Farting is one of those things that everyone does, but no one (besides guys in their man cave) likes to talk about. Because of this, there isn’t much information online about whether or not kombucha can cause excess farting. So I did some research to figure it out myself!
Because kombucha contains probiotics that can increase the digestion of dietary fibers and produce gas, is carbonated with carbon dioxide, and full of FODMAP carbohydrates that are known to cause digestive stress, the drink can lead to excess farting, especially for those who are knew to the drink and its probiotics.
Understanding how kombucha interacts with your digestive system can take some work. The good news is that I did the work for you and am going to try and simplify kombucha and why or why not it may cause you to have excess gas (while attempting to keep the fart jokes to a minimum) Let’s get started!
What Even are Farts?
In order to understand how kombucha affects the amount of farts you have, you need to understand what farts are in the first place.
Farting is pretty much the same thing as burping. It’s just a way your body releases air or gas that you’ve either swallowed, or has been created during the breakdown of the food you eat.
Most farts are made of nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, and oxygen, and most people release around 10-20 farts a day.
The frequency and smell of your farts can change a lot based on your diet. For people that have a hard time digesting lactose, milk can increase the frequency of their farts. High fiber foods, vegetables, and sweeteners also increase gassiness in most people.
Why Kombucha May Make you Fart
Since the foods we eat can have an influence on how often we fart, what ingredients in kombucha can lead to more or less farting in those who drink it?
The Probiotics in Kombucha could Produce Flatulence
As I said above, much of the gas that contributes to fats is produced when the bacteria in our gut and small intestine break down the food we eat. This means that if you already eat a lot of dietary fiber (vegetables, grains, oats) adding the extra probiotics from kombucha could lead to more healthy bacteria in your gut and small intestine, and more digestion of these fibers which could cause extra gas production.
The Carbon Dioxide in Kombucha May Cause Gas
All kombucha is naturally carbonated during the brewing process of 2nd fermentation. When you drink carbonated drinks, whether they’re soda, lecroix, or kombucha, you’re swallowing carbon dioxide, which is basically air.
Most of the time this carbon dioxide gas will get released from your body by burping, however if you’re consuming a lot of it, it could end up coming out the other end and contributing to farts.
Kombucha is Full of Gas Producing FODMAPS
Kombucha is full of foods known as FODMAPS (fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols) They’re basically types of carbohydrates resistant to digestion that can cause digestive problems such as bloating, stomach pain, diahrea, constipation, and gas.
Because FODMAPS are resistant to digestion, when you eat them they pass through your stomach and most of your intestines unchanged, and are then broken down by the bacteria in the colon, producing gas that gets released as farts.
Fruits and fruit juices, which are commonly used to flavor kombucha, are full of the sugar fructose, a FODMAP that may lead to increased farting.
Some kombucha brands also use FODMAP sweeteners like honey and xylitol to reduce the bitterness of their booch.
Probiotics are Good for Your Digestion
It’s important to remember that while consuming kombucha may increase how often you fart, in general the drink’s probiotics are really good for your digestive health and a great thing to drink.
By consuming probiotics, you’re making sure that your gut and digestive system are supplied with enough healthy bacteria to keep things running smoothly, and keeping bad bacteria that can cause infections and diseases from taking over.
Research has found that consuming kombucha may improve your digestive function, lower your risk of diarrhea, suppress the growth of unhealthy bacteria and yeast, and protect against cancer.
Sure a little extra farting can be embarrassing, but that shouldn’t stop us from consuming healthy foods like vegetables, grains, and kombucha. Especially when the probiotics in kombucha may help prevent or treat serious chronic conditions like IBS.
How Much Farting is Too Much?
Farting is a normal function of the human body and is usually harmless. If you’re diet includes a lot of vegetables, sweeteners, dairy products, and grains, you’re probably going to fart more often than normal, and that’s ok.
However, if you’re experiencing symptoms along with your kombucha farts such as
Weakness or fatigue
Skin rashes, acne or hives
Signs of allergies, like watery eyes, itchy throat
Constipation or diarrhea
Blood in your urine or stool
Pain around your lymph nodes, including in your groin, throat or armpits
Changes in your body temperature, weight, sleep and menstrual cycle
You may want to consult a doctor, as excess farting can be a sign of
Food intolerance
Over consumption of FODMAP foods
Constipation
Digestive Disorders such as Crohns disease, Celiac disease, or IBS
Final Thoughts
In summary, kombucha’s probiotics, carbonation, and FODMAP ingredients may be able to cause you to fart a little more often than usual. However, farting is a harmless and neccessary function of the human body that you shouldn’t worry about unless you are experiencing other symptoms along with it, and it definitely shouldn’t keep you from drinking kombucha, as the drink may have digestive health benefits.
If you’d like to learn more about kombucha, including topics such as where to buy the healthiest brands and how to make it yourself, be sure to check out the rest of my website! Have a great day!