Let one fly
From former model to nutrition consultant, Michelle den Hollander flew around the world from shoot to show, but also experienced the struggles of having the ‘right’ measurements. This brought her to where she is now, and on Amayzine she shares tips.
‘Hard sounds, softer stinkers!’ I can still hear him say it, as my sister and I were waving from the back seat. Look, the idea that women don’t pass gas is, of course, complete nonsense. In fact, they pass gas just as much as men do. Everyone lets them fly, period. Often 10 to 20 times a day. One is a bit more subtle about where and when to let them out than the other, but that’s all there is to say about it. But a few farts a day is healthy in most cases.
Fact:
1. Most of the farts you let out happen while you sleep. When you sleep, your muscles (and thus your sphincter) are more relaxed, making it easier to let one out.
2. Not every fart is the same. Most are harmless, but some have a smell. That’s why I’d like to tell you what a fart actually says about your health.
3. Hard sounds, soft stinkers.
4. Soft sounds, hard stinkers.
With the hard sounds that hardly smell, there’s a chance that you’re not digesting carbohydrates well or that you’re eating too much sugar.
The soft sounds (where you go at it vigorously with an air freshener and want to leave the room quickly) indicate that your protein digestion is not optimal. It can also happen that after letting out a fart, you need to put on clean underwear. This means that your fat digestion is not in order and your liver is not working hard enough. The same goes for a message that sticks to the toilet bowl.
Fact:
Because plant-based foods are often harder to digest than animal products, vegetarians generally pass more gas than meat-eaters. But: these often smell less.
There are many more causes for passing gas, such as:
- Eating too quickly
- Chewing a lot of gum
- Constipation (yep, double trouble)
- Your hormones are the culprits, think of menopause, pregnancy, or menstruation
- An intolerance or allergy, such as celiac disease or lactose intolerance
- Stress or a tense posture
Depending on what the cause is, I also have some tips:
- Get enough exercise
- Drink enough water
- Eat enough fiber
- Chew well (and I mean on your food, preferably not too much on gum)
- Eat slowly and really take the time to eat (not while you’re working)
- Do you feel that you are sensitive to lactose or gluten and could that be the cause of your farts? Then there’s only one way to find out: try not eating gluten and/or lactose for a few weeks and see if you notice a difference.
- A healthy diet is always a good idea
Note:
If your digestion is not optimal and this persists for a long time or there is no clear cause for your gas, then visit your doctor or seek advice from an expert in this area.
Michelle den Hollander is a nutrition consultant and hormone expert. With Michelle's Good Food, she shows that a healthy lifestyle is not a punishment and can also be easy. This way, she helps you choose delicious and good food to feel better. Want to learn and read more? Visit her online.
