How many times a week is normal?
One Minute For Your Health #2
Anything up to 126 times per week is normal. That’s right, I said 126.
Now, I don’t know what you’re thinking about, but I’m talking about passing wind. In other words - farting.
According to research passing wind up to 18 times per day is totally normal.
It’s funny, because it’s such an awkward topic. And yet it’s something we all do. Many times a day.
When you’re ‘doing it’ more than 18 times per day though that could be a pretty good indicator that something is wrong with your digestion.
Other indicators that something might be wrong include:
Smelly, especially eggy, farts
Painful cramps accompanying the gas
Consistent bloating
Diarrhoea or constipation accompanying the gas
What to do when your ‘gas levels’ are not normal:
First of all, check-in on how ‘flatulogenic’ (gas producing) your diet is.
One study defined a flatulogenic diet as daily portions of:
whole wheat or corn products
beans, soybean, broad beans or peas
Brussels’ sprouts, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, celery, onion, leek, garlic, or artichoke
banana, fig, peach, grapes or prunes
Notice how those fart producing foods are also foods commonly included in a healthy diet?
Nutritional therapist tip: Try to have at least one day a week where you avoid these foods. Also, consider smaller portions of the gas-producing foods.
If you’re gassy and your diet is not flatulogenic consider working with a nutritional therapist to address underlying causes. These could be:
Food intolerances (e.g. lactose intolerance)
Problems with sulfur metabolism (therefore eggy farts)
Lack of bacteria to support digestion
High levels of ‘fart bacteria’ like B. wadsworthia
Are you worried about this week’s #1M4YH challenge? 😂 😂
Don’t be. I won’t ask you to share what’s normal for you.
Instead - get others interested in living a happier and healthier life. Share the image below and let’s see what your friends think of first 😉
Use the hashtag #1M4YH - I would love to see some of those responses too.
Be sure to tag me @efias_kitchen on Instagram and @insideefiaskitchen on Facebook so I don’t miss a thing!
And if you’re thinking your gas levels may not be quite normal, do my free Digestive Health Check by clicking the button below.
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Links and References:
Manichanh, C., Eck, A., Varela, E., Roca, J., Clemente, J.C., González, A., Knights, D., Knight, R., Estrella, S., Hernandez, C. and Guyonnet, D., 2014. Anal gas evacuation and colonic microbiota in patients with flatulence: effect of diet. Gut, 63(3), pp.401-408.
Huaman, J.W., Mego, M., Manichanh, C., Cañellas, N., Cañueto, D., Segurola, H., Jansana, M., Malagelada, C., Accarino, A., Vulevic, J. and Tzortzis, G., 2018. Effects of prebiotics vs a diet low in FODMAPs in patients with functional gut disorders. Gastroenterology, 155(4), pp.1004-1007.
Larijani, B., Esfahani, M.M., Moghimi, M., Ardakani, M.R.S., Keshavarz, M., Kordafshari, G., Nazem, E., Ranjbar, S.H., Kenari, H.M. and Zargaran, A., 2016. Prevention and treatment of flatulence from a traditional Persian medicine perspective. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, 18(4).
Images from www.canva.com
Learn more about me at www.efiaskitchen.com