Farting in public can be mortifying—whether it's a loud burst in a quiet room or an unexpected smell. The embarrassing stares, stifled giggles, and threat of ridicule make it really humiliating. Passing gas, or flatulence, is entirely normal and normal body function. It is a side effect of digestion, a result of the digestion of food in the intestines. Average individuals release gas 13 to 21 times per day, producing a combination of gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, methane, carbon dioxide, and occasionally hydrogen sulfide—the odor-causing compound.

Although flatulence is universally regarded as embarrassing, it is a vital function of the gut. However, in some instances, the smell, frequency, and sound of farts can be signs of underlying medical conditions. So, what do various types of flatulence indicate, and when should one worry?

Are Farts a Sign of Good Health?

Yes, passing gas is an indication that your digestive system is working properly. It is a sign that your gut microbiome—the mixture of bacteria and other microorganisms living in your intestines—is properly breaking down food. Yet too much gas, stinky farts, or crampy bloating may at times indicate a digestive problem that must be addressed.

A few of the reasons that passing gas is a good thing include:

Gut Health

Passing gas indicates your digestive tract is functioning properly.

Toxin Removal

The body gets rid of excess gas and unwanted substances through flatulence.

Microbiome Balance

A well-functioning digestive system produces gas as part of the process of breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.

Different Types of Farts

Flatulence varies in smell, frequency, and volume. Each type can provide insight into your digestive health:

1. Silent but Deadly Farts

These farts are either odorless or slightly pungent but go unnoticed. They happen when there is excessive air swallowed while eating or drinking. Some common causes are the consumption of carbonated drinks, chewing gum, eating quickly, or eating with one's mouth open.

2. Loud and Proud Farts

Loud farts typically represent the sudden release of gas from the rectum. The loudness depends on the tightness of the anal sphincter and the strength of expulsion. Although embarrassing, they are harmless and merely a byproduct of gas production during digestion.

3. Sulfur-Scented Farts

If your farts have a rotten egg odor, it's because of hydrogen sulfide, a gas formed when bacteria in the gut break down sulfur-containing foods like eggs, meat, garlic, and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower). Although smelly, they are normally harmless. However, if persistent, they may be a sign of bacterial overgrowth in the gut.

4. Farts with Abdominal Pain or Bloating

Gas with cramps or bloating may indicate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), food intolerance (such as lactose intolerance), or gastroenteritis. If the pain continues, a doctor should be consulted.

5. Too Many Farts

If you're convinced that you're breaking wind more often than you used to, it may be caused by overindulgence in:

• High-fiber foods (beans, lentils, whole grains, and vegetables)
• Artificial sweeteners (contained in sugar-free gum and diet cola)
• Swallowing too much air (from anxiety, smoking, or drinking from a straw)
• A gastrointestinal illness like IBS or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)

What Makes Farts Stinky?

Most gas is odorless, but there are some things that can make farts smell. Some of the most common causes are:

High-Sulfur Foods: Eggs, onions, garlic, and cruciferous vegetables are responsible for sulfurous gas.

Lactose Intolerance: Individuals who are lactose intolerant (i.e., they cannot digest lactose, which is in milk products) tend to have stinky gas.

Food Allergies and Intolerances: Celiac disease or gluten intolerance may cause stinky flatulence.

Medications and Supplements: Antibiotics, vitamins, and fiber supplements can change bacteria in the gut, causing a shift in gas.

Constipation: If stool spends a longer time in the colon, bacteria will continue to ferment it, and that produces more pungent-smelling farts.

When Should You Be Worried About Your Farts?

Though smelly gas happens from time to time, there are symptoms that cannot be overlooked. You need to visit the doctor if you have:

Too Much Gas with Severe Pain: It might be a sign of IBS, Crohn's disease, or ulcers.

Black or Bloody Stools with Gas: It might be an indication of internal bleeding or colon problems.

Sudden Weight Loss with Gas: It may be a sign of a more severe gastrointestinal problem.

Persistent and Extremely Smelly Gas: Could indicate an infection, bacterial overgrowth, or food intolerance.

How to Reduce Smelly Farts Naturally?

If you’re frequently dealing with smelly gas, simple lifestyle and dietary changes can help:

• Reduce intake of high-sulfur foods like eggs, dairy, and cruciferous vegetables.
• Avoid artificial sweeteners and carbonated drinks.
• Eat smaller meals throughout the day to aid digestion.
• Keep a food diary to identify triggers.
• Chew food slowly and thoroughly.
• Steer clear of drinking with straws, which leads to excess air swallowing.
• Eat probiotics to keep the gut bacteria in balance.

Can You Prevent Farting Altogether?

Farting is an inevitable process and cannot be completely eliminated. That said, you can reduce excess gas by:

• Not eating or drinking too fast.
• Adding foods high in fiber gradually.
• Being physically active regularly to stimulate digestion.
• Drinking plenty of fluids to avoid constipation.

Passing gas is a sign your body is getting rid of food efficiently. Occasional foul-smelling passes of gas are normal, but frequent, odorous gas or excessive bloating could be indicative of underlying gastrointestinal problems.

Observed every year on June 5th, World Environment Day is the United Nations' flagship global campaign to raise awareness and drive action for the protection of the environment. The 2025 theme is "Restore Our Earth: Healthy Planet, Healthy People," highlighting the imperative to restore ecosystem degradation while reaffirming a key yet frequently forgotten reality: human health and well-being depend on a healthy environment.

As big-picture policies and corporate citizenship steal the spotlight, this year's campaign makes a formidable turn inward—encouraging people to look inward at how their daily actions impact the world around them and their own health. The link between environmental sustainability and physical health is no longer abstract. Climate change, plastic pollution, air and water pollution, and unsustainable consumer practices are linked directly to increasing rates of respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, hormonal imbalances, and even mental illness.

This section examines seemingly innocuous lifestyle trends—usual, daily behaviors that are quietly degrading the planet and quietly deteriorating our well-being. Through eating processed foods and relying too heavily on disposable plastics, how we keep our homes clean and drive to the office are also explored in this article in depth.

Hidden Dangers in Your Pantry

What you're eating may be hurting the planet—and your health—more than you realize. The food system is among the world's biggest greenhouse gas polluters, rainforest destroyers, and water consumers. But in addition to planetary harm, ultra-processed food, industrially farmed meat, and pesticide-treated produce also help to cause many chronic conditions.

Take red meat and processed meat diets, for instance. These have been associated with heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and colorectal cancer, and even contribute to more carbon emissions than their plant counterparts. Further, that chemically intensive agriculture that provides you with the glossy apples and slick uniform tomatoes so often often involves pesticides that might interfere with endocrine function and raise cancer risk in the long run.

Choosing organic fruits and vegetables, lowering meat consumption, and waste reduction are not only climate-conscious—life-saving actions. According to a 2022 study released in The Lancet Planetary Health, moving toward a mostly plant-based diet has the potential to decrease death by 20% while food emissions were reduced by as much as 70%.

Toxic Truths in Household Products

There's irony in the new cleanliness definition: much of the stuff we use to "disinfect" our homes is polluting our indoor air and putting toxic chemicals into our bodies. Most retail cleaning products have volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates, and ammonia in them—all associated with respiratory problems, hormone disruption, and skin disorders.

Environmental research indicates that regular use of standard cleaning sprays greatly increases the risk of asthma, especially among women who clean regularly at home. Additionally, their production and disposal lead to water and soil pollution, so their environmental impact is also as perilous as their health consequences.

Shifting to environmental or homemade alternatives—such as vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils—not only reduces exposure to harmful chemicals but also diminishes plastic packaging loads and chemical contamination of water systems.

Expensive Cost of Fast Fashion and Overconsumption

In the era of two-day shipping and trend-based shopping, consumer behavior has accelerated—and deteriorated—than ever. The fashion sector is alone accountable for 10% of worldwide carbon emissions and is also the second-largest water user globally. Microplastics expelled in washing synthetic clothes are only one example of how the environmental impact is immense. Dyes that kill rivers in garment-making nations are another.

On the medical side, synthetic fabrics can emit endocrine-disrupting chemicals, particularly when they touch skin directly or are exposed to heat (consider activewear or underwear). In addition, fast fashion fuels labor exploitation and hazardous working conditions—drivers of worldwide public health inequalities.

Sustainable consumerism—selecting sustainable brands, wearing things for longer, repairing rather than replacing—can both cut environmental impact and exposure to toxic substances. It also facilitates improved occupational health and fairness for people involved in the supply chain.

Transport Choices

Car culture is deeply rooted in most corners of the globe, particularly in suburban US and city communities. However, each time we drive alone rather than opting for sustainable transport, we fuel air pollution, traffic jam, and greenhouse gas accumulation.

In terms of health, air pollution exposure is presently a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Auto exhaust fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has been linked with increased incidence of stroke, lung cancer, as well as cognitive impairment in the elderly. For children, the risk involves asthma, developmental retardation, and compromised immune system.

Walking, cycling, carpooling, or using public transport reduces not just emissions but also fits exercise into your day—reducing your risk of lifestyle diseases and building better mental health. A transition to cleaner mobility can have two benefits: it lets the planet breathe more easily and keeps your heart beating better.

Plastic, Packaging, and Endocrine Disruption

Single-use plastics are ubiquitous used to package food, water bottles, packaging, and personal care products. Convenient as they are, they are the leading cause of environmental pollution. They last for centuries before they can break down, tend to leak into oceans, and emit dangerous chemicals in the process of breaking down.

In addition to contaminating the environment, plastics also directly harm health. Chemicals such as BPA (bisphenol A) and phthalates, which are often used in plastic containers, are recognized endocrine disruptors. These may interrupt hormone development and are linked with reproductive disorders, obesity, and even enhanced cancer risk.

To protect both your health and the environment, reduce plastic consumption where possible: switch to glass containers, carry a reusable water bottle, and support brands with sustainable packaging practices.

World Environment Day reminds us that healing the planet is not only an environmental goal, it's a public health imperative. Our daily choices, magnified across homes, cities, and nations, hold huge clout. What you consume, what you wear, how you travel, and even how you wash can destroy or protect the environment and by association, your own health.

This year, let World Environment Day be more than just a moment of awareness. Let it be the start of a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle that benefits not only future generations but your own well-being today.

As Covid-19 cases see a modest rise in several parts of India, leading scientists and public health experts are urging caution—not alarm. According to Dr. Vineeta Bal, former scientist at the National Institute of Immunology, the new variants currently in circulation are not posing a serious threat.

Speaking to IndiaToday.in, Dr. Bal emphasized that while mutations and sub-lineages of the virus are still emerging, the current situation is significantly different from the devastating Delta wave of 2021.

“This Is Not the Virus of 2021”

Recalling the chaos of 2021, Dr. Bal explained, “Back then, the virus was new to our immune systems, and the population had not been exposed to it before. That led to widespread severe illness and a major public health crisis.”

Today, however, the circumstances have changed drastically. India’s exposure to the virus—through both natural infections and widespread vaccination—has helped build community-level immunity. “Most people have either had Covid or received at least one vaccine dose, if not both. That has made a big difference in how the body responds to the virus now,” she said.

Covid-19 Now Behaving Like the Flu

Dr. Bal likened the virus’s current behavior to that of seasonal influenza. “We are now continuously managing new variants as they emerge. This doesn't mean the virus is gone or harmless, but the level of threat is quite low,” she told IndiaToday.in.

Most of the fatalities currently being reported are among elderly individuals or those with pre-existing conditions. Some are also patients still facing lingering health issues from past Covid infections.

“Be Alert, Not Anxious”

While the newer variants may be more transmissible, they are not causing large-scale severe disease. “A new variant can still be virulent, but because our population has some level of immunity, the impact is much lower,” said Dr. Bal.

She urged people to remain cautious, especially when it comes to high-risk groups such as senior citizens, people with chronic illnesses, and those who were severely affected in previous waves. However, she reassured that there’s no need for panic.

Living with an Endemic Virus

Experts now agree that Covid-19 is entering an endemic stage. “If your community built immunity during 2020 to 2022, either through vaccination or infection, it is unlikely that any new variant now will cause major illness or high fatality rates,” Dr. Bal said.

This view is echoed by other leading health experts. In an earlier interview with IndiaToday.in, former AIIMS chief Dr. Randeep Guleria explained that Covid is now endemic and will behave similarly to the flu—circulating in the population with occasional spikes.

Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), also confirmed last week that the current rise in cases involves only mild symptoms. “People do not need to take any immediate action. They should follow normal precautions,” he stated.

The virus is still around—but the fear doesn't need to be. With vigilance, vaccines, and basic hygiene, India can manage this phase without falling into panic.

In an age of hyper-connectivity, concrete jungles, and climate anxiety, reconnecting with nature may be one of the simplest yet most powerful remedies for mental well-being. Green therapy—also known as ecotherapy, nature therapy, or Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)—is gaining attention as an effective and accessible form of healing that uses nature to support emotional and physical health.

According to Dr. Mayanka Lodhi, Chief Pathologist at Redcliffe Labs, “The connection between nature and well-being is deeply rooted in science. When we spend time in green, clean spaces, our bodies respond positively—stress hormones drop, breathing slows, and mood improves. That’s why we must treat mental health and environmental health as interconnected.”

The Science Behind Green Therapy

Green therapy involves engaging with the natural world—through walks in the park, gardening, or simply listening to birdsong—to reduce stress and enhance mood. The benefits are both physical and psychological: decreased cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, reduced anxiety, and improved cognitive function.

A growing body of research backs this up. A 2021 study by Jimenez et al. found that regular exposure to green environments significantly lowers markers of stress such as heart rate and cortisol. “When you're surrounded by greenery, you're also surrounded by calm. The sights, smells, and sounds of nature activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body relax and recover,” Dr. Lodhi adds.

A Polluted Environment, A Polluted Mind?

This World Environment Day 2025, the focus is on plastic pollution. Often framed as a purely ecological issue, plastic waste has a quieter, more insidious effect—on mental health.

Urban spaces overflowing with plastic trash not only degrade ecosystems but also drain emotional resilience. Dr. Lodhi explains, “Imagine stepping into a park filled with wrappers and bottles—it disrupts the tranquility that nature is supposed to provide. Instead of peace, it may trigger helplessness or eco-anxiety, especially among the youth.”

She points out that mental wellness is compromised when we lose access to clean, natural environments. “Green therapy only works if the spaces we rely on for healing remain truly green—free from pollution and plastic.”

A Daily Walk Can Make a Difference

Even a short daily walk in a clean park or tree-lined street can work wonders. Studies have shown that just 10–15 minutes a day in natural settings can lead to:

• Reduced symptoms of depression
• Improved sleep quality
• Better focus and productivity
• A sense of groundedness and emotional clarity

Yet, these benefits are undermined in polluted environments. “When plastic takes over our parks and water bodies, it isn’t just a visual nuisance—it’s a psychological burden,” says Dr. Lodhi.

Redcliffe Labs through its Health for Earth initiative, the organization commits to holistic wellness by linking every test to a green action: planting one tree for every diagnostic test done. “We want people to understand that their health decisions also impact the planet,” says Dr. Lodhi.

Redcliffe is also pushing for a lower carbon footprint—saving over 3.76 crore A4 sheets through digital reports, which translates to saving 4,700 trees and preventing 188+ metric tons of CO₂ emissions.

“Whether it’s reducing plastic use, walking in green spaces, or joining a clean-up drive, each step we take for the Earth brings calm within us,” Dr. Lodhi reflects.

A Call to Action

As we mark World Environment Day, let’s reframe the fight against pollution as not just an ecological cause, but a mental health movement. Cleaner parks and greener neighborhoods can become sanctuaries for healing—if we care for them.

Because a healthier planet creates space for healthier minds. And in healing the Earth, we may also find a way to heal ourselves.