FLATULATION IS GOOD FOR YOU, ACCORDING TO NEW SCIENTIFIC STUDY

Everyday we read or hear about new scientific studies that advise us about their findings. It's gotten to the point where there are so many different studies of many different topics, often with contradictory findings, that we become more confused than enlightened as to what is actually healthy for us.

Today I came across a newly "released" scientific study of major importance that seems to pass the universal "smell" test as to it's veracity as "being good for your health". 

It' simple to do, costs nothing to buy, is domestically produced, everyone can do it, including those with special diets, plus we have an endless, unlimited supply, and it's homeopathic, rich in natural ingredients.

The Oxford dictionary describes the word flatulence as " a condition in which excessive gas builds up in the intestines and is then released, also known as farting, tooting, break wind, passing gas, cut cheese, the dog did it, and ripping.

Flatulence or Farting may stink to high heaven, but a new study suggests that the gas responsible for that foul odor may actually extend a person’s time on earth.

Scientists in the UK claim that hydrogen sulfide, the stinky compound that smells like rotten eggs which contributes to the flatulence stench, could have amazing health benefits.

Hydrogen sulfide can be toxic, but tiny amounts have been shown to help protect the mitochondria, which are known as the “powerhouses” of cells.

Study author Dr. Matt Whiteman of the University of Exeter explained that diseased cells draw in enzymes to create small quantities of the compound, which helps keep the mitochondria going and the cell alive.

“If this doesn't happen, the cells die and lose the ability to regulate survival and control inflammation,” he said in a release.

The scientists said they have created a new compound known as AP36 that harnesses the power of hydrogen sulfide and can deliver it to the mitochondria.

Protecting or reversing damage to this part of the cell is a crucial part of treating many conditions, including stroke, diabetes, heart failure and dementia.

Hydrogen sulfide “could in fact be a health care hero with significant implications for future therapies for a variety of diseases,” study author Dr. Mark Wood said.

The team is working on advancing research to the stage where the compound can be tested in humans.

THE STUDY- CLICK HERE-was published in the journal Medicinal Chemistry Communications.

Why do we fart? Why do farts smell? Passing gas may be embarrassing for most of us, but it might make you feel better to know that it's one of the most common bodily functions of all time. In fact, the word "fart" is one of the oldest words in the English language!

This led me on a quest to ascertain additional research about the topic that I can share with you below:

1) What Is A Fart, Exactly?

Farts are caused by trapped air, which can come from many sources. Some of it is air that we have swallowed while chewing or drinking. Some air is caused by gas seeping into our intestines from our blood, and some gas is produced by chemical reactions in our intestines or bacteria living in our guts. A typical fart is composed of about 59 percent nitrogen, 21 percent hydrogen, 9 percent carbon dioxide, 7 percent methane and 4 percent oxygen. Only about one percent of a fart contains hydrogen sulfide gas and mercaptans, which contain sulfur, and the sulfur is what makes farts stink. Farts make a sound when they escape due to the vibrations of the rectum. The loudness may vary depending on how much pressure is behind the gas, as well as the tightness of the sphincter muscles.(Source)

2) Why Do Farts Smell Bad?

The more sulfur-rich your diet is, the more terrible your farts will smell. Some foods contain more sulfur than others, which is why eating things like beans, lentils, cabbage, cheese, soda, and eggs can cause gas that will peel the paint off the walls!

3) People pass gas about 14-20 times per day

The average person produces about half a liter of farts every single day, and even though many women won't admit it, women do fart just as often as men. In fact, a study has proven that when men and women eat the exact same food, woman tend to have even more concentrated gas than men. If a person were to fart continuously for 6 years and 9 months, they would produce gas with the equivalent energy of an atomic bomb. (Source)

4) Farts Have Been Clocked At A Speed Of 10 Feet Per Second.

Though farts come out with varying velocities, we don't typically smell them for about 10-15 seconds after letting them rip. This is because it takes that long for the odor to reach your nostrils.(Source)

5) Holding Farts In Could Be Bad For Your Health

Doctors disagree on whether or not holding in a fart is bad for your health. Some experts think that farts are a natural part of your digestive system, so holding them in won't harm you. Others think that at best, holding them in can cause gas, bloating, and other uncomfortable symptoms, and at worst, repressing gas can cause hemorrhoids or a distended bowel.(Source)

6) For Some Cultures, Farting Is No Big Deal

While most cultures feel that farts should be suppressed in polite company, there are some cultures that not only don't mind letting them fly in public, but they actually enjoy it. An Indian tribe in South America called the Yanomami fart as a greeting, and in China you can actually get a job as a professional fart smeller! In ancient Rome, Emperor Claudius, fearing that holding farts in was bad for the health, passed a law stating that it was acceptable to break wind at banquets. (Source 1 | Source 2)

7) Farts Are Flammable

As stated above, the methane and hydrogen in bacteria-produced farts make your gas highly flammable. This is why some people think it's a fun party trick to hold a lighter up to their bums and let one fly; doing so produces a big burst of flame, but is obviously very dangerous. In rare cases, a build-up of flammable gasses in the intestines have caused explosions during intestinal surgeries! (Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 )

8) Termites Produce The Most Farts Of Any Other Animal

It's hard to believe that the tiny termite is responsible for a great deal of our global warming problem on the planet. Termites fart more than any other animal, which produces methane gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "Global emissions of methane due to termites are estimated to be between 2 and 22 Tg per year, making them the second largest natural source of methane emissions. Methane is produced in termites as part of their normal digestive process, and the amount generated varies among different species." 

9) If You Hold Them In, They'll Just Come Out When You Sleep.

Even if you clenched your butt and held them in all day, the gas will escape once you relax. What's more relaxing than sleep?(Source)

Before you think that my blog post of today stinks, perhaps consider to go ahead and enjoy those lentils. Chow down on the cabbage. Then if you stink a little, think of it as a thank you gesture gift from yourself.