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Farting is completely natural and passing gas is a sign that the digestive system is running smoothly.
but unlike its brother from another hole, the burp, it’s not easy to do on command.
But damn if that talent wouldn’t come in handy on thousands of occasions.
Men’s Health – always eager to help the average guy – put together a helpful list of ways to get the gas out of the ass end.
First, they enlisted the help of an expert.
“Farting is a completely normal bodily function. In fact, the average person passes gas anywhere between 15 to 25 times a day,” says Niket Sonpal, MD, a New York City gastroenterologist and assistant clinical professor at Touro College of Medicine.
Hang on…a person farts up to 15 times a day? Oh man, I’m in trouble. Only by ingesting pints of ice cream could I hit numbers that high.
Well, I guess this advice was truly written for myself and bloated people such as me. Here’s Men’s Health and Dr. Sonpal’s advice on how to let out a little gas.
Sparkling beverages
Try drinking beverages with bubbles. “When you have a fizzy drink, air builds up in your stomach, causing abdominal distention. This air has to exit the body somehow, and that’s almost always through burping or farting,” Dr. Sonpal explains.
But be careful – too many fizzy drinks could be causing the bloat.
Yoga Poses
This explains why I always have to fart during stretching.
Men’s Health and the good doctor recommends: Child’s pose, knee to chest pose, and seated forward pose.
Change Your Poop Stance
Ever heard of a Squatty Potty? There are a few brands out there but using a simple stool to bring your feet up off the floor will help make your bowel movements more effective.
Here’s a handy visual guide on better pooping practices.
“It’s only when farting, or lack of, becomes disruptive in someone’s life, that it could signal something more serious,” concludes Dr. Sonpal.
If you’re seriously bloated, try some over-the-counter meds or consult your doctor.
[via Men’s Health]