as wholly encouraged. Next time you feel anxious about whether or not to cut the cheese, remem­ber that humans make terrible balloons, and that the first one who smelled it will probably out­last all of the people in the room.

September 04, 2017