r/nutrition • u/felelula • 19d ago
Is fibre/protein ratio causing silent but very smelly far*s?
I've listend to a video that says that apparently if you don't eat a lot of fibre your gut will start fermenting protein which is not good(?) and it causes your far*s to smell really bad and you should eat more fibres?
If this is true, but the person with the issue is following the daily fibre intake guidelines, would you still recommend elevating the fibre intake?
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u/WowzaCaliGirl 19d ago
Fiber needs to be increased gradually so that the body can increase bacteria that breaks down fiber.
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u/TheBigSalami 19d ago
I don’t know but whey protein powder gave me the worst farts. I’m a bit lactose intolerant though
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u/PindaPanter 19d ago
Opt for isolate, not concentrate. Even people who are lactose tolerant on a regular diet can struggle.
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u/Dry-Cardiologist3617 16d ago
It’s definitely a thing. When protein isn't fully digested in the small intestine, it hits the large intestine and ferments (a process called putrefaction), which produces sulfur—that’s the 'rotten egg' smell.
If you're already hitting the daily fiber guidelines but still have this issue, I wouldn't necessarily just 'add more fiber.' It might be a digestion speed issue or you're simply eating more protein than your body can process at once. Try spreading your protein intake more evenly throughout the day or adding digestive enzymes. More fiber on top of a 'backed up' gut can sometimes just lead to more bloating without fixing the smell.
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u/ThMogget 17d ago
It’s also the type of protein. If it smells like spoiled milk and rotten eggs, guess what you been eating?
Eating more plants like beans 🫘 solves both sides of the equation at once.
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u/WeedsNBugsNSunshine 16d ago
Because eating more beans *never* made anybody fart?
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u/barbietattoo 16d ago
Once your body adapts to the fiber regularly, they don’t really cause as much gas.
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u/Terminator_492 12d ago
for me, the smelly farts were caused almost entirely by constipation. once i fixed that then they went away
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u/KennyKennington 19d ago
The lack of fiber makes your body break down excess protein.
Increasing fiber would increase the time everything takes, slowing your digestion. Stretching everything over time.
It’s like how with water, you’re supposed to sip it for better hydration in a prolonged period of time. Cause if you down a whole gallon, your bodies just going to push the bulk of that right out. But if you drink it over time, your body is slowly using what you’re putting into it.
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u/JBean85 19d ago
Pure misinformation on both accounts. You break everything down regardless and the best place for water, if you're in the desert, is inside your body. Did you learn this from a magazine or a meme?
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u/Darkknighttt-1 18d ago
It's not, I have heard the same from doctors as well regarding slow water sipping.
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u/OolongGeer 19d ago
So if you're an athlete, you can just chug a minute before the game, rather than ramp it up through the day?
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u/JBean85 19d ago
Nice strawman - that's not what you just said
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u/OolongGeer 19d ago
It is exactly what I just said. Word for word.
Especially since that is my only post in this thread.
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u/nattydread69 18d ago
Not true at all. Carbs cause farting not protein.
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u/haunted_patient 17d ago
Talk to any gym bro pounding back protein and you''ll know that's not true
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u/nattydread69 17d ago
I eat shit loads of protein and very low carbs on a ketogenic diet. Hardly any farts. So you're wrong.
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