Stinky gases: 5 main causes (and what to do)

Stinky gases can be caused by excessive intake of foods that are sources of protein and fiber, such as eggs, broccoli, cauliflower, red meat, garlic and cheese, because they favor the production of hydrogen sulfide, a substance with a “rotten egg” odor. ” which is produced by intestinal bacteria during the fermentation of these foods.

Furthermore, gases with a strong odor can also be caused by situations such as the use of certain medications, food poisoning, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance and colon cancer.

Chewing your food well, drinking mint and anise tea, and reducing your intake of foods rich in sulfur and fiber are some options that can help prevent stinky gas. See some teas to help reduce gas.

Main causes

The main causes of stinky gas are:

1. Foods rich in protein

Excessive consumption of foods rich in protein such as milk, cheese, yogurt, red meat, fish and eggs increases the production of hydrogen sulfide by intestinal bacteria, the main substance responsible for making gases stinkier.

What to do: It is recommended to eat small portions of protein in your diet, with a suggested intake of 1g of protein for every kg of body weight per day. A person weighing 85 kg would consume 85g of protein per day, which is equivalent to 150g of grilled chicken breast and 100g of grilled sardines, for example.

2. Fiber-rich foods

Foods that are high in fiber and also high in sulfur, such as broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, leeks, onions, radishes, turnips and Brussels sprouts, produce the most stinky gas.

Although they do not directly promote the formation of stinky gases, foods rich in fiber, such as beans, soybeans, lentils, oats, asparagus, apples, almonds, take longer to be digested in the intestine, which can cause increased fermentation by the intestines. bacteria, facilitating the formation of gases. Discover other foods rich in fiber.

What to do: It is recommended to reduce the consumption of vegetables rich in sulfur. Additionally, you can also try to reduce your intake of high-fiber vegetables and fruits. However, it is important to highlight that fiber is essential for maintaining health and, therefore, reducing the consumption of these foods should only be done during the period when you have more gas.

3. Gastrointestinal changes

Some gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarrhea, food poisoning, lactose intolerance, celiac disease and colon cancer can cause an imbalance in the intestinal flora, favoring the formation of stinky gases.

What to do: In these cases, it is important to undergo a consultation with a doctor and a nutritionist so that a complete assessment of the health status can be carried out, the necessary medications can be recommended and an individualized diet can be prescribed to treat the health condition. See an example of a diet to avoid and reduce gas.

4. Medications

Some medications, such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and laxatives can cause changes in the intestinal flora, modifying the composition of intestinal bacteria and causing an increase in smelly gases.

What to do: strengthening and increasing the beneficial bacteria in the intestine, with the use of probiotics, such as kefir, kombucha and natural yogurt, helps to balance the intestinal flora, preventing smelly gases. Discover other probiotic foods that balance the intestinal flora.

5. Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome can also cause smelly gas, abdominal pain and periods of diarrhea and constipation. Irritable bowel syndrome is when there is inflammation of the intestinal villi, which can be a consequence of stress, anxiety, food intolerance or allergies. See more about irritable bowel syndrome.

What to do: It is recommended to consult a gastroenterologist so that the diagnosis can be made and, thus, treatment can be started, which can be done by changing diet and reducing stress levels, for example.