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| Farting is amazing, it smells soooo good!! YUMM YUMM!! i love to fart | |||
| '''Flatulence''' consists of ]es that are produced by ] ] and ]s living in the ] of ]s and are released through the ]. Flatulence is known colloquially as '''farting''', but some people find the word ''fart'' offensive and will use a euphemism as an alternative. | |||
| ==Amount and constituents== | |||
| The average human releases 0.5 to 1.5 ]s (1 to 3 U.S. ]s) of flatus in 12 to 25 episodes throughout the day. | |||
| The primary constituents of flatulence (collectively known as ''flatus'') are the non-odorous gases ] (ingested), ] (ingested), ] (produced by ]s), ] (produced by ]s or ingested), and ] (produced by some microbes and consumed by others). Odors result from trace amounts of other constituents (often sulfuric, see below). | |||
| ] is the primary gas released. While methane is popularly associated with flatulence, evidence suggests that two-thirds of all humans do not release methane at all in their flatulence. Methane is mostly caused by ] within the anal opening. Methane and hydrogen are flammable and as such some flatulence is susceptible to catching fire. Gas released mostly has a foul ] which mainly results from ] (] ] smell) and ] compounds such as ] (rotten egg smell) and ] that are the result of ] breakdown. | |||
| The noises commonly associated with flatulence are caused not by a flapping of the posterior, as commonly thought, but by the vibration of the anal opening. The sound varies depending on the tightness of the ] muscle and velocity of the gas being propelled, as well as other factors such as moisture and body fat. | |||
| ==Causes== | |||
| Intestinal gas comes from exogenous (90%) and endogenous (10%) sources. Exogenous gas is air that is ingested through the nose and mouth. Endogenous gas is produced within the digestive tract. | |||
| The endogenous gases are produced as a by-product of digesting certain types of ]. Flatulence producing foods are typically high in ]s especially ] such as ] and include ]s, ], ]s, ]s, ]es, citrus rinds, ]s, ], ], ]s, ] in breads, etc. | |||
| In beans, endogenous gases seem to arise from ]s, carbohydrates that are resistant to digestion: these pass through the upper ] largely unchanged, and when they reach the lower intestine, ] feed on them, producing copious gas (McGee 1984 pp.257-8). | |||
| In the case of those with ] (i.e., most non-] humans), intestinal bacteria feeding on lactose can give rise to excessive gas production when milk or lactose-containing substances have been consumed. | |||
| Interest in the causes of flatulence was spurred by high-altitude ] and the ]; the low ], confined conditions, and stresses peculiar to those endeavours were cause for concern (McGee, 1984 pp.257-8). | |||
| ==Remedies== | |||
| ===Dietary=== | |||
| Certain ]s counteract the production of intestinal gas, most notably ], ] and the closely related ], ], ] (hing) and ] (a ]ese culinary ] closely related to ]). | |||
| Many people report that by reducing intake of most refined ]s (such as ], ], ]es and ]), the amount of flatulence may decrease significantly. | |||
| Probiotics (], ], ], bifidus, etc.) and prebiotics (such as FOS) may also reduce flatulence if they are used to restore balance to the normal intestinal flora; used in excess, however, they may create an imbalance which increases flatulence. | |||
| ===Mechanical=== | |||
| In social situations where the sound of flatulence would be particularly inappropriate a temporary remedy can be obtained by placing a piece of ] or ] about 4 cm in diameter onto the anus. If this is done whilst squatting then closure of the buttocks will hold it in place for a considerable period of time. This keeps the anus dry and reduces the velocity of the gas discharge, both of which prevent noisy events. | |||
| ===Pharmacological=== | |||
| Digestive enzyme supplements can significantly reduce the amount of flatulence when that flatulence is caused by some components of foods not being digested by the body and feeding the microbes in the small and large intestines. The ] ] (brands Beano, Bean-zyme), ] (brand Lactaid), ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ] are available, either individually or in combination blends, in commercial products. | |||
| While not affecting the production of the gases themselves, agents which lower surface tension can reduce the disagreeable sensations associated with flatulence, by aiding the dissolving of the gases into other liquid and solid fecal matter. | |||
| ===Cosmetic=== | |||
| ] underwear and pads can be somewhat effective at reducing the odors of flatulence, but these products do not muffle the sound. Additional security can be obtained with common deodorizers and perfumes. | |||
| ==Health effects== | |||
| ] mothers are advised to avoid gas producing food in their diet because breastfed babies can ] when there is too much gas in their stomach. | |||
| As a normal body function, the action of flatulence is an important signal of normal ] activity and hence is often documented by nursing staff following surgical or other treatment of patients. | |||
| ==Environmental impact== | |||
| It is sometimes perceived that ] flatulence is a source of ] and may contribute to the ], however only one sixth of the total greenhouse gas emissions from ] is produced by animal flatulence; the remainder is produced by animal ]. Livestock in ] are said to produce about half of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock in ] contribute approximately 14 percent of that country's greenhouse gas emissions. | |||
| ==Social context== | |||
| In many ]s, excessive human flatulence is regarded as embarrassing and impolite, even to the point of being a ] subject; and hence a natural subject for ]: see '']'', ], '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']'', among others. During the telecast of ] in the ], a beer advertisement featured a horse "letting one rip" which was considered in bad taste by some of those who saw the commercial. | |||
| Flatulence can be considered humorous to some people, either due to the scent or the sounds produced. Some find humor in ], which works well due to the methane content. A few individuals, such as ], have brought flatulence into the field of entertainment. | |||
| ==Linguistics== | |||
| Due to its social sensitivity, many ]s for flatulence have come into use. For the same reason, ]s for flatulence are in common use for their shock effect. | |||
| == Literature == | |||
| The flatulence had a role in literature since the mists of time, as In ]' ]'s cycle reads several times the word ''pet'' (fart). | |||
| In ]'s ''Divine Comedy'', the last line of Inferno Chapter XXI reads: ''ed elli avea del cul fatto trombetta'' ("and he used his ass as a trumpet"), in the last example the use of this natural body function underlined a demoniac condition. | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| ==References== | |||
| * {{Book reference|Author=McGee, Harold|Title=On Food and Cooking|Publisher=Scribner|Year=1984|ID=ISBN 0684843285}} | |||
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Revision as of 21:28, 25 May 2005
Farting is amazing, it smells soooo good!! YUMM YUMM!! i love to fart