Causes of Foul Smelling Gas
Gas is a common part of living. We pass gas at least 14 times each day. One of the main causes of gas is swallowing air from:
- Eating or drinking too fast
- Drinking carbonated drinks
- Smoking
- Chewing gum
Eating certain foods can also cause gas, such as:
- Foods high in fiber, such as beans, peas, and oat bran
- Foods with fructose (natural fruit sugar) such as figs, dates, prunes, and pears
- Vegetables with raffinose (a natural sugar), including cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and beans
- Sorbitol, an artificial sweetener
- Diary products with lactose (natural milk sugar), such as milk, cheese, and ice cream
What foods make farts smell bad?
It's often something you eat that causes bad-smelling gas. Common culprits are:
Beans. Beans contain sugars that our bodies can't digest well. Bacteria that break these down in your large intestine release gasses like methane that contain sulfur. This is what causes the rotten-egg like smell.
Cruciferous vegetables. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage are examples of vegetables in the cruciferous family. These veggies are high in sulfur that can give you smelly gas.
Other sulfur-rich foods. Eggs, garlic, grains, meat, beer, wine, nuts, garlic, and onions are also high in sulfur.
Dairy products. If you having trouble breaking down lactose -- a natural sugar in dairy products -- that can cause digestive problems and smelly gas.
Artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. Your body doesn't digest these well, and they end up fermenting in the gut -- which can lead to foul-smelling farts.
Medications that cause smelly gas
Antibiotics affect the bacteria in your gut and cause digestive problems. A bacterial imbalance can lead to bad-smelling gas.
Other medications that may cause smelly farts are:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen
- Laxatives
- Antifungal medications
- Statins
Constipation and smelly gas
If poop sits in your digestive tract because your constipated, that gives the bacteria in your gut more time to react with it and release smelly gasses.
Remedies and Treatments for Foul-Smelling Gas
Smelly gas doesn't usually require medical treatment. There are some easy things you can do on your own to try to control your gas:
Eating habits
Slow down when you eat. Chewing quickly and swallowing fast will cause more gas to be produced. Eating and chewing slowly reduces your air intake and can alleviate your gas.
Smaller portions are also important for reducing foul-smelling gas. When you eat smaller amounts of food, you make less gas during digestion. Having smaller portions will help your digestive tract work better and soothe your stomach pains connected to your foul-smelling gas.
Diet
Take note of what you eat and how it makes you feel. It might be good to remove certain foods from your diet and gradually reintroduce them to determine if you have an intolerance. You should start a journal while doing this to determine what certain foods do to your digestive tract. You may find that even if you don’t have an intolerance, some foods might not settle correctly in your stomach, causing foul-smelling gas. Avoid or limit the foods and drinks that cause your bad-smelling gas.
Medications
Taking medications with enzymes like galactosidase (lactase) and alpha-galactosidase (Beano) helps reduce gas and bloating.
When to See a Doctor
If you do not find relief by trying these remedies, it is time to make an appointment with your doctor. They will be able to determine the cause and provide a treatment plan for you to follow.
Contact your doctor if you’re passing an increased amount of gas — more than 20 to 30 times per day — and you experience the following as it may be a sign of a more serious issue:
- Medications don’t bring relief
- There are additional symptoms with gas pains
- Diet changes don’t improve gas symptoms
Normal gas varies in smell from person to person. Foul-smelling gas can occur for many reasons, but sometimes it can indicate serious issues. Talk to your doctor if you have consistently foul-smelling gas accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Bloody and inconsistent stool (poop)
- Change in frequency of bowel movements
- Unintentional weight loss
- Persistent or recurring nausea or vomiting
Takeaways
Everyone has gas, and sometimes bad-smelling gas. Foods and medications are the most common things that give gas a bad smell. Usually, you can stop it by identifying the source and avoiding or limiting it.
Smelly Gas FAQs
Why does my gas smell like rotten eggs?
The rotten egg smell is due to hydrogen sulfide, a sulfur-containing gas made when your gut bacteria break down foods containing sulfur like broccoli, meat, and dairy.
What can I eat to stop smelly gas?
No foods will stop smelly gas, but avoiding the foods that cause it for you will help.
Do probiotics help with smelly gas?
Probiotics might help. They introduce "good" bacteria into your gut, which can improve digestion and reduce smelly gas.
