The Price of Gas

 

Reprinted with permission from the May/June 2008 issue of Chicago Wellness Magazine. Copyright 2008 Chicago Wellness Magazine.

 

 

It's the thing that babies are praised for doing, and that very old people may be excused from, but the rest of us find uncomfortably embarrassing. In polite company we refer to it as gas, but, alright, I'll say it, I'm talking about farts. Yes, it can be humorous, as has been depicted in a variety of comedy scenes. And we call it by a number of names – " cut the cheese," "tooting," and so on. Interestingly enough, the word “fart” has been around for a very long time, coming from an ancient Greek word meaning “to break wind.”

 

The technical term is flatulence, which is a mixture of gases from swallowed air and gas produced within the digestive tract. Gas production is a sign of a well-functioning digestive tract and healthful diet. About 10-30% of starches we consume escape the normal digestive process. Once these reach the lower large intestine, the bacteria that live there take over. They feast on this food coming their way, and release gases. Any carbohydrate containing food can cause gas, although some foods are notorious for their gas-producing ability. Beans top the list, but others include peas, lentils, dairy products, onions, garlic, scallions, leeks, radishes, sweet potatoes, cashews, Jerusalem artichokes, bananas, bagels, oats and wheat. Because of the type of carbohydrate they contain, called oligosaccharides, the human body doesn't produce the enzymes to break these down. In the case of those with lactose intolerance, intestinal bacteria feeding on lactose can give rise to excessive gas production when milk is consumed. The average human produces about a quart of gas per day, in 15-20 releases per day. We produce more gas after meals, and less during sleeping than during waking. But if you hold it in during the day, when your body relaxes at night it will be released.

 

Farts are expelled under pressure through the anus which is kept closed by a muscle called the anal sphincter. Gas is released when the gas pressure inside the rectum exceeds the anal sphincter's ability to restrain it. The noise made on release is caused by the vibration of the anal sphincter, and can be affected if the buttocks are closed. Depending upon if the sphincter is relaxed or tense, and the positions of the buttocks, this often results in a trumpeting sound, but gas can also be passed quietly. Adolescent males are particularly adept (and well known for) their musical ability when expelling farts.

 

The gas released during a fart frequently has a foul odor. Flatulence odor can be caused by the presence of large numbers of gut bacteria and/or the presence of feces in the rectum. Cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables are commonly reputed to not only increase flatulence, but to increase the pungency of the flatus.

 

The foods that cause gas are some of the healthiest for us, so don't stay away. Here are some tips to minimize gas production without decreasing nutrition.

It also helps to eliminate the swallowed air. I found this particular mantra very helpful during pregnancy, a time when there is much less room in the abdomen for comfort: “Better to belch and bear the shame than squelch the belch and bear the pain.”