How to stop farting: 12 tips and remedies

Let’s be honest: farting is normal, human, and sometimes extremely funny… until it happens
at a job interview, on a first date, or in a silent elevator. Then it’s suddenly less
comedy and more crisis.

The good news? While you can’t (and shouldn’t) stop farting completely, you can
often reduce how often you pass gas and how uncomfortable it feels. Most people pass gas
somewhere between 8 and 20 times per day, and that’s considered normal. Excessive gas,
painful bloating, or a sudden change in your usual “gas pattern,” though, is worth paying
attention to.

In this guide, we’ll walk through what’s normal, why you might be extra gassy, and
12 practical, science-backed tips and remedies to help you stop farting so much,
feel less bloated, and know when it’s time to call your doctor.

Is farting normal or is something wrong?

Flatulence (aka farting, passing gas, breaking wind, or “cutting the cheese”) is simply
your body releasing gas from your digestive tract. That gas comes from two main sources:
swallowed air and the work of gut bacteria breaking down food in your intestines.

For most people, farting:

• Happens multiple times a day.
• Is usually painless.
• Comes and goes more when you change your diet or routine.

What’s not so normal is when gas is:

• New or suddenly much worse than usual.
• Accompanied by ongoing belly pain, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, or blood in your stool.
• So severe that it regularly disrupts your work, sleep, or social life.

If that sounds like you, you can still try the tips below, but it’s smart to talk with a
healthcare professional to rule out things like food intolerances, irritable bowel
syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, or other digestive problems.

12 tips and remedies to help stop excessive farting

1. Eat more slowly and mindfully

A big chunk of the gas you release is just swallowed air. When you:

• Eat quickly,
• Talk with your mouth full, or
• Wolf down lunch while scrolling your phone, driving, or walking,

you tend to gulp in extra air. That air needs an exitand it usually chooses the back door.

Try this instead:

• Put your fork down between bites.
• Chew thoroughly before swallowing.
• Sit down for meals in a relatively calm space (yes, not over your keyboard if you can help it).

This simple change alone can noticeably reduce how often you feel gassy.

2. Skip gum, hard candy, straws, and constant sipping

Gum and hard candies might look innocent, but they encourage you to swallow a lot of air.
Straws and chugging from bottles can do the same thing. Sugar-free gums and candies often
add sorbitol, xylitol, or other sugar alcohols, which can ferment in your gut and create
more gas.

If you’re dealing with constant farting, try:

• Switching from gum to a quick breath mint or brushing your teeth after meals.
• Drinking from an open glass and sipping instead of gulping.
• Limiting sugar-free candies if you notice they make your stomach noisy.

3. Cut back on the biggest gas-producing foods

Some foods are famous gas factories. They’re often very healthy, but they can also leave
you feeling like a balloon. Common culprits include:

• Beans, lentils, and chickpeas.
• Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.
• Onions and garlic.
• Carbonated drinks (soda, sparkling water, beer).
• Foods with sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, erythritol).

You don’t have to ban these forever. Instead:

• Reduce portion sizes, especially before situations where gas would be extra awkward.
• Soak and thoroughly cook beans and lentils to make them easier to digest.
• Swap fizzy drinks for still water or herbal tea when you can.

If you notice a direct “I eat this and later I sound like a trumpet” pattern, that food
may be your personal trigger.

4. Keep a food and symptom diary

Not everyone reacts to the same foods in the same way. One person can down a plate of
black beans with zero issues; another will be ready for takeoff an hour later. Food
intoleranceslike lactose intolerance or sensitivity to gluten or high-FODMAP foodscan
drive a lot of excess gas.

Try tracking for 1–2 weeks:

• What you eat and drink (including sauces, snacks, and drinks).
• When you feel bloated, gassy, or uncomfortable.

Look for patterns. Do things get worse after ice cream or milk? That might suggest lactose
intolerance. Are you gassier after large wheat-based meals? That may point toward gluten
sensitivity or another digestive issue worth discussing with your doctor or a dietitian.

5. Adjust your fiber intake (but don’t ditch it)

Fiber is great for your heart, blood sugar, and long-term gut health. The downside:
sudden jumps in fiberlike going overnight from a low-fiber fast-food diet to a
plant-heavy onecan leave you super gassy while your gut bacteria adjust.

To get the benefits without the “sound effects”:

• Increase fiber gradually over a few weeks instead of all at once.
• Drink plenty of water to help fiber move through your system.
• Mix high-fiber foods (whole grains, beans, veggies) with lower-fiber options at each meal.

If you already eat a lot of fiber and are very gassy, temporarily cutting back a bit and
then reintroducing fiber slowly may help.

6. Move your body to move the gas

Physical activity helps your intestines move food and gas along more efficiently. That
means less gas sitting in one place causing pressure and more gas quietly passing without
pain.

You don’t need to sign up for a marathon. Even:

• A 10–20 minute walk after meals,
• Gentle yoga poses that involve twisting, or
• Light stretching throughout the day

can help your digestive system do its job with fewer dramatic sound effects.

7. Consider probiotics (but manage expectations)

Probiotics“good” bacteria found in supplements and some foodsmay help some people with
gas and bloating, especially if their gut microbiome is out of balance. However, they’re
not magic, and they don’t work the same way for everyone.

If you want to try probiotics:

• Start with one product at a time so you can tell if it helps or not.
• Give it a few weeks; changes aren’t always instant.
• Stop if your gas or bloating actually gets worse and doesn’t settle down.

Fermented foods like yogurt with live cultures, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut can also
support a healthy gut, though some people find they increase gas. Start slowly and see how
your body responds.

8. Use over-the-counter gas remedies wisely

For many people, occasional use of nonprescription gas relief products can help:

• Simethicone: Helps gas bubbles in your gut combine so they’re easier to pass. Often
  used for quick relief.
• Activated charcoal: May help absorb gas, though evidence is mixed. It can interfere
  with medication absorption, so ask a pharmacist or doctor before using it regularly.
• Alpha-galactosidase (like Beano®): Taken with gas-forming foods (like beans) to help
  break down complex carbs before they reach your colon.
• Lactase enzyme (like Lactaid®): Helps people who are lactose-intolerant digest dairy
  more comfortably.

Always follow the directions on the package, and check with a healthcare professional if
you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, take other medications, or have chronic health conditions.

9. Try gentle home and herbal remedies

Some people find relief from gas and bloating with simple home remedies, such as:

• Peppermint tea or enteric-coated peppermint oil: May help relax intestinal
  muscles and ease cramping and gas in some people.
• Ginger tea or warm water with lemon and ginger: Can support digestion and help
  food move along more comfortably.
• Fennel seeds: Traditionally used in some cultures for gas; some people chew a few
  seeds after meals.

Natural doesn’t automatically mean safe for everyone. If you’re taking medications, are
pregnant, or have medical conditions, check with your doctor or pharmacist before using
herbal remedies regularly.

10. Change how (and where) you eat

Your environment and habits at mealtime matter more than you might think. Being stressed,
hunched over, or constantly multitasking during meals can all affect digestion.

To support calmer digestion and less gas:

• Eat in a seated, upright position rather than slouching on the couch.
• Stay upright for at least 30 minutes after eating instead of lying down immediately.
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals if large meals make you feel like a human balloon.
• Make sure dentures (if you wear them) fit well so you’re not swallowing extra air while chewing.

11. Manage stress and sleep

Your gut and your brain are constantly chatting with each other. High stress levels, poor
sleep, and anxiety can change how your intestines move, how sensitive they feel, and how
your gut bacteria behave. The result can be more bloating, gurgling, and gas.

Helpful habits include:

• Setting a consistent sleep schedule whenever possible.
• Building a relaxing wind-down routine (stretching, reading, calm music, breathing exercises).
• Using stress-management tools like walking, journaling, therapy, meditation apps, or yoga.

You can’t deep-breathe your way out of beans, but you can make your gut less reactive
overall.

12. Know when it’s time to see a doctor

While gas is usually harmless, sometimes it’s a sign that something else is going on. You
should contact a healthcare professional if:

• Your gas or bloating is severe, persistent, or suddenly much worse than usual.
• You also have ongoing diarrhea, constipation, or a big change in your bowel habits.
• You notice blood in your stool or black, tarry stools.
• You’re losing weight without trying or have a poor appetite.
• You have persistent nausea, vomiting, fever, or significant abdominal pain.

These signs don’t automatically mean something serious is wrong, but they deserve proper
evaluation. A gastroenterologist (digestive specialist) can help identify causes and
recommend treatments tailored to you.

Real-life experiences: what “fixing the gas problem” can actually look like

It’s one thing to list tips. It’s another to see how they play out in real life. Here are
some common patterns people discover when they start paying attention to their gas and
making changes.

One person might notice that their “afternoon gas storm” always showed up on workdays,
right after they speed-ate lunch at their desk. When they slowed down, put their phone
away, and took 15 extra minutes to chew properly and breathe, the gas became far less
dramatic. They didn’t change what they ateonly how they ateand that alone made a big
difference in both noise and discomfort.

Another person might assume they “just have a sensitive stomach,” but a food diary reveals
a pattern: every time they drink regular milk or eat ice cream, they feel bloated and
gassy for hours. Switching to lactose-free milk and smaller portions of cheese allows them
to keep enjoying dairy without needing to sprint away from social situations. In this
case, lactase enzyme tablets before dairy also help cut down on gas.

Someone else might decide to overhaul their diet for health: lots of beans, lentils,
whole grains, and cruciferous vegetables all at once. Suddenly they’re eating “perfectly”
and… farting constantly. That doesn’t mean the new diet is bad; it means the shift was too
fast. By pulling back slightly, then slowly increasing fiber over a few weeks and drinking
more water, their gut has time to adjust. Gas settles down, and they still get the
benefits of a plant-rich diet.

There are also people who do “everything right,” but still struggle with unpredictable gas
and bloating. For some, a doctor eventually diagnoses IBS or another digestive condition.
With guidance, they may try a low-FODMAP diet for a period of time, identify their main
triggers, and then gradually reintroduce foods. The result isn’t zero gasnobody gets that
dealbut fewer painful episodes and far more control over their symptoms.

The common thread in all these experiences is curiosity, not shame. Instead of
thinking, “My body is embarrassing,” it helps to think, “My body is giving me feedback. What
is it trying to tell me?” When you use tools like food diaries, slower eating, movement,
and occasional medical help, that feedback becomes much easier to interpretand a lot less
noisy.

The bottom line

Farting is part of being alive. You don’t need to erase it, and you couldn’t even if you
tried. But if excessive gas is making you uncomfortable or self-conscious, there’s a lot
you can do:

• Reduce swallowed air by eating slowly and skipping gum, straws, and chugging.
• Identify and adjust your personal trigger foods instead of guessing.
• Support digestion with movement, gradual fiber changes, and possibly probiotics.
• Use over-the-counter remedies and gentle home options when appropriate.
• Watch for red-flag symptoms and talk with a healthcare professional when needed.

Think of these steps less as “How do I stop farting forever?” and more as “How do I help my
gut work smoothly and comfortably?” When your digestive system is happier, your social
life usually is, too.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional
medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk with a healthcare professional about
any questions or concerns you have about your health.