flatulance (food and drink)

Food and drink Much of the food we eat is carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are made up of long chains of sugar molecules. Some carbohydrates cannot be digested and absorbed by the intestines and pass down into your colon. These are known as unabsorbable carbohydrates or fermentable olig-di-mono-saccharides and polyols (FODMAPs). Your colon contains more than 500 different types of bacteria. The bacteria start to break down the carbohydrates and, in the process, produce gas, which is released as flatulence. Foods that contain a high amount of unabsorbable carbohydrates include: *beans *broccoli *cabbage *cauliflower *artichokes *raisins *pulses *lentils *onions *prunes *apples *Brussels sprouts Other foods and drinks containing a sweetener called sorbitol (such as sugar-free gum or slimming products), or a type of sugar called fructose (such as fruit juice), can also cause flatulence. Certain foods, such as cabbage or onions, can lead to the production of gases containing sulphur which can result in foul smelling wind. However, the production of smelly wind can vary from person to person depending on what you eat so it is up to you to work out which foods cause the most smell.