Burping, Hiccups, and Farting: The Funny, Embarrassing, and Sometimes Annoying Bodily Functions
Of all these bodily quirks, farting takes the crown. While it often makes people laugh, feel embarrassed, or get annoyed, passing gas—especially during sleep—is quite common. But how much do you really know about farts, beyond their sound, smell, and the fact that they come from your backside? Here are some surprising facts:
- Men tend to fart more than women.
- The word “fart” originally meant “to send forth wind from the anus” and was first coined back in 1962.
- An average person farts around 14 times a day. Believe it or not, that’s enough to fill up a balloon!
- Farting is a sign of a healthy digestive tract. So, there’s no need to be embarrassed. If you notice you’re not farting at all, it might be worth consulting a doctor.
- Farts contain hydrogen sulfide, which may actually benefit your health by reducing mitochondrial damage. This means that, technically, smelling farts in small doses can be good for you. Next time, maybe take a deep breath and thank the source!
- Female farts tend to have a stronger odor, as they contain higher concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. So, in theory, women’s farts are “healthier” to sniff!
- Farts travel at a speed of up to 10 feet per second.
- A tighter sphincter produces louder farts, as gas is forced through a smaller space.
- Gum and soda can make you fart more, so if someone you know has a frequent farting problem, try cutting back on these.
- Most of our farting happens at night while we’re asleep.
- Termites are the biggest farters in the animal kingdom, followed by camels, zebras, sheep, cows, elephants, and dogs (especially Labrador Retrievers).
Hopefully, you learned something new about this everyday bodily function! Farting might make us laugh, but it’s a healthy part of life that everyone experiences.
