Stinky Farts: What Causes It and What to Do?

The main constituents of intestinal gases include carbon dioxide, nitrogen, methane, oxygen and hydrogen. Under normal circumstances, these gases are odorless. The odor in farts can be attributed to the presence of other gases such as sulfates. Basically, there're two main things that may cause stinky farts:

• When the gases remain in the digestive system for an extended period, the bacteria within the intestines begin to add sulfates to the gases. This adds a foul smell to an otherwise odorless gas.
  

• Taking foods that contain high amounts of sulfur such as eggs, cauliflower and the entire cabbage family, onions, meat, garlic and cheese may cause you to give out stinky farts. Additionally, sugars, including stachiose, verbascose and raffinose are rapidly acted upon by bacteria in the digestive system to give out gases.

Carbohydrate Malabsorption

This condition mainly manifests itself in two forms: In its moderate form, it is referred to as gluten-intolerance; while in the severe form, it is known as Celiac Disease. It is characterized by vitamin deficiencies and severe abdominal pain. If you are diagnosed with this condition, you should avoid consuming any gluten-containing products such as rye, barley and wheat.

Lactose Intolerance

Lactose intolerance occurs when the digestive system does not have sufficient lactase enzyme to digest all the lactose (milk sugar). As such, traces of milk and milk products remain undigested in the digestive system. These traces of milk and milk product are then acted upon by bacteria leading to smelly farts. 

Some of the symptoms associated with this condition include flatulence, bloating, watery diarrhea, cramps and loose stools. If you are suffering from lactase deficiency, you may either get rid of dairy products from your diet or take digestive enzymes to solve the problem.

Digestive Tract Infections

Infections on the linings of the digestive tract may be associated with an array of parasites, viruses and bacteria. Such infections are characterized by fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea. If you have such an infection, consult a physician for an appropriate treatment.

Candida Albicans

While a small amount of yeast in the intestinal tract is normal, too much yeast can lead to some complications. For instance, Candida is a life-saving mechanism that is naturally present in the digestive tract. However, Candida can be stimulated, under certain conditions, to transform into harmful fungus. This fungus grows in the form of minute filaments, with the roots penetrating into body organs and tissues. If you are passing more gas than normally expected, you might be having an overgrowth of this yeast. 

Other symptoms of this condition include cramps and bloating caused by excess gas after eating. This normally occurs after taking "trigger" foods, including baked items, sugars, beer, breads, vinegar, pizza crust, most beans, pickled foods and fermented foods.

Indigestion

Indigestion causes food remnants in the stomach, which will either ferment or putrefy, releasing smelly and toxic gases. Additionally, these toxic gases may also lead to complications like nervous disorders, constipation, heartburn, bloating, cramps, bleeding piles, slowed metabolism and foul stools over the long run. Basically, a grown-up American male has about five pounds of undigested red meat in his digestive system.

Fennel

Fennel is one of the effective remedies for farts. It is efficient and acts in minutes; you will notice results within 5 to 10 minutes. All you have to do is chew a few fennel seeds gradually. Alternativelly, you may also soak the seeds in a mug of hot or warm water, allow it to sit for 3 to 5 minutes and then sip the water gradually.

Ginger

Rather than curing gas problems, ginger prevents gases from developing in your digestive system. As such, you should take it immediately after taking food or include it in the diet. Alternatively, you may also take ginger in the form of ginger herbal tea. To do this, you should grind ginger and soak it in a mug of steaming water. Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes, warm it to your preferred temperature and take the tea 3 times a day.

Black Seeds and Caraway Seeds

In addition to managing stinky farts, these seeds aid in preventing puffing up, constraining and acid indigestion in the digestive system. You are supposed to soak the seeds in a mug of steaming water and allow them to sit for about 10 minutes. You should then pressure the seeds and take the solution before meals. You may also include the seeds in your meals for better results.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Over the years, this has been proven to be one of the most effective remedies. It may also be used to relieve acid indigestion. To make the solution, you are supposed to mix a tablespoonful of the apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water and then consume the solution.

Cinnamon

The advantage of cinnamon over other natural remedies is that it offers instantaneous relief from gas problems. To make the remedy, just heat a mug of soya milk or whey and mix a tablespoonful of cinnamon and honey in it. Allow the mixture to sit for about 5 minutes and reheat the solution to your preferred temperature and consume it. However, never try this option if you're allergic to soy milk.

Pepper Mint

As a smelly farts remedy, peppermint may be used in two main ways. The first method is to put some freshly fallen leaves into steaming water and allowing it to stand for a while. Alternatively, you can mix 2 drops of peppermint oil in a mug steaming water and allowing the solution to stand for some time. The remedy should then be taken two to three times in a day.