Smelly toots!

Ahh, toots! Guaranteed to give you a good chuckle, a cringing face, or a: “Holy smokes, what did you eat”?

Passing gas

The good news is…

Passing gas is normal! Releasing stink clouds happens, but it is a sign that something may be awry.

And the bad news…

If smelly flatulence occurs frequently and consistently, it may be time to take a look at why. Recurrent presence of smelly toots is a sign that something is out of balance.

Foods and gas

We can experience gas from consuming certain raw foods such as apples, broccoli, and cauliflower, or complications in the digestive system such as dysbiosis, insufficient enzyme activity, or fermentation resulting from undigested food.

Elizabeth Lipski – a clinical nutritionist and author of several books on nutrition and digestion – states that “most flatulence issues can be solved if we consider the DIGIN model”.

• Digestion and Absorption – digestion is compromised and nutrients are not being absorbed
• Intestinal Permeability (This is leaky gut! Harmful substances are coming into the intestine that should not)
• Gastrointestinal Microbiota – balance between good and bad bacteria – there is likely too many of the bad guys!
• Immune Function and Inflammation
• Nervous System – (Enteric) The control center of our digestive system

If any one of these five is out of balance, this could very well be the reason behind your issues.

How to stop the stink!

So, next question – what are some simple steps you can take to stop the smelly tooting?

1. Chew your food. This may sound silly or obvious, but a lot of people do not chew their food nearly as much as they should to achieve optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients. Chewing your food helps the stomach break it down. You need the enzymes in your mouth to help do this work.
2. Support your digestive system with probiotics and enzymes.
   • Probiotics restore good balance
   • Digestive Enzymes help break down of the food
3. Elimination diet or food diary. Allergens like dairy and gluten are pretty usual problem foods. Many foods we consume cause allergic reactions. Inflammation, intestinal permeability, and indigestion can be the result of such reactions. An elimination diet or a simple food journal can quickly pinpoint those foods that upset you the most.

So yes, we completely agree that being a bystander of a funny noise always provides a good belly laugh, but just like various other things in the body, this is your body’s way of indicating that there may be some digestive issues that need your attention.