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Here's reason why we like the smell of our own farts

News - Aug 27, 2023
Here's reason why we like the smell of our own farts

Farting is not bad at all.

Perhaps you've accidentally let out a fart in a car full of friends who quickly opened the windows, and you thought: 'Not bad at all!' This raises the age-old question: why do we feel disgusted when someone else farts, but find satisfaction, and perhaps even amusement, in our own?

Image Credits: Getty
Image Credits: Getty

Unfortunately, no studies have focused specifically on this aspect of gastroenterology. However, there are several theories that might explain why we find the smell of farts tolerable or even attractive.

The more familiar we are with something, the more we tend to like it.

One possible explanation is that we tend to get used to our own smells. In other words, because humans emit the gas so often (about half a liter per day on average), we've grown accustomed to the smell, says brain chemistry and social behavior expert Dr Loretta Brauning.

Image Credits: Getty
Image Credits: Getty

The odor of your gas can be either pungent or odorless, contingent upon your gut microbiota and colonic flora.

One initial step you can take is to reduce your intake of foods high in sulfate, a compound that is not well absorbed in the small intestine and is commonly found in cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and nuts. Lockwood suggests that consuming these foods in smaller quantities can decrease the likelihood of producing smelly gas.

Image Credits: Bright Side
Image Credits: Bright Side

Of course, if you genuinely enjoy the smell of your farts, feel free to indulge in that preference in your private space