There is nothing pretty about that, except the honesty. I saw a healthy recipe today that consisted of white beans, olive oil, basil leaves, sea salt and a dab of balsamic vinegar. It looked yummy, especially since I love white beans. However (and that is a mighty big HOWEVER), I was concerned about creating this dish for guests, as I was certain that it would give me the dreaded PUBLIC GAS EXPLOSION.

I began thinking about how gas is generated in our gastrointestinal systems and is there a time of the month that we should be more concerned about how much fiber we consume. The beinggirl.com site had a brief paragraph about how gas is formed. For those of you who read my profile, you know I am a beinggirl.com women’s health expert. It is important for me that you know that experts help ensure accuracy by reviewing the health content on the site. Check it out, as there are all kinds of great health facts on beinggirl beyond just gas stuff. I digress.

The responses to the two questions below are copied from beinggirl.com:
Why do people fart? (Personally, I really don’t like the word fart and prefer a more medical term like flatulence or the common term of ‘gas’. The word fart seems so crass for some reason. My daughter would tell me that I am being a bit hypocritical. Oh well.)
A fart (flatulence) happens when your body gets rid of excess gas or air through the rectum. Gas builds up from the action of bacteria on undigested food, or air is swallowed while eating.
 
How can I control it?
While everyone has to fart, it can be somewhat controlled. Eat slower so you swallow less air. Don’t chew gum, which makes you swallow air. Cut down on sodas that produce gas. Substitute another high fiber food for major gas creators like beans or corn. Exercise also helps.”

In thinking about this further, I wondered if there’s a time of month when you have more gas explosions than another?

According to the National Institutes of Health Medline Plus discussion on abdominal swelling or distension, PMS can cause abdominal bloating. However, abdominal swelling doesn’t necessarily result in gas. Also, WebMD has a really interesting article on flatulence that you may want to check out. The content is referenced to its emedicine health section that has an editorial review board of MDs. You can go to WebMD and search flatulence. While I have seen some discussion, on other non-medically referenced sites, about the link to PMS and hormone changes, the WebMD article didn’t offer that as a reason for flatulence. For those reading this who say they do get gassy during PMS time, I say NO DOUBT. Are you eating more and do you crave foods you don’t necessarily eat when you aren’t PMSing – just asking.

Before I end my gas post, and very seriously, if you think you have excessive gas and anything has changed for you digestively, see your health care provider for an evaluation. Now, and not seriously, read below where I copied two humorous points from the WebMD article on flatulence:

History has numerous anecdotal accounts of flatulence, including Hippocrates himself professing, “Passing gas is necessary to well-being.” The Roman Emperor Claudius equally decreed that “all Roman citizens shall be allowed to pass gas whenever necessary.” Unfortunately for flatulent Romans, however, Emperor Constantine later reversed this decision in a 315 BC edict.

In the mid-1800s flatulence took center stage with the French entertainer Joseph Pugol (“Le Petomane”). Pugol was able to pass gas at will and at varying pitch, thereby playing tunes for sold-out shows at the Moulin Rouge. Such was his success that lesser competitors began to appear, including the Spaniard “El Rey” and the female Angele Thiebeau (later revealed as a fake using hidden air bellows).