Passing gas, also known as flatulence, is a normal and often amusing bodily function. We all pass gas, some more than others. While gas may be embarrassing, it’s also perfectly natural and necessary.
When we swallow air or eat foods that our bodies can’t fully digest, the gas has to go somewhere. So out it comes! Gas is made up of vapors from the digestion process, air you’ve swallowed, bacteria in your large intestine, and, sometimes, sulfur compounds (hence the odor).
But does releasing gas actually help you lose weight? It seems like a silly question. However, some people swear that passing gas leads to weight loss. Is there any truth to this claim? Or will you only lose a tiny fraction of weight when you pass gas? Let’s investigate.
Do you burn calories when you pass gas?
Yes, you do burn a very small number of calories when you pass gas. How many? Estimates range from 1 to 12 calories per fart.
That’s because passing gas requires the use of abdominal muscles. This muscle usage burns calories, just like any other physical activity.
Of course, we’re talking about minuscule numbers of calories here. One study found that the average person passes gas around 14 times per day, so let’s use that number.
If passing gas burns 10 calories, 14 farts would burn 140 calories daily. Over a week, that adds up to 980 calories. To lose one pound of fat, you need to create a 3,500 calorie deficit. At this rate, you’d need over 3.5 weeks just to lose one pound from farting alone!
Clearly, passing gas is not an effective weight loss strategy. Even if you have a lot of it, the calories burned will be negligible. Don’t expect the gas to melt off the pounds.
Does the composition of the gas impact calories burned?
Gas is composed of nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen, methane and hydrogen sulfide. The specific composition varies based on the foods you eat.
However, there is no evidence that certain gases lead to more calorie burn than others when passed. The act of passing gas itself requires abdominal muscle usage, which burns some calories. But the composition of the air doesn’t impact the energy expenditure.
A small amount of calories will be burned when passing any type of gas. Don’t believe claims that high methane farts or sulfur farts burn more calories. The energy expenditure will be minimal regardless.
Does holding in gas increase calorie burn?
Some people believe that holding in gas leads to more calories burned. The theory is that tightening your sphincter muscles repeatedly to avoid passing gas takes extra effort and energy.
However, there is no scientific research to support this claim. Holding in gas may strengthen your pelvic floor muscles over time. But actively contracting these muscles does not burn many calories, as they are small muscles.
You may feel some muscular effort when trying to contain gas. Yet this does not necessarily equal a significant calorie burn. Don’t expect holding in farts to equate to a good workout. The calorie expenditure will be minimal.
Can certain foods increase gas and calorie burn?
It’s true that certain foods tend to cause more gas buildup due to indigestible carbohydrates like fiber, sugar alcohols, fructose, and starch. Beans, dairy products, high fiber foods, carbonated beverages, and artificial sweeteners are common gas-inducing culprits.
Eating more of these foods may lead to more frequent flatulence. However, passing more gas does not necessarily mean you’ll burn significantly more calories.
Even if you double or triple your daily farts, you may burn 30-60 more calories versus 10-20 calories. That’s still an insignificant amount that won’t add up to weight loss over time.
While gas-producing foods may cause some minor calorie burn via passing gas, they provide no metabolic advantage for weight loss. You shouldn’t rely on gas-inducing foods as a weight loss aid.
Does gas indicate a high metabolism?
Some people think that passing a lot of gas is a sign of having a fast metabolism. However, there is no scientific evidence linking metabolism and gas.
Your metabolism is a measure of how efficiently your body converts calories and oxygen into energy. A high daily fart count does not mean you have a revved-up metabolic engine.
Gas production depends more on your gut bacteria, dietary habits, underlying conditions, and swallowing of air. Don’t assume frequent gas indicates a super-charged metabolism. These bodily functions are not directly connected.
Will suppressing gas slow your metabolism?
Similarly, suppressing gas buildup and release will not directly cause your metabolism to slow down. While tablets like charcoal or Beano may reduce gas, they won’t lower your metabolic rate.
Your metabolism is more closely linked to your lean muscle mass, genetics, age, and physical activity levels. Passing less gas won’t suddenly make your body burn fewer calories at rest.
The only exception would be if suppressing gas made you less physically active overall. Avoiding gas-producing foods or staying home to conceal flatulence could decrease your daily calorie burn if it reduces your normal activity. But the action of passing less gas itself won’t slow metabolism.
Does intestinal gas take up space and make you weigh more?
Gas does take up space inside your gastrointestinal tract. Some people may feel temporarily “bloated” or heavier after building up intestinal gas.
However, this gas is eventually either absorbed into your bloodstream or released from the body. It does not permanently take up space and add pounds by itself.
The average human intestine can contain up to 1.2 quarts (1.2 liters) of gas. Even at maximum capacity, this only translates to around 2.2 pounds (1 kg) of additional weight.
Furthermore, since your body continuously makes and releases gas, intestinal gas does not typically accumulate to maximum capacity long-term. You may feel briefly bloated around times of frequent flatulence. But gas itself does not make you gain fat weight.
Can passing gas lead to weight gain?
No direct evidence shows that passing gas causes weight gain. Releasing intestinal gas does not affect fat storage or metabolic rate in a way that would increase body fat.
However, it is possible that intestinal gas could lead to water retention, which masks fat loss on the scale. Excess gas may place pressure on blood vessels and compress organs, slowing down circulation. Poor circulation could potentially cause fluid retention.
Additionally, gas-inducing foods like beans and cruciferous vegetables contain lectins and other anti-nutrients. These may promote inflammation in some people, worsening water retention.
Yet gas itself does not trigger fat storage or weight gain. If your weight spikes after a gassy episode, it’s likely just temporary water weight that will subside once your circulation improves and inflammation decreases.
Can you lose belly fat by passing gas?
Losing abdominal fat requires a sustained calorie deficit and overall body fat reduction. As we’ve discussed, passing gas only burns negligible calories and does not directly target belly fat.
That said, reducing bloating and intestinal gas may temporarily decrease abdominal circumference if you are prone to gas buildup. Less gas pressure against your stomach and intestines will lead to a less distended belly.
When gas gets trapped in pockets within your gastrointestinal tract, it can cause visible bloating and swelling in the midsection. Releasing this excess gas can provide relief. Your stomach may look flatter for a while as a result.
But keep in mind this is a temporary cosmetic effect. Passing gas won’t specifically melt away belly fat. To lose fat long-term, you need consistent healthy eating, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
Tips for using flatulence in your weight loss plan
While passing gas won’t directly lead to major calorie burn or fat loss, here are some tips for incorporating it into your overall weight management plan:
– Track your gas trends to identify dietary triggers. Removing gas-inducing foods may help reduce temporary bloating.
– Take note of times you feel especially gassy or bloated. Find out if specific foods, meals or activities precede episodes of flatulence.
– Experiment with adding a digestive enzyme supplement. They can help break down gas-causing compounds like fibrous foods, sugars, and starches.
– Try incorporating more gut-friendly prebiotic foods like garlic, onion, apple, and carrots. Prebiotics support healthy gut flora, which may reduce excessive gas.
– Consider activated charcoal supplements before meals. Charcoal binds to intestinal gas and transports it out of your system before it causes bloating issues.
– Stay well hydrated, as both dehydration and over-hydration with plain water can increase gas production and make you feel puffy.
– Engage your core during exercise. Even if you have a flat stomach, strengthening these muscles can help push out excess intestinal gas.
– Improve your posture, especially after eating gas-inducing foods. Slouching can trap gas and exacerbate bloating.
So in summary, passing gas as part of a healthy lifestyle can temporarily help reduce abdominal bloating. But flatulence itself will not directly burn significant calories or reduce body fat. Keep your expectations realistic, and focus on the bigger picture of diet, exercise, and wellness for long-term weight loss.
The bottom line
Does passing gas help you lose weight? The bottom line is:
– You do burn about 1-12 calories per fart when passing gas. But multiplied over an entire day, this is an insignificant calorie amount that won’t impact weight.
– Gas composition, gas volume, holding in farts, and food choices may affect gas production but have minimal effects on calories burned.
– Passing gas does not speed up your metabolism or target belly fat. Weight changes from gas are likely just temporary water retention.
– While you may look less bloated after passing trapped intestinal gas, the effect is temporary. Gas does not specifically reduce fat.
– To lose weight sustainably, focus on maintaining a calorie deficit through healthy diet and exercise habits over the long-term.
So feel free to let it rip! But don’t view passing gas as a quick fix for shedding pounds. Be realistic, and set yourself up for successful weight loss through meaningful lifestyle changes that go beyond farting.
