Stinkier-than-usual farts typically happen because of the foods you
eat. You may experience more gas if you have constipation or if you’re
taking certain medications.
Flatulence, which is sometimes called passing wind, passing gas, or
farting, is a biological process that helps to release gas from
digestion.
In some cases, they’re silent and odorless, but farts can become
uncomfortable when they’re 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 when smelly farts can be an
indicator of an underlying infection, digestive issues, or a disorder.
6 causes of smell farts
There are a number of reasons why your farts may 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.
1. High fiber foods
Many high fiber foods can cause you to 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:
broccoli
bok choy
asparagus
cabbage
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 this is causing your flatulence, simply modifying your diet could
be enough to reduce it.
2. Food intolerance
If you have a sensitivity or reaction to certain foods, your gas could
have a foul odor. For example, people with lactose intolerance can’t
break down the sugar lactose. As a result, it’s fermented by bacteria
in the gut.
Gluten-related disorders, including 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 and flatulence.
Other than bad-smelling flatulence, celiac disease can cause other
symptoms:
fatigue
bloating
diarrhea
weight loss
Talk with your doctor to get tests and determine whether you have any
food allergies or sensitivities that may be making your farts smell.
3. Medication
Although uncommon, certain medications can cause smelly flatulence.
Antibiotics kill off harmful pathogens in the body, but they can also
destroy some of the “good” bacteria in your stomach, which aids
digestion. Without this bacteria, your gas may smell. You could also
experience bloating and constipation.
Treatment for this cause involves changing medication, which you
should only do under the direction of a healthcare professional.
4. Constipation
Constipation indicates that you have a buildup of stool, or poop, in
your colon. If you can’t poop regularly, it can cause bacteria and
odor to develop. The end result is foul-smelling and sometimes painful
gas.
Taking over-the-counter laxatives can be a simple home remedy for
constipation.
5. Bacteria buildup and digestive tract infections
When your body digests food, it extracts nutrients and sends them to
the bloodstream. The waste products are sent to the colon. Disrupting
the digestion process can cause an overgrowth of bacteria.
Some bacteria can cause infection in the intestines and digestive
tract. This may cause a higher volume of gas than normal and a
strong-smelling odor. People with digestive tract infections also
often have abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Visit your doctor to determine you have a bacterial infection. If you
do, they’ll prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection and get you
feeling better.
6. Colon cancer
A more rare cause of smelly farts is colon cancer. When polyps or
tumors form in the digestive tract, it can cause a partial bowel
obstruction, which results in gas buildup and bloating.
If you begin to experience abnormal smelling gas and discomfort, and a
change in diet or medication doesn’t affect your symptoms, call your
doctor for full evaluation. They can determine whether a colonoscopy
is warranted.
Treatment for colon cancer varies based on the stage of cancer. It can
include surgery to remove tumors and chemotherapy to kill cancer
cells.
https://www.healthline.com/health/smelly-farts