FARTING is a normal occurrence — but some foods can make your gas stink.
Most people toot around 20 times a day, with the majority of them being entirely odourless.
GettySulphur in foods can make your farts stink because your body breaks it down as hydrogen sulphide[/caption]
Research shows bad smells only occur in about one per cent of farts.
However, certain foods can make your wind smell hideous because your bowels struggle to break them down.
Alex Glover, senior nutritionist at Holland & Barrett, explained the chemical behind pongy farts is hydrogen sulphide.
This is produced when gut bacteria break down sulphur in foods.
While smelly farts can be a nuisance, they don’t necessarily mean anything is wrong with your gut.
The NHS said: “Do not self-diagnose. See a GP if you’re worried about your farting.”
Here, we look at the foods most likely to make your farts stink…
1. Beef and pork
Eating red meat, like beef and pork, can cause particular rotten farts.
Rob Hobson, head of nutrition at Healthspan, said meat — particularly fatty cuts such as beef and pork — “could get a bit smelly”.
He said: “They can take a long time to digest in the gut which leaves them to ferment.
“Fatty meats in particular are rich in methionine which is an ammonia acid containing sulphur.”
2. Protein shakes
Another surprising food that causes a whiff is protein shakes.
While great for building muscle, the supplements can be a challenge for your body to breakdown.
Whould I worry about my farts smelling?
The NHS states that you should see a GP if farting is affecting your life and treatments from the pharmacy and self-help haven’t worked.
You should also book in to see a medic if you have a stomach ache or bloating that will not go away or keeps coming back.
If you keep getting constipation or diarrhoea or if you’ve lost weight without trying then you should also see your GP.
If you’ve had blood in your poo for three weeks or longer then it’s important to get help.
These symptoms might be down to issues like constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.
But if in doubt, go and get checked out.
Alex Glover told The Sun: “More hydrogen sulphide is produced by the body when it breaks down protein rich foods.
“This is why we may notice our farts smell more after a meat-heavy meal, or a protein shake.”
3. Broccoli
While broccoli is a nutritious superfood, it also contains large amounts of pong-causing sulphur.
The chemical is the culprit behind the eggy smell that makes farts reek.
Like other cruciferous veggies — including cauliflower, cabbage and kale — broccoli provides it in a form known as glucosinolates.
But this should not put you off the foods, as they are also high in fibre and associated with a healthy diet.
4. Beer and wine
Having a heavy night on the town can often cause trips to the bathroom to be less than pleasant the next day.
As well as playing havoc with your general digestion, causing diarrhoea, beer and wine are also sources of sulphur.
They contain sulphites, sulphur dioxide compounds that occur naturally in ingredients used to make alcoholic drinks.
The compounds help prevent bacteria from growing and can make the drink go cloudy — but also cause smelly farts.
5. Peas
Everyone knows beans can cause a nasty whiff.
As the old adage goes, “beans, beans, they’re good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you fart”.
But a more surprising source of pongs is peas.
They belong to the same family of foods known as legumes, which contain sugars and fibres the body has a hard time digesting.