Quiz: All About Farts

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.