Why do we fart? Why do farts smell? Passing gas may be embarrassing for most of us, but it might make you feel better to know that it's one of the most common bodily functions of all time. Everyone does it, from Halle Berry to the Queen of England. In fact, the word "fart" is one of the oldest words in the English language! oddee.com reports.
Farts are caused by trapped air, which can come from many sources. Some of it is air that we have swallowed while chewing or drinking. Some air is caused by gas seeping into our intestines from our blood, and some gas is produced by chemical reactions in our intestines or bacteria living in our guts.
A typical fart is composed of about 59 percent nitrogen, 21 percent hydrogen, 9 percent carbon dioxide, 7 percent methane and 4 percent oxygen. Only about one percent of a fart contains hydrogen sulfide gas and mercaptans, which contain sulfur, and the sulfur is what makes farts stink.
However, it is important here to note that the smell of the gas that comes out of your bottom could be revealing important information about your health - or even offering an early warning of serious illness. So scientists are trying to create a ‘probe’ which can travel through people’s digestive systems to find out more. But even the smell of farts can offer some insight - particularly if you have persistently ‘eggy’ ones.
High levels of hydrogen sulphide gas could be a sign of a damaged gut lining, inflammatory bowel disease or even bowel cancer. If you’re producing too much hydrogen and methane (lots of gas), it could be a sign you are not digesting starches and sugars – and they’re fermenting in your gut, according to the BBC.
Now researchers at Monash University in Victoria, Australia. are developing a probe which could work its way through people’s guts – to find out where the problem is.
Peter Gibson of Monash University says, ‘We know bits and pieces about it, but it’s been very difficult to get to the crux of what is happening, uk.news.yahoo.com reports.
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