Flatulence, sometimes known as passing gas, is a common daily occurrence. Most people produce 500-1500 milliliters of gas per day and pass gas ten to twenty times each day. However, where does this bodily gas originate?

Although some gas may come from ingesting air during sleep, the majority of gas is produced by bacteria in our intestines as they digest parts of food that we cannot. Trillions of bacteria live in a symbiotic relationship with us in our intestine. We give them a safe place to reside as well as nourishment. In exchange, they aid in the extraction of energy from food, the production of vitamins such as vitamin B and K, the enhancement of our immune system and the function of the gastrointestinal barrier, motility and the development of numerous organ systems.

Undigested food, such as carbohydrates and proteins, that reach the large intestine provide the primary source of nourishment for gut bacteria. They use this undigested food to make a variety of chemicals, including short-chain fatty acids and, of course, gases. The most common gaseous products of bacterial fermentation are hydrogen and carbon dioxide, both of which are odorless. Some people create methane as a result of certain bacteria in their gut. Methane also has no odor.

So, what stinks? Volatile sulfur molecules, such as hydrogen sulfide and methanethiol, or methyl mercaptan, are usually responsible for the foul odor. These gases, on the other hand, make up less than 1% of the total volume and are frequently detected with the ingestion of sulfur-containing amino acids, which could explain the foul odor of gas from some high-protein diets.

Foods heavy in indigestible carbohydrates, such as beans, lentils, dairy products, onions, garlic, leeks, radishes, potatoes, oats, wheat, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, and brussel sprouts, usually cause increased gas passage. Because humans lack the enzymes, bacteria that can ferment complex carbohydrates take over, resulting in more gas than usual. However, if you are feeling uncomfortable, bloated, or physically swollen, it could be a sign that gas is not moving freely through your digestive tract.

It is vital not to just attribute gas and bloating to certain foods and then avoid them. You do not want to starve the bacteria that digest these complex carbohydrates, since if you do, they will have to start eating the sugars in the mucus lining of your intestines. Your personal gas will vary depending on what you consume and the bacteria in your gut.

So gut bacteria form a complicated network that allows them to thrive by either directly ingesting undigested food or by utilising the products of other bacteria. Because the amount and type of gas produced is primarily determined by this interaction, gas production is a sign that your gut bacteria are at work. However, some persons may experience abnormally excessive flatulence.

Lactose intolerance is a common example. Lactose, a sugar found in milk and milk-derived products, is broken down by most people’s enzymes. However, some persons are deficient in it or have a low level of it, such as after a gastrointestinal infection, and are unable to digest lactose products, resulting in cramping and increased flatulence owing to bacterial fermentation.

But keep in mind that most gas is produced naturally in the intestine as a result of bacterial fermentation, and it signals that the gut is working properly.