Is farting a sign your gut microbiome is happy?
6/9/202618 min
Everyone wants a healthy gut, and your microbiome plays a big role in keeping you well.
So how do you know your microbiome is in top shape? Are there stinky signs that things are going right, or wrong?
Norman and Tegan breeze through the research in this live recording at the World Science Festival Brisbane.
References:
- The Invisible College of Experimental Flatology
- Explainer: The chemistry of farts
- A widespread hydrogenase supports fermentative growth of gut bacteria in healthy people
- Intestinal gas production by the gut microbiota: A review
- Association of the Gut Microbiota With Cognitive Function in Midlife
- Gut microbiome predicts cognitive function and depressive symptoms in late life
- The Relationship between Gut Microbiome and Cognition in Older Australians
- Chart Your Fart - CSIRO
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsTegan Taylor· Host0:00
So you know how I love my musical apparatus for our chats, Norman?
Norman Swan· Host0:03
Yes.
Tegan Taylor· Host0:04
I've got my med diet bell here on the desk with me today.
Norman Swan· Host0:06
[bell dings] Yeah.
Tegan Taylor· Host0:06
I forgot to bring my harmonica and my xylophone 'cause I'm an idiot, but I did bring an extra new friend. Would you like to hear it?
Norman Swan· Host0:12
Yes. I think I do. [fart sound] [laughs] You're a rudey ghetto.
Tegan Taylor· Host0:18
[laughs] It's a whoopee cushion. We bought it especially for this particular episode of What's That [fart sound] Rash?
Norman Swan· Host0:26
Where we answer the health questions everybody's got. And this time we were farting in front of a live audience.
Tegan Taylor· Host0:32
That's right. This chat comes from our recent live show at World Science Festival, Brisbane. [gentle music] So this question came from John, who, uh, the question itself was read out by a lovely audience member at our live show.
Speaker 30:46
I am moved to ask a question of my own. We are urged to eat lots of fiber to nourish the gut to microbiome. Is, [laughs] is flatulence- [laughs] ... a sign that the gut biome is well-fed and happy? And will a happy gut biome really improve one's cognitive function?
Tegan Taylor· Host1:09
John, you've ans- you've asked that question so well, I'm gonna give you a round of applause.
Norman Swan· Host1:14
[clapping] But can we have the microphone back for, for a second? [laughs] Why don't you just call flatulence for what it really is?
Tegan Taylor· Host1:24
[laughs] Okay. A fart? [laughs] Yeah.
Norman Swan· Host1:29
Very good.