To reduce bad-smelling gas at home, try making some simple dietary and habit changes. Eating more slowly, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly can help prevent unpleasant gas.

Passing gas is a normal and healthy part of digestion and is usually not a cause for concern. Sometimes, though, it can have an unpleasant smell that feels noticeable or embarrassing.

Gas may have an odor or none at all, but factors like diet, lifestyle habits, and certain health conditions can affect how strong the smell is.

Let’s explore some home remedies to help stop bad-smelling gas and strategies to manage and reduce it.

Swallowing too much air, also known as aerophagia, can lead to increased gas and bad-smelling flatulence.

To reduce swallowed air:

  • Eat slowly: Take your time eating and chew food thoroughly before swallowing. This helps reduce the amount of air you swallow and supports better digestion.
  • Avoid gum and hard candies: Sucking on hard candies or chewing gum can cause you to swallow too much air.
  • Skip straws: Drinking through straws can introduce more air into your digestive system, contributing to gas.

Adjusting your diet to include low sulfur, easily digestible foods can help manage gas production and improve its smell. To adjust your diet:

  • Limit carbonated drinks: Carbonated beverages like soda and sparkling water contain bubbles that can cause excess gas and bloating. Reducing these drinks may help relieve gas and its odor.
  • Monitor food intolerances: Dairy or gluten can cause gas if you have an intolerance. Try an elimination diet to identify foods that may be causing your symptoms. Common gas-producing foods include beans, lentils, and vegetables like broccoli.
  • Reduce high sulfur foods: Foods like eggs, broccoli, and garlic contain sulfur, which can contribute to strong-smelling gas. Limiting these may help improve the odor.
  • Adopt a low FODMAP diet: A low FODMAP meal plan includes limiting a type of sugar that our bodies can’t easily digest. This sugar ferments and causes gas, pain, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Constipation slows the movement of stool in your intestines, which can lead to increased gas and smelly farts.

To ease constipation:

  • Increase fiber intake gradually: Fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can help promote regular bowel movements.
  • Stay physically active: Regular exercise stimulates the natural contractions of your intestines. Activities like walking, jogging, or yoga can improve digestion and reduce constipation.
  • Try natural laxatives: Options like prunes or psyllium husk can help ease constipation and support smoother digestion.

Passing gas can feel uncomfortable or embarrassing, but holding your fart can make bloating worse.

Bloating already involves a buildup of gases in your digestive system, and holding in gas adds to this pressure, increasing discomfort and making bloating more severe.

Holding back gas can also prevent stool from moving through the colon, which may worsen constipation.

Regular exercise promotes bowel regularity, reduces gas buildup, and helps prevent bad-smelling gas.

To add more exercise to your routine:

  • Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activities, like cycling or swimming, most days of the week.
  • Try walking or doing yoga to stimulate bowel function. Poses like the wind-relieving pose (Pawanmuktasana) can help gas move through your system.

Staying hydrated helps with digestion and can prevent constipation, which may contribute to smelly gas.

To stay hydrated:

Probiotics are live bacteria that help maintain a healthy balance of gut flora. These bacteria aid in digestion and can reduce the production of bad-smelling gas. To include probiotics in your routine, try:

  • Supplements: Choose probiotic supplements with strains like Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium.
  • Fermented foods: Add probiotic foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi to your diet.

Try probiotics slowly. For some, they can cause more gas, especially if you add too much before your body is used to it.

Smoking can harm your gut health and may lead to digestive problems that increase gas production. Quitting smoking is often difficult, but a doctor can build a plan that works for you.

Consider getting medical help if home remedies don’t ease your symptoms or you have additional symptoms, such as:

These signs may indicate an underlying digestive problem, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), that requires medical treatment.

Treating gas can involve medications or supplements that can help reduce discomfort and how often symptoms occur. Common options include:

  • Simethicone (Gas-X): This medication breaks up gas bubbles in the gut, making gas easier to pass and reducing bloating.
  • Activated charcoal: Taken before meals, activated charcoal absorbs gases and toxins in the gut, which can help reduce gas and discomfort.
  • Probiotics: These beneficial bacteria supplements balance gut flora, improve digestion, and reduce the production of smelly gas.
  • Lactase supplements: For people who are lactose intolerant, taking lactase tablets helps digest dairy more effectively, reducing gas production.

Consider speaking with a healthcare professional before starting any new medication or supplement, especially if you experience severe or persistent symptoms.

What can I eat to stop smelly gas?

To reduce smelly gas, try eating foods that help with digestion and balance gut bacteria, like fermented foods, and avoid high sulfur foods like eggs and broccoli.

Why do I fart so much and it smells?

Excessive and smelly gas may result from digesting certain foods or an underlying digestive problem such as lactose intolerance or even stomach cancer. If home remedies don’t help you stop farting, contact a doctor to rule out other possible conditions.

Passing gas is normal, but it can sometimes have a strong odor due to diet, lifestyle factors, or underlying health conditions.

Some home remedies can help manage and reduce bad-smelling gas. These include eating slowly, limiting carbonated drinks, or adjusting diet to avoid high sulfur foods.

If your symptoms continue, or if gas comes with additional symptoms, consider speaking with a healthcare professional for further evaluation.