We’ve all been there before – you feel a bit of gas building up and you think it’s safe to let out a little toot, when suddenly a torrent of liquid poo comes gushing out. As mortifying as it is, it’s a tale as old as time. In fact, the notion that you “should never trust a fart” has become something of a universal truth. But is it really true? Can you never trust a seemingly innocent little fart? Let’s examine the evidence.
What causes “sharting”?
First, what exactly causes this dreaded phenomenon commonly known as “sharting” or “follow-through”? Quite simply, it’s when you believe you only need to pass gas, but some liquid stool slips out as well. There are a few potential reasons this can occur:
- You have diarrhea or very loose stool. Liquid-y poo is much more likely to sneak out when you fart. Solid stools won’t typically squeeze through.
- You have an underlying medical condition like inflammatory bowel disease that affects bowel control.
- You just ate a meal, which stimulated the gastrocolic reflex. This reflex triggers the urge to poop after eating.
- You’re suffering from a stomach bug or food poisoning, both of which can causeurgent, liquidy bowel movements.
So in many cases, sharting happens when you have loose stool or an overactive gastrocolic reflex. But what about those times when you feel fine and a rogue shart still slips out?
Can you ever really trust a fart?
The short answer is yes, most of the time you can trust your farts, if you don’t have a medical condition affecting bowel control. Here’s why:
- The anal sphincter acts as a gatekeeper. It keeps stool in until you intentionally relax it to pass gas or poop. When working properly, it should prevent leakage.
- Your body knows the difference between passing gas and passing stool. The muscles in the rectum and anus coordinate to manage each appropriately.
- The vast majority of farts don’t contain any stool – just intestinal gas.
So under normal circumstances, you can trust that a fart will just be a fart. But there are some exceptions.
When should you not trust a fart?
While you can trust most farts, there are some scenarios where you need to be cautious:
- You have diarrhea. Liquid stool can easily seep out.
- You feel like you have to poop. If stool is ready to come out, it might mix in with the gas.
- You just ate a big meal. The gastrocolic reflex can trigger an urgent bowel movement.
- You are sick. Illnesses like food poisoning and stomach flu increase bowel urgency.
- You have chronic bowel control issues. Conditions like IBS can cause unexpected leakage.
In these situations, it’s wise to play it safe and only fart when you’re able to quickly get to a bathroom if needed.
How to prevent sharting
While occasional sharts are usually inevitable, you can take some precautions to minimize the risk:
- Go to the bathroom if you feel the slightest urge to poop.
- Wear absorbent underwear when you have diarrhea.
- Avoid foods that trigger gas, diarrhea, or urgency for you.
- Do pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the muscles that control gas and stool.
- See a doctor if chronic bowel leakage is an issue.
Making some simple lifestyle tweaks can go a long way towards fart confidence!
The takeaway
Here’s the bottom line (no pun intended) on whether you can trust a fart:
- Most of the time, you can trust a fart will just be gas passing through.
- However, you should be cautious if you don’t feel well or sense an impending bowel movement.
- Occasional sharts are normal, but see a doctor if it keeps happening.
- Staying hydrated, avoiding trigger foods, and strengthening pelvic floor muscles can help prevent leakage.
So go ahead and let those toots rip – just maybe not at the office or on a first date! With some common sense precautions, you can have the confidence to trust your farts again.
Fun facts and statistics about farting
Now that we’ve covered the serious science behind whether you can trust a fart, let’s explore some fun facts about passing gas!
- The average person farts around 14 times per day.
- It’s estimated that intestinal gas makes up around 20% of farts. The rest is air you swallow.
- Holding in farts can cause bloating, discomfort, and even damage the intestine if done frequently.
- Bananas, beans, dairy products, and cruciferous veggies (like broccoli) are common causes of gassiness.
- The smell comes from sulfur compounds produced by gut bacteria as they break down food.
- Farts can travel out of your body at speeds of 10 feet per second!
And for visual learners, here are some fart stats in table form:
| Fart Stat | Fun Fact |
|---|---|
| Average daily farts | 14 |
| Gas content | 20% |
| Speed | 10 feet/second |
The human body is truly amazing! While passing gas may be a bit impolite in social settings, it’s a perfectly natural daily occurrence.
Historical and cultural attitudes about farting
Farting may be taboo in many cultures today, but attitudes and customs around passing gas have varied widely throughout history. Here’s a brief look at how different cultures have approached this natural bodily function:
- In ancient Rome, farting was seen as a sign of wealth and power. Emperors proudly passed gas at banquets.
- European nobility in the Middle Ages followed cultural norms that prohibited farting in polite company.
- In China, farting is considered lucky. Passing gas on the first day of the Lunar New Year is seen as a propitious omen.
- Ancient Japanese Noh theater used musical farts on stage to represent demons and evil characters.
- In many Islamic cultures, the left hand is reserved for bodily functions like farting. The right is used for eating and greetings.
Views on farting have gone through many shifts over the centuries. But one thing remains the same – passing gas is part of the shared human experience across cultures.
Farting in pop culture and entertainment
Fart jokes have an exalted position in pop culture. They’re considered low brow, but make nearly everyone laugh. Here are some iconic farts in movies and television:
- The campfire scene in 1974’s Blazing Saddles features cowboys farting up a storm.
- Eddie Murphy’s 1980s standup routines frequently referenced farting in hilarious detail.
- In Dumb and Dumber, Jim Carrey’s character farts in a crowded elevator and blames it on a nonexistent asthma condition called “Irritable Bowel Syndrome.”
- The cartoon show Beavis and Butt-head took juvenile fart and poop humor to new heights in the 1990s.
- Farts are a recurring gag in the animated Shrek movies, including a scene where Shrek farts magical fire to light a candle.
From silly to satirical, farts have entertained audiences for decades. Their universality and ability to embarrass make them comedic gold.
Famous historical farts
Farts have punctuated events throughout history in ways both serious and hilarious:
- In 1608, an Englishman was condemned to death for farting in church.
- Joseph Pujol, a famous 19th century French vaudeville performer, could reportedly fart at will and alter the sound by tightening his buttocks and belly.
- In 1945, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin farted loudly during a tense Yalta Conference meeting with Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt.
- Renowned French novelist Emile Zola died in 1902 of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning caused by repeatedly trying to flush a fart-clogged toilet.
These tales prove that even royalty, heads of state, and celebrated artists can’t escape the occasional toot! Farts are the great equalizer.
Conclusion
While farting may be embarrassing and something we try to avoid in polite company, it’s a perfectly normal and healthy bodily function. Most of the time, there’s no reason you can’t trust a fart – just be cautious if you’re feeling under the weather. Farts have been a source of humor and taboo across cultures for centuries. So go ahead, let it rip! Just maybe open a window or walk to the next room first 🙂