Flatulence is a common phenomenon in daily life, yet not everyone understands the underlying causes and how it affects health.
Foul-Smelling Flatulence
During digestion, the intestines produce gas as a normal part of breaking down food. Most gases produced, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, and methane, are odorless. Therefore, there are times when you pass gas (flatulence) without anyone noticing.
However, there is one type of gas that is extremely foul-smelling: hydrogen sulfide. This gas has a very strong rotten egg odor. This is why sometimes you may pass gas quietly, but those around you still need to hold their noses. The more hydrogen sulfide present, the stronger the odor of the gas released.
Food and Flatulence
If you consume foods high in sulfur, your intestines will produce more hydrogen sulfide.
Some sulfur-rich vegetables include broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, kale, bok choy, and collard greens. Meat also contributes to this issue. If you eat a large amount of meat in one sitting, your body may struggle to digest it all.
Digestive System: Food moves from the stomach to the intestines and is expelled through the anus. (Image: Shutterstock.)
The digested food travels from the stomach to the large intestine. When sulfur-containing food reaches the large intestine, gut bacteria break it down, producing hydrogen sulfide gas. The more of this gas produced, the stronger the flatulence odor.
Why Does Flatulence Sometimes Feel Warm?
This is due to the temperature difference between your body and the external environment. The internal body temperature is usually around 37 degrees Celsius, while outdoor temperatures are often much cooler. When you pass gas and feel warmth, it is because the warm air from inside your body is escaping through the anus and coming into contact with the cooler skin nearby.
You are less likely to feel this warmth if you pass gas quickly, as the quick release minimizes contact with the skin near the anus.
Another reason for the warm sensation during flatulence is if you have consumed foods high in spicy ingredients. These foods contain a chemical called capsaicin.
Sometimes flatulence feels warm after eating spicy foods. (Illustrative image: Shutterstock).
When you eat a lot of such foods, some capsaicin travels down to the large intestine and is expelled with feces. Capsaicin can create a warm sensation around the anus during bowel movements.
Did You Know There Are Underwear That Reduce Flatulence Odor?
Researchers have conducted experiments to neutralize the smell of flatulence using underwear that absorbs hydrogen sulfide. These experiments yielded positive results. Currently, a company in Australia sells this type of underwear, primarily aimed at individuals with digestive issues, allowing them to pass gas “with more confidence”.
