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A Quick Review (SOURCE)
Between lactose intolerance, constipation, sugars, infection, and more, there are quite a few reasons your gas may be smelly. If you notice any abnormal changes in your bowels, consult a healthcare provider for more information.
Smelly gas alone is usually nothing to worry about, Dr. Gandolfo said. But certain conditions can cause a change or increase in gas.
If you experience a change in your bowel habits or abdominal pain that doesn't go away after passing gas or having a bowel movement, that could be a sign of another condition.
The foods you eat can influence the population of bacteria that live in your colon, which then affects your farts, explained Dr. Gandolfo. Some foods are hard for the body to digest completely, leading to gas production.
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Why Does My Poop Smell So Bad? (SOURCE)
We spoke to gastroenterologists to understand when smelly poop is from something you ate or drink and when it might be a reason to see your healthcare provider.
By Emily Shiffer / Updated on June 22, 2022
Medically reviewed by
We all poop and it never smells good. But sometimes, your trip to the bathroom can seem smellier than usual. It may freak you out, and you may wonder if you should be concerned.
Chances are it's probably something you ate—and nothing to worry too much about, Daniel Freedberg, MD, a gastroenterologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center, said. "The way diet affects odor of stool is by changing the stool bacteria. Depending on which stool bacteria are present, they make different gases, and those are the (not-so-pleasant) gases we smell."
Still, there could be other reasons why your stool smells so bad. So Health talked to gastroenterologists about the possible culprits for stool that smells worse than usual.
You Drank a Lot of Alcohol
The bathroom the morning after a night out can smell especially bad. "High blood alcohol levels can affect other organs—like the stomach and the small and large intestines—altering motility, the permeability of the intestinal wall, and the pre-and probiotics of the intestinal flora," Christine Lee, MD, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic, said.
This effect on other organs can cause loose stools, diarrhea, and a change in the smell of your stool.
"Furthermore, alcohol has significant amounts of sulfate," Dr. Lee said. "The more sulfate consumed, the more it is available for colon bacteria to make sulfide gases, and sulfide gases can have an offensive stench."
You're Taking Certain Medications
Some prescriptions can also mess with the smell of your stool.
Medications like antibiotics or hormones can mess with gut bacteria, speed up or slow down how stool moves through your intestines, or cause "malabsorption of certain nutrients, thereby causing smelly diarrhea," Dr. Lee said.
You're Lactose Intolerant
Lactose intolerance is a condition where your body cannot break down the sugar lactose, commonly found in dairy. It can cause several symptoms in your digestive system, including diarrhea and gas. If you're lactose intolerant and eat dairy, it will eventually send you running for the bathroom—and it could be extra stinky.
"If you are lactose intolerant, lactose gets passed along the intestine, causing a nasty, smelly, malabsorptive diarrhea," Dr. Lee said.
You're Taking Certain Supplements
Your supplements could be benefiting your body, but they might also make the bathroom smell terrible.
"Certain supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin, and garlic are high in sulfate, which the bacteria in the colon converts into sulfide gases," Dr. Lee said. Sulfide gases stink, and when it's released from your stool, they can be a reason your stool smells so bad.
You're Eating a Lot of Foods With Sulfur
Sulfur-containing foods include cruciferous veggies (examples are broccoli, cauliflower, and kale), dairy, eggs, and meat.
But similar to how drinking alcohol or taking supplements with sulfates can make your stool smell, so can sulfur-rich foods. "Sulfur is a necessary element in our diet, and certain foods high in sulfates increase sulfur gas," Dr. Lee said. So while sulfur-containing foods are part of a healthy diet, they can make both your stool and gas smelly.
You Have a High-Fat Diet
A high-fat diet may overwhelm your digestive system, and your gut may not be able to break down all the fat consumed.
"The 'unbroken down' fat cannot be absorbed, and thus it's passed to the colon in its undigested state. This results in smelly diarrhea with a very high-fat content, called steatorrhea," Dr. Lee said.
You Have a Gut Disease or Infection
According to StatPearls, updated in May 2022, steatorrhea produces stools that are loose and large in volume. They may also be paler in color and produce a smell that seems smellier than normal. If you don't eat a high-fat diet but still find yourself with steatorrhea, something more serious could be happening.
"Unabsorbed fat in your stool could signal Celiac disease or pancreatic diseases," Dr. Freedberg said. "Steatorrhea can produce uniquely malodorous diarrhea that's often described as loose and oily," Dr. Lee said.
Intestinal infections may also be to blame. "Infections in your colon, like Clostridium difficile, can cause a very distinctive foul-smelling diarrhea," Dr. Lee said.
If you find yourself experiencing diarrhea you are concerned about; it is a good idea to check in with your healthcare provider.
You Eat a Lot of Sugar Alcohols
You might be opting for sugar-free foods to save on calories, but they can also make your stool smell a lot worse. This is because many sugar-free foods contain a type of sugar alcohol called sorbitol. Sorbitol is also commonly found in chewing gum.
"Sorbitol, in particular, works as a laxative by drawing water into the large intestine and inducing diarrhea, and it generally has a stinking smell," Dr. Lee said.
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Why Do My Farts Smell So Bad? Smelly Farts Explained (SOURCE)
Flatulence, which is sometimes called passing wind, passing gas, or farting, is a biological process that helps to release gas from digestion.
In some cases, they’re silent and odorless, but farts can become uncomfortable when they’re loud and foul-smelling.
Smelly gas is not uncommon and is often considered normal. Some foods or medications can cause excessively smelly farts.
There are, however, some instances when smelly farts can be an indicator of an underlying infection, digestive issues, or a disorder.
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6 causes of smelly farts
There are a number of reasons why your farts may smell bad. In most cases, foul-smelling flatulence is associated with the foods you eat and an unbalanced diet.
However, there can be more serious causes of rotten-smelling gas.
1. High fiber foods
Many high fiber foods can cause you to pass more gas. It takes longer for these foods to break down in your digestive system, so they ferment over time.
High fiber foods also sometimes smell, which means your farts may smell, too. This is especially true with strong-smelling vegetables, such as:
· broccoli
· bok choy
· cabbage
Your gas may smell like rotten eggs because of the sulfur in fiber-rich foods. Sulfur is a natural compound that smells like spoiled eggs. Many vegetables are sulfur-based.
If this is causing your flatulence, simply modifying your diet could be enough to reduce it.
2. Food intolerance
If you have a sensitivity or reaction to certain foods, your gas could have a foul odor. For example, people with lactose intolerance can’t break down the sugar lactose. As a result, it’s fermented by bacteria in the gut.
Gluten-related disorders, including celiac disease, can also cause smelly farts. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease where there is an immune response to the protein gluten. This leads to inflammation and injury in the intestine, leading to malabsorption and flatulence.
Other than bad-smelling flatulence, celiac disease can cause other symptoms:
· fatigue
· bloating
· diarrhea
Talk with your doctor to get tests and determine whether you have any food allergies or sensitivities that may be making your farts smell.
3. Medication
Although uncommon, certain medications can cause smelly flatulence.
Antibiotics kill off harmful pathogens in the body, but they can also destroy some of the “good” bacteria in your stomach, which aids digestion. Without this bacteria, your gas may smell. You could also experience bloating and constipation.
Treatment for this cause involves changing medication, which you should only do under the direction of a healthcare professional.
4. Constipation
Constipation indicates that you have a buildup of stool, or poop, in your colon. If you can’t poop regularly, it can cause bacteria and odor to develop. The end result is foul-smelling and sometimes painful gas.
Taking over-the-counter laxatives can be a simple home remedy for constipation.
5. Bacteria buildup and digestive tract infections
When your body digests food, it extracts nutrients and sends them to the bloodstream. The waste products are sent to the colon. Disrupting the digestion process can cause an overgrowth of bacteria.
Some bacteria can cause infection in the intestines and digestive tract. This may cause a higher volume of gas than normal and a strong-smelling odor. People with digestive tract infections also often have abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Visit your doctor to determine you have a bacterial infection. If you do, they’ll prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection and get you feeling better.
6. Colon cancer
A more rare cause of smelly farts is colon cancer. When polyps or tumors form in the digestive tract, it can cause a partial bowel obstruction, which results in gas buildup and bloating.
If you begin to experience abnormal smelling gas and discomfort, and a change in diet or medication doesn’t affect your symptoms, call your doctor for full evaluation. They can determine whether a colonoscopy is warranted.
Treatment for colon cancer varies based on the stage of cancer. It can include surgery to remove tumors and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.
Prevention
Flatulence is natural and necessary to dispose of waste and gas in the body. Some things you can do to reduce the chance of smelly farts include:
· eating smaller portions at a slower pace to encourage healthy digestion and reduce gas production
· drinking more water to help move waste through the body more efficiently
· including probiotic foods like yogurt in your diet to help restore healthy bacteria in your body and improve digestion
· avoiding carbonated drinks that can produce gas, including beer, sparkling wine, and soda
· avoiding foods that contribute to smelly gas
Frequently asked questions
Why do my farts smell so bad?
Foul-smelling gas usually has a simple cause, like high fiber foods or certain medications. However, it could be an indicator of underlying digestive issues or even colon cancer, so be sure to contact a doctor if your symptoms are concerning you.
Are smelly farts a sign of an unhealthy body?
Smelly farts don’t necessarily mean that your body isn’t in good health. In fact, farting is often a sign of a healthy digestive system, and many people experience strongly-odored flatulence.
However, if your gas is accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms or pain that seems out of character for you or excessive, you should speak to a doctor.
Why do some farts smell worse than others?
Only 1 percent of the gas humans release actually smells bad. The cause of the odor is intestinal bacteria that produce compounds containing sulfur. Most farts are caused by swallowed air or healthy gut bacteria that release gas after breaking down food.
Because most of our gas is odorless and smelly gas can be caused by various factors, some farts are bound to smell worse than others.
How often should a healthy person fart?
An average person in good health typically passes gas 12 to 25 times per day. People tend to fart the most during sleep because the amount of gas in your intestines increases throughout the day.
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