Quiz: All About Farts

Chewing gum can make you gassy.
True
False
Chewing gum can make you gassy.
Any time you swallow air, it can lead to farts. Eating or drinking too fast, fizzy drinks, smoking, and chewing gum can make you do it. But the main cause is the breakdown of food in your gut. The medical name for it is flatulence.

Air travel can make you fart.
True
False
Air travel can make you fart.
The change in air pressure can affect more than your ears. To help keep embarrassing gas at bay, watch what you eat before and during your flight. If you know a certain food, like beans, makes you gassy, don't eat it.
Still worried? You could try underwear lined with carbon. There are several brands available, and they are designed to help filter fart odors.

The older you get, the gassier you’ll become.
True
False
The older you get, the gassier you’ll become.
Ah, aging! As the years go by, your digestive system slows down. You may get constipated, and being backed up can make you gassy. Some laxatives that help with constipation can cause gas, like ones that contain bran.

How many times a day does a person on a normal diet pass gas?
5 -10 times
13-21 times
25-50 times
How many times a day does a person on a normal diet pass gas?
Whether through burping or farting, your digestive system stays pretty busy. If you find yourself more gassy than normal, it’s most likely something you ate. Don’t worry. It should pass.

Bad-smelling farts mean you are sick.
True
False
Bad-smelling farts mean you are sick.
Most farts are odorless, but everyone passes smelly gas from time to time. The odor is usually caused by sulfur in your system, and it’s rarely a reason for concern.
But if it doesn’t clear up and you have other symptoms, like stomach pain, check with your doctor. You could have an infection. Or you may not be able to digest the lactose in dairy products. Or you could have celiac disease -- problems digesting gluten -- which is found in wheat and other grains. Your doctor may recommend diet changes and supplements, or prescribe medication to help.

Foods that are high in this are more likely to make you fart:
Carbohydrates
Protein
Fat
Foods that are high in this are more likely to make you fart:
Everyone is different, and foods that cause gas for one person may not for someone else. But in general, foods that are high in carbs cause more gas.
High-fat foods stay in the stomach longer. Cutting back on them can help reduce bloating and discomfort. Less fat helps the stomach empty faster, allowing gas to move more quickly out of you.
In general, protein doesn’t contribute to gas, but if you have problems digesting lactose, a sugar in milk, dairy products will give you gas.

Dietary supplements (like Beano and Gastro) prevent gas because they:
Soak up sulfur in your digestive tract
Break down sugar, making foods easier to digest
Evaporate swallowed air in your stomach
Dietary supplements (like Beano and Gastro) prevent gas because they:
These little pills give your digestive juices a boost. They contain natural tools called enzymes that help break down your food. Take these before you eat to help with gas.

The best way to get rid of the smell of a fart is:
Light a match
Open a window
Spray perfume in circles
The best way to get rid of the smell of a fart is:
Open a window and let the fart smell float away into fresh air. Lighting matches, spraying perfume, and using air fresheners may cover the fart scent, but they don’t get rid of it.

Exercise can help you fart less.
True
False
Exercise can help you fart less.
Working out will help get rid of any extra air in your system. To help with the amount of gas you pass, do regular exercise. Try this: Tighten your stomach muscles by pulling them in. Imagine you’re pulling your belly button towards your spine. Over time you’ll strengthen those muscles and they can help disguise a gassy pooch.

You feel a fart coming on, and you aren’t alone. It’s best to:
Sit down and clench the muscles in your bottom.
Stand up and relax everything before all systems go.
Hold your breath until it passes.
You feel a fart coming on, and you aren’t alone. It’s best to:
If you can’t make it out of the room, don’t clench. Any kind of pushing is going to amplify the sound if it sneaks out. Standing will produce less bang than sitting.
While it may be polite to stifle a fart, you’ll likely feel better if you let your flatulence fly.