What Is Farting?

Farting, also known as flatulence, is the release of gas from the digestive system through the rectum. It’s a completely natural bodily function that everyone experiences.

Average person farts 14–25 times a day.

Abnormally Frequent Farting: What It Means & What to Do

If you’re farting more than 25 times a day, especially with other symptoms, it might be considered excessive flatulence. While it’s often harmless, frequent farting can signal something going on in your digestive system.

⚠️ Common Causes of Excessive Farting

1. Dietary Causes

High-fiber foods (beans, lentils, broccoli, onions)

Carbonated drinks

Sugar alcohols (like sorbitol, mannitol – often in sugar-free products)

Lactose (if you’re lactose intolerant)

Fructose or high-fructose corn syrup

2. Swallowing Too Much Air (Aerophagia)

Chewing gum

Eating too fast

Drinking through straws

Talking while eating

Smoking

3. Food Intolerances

Lactose intolerance

Gluten intolerance (Celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity)

FODMAP sensitivity (Fermentable sugars that trigger bloating and gas)

4. Digestive Disorders

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome): Causes gas, bloating, cramps

SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth): Bacteria ferment food in the small intestine → gas

Celiac disease

GERD: May cause aerophagia due to frequent swallowing

Pancreatic insufficiency: Poor digestion → fermentation in gut

5. Medications

Antibiotics (disrupt gut microbiome)

Laxatives

Metformin (common diabetes medication)

Fiber supplements

🩺 When to See a Doctor

See a healthcare provider if you have excessive farting along with:

Bloating or abdominal pain

Diarrhea or constipation

Weight loss

Blood in stool

Fatigue

Changes in appetite

Recent changes in diet that worsen symptoms

✅ How to Reduce Excessive Gas

Keep a Food Diary – Identify triggers

Try a Low-FODMAP Diet – Helps many with IBS

Eat Slower & Chew Thoroughly

Try Probiotics – Help balance gut bacteria

Avoid Gas-Producing Foods (temporarily)

Exercise Regularly – Moves gas through the intestines

Use Digestive Enzymes or Lactase (if needed)

🧪 Diagnostic Tests a Doctor Might Recommend

Hydrogen breath test (for lactose intolerance or SIBO)

Celiac panel (blood test)

Stool tests (for infection, fat malabsorption)

Endoscopy/Colonoscopy (in serious or chronic cases)