Stop Holding Your Farts In. Here Are 8 Surprising Reasons Why Farting Is Good For You

Okay, so it’s not the most glamorous health tip, and some people might find it a little embarrassing to talk about… But farting is a normal result of a healthy digestive system and good indicator of our well-being.

On average, we fart about 5-10 times a day, according to Medical Daily. Certain foods make us fart more – especially complex carbohydrates such as beans, sweet potatoes, oats and wheat – and foods that are packed full of nutritional value can often lead to a stronger odor. Whether you fart five or fifty times a day, here are 8 reasons why you should let it out and pay attention.

1) It reduces bloating. 
Many people suffer from bloating, and while it’s usually not a serious health issue, it can be very uncomfortable. According to Little Things, the most common cause of bloating is a build-up of gas in your gut. That’s right – the full, tight discomfort that makes your pants a little tighter might just be because you need to fart. So don’t hold it in.

2) It’ll help you balance your diet. 
Everyone has a unique gut and we all handle foods differently. If you are experimenting with nutrition and diet, farts are a good indicator of balance or imbalance, according to Huffington Post. Too much red meat, for example, usually results in a strong, unpleasant odor, while complex carbohydrates tend to cause larger amounts of gas with a more neutral odor.

3) It can relieve abdominal pain. 
It might not be appropriate to fart in every situation, but holding it in – especially if you have a lot of gas in your gut – can cause intestinal distension which hurts, according to Berkeley Wellness. If you feel that you need to fart but you can’t, try gently massaging your stomach to promote the movement of gas through your system.

4) Holding it in can be bad for your colon.