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Almost everyone has gas problems, sometimes more often than they’d like and most of the time at the worst (or funniest) times.
That’s not a coincidence; gas is often caused by certain foods, and you probably eat some of those foods when you’re with other people. But you’re human, and probably want to avoid a bout of farting sometimes.
David Poppers, M.D., says that your farts are also made up of two parts: the food you eat and the air you swallow (for example, when you eat quickly). D. , Ph. D. , a gastroenterologist and clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health.
If you want to avoid embarrassing gas attacks, it can help to know which foods may make you feel gassier more than others. This is because everyone has different bacteria in their gut that cause gas, says Dr. Poppers.
There are, however, some foods that seem to be common offenders because they all have different amounts of non-digestible carbohydrates. For example, fiber is a type of carbohydrate that the body can’t digest. D. , a gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
“While most carbohydrates are broken down into sugar molecules, fiber cannot be broken down into sugar molecules and instead moves through the body without being broken down,” Dr. Lee explains. “When that gets to the colon, bacteria there start the fermentation process, which makes gas. When that gas builds up, you feel bloated.” ”.
Shrimp is a delicious and nutritious seafood enjoyed around the world, But many shrimp lovers know that these tasty crustaceans come with an unpleasant side effect – shrimp farts!
If you’ve noticed an increase in gas, bloating or foul-smelling flatulence after eating shrimp, you’re definitely not alone. Shrimp is notorious for causing stinky farts in many people. But what exactly makes shrimp so gassy? And is there anything you can do to prevent or minimize the shrimp farts?
In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why shrimp causes gas, compare shrimp farts to normal farts, provide tips to reduce shrimp flatulence, and answer other common questions about shrimp’s association with excessive farting.
Why Does Shrimp Cause Gas?
There are a few key components in shrimp that can trigger gas, bloating and smelly farts in susceptible individuals:
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Protein – Shrimp is high in protein, containing around 20 grams per 3-ounce serving. When protein is digested, it produces gases like hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide which can lead to flatulence.
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Chitin – The shells of shrimp contain a fiber called chitin that humans lack the enzyme to digest. So it reaches the colon intact where gut bacteria ferment it and release gas.
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Fiber – Shrimp contains some fiber from the shells that resists digestion. This fiber gets fermented in the colon, producing gas.
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Fat – Fried or oil-laden shrimp dishes can slow digestion, giving bacteria more time to produce gas from undigested food.
Shrimp Farts vs. Regular Farts
Shrimp farts are remarkably more smelly, frequent and long-lasting than regular farts. Here’s how they compare:
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Smell – Shrimp farts smell notoriously worse due to sulfur-containing gases like hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol and dimethyl sulfide.
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Frequency – While the average person farts 10-20 times per day, shrimp farts come in sudden bouts right after eating shrimp.
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Duration – A shrimp fart bout can linger for 8-12 hours, while regular farts dissipate more quickly.
So shrimp farts really take flatulence to the next level in terms of odor, occurrence and persistence!
Tips to Prevent Shrimp Farts
If you want to keep enjoying shrimp without the stinky aftermath, here are some useful tips:
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Eat shrimp in moderation – large portions are hard to digest.
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Opt for grilled, baked or boiled shrimp instead of fried.
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Remove shells before eating to reduce indigestible fiber.
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Take a digestive enzyme supplement to help break down shrimp.
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Don’t combine shrimp with other gas-causing foods.
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Eat slowly and chew thoroughly to reduce swallowed air.
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Try probiotics to improve digestion of shrimp.
With a few small tweaks to how you prepare and eat shrimp, you can prevent most of the unpleasant shrimp farts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do shrimp farts last?
For most people, shrimp farts tend to peak around 2-3 hours after eating and taper off within 6-8 hours. But in some cases, the gas and bloating can persist for up to 12 hours.
Why do shrimp farts smell so bad?
Shrimp farts derive their rotten, sulfur-like smell from gases like hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol and dimethyl sulfide produced during shrimp digestion. These sulfur compounds have very strong, offensive odors even in tiny concentrations.
Should you avoid shrimp if it gives you gas?
Eliminating shrimp entirely usually isn’t necessary. Trying probiotics, eating smaller portions, and properly preparing shrimp can help minimize flatulence issues for most people. But if you have an allergy or sensitivity, you may need to avoid it.
Do eggs, beans, cruciferous vegetables cause gas like shrimp?
Yes, eggs, beans and cruciferous veggies are all notorious for causing gas because they contain indigestible sugars and fibers. But shrimp is unique in containing hard-to-digest protein, fat and fiber all together, making it a potent gas producer.
What helps with the smell of shrimp farts?
To help neutralize the rotten egg odor of shrimp farts, try lighting matches, opening windows, using air fresheners with cyclodextrin, baking bread, boiling vinegar or simmering cinnamon sticks. These can help mask the unpleasant smell.
The Bottom Line
Shrimp may give you terrible gas and foul-smelling farts due to its high protein, fat and fiber content. But you don’t have to give up your shrimp obsession just yet. With a few small precautions like eating moderate portions, removing shells and avoiding combinations with other gassy foods, you can keep enjoying shrimp without the shrimp farts!
Apples, bananas, and peaches
Your body loves fruit—most of the time. If your stomach feels off after an apple, it could come down to the fiber, says Myers.
Fruit is also high in natural sugar, like fructose. “Some people get gas and bloating from fruit because their GI system doesn’t break down all the sugars in fruit properly,” he says. “This is less common than lactose intolerance.” Because of this, these carbs get to the large intestine and feed bacteria, which then make gas. ”.
Other offenders include raisins, apricots, prunes, prune juice, and pears, according to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.
Beans get their bad reputation for a reason. A study in the Nutritional Journal says that most legumes, like peas, nuts, and lentils, are high in fiber and sugars that your body can’t break down properly, such as raffinose and stachyose.
There are bacteria in your intestines that break down these sugars into hydrogen, methane, and even sulfur gas, which gives your food that rotten egg smell.
Rinsing and draining canned beans can help reduce some of these gas-causing properties, says Myers.
He says that carbonated drinks can make you gassy because they make you swallow more air than you need, which gets stuck in your GI tract. That air eventually has to be released, and the only way out is in the form of gas.
If you must have a fizzy beverage, go with a sugar-free seltzer.
Protein helps keep muscles in good shape and builds new ones, but too much of it can give you gas.
When you eat the right amount, about one gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, your body breaks it down into amino acids and absorbs them into your bloodstream. D. , author of .
If youre consuming protein shakes and bars, gassiness may exacerbate. In fact, they are often made from casein and whey, which are milk proteins that are high in lactose, a sugar that makes you gassy.
Those sugar-free products may have fewer carbs and calories, but they could cause you to pass gas.
Artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol, erythritol, and xylitol arent completely absorbed by your intestine. This causes you to absorb fewer calories, but the alcohols are fermented by bacteria instead, which can cause more flatulence, bloating, and diarrhea.
Artificial sweeteners are common in many low-sugar or sugar-free foods, like gum, diet soda, cookies, and protein bars.
Oats and whole wheat bread
Because they are high in fiber, whole grains make you gassy for the same reason that the vegetables above do.
You don’t want to skimp on fiber, though, since it’s great for your heart, digestion, and weight. Instead, slowly increase your intake by adding one more serving of a high-fiber food each day until your stomach gets used to it.
During this time, drinking enough water will help ease the gas, so Myers says to drink 8 ounces more for every 5 grams of fiber you add.