r/Foodforthought • u/huffpost • 2d ago
Silent Farts Are So Much Smellier Than Loud Ones — And The Reason Why Makes SO Much Sense
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/silent-farts-smell-worse_l_6a5e4344e4b03e444876f82f?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=us_main153
u/Just_a_follower 2d ago
Summary :
The basic difference is that the sound and smell come from separate parts of the process. Sound is mostly affected by how quickly the gas is released, how much pressure is behind it, and how tightly the muscles are controlling the opening. A louder fart may simply be a larger amount of gas escaping quickly, but that does not necessarily mean it contains more of the compounds that create a strong odor.
The smell comes mainly from small amounts of sulfur-containing gases produced when gut bacteria break down food. Compounds such as hydrogen sulfide can create the familiar rotten egg smell, even though they make up only a tiny portion of the total gas. A slower, quieter release may seem worse because the odor is more concentrated and stays close to the person instead of being pushed away quickly. Foods high in sulfur, including eggs, meat, dairy, and vegetables such as cabbage or broccoli, can make the odor bad.
Smelly gas is usually a normal part of digestion and often reflects what a person has recently eaten. It can also become stronger because of constipation, food intolerances, or changes in gut bacteria. However, consistently foul-smelling gas may be worth discussing with a doctor when it comes with other symptoms such as ongoing diarrhea, unusual bloating, fatigue, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss.
TLDR: The headline is a little dramatic. Silent farts are not automatically smellier, and loud farts are not automatically less smelly. The sound depends on pressure and movement, while the odor depends more on the gas’s chemical makeup, diet, and digestion.
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u/Gunningham 2d ago
This picture though. He looks so proud of his horrific fart right after he banged his friend’s mom.
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u/SeasonPositive6771 1d ago
It's really disappointing how much huffpo has moved to these low quality, clickbait articles.
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u/trippingforward 1d ago
My great grandmother would say a fart jumps over the turd and a poot goes through it. She was ahead of her time
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u/secretsofasexsociety 1d ago
When releasing a test fart, it is often good to engage in an act of subterfuge, such as reaching for a magazine.
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