No one knows for certain why we are able to fart. One theory is that it helps us to release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The other theory is that it just happens, and that’s OK. Although we may not be aware of it, farts have consequences.
When we let go of air through our rear end, it roars like a lion and signals our formidable friend – the Farting Lion! This Garnering Protection is even stronger than if you had thrown a spear at him.
It’s called the “berzerker” effect because when something makes you angry or angry things can make you even angrier. If you think about it, most of what we do as humans has an underlying rationale: to obtain nourishment and avoid danger.
So naturally once we get a whiff of rotting meat or a pungent fart in public, the urge to stealthily sneak up behind someone and slice them open with our hunting utensils vanishes pretty quickly.
What causes farts?
One of the most frequent questions we receive is “What causes farts?” There are a few major suspects, but the biggest one is genetics. If you’re a high-fibbing klutz, you can blame your parents. You might have inherited a bit of that high-strung character from them. If you’re more of a “smile and dim the lights” kind of person, then you probably inherited your friendliness from your mother.
It’s not just her that’s to blame your entire family has a part to play in this. If you’re female, you’re likely to be more prone to farts than your male partner. It’s probably because of the way that our bodies release farts.
Farting is common
The number one question we get from people is “Why do I fart?” After all, there must be a reason why we fart, right? We all know that having a bowel movement is a vital part of our daily routine, but why exactly do we do it? First of all, let’s start with the fact that we all have different preferences when it comes to our bowel movements.
Two people who both have the same preferred way of defecating might choose different times of the day to empty their bowels. What’s more, each of us has different preferences when it comes to which parts of our bodies we choose to let go of “accidentally”. One person might let go of their bellies with their hands, while another might choose to let go with their feet.
Why do we fart?
The reason why we fart is likely to be connected to our need to regulate our body temperature, as well as our sense of smell and taste. The main reason that most of us farts is because we’re trying to get rid of gas that we haven’t used for a while. When we’re young, our bodies are able to store a lot of gas, as we don’t need to release as much air through our chests as we do as we get older.
But as we get older, the amount of gas that can be stored drops, and then we “have to” release some of it. This is likely why we get “gas attacks” in old age: we can’t keep silent about how we really feel anymore.
We all love a good fart joke, but did you know that there’s a serious side to them as well? Yes, after all, they can be a great source of medical information.
To help you get a better understanding of what a fart is, and why we do it, here are a few examples. “Are you afraid of the dark, son?” “I’ve got a real bad feeling about this charter flight” “What’s worse than having a flatulence attack?” “Is it permissible to fart in public?”
The science behind the farts
Most of what we know about farts comes from experiments and studies. But there is actually a bit of science behind the farts – and it’s not what you might expect. Although we tend to think of farts as “gassy”, in fact, they’re more like “robot” noises.
They have no real estate to speak of, and they’re relatively low-key compared to the booms and bangs that we make with our vocal chords. In fact, one study even suggested that there might be an adverse neurological effect to high levels of vocal expression, which might include hysteria.
There are actually two main types of bacteria that live in our digestive tract. One type is good for us, and the other is not so good. It’s the bad guys that get eliminated in our stools, and it’s through the action of this bad bacteria that gases are released.
The problem with this process is that our digestive tracts are full of bacteria, and when there is a “farty” moment, we don’t always have the opportunity to clean out our intestines. That’s where flatulence and stomach acid come into the picture.
When flatulence and acid get into our bodies, they cause acidity in our bodies, which can lead to all kinds of issues, like indigestion and heartburn.
We all know the benefits of having a flatulence attack it just means you get to eat more food! But what’s not commonly known is that having a fart in public can actually be dangerous. When flatulence and acid get into our bodies, they can cause acidity and harmful bacteria growth, which can lead to indigestion and even heartburn.
So if you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s probably best to go home and try to eliminate the cause. Next time you’re at a restaurant, go up and down the buffet line instead of just waiting for your food in the front half. You’ll be glad you did.
(1). https://www.livescience.com/32405-what-makes-us-fart.html
(2). https://www.healthline.com/health/sharting
(4).https://partner.sciencenorway.no/bacteria-forskningno-norway/why-do-we-fart/1428851