Key Takeaways
- Farting is a normal part of digestion.
- Certain foods, drinks, and habits make gas worse.
- Too much gas or pain can signal a gut problem. See a doctor if farting comes with new or severe symptoms.
Passing gas, also known as flatulence, is a natural part of digestion that happens when swallowed air or gases produced by gut bacteria move through your intestines and out of your body. Most people fart between 5 and 15 times a day, so if you’ve ever wondered why you’re more flatulent than usual, the answer often comes down to diet, eating habits, or changes in your gut.
1. Swallowing Air
Air you swallow while eating and drinking is a common cause of farts. This happens when you chew quickly, sip through a straw, or talk while eating. If this air isn’t burped out or absorbed, it travels through your digestive tract and is eventually released as intestinal gas, known as flatus.
2. Fiber-Rich Foods
While fiber is vital for gut health, it also gets fermented by bacteria in your colon, which produces gas as a byproduct.2 Certain fiber-rich foods, such as:
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Lentils
- Whole grains
3. Lactose Intolerance
For some people with lactose intolerance, dairy can have the same effect as fiber. If your body doesn’t make enough lactase, the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar, lactose travels to the colon, where bacterial fermentation occurs. This process creates gas, which can cause bloating and farting after consuming dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, or ice cream.
4. Artificial Sweeteners (Sugar Alcohols)
Sugar-free products can sometimes cause extra gas. Sugar alcohols (polyols) are low-calorie sweeteners that are only partially absorbed in the small intestine. The portion that isn’t absorbed travels to the colon, where gut bacteria ferment it, producing gas.
Common Sugar alcohols that may cause gas:
- Erythritol
- Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH)
- Isomalt
- Lactitol
- Mannitol (Osmitrol)
- Sorbitol (Dulcitol)
- Xylitol (XyloSweet)
Other artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin (Sweet’n Low) and aspartame (Equal), are fully absorbed and usually don’t cause gas.
5. Imbalanced Gut Microbiome
The trillions of bacteria in your gut play a big role in how much gas you produce. When your microbiome is balanced, digestion runs more smoothly.7But if the balance shifts due to antibiotics, diet changes, or illness, you may notice more frequent or smellier farts.
6. Digestive Disorders That Cause Gas
Sometimes, gas is more than just a diet quirk. Conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth can all trigger excess gas.These conditions affect how food is digested and absorbed, which can make farting more frequent or uncomfortable.
7. Hormonal Changes
Hormones also affect how food moves through your gut. Shifts during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause can slow digestion and increase flatulence. For example, higher progesterone levels during pregnancy or before a menstrual period can relax the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, slowing down the movement of food, making people gassy.
As we age, changes in hormone levels and digestive muscle tone can also reduce gut motility and lead to more flatulence.
When to See a Doctor About Farting
Most farting is harmless, but sometimes it can signal a problem. See a healthcare provider if gas is new, severe, or comes with weight loss, abdominal pain, blood in your stool, or changes in bowel movements. While excessive flatulence is a common concern, not passing gas at all—especially when combined with stomach pain or bloating—can also be a reason to seek medical care. (verywellhealth)
Medically reviewed by Melissa Nieves, LND
