Farting—it’s a natural bodily function that most people prefer not to talk about. However, passing gas is a fascinating and surprisingly complex process. Here are 12 facts about farting that might make you appreciate this quirky aspect of human biology a little more.

1. The Average Person Farts 10-20 Times a Day Even if you think you’re not someone who farts much, the average person passes gas up to 20 times daily. It’s completely normal and a sign of a healthy digestive system.
2. Farts Are Mostly Odorless While the smell of a fart might grab attention, most farts are actually odorless. The gas is primarily composed of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane, which are typically scent-free. The smell comes from trace amounts of sulfur-containing compounds like hydrogen sulfide.
3. Farting Is a Sign of Good Gut Health Passing gas means that your digestive system is working as it should. The bacteria in your intestines break down food, producing gases as a byproduct.
4. Certain Foods Make You Fart More Foods high in fiber, such as beans, lentils, broccoli, and onions, are known to cause more gas. They’re harder to digest, so they ferment in the gut, producing more gas.
5. Your Farts Travel at 10 Feet Per Second Believe it or not, the average fart exits your body at a speed of 10 feet per second, which is about 7 miles per hour. That’s pretty quick!
6. Women’s Farts Smell Worse Studies have shown that while men tend to produce more gas overall, women’s farts contain higher concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, the compound responsible for the smell. This makes them, on average, smellier.
7. Animals Fart Too Humans aren’t the only ones who pass gas. Many animals, including dogs, cows, and even termites, release gas. In fact, cow farts contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
8. You Can Fart After Death It’s a little creepy, but true. After death, the body continues to release gases as it decomposes, which can result in post-mortem flatulence.
9. Holding in Farts Is Not Harmful While it might feel uncomfortable, holding in a fart isn’t dangerous. The gas will eventually be released, either as a fart or absorbed and exhaled through your breath.
10. Farts Were Once Used as Entertainment In the Middle Ages, professional flatulists entertained audiences by passing gas on command. These performers could control their flatulence to produce specific sounds, making it a bizarre yet popular form of entertainment.
11. Some Medications Can Cause Excess Gas Certain medications, such as antibiotics, can disrupt the balance of bacteria in your gut, leading to increased gas production. If you notice changes, consult your doctor.
12. The Word “Fart” Is One of the Oldest Words in the English Language The word “fart” dates back to at least 1250. Its origins are in the Old English word “feortan,” which means “to break wind.”

Farting is often a taboo topic, but it’s an essential part of life and a window into your digestive health. So, the next time you pass gas, remember these facts and embrace the science behind this natural process!