Excessive Smelly Gas

Excessive smelly gas is a condition that occurs when stomach or abdominal cavity has some kind of problem or sufferer has eaten something that is causing the bad smell. Gas is a normal phenomenon of human body and is passed out at least 20 times daily; either through the mouth in the form of burps or from the anus as farts.

Gas can be caused either by directly swallowing air or are made by bacteria in the intestine. When you eat food it passes from stomach to small intestine, and from small intestine to the large intestine. There, the bacteria present in large intestine, which helps in digesting food also produce gasses like hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide as a by-product of their activities. These gases are later passed out. Also, while eating food or drinking water, you tend to swallow air, which are usually later released as burps. Whatever is left of the air is later forwarded to the large intestine.

Some foods are bad for our system as they can cause foul-smelling gas. There are other causes for production of excessive smelly gas and flatulence like infections, indigestion and much more besides.

Symptoms of Excessive Smelly Gas

The symptoms that usually occur with excessive smelly gas are:

Bloating

Bloating is a condition in which the diameter of a person’s abdominal area increases. The stomach might feel full and stretched, causing stomach pain and growling sensations. other symptoms include shortness of breath and excessive smelly gas.

Stomach ache

Excessive smelly gas is usually accompanied by stomach ache. In many conditions the smelly gas can be caused by infections that might also lead to pain or cramps in the stomach and is most notable in babies.

Vomiting

Vomiting is very rare but does happen in cases of infections. Stomach either cannot hold food that has been fed it, or the lining of the abdominal cavity gets irritated, thereby leading to vomiting through reverse peristalsis.

Acidity

Acidity or heartburn is the leading cause of indigestion, which happens when the air consumed during eating is not easily digested by the stomach. This causes  production of excessive acids in stomach and soon leads to acidity. Acidity is always accompanied by excessive smelly gas and sufferers might also experience nausea.

Constipation

When a sufferer has irritable bowel syndrome, he/she usually feels constipated. Constipation is one of the main causes of excessive smelly gas since the stools are not passed out properly and undigested food remains in the digestive tract. Constipation is usually caused by eating meat, cheese and other foods that are tough to digest.

What Causes Excessive Smelly Gas?

Excessive smelly gas can happen for a number of reasons. It can sometimes even be a symptom of an underlying disease.

The causes of excessive smelly gas are as follows:

Infection

There are a huge number of bacteria and viruses that can cause a plethora of infections in the digestive tract. Some bacteria work as catalysts for digestion process in our body. These sometimes go haywire and harms the stomach. The symptoms that can be experienced along with excessive smelly gas are diarrhea, stomach-ache, and fever. While they can be easily treated with some antibiotics, it is still very important that you consult a doctor beforehand.

Colonic Bacteria

There are some bacteria that are present in human colon and the large intestine that are responsible for digestion of food. These release gasses like carbon dioxide and methane, which are later passed out. When a person eats foods rich in sulfur, these bacteria start releasing sulfur along with other gasses and so cause excessive smelly gas.

Lactose Intolerance

Number of people in the world with some degree of lactose intolerance is huge. Lactose is a type of sugar present in dairy products. People who suffer from lactose intolerance do not have the required amount of enzymes to properly digest lactose. So, lactose stays in the stomach and cause excessive smelly gas. If you are lactose intolerant it is advisable that you totally avoid eating dairy products.

Carbohydrate Malabsorption

Gluten is present in most carbohydrate-rich foods like wheat, rice, and barley and is responsible for carbohydrate malabsorption in our body. People intolerant to gluten might suffer from abdominal pain and bloat, along with excessive smelly gas. Avoiding eating of these products is advisable if your body has problems absorbing carbohydrates.

Slow digestion

Some people have a slowly-digesting metabolism and retain the food in their digestive tracts for longer periods. The longer the food is kept in the digestive tract the more it causes smelly gas. This is usually due to the lack of fibrous materials in the diet, and is the most common cause of excessive smelly gas in pregnant women.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome is also responsible for excessive smelly gas. This syndrome might lead to either constipation or loose bowels. In both of the cases, a foul odor is produced by the bacteria that are responsible for it. It can easily happen to people of any age from babies to adults.

Home Remedies

The smelly gas is usually caused by bacteria in the colon or large intestine. Some stomach conditions also leads to production of smelly gas by the body. Apart from medications that are taken in order to treat the underlying cause of excessive smelly gas, there are also home remedies that can be very beneficial to sufferers of the malady.

Some of these simple home remedies include:

Baking Soda

Baking soda is very helpful in neutralizing stomach acids. It produces bubbles of carbon dioxide in stomach that successfully leaches the gas away from the body. Mix half tablespoon of baking soda with half glass of water and drink this every two to three hours. If consumed regularly it also solves future smelly gas problems.

Ginger

Ginger is one of the best remedies for flatulence. It is so versatile and effective that it can be consumed in varied forms like powders and liquids. To tap into its healing properties mix half a tablespoon of powdered ginger in half a glass of warm water and drink this every night to avoid excessive smelly gas. You can also soak ginger in lime juice and eat the pieces. Additionally, make a habit of adding ginger to your food.

Honey

Drinking one tablespoon of honey mixed in dill oil just after eating is very helpful in getting rid of excessive smelly gas. Honey has many antioxidant properties and also helps relieve stomach acidity.

Fennel

Chewing a few fennel seeds when you are having smelly farts has been said to easily get rid of the condition. This is one of the fastest and the most effective home remedies and speedily resolves the issue of excessive smelly gas in about ten minutes. Apart from this you can also soak a few fennel seeds in a cup of warm water for about five to ten minutes and slowly drink the water.

Peppermint

Various forms of peppermint are used in treating smelly farts, because peppermint is very useful in the curing of stomach ailments. Take some fresh peppermint leaves and put them in boiling water for some time. Sip the mixture slowly when it’s cool. Alternatively, take some peppermint oil and put it in a cup of hot water. Let it stand and cool. Drink this mixture two to three times a day for the best result.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar has been used for centuries to treat stomach issues like smelly farts, acidity, and indigestion. You need to mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water and drink it two to three times a day.

Cinnamon

This is yet another humble ingredient present in everyone’s kitchen which has not been given enough attention. Cinnamon is a remedy that gives instant relief from the embarrassment caused by excessive smelly gas. Mix one tablespoon of cinnamon in one tablespoon of honey and let the solution sit for five minutes. Now, consume it two to three times a day. If possible mix some heated soy milk in it for better results. However, If you are allergic to soy milk avoid using it.

Foods to Avoid

• Excessive smelly gas are mostly caused by the food we eat. So, be careful of the food you consume. The smell of the gas is primarily due to an increase in the sulfur content. Therefore, sulfur-rich foods should be avoided till the problem subsides. Sulfur-rich foods comprise eggs, cauliflower, meat, onions, cabbage, broccoli, mustard greens, kale, Brussel sprouts, collards, horseradish, garlic and other cruciferous vegetables. Even though most of these vegetables are very healthy for the body, in order to avoid smelly gas their intake should be either entirely stopped or limited.
• People that are lactose intolerant might get smelly gas from their consumption of dairy products. After eating foods like cheese, cottage cheese, milk, curd, buttermilk etc. these people might get excessive smelly gas. They are therefore advised to stop eating such foods in order to get rid of the problem.
• Foods that are very rich and hard to digest must be avoided after suffering from stomach flu or any other stomach disorder, because they might lead to the passing of excessive smelly gas. Also, such foods need to be shunned at night and after eating a gap of at least two hours should be kept before sleeping.

Also Read:

What Causes Stomach Bloating after Eating?

Possible Reasons for Food getting stuck in your throat