Imagine being on a first date when you feel the need to toot your own horn — that is, pass gas. The average person releases 0.1 to 0.4 gallons of gas a day. Most of these farts are odorless, but it’s rarely acceptable to take a chance and break wind. Whether in the workplace or with friends, we all clench our cheeks from time to time. So what does holding in flatulence do to our bodies? Gas is a natural byproduct of digestion, and holding it in can cause discomfort, bloating, and even nausea. The body, however, has other ways of handling gas buildup. There are lots of different changes and cycles that happen with the bacteria that’s in our gut that helps us to digest. The good news is that we have a process for it; the bad news is that gas has to pass eventually. From the moment you take a bite of food, your body begins breaking it down mechanically and chemically. Not everything in food can be used by the body, especially if the body can’t fully break down certain substances. For example, people with lactose intolerance don’t make enough of the enzyme lactase in their small intestine, so lactose stays and ferments in the digestive system, causing bloating, diarrhea and excessive gas. Farts are a natural way the body handles this unneeded gas, but if we hold them in, the gases recede back into the colon. This can be bad over time. Small pockets called diverticula can form in the colon and become harmful if infected. Think of it this way: you can injure yourself by holding in farts in the same way you can injure yourself by never having a bowel movement. When it comes to passing gas, the general rule of thumb is: “When in doubt, let it out.”
