Smelling farts may have some surprising health benefits, though the research is still limited
Farts—the gas your body releases from your digestive system—contain hydrogen sulfide, a compound that smells bad but may actually protect your cells. A 2014 study from the University of Exeter found that hydrogen sulfide, in small amounts, can reduce inflammation and improve how your cells use energy. This doesn't mean you should seek out farts, but it does suggest that the occasional exposure might not be purely negative. The benefit appears to come specifically from hydrogen sulfide itself, not from breathing in farts as a whole.
The research on this topic is narrow and early-stage. Scientists have not studied whether smelling farts in everyday life produces the same effect as controlled doses of hydrogen sulfide in a lab. Most of what you'll read online about fart health benefits goes well beyond what the actual science shows. This guide explains what researchers have found, what remains unknown, and why the hype often outpaces the evidence.
Key Takeaways
- Hydrogen sulfide, a compound in farts, showed promise in one study for reducing inflammation and improving cell function in lab conditions.
- The research was conducted on cells in a laboratory, not on people breathing farts in real life.
- Smelling farts is not a treatment for any disease and should not replace medical care.
- The amount of hydrogen sulfide in a fart is very small, and it's unclear whether casual exposure provides any measurable benefit.
- Most claims about fart health benefits online are not supported by scientific evidence.
The 2014 study that started the conversation
In 2014, researchers at the University of Exeter published a study in the journal Medicinal Chemistry Communications. They tested a compound called AP39, which releases hydrogen sulfide slowly inside cells. When they exposed human cells to AP39 in a petri dish, the cells showed reduced inflammation and improved mitochondrial function—meaning the cells' energy-producing structures worked better.
The study was designed to explore whether hydrogen sulfide could be useful in treating diseases like arthritis, heart disease, and dementia. The researchers did not study farts directly. They used a synthetic compound in a controlled lab setting. One of the researchers later made a comment to the media suggesting that smelling farts might have health benefits, which led to widespread online coverage. That comment was speculative and went beyond what the study actually showed.
What hydrogen sulfide actually does in the body
Hydrogen sulfide is a gas that your body produces naturally during digestion. It's created when bacteria in your colon break down food, especially foods high in sulfur like eggs, meat, and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli. Your body uses hydrogen sulfide for several functions: it helps regulate blood pressure, reduces inflammation, and plays a role in how cells communicate.
The issue is dose and delivery. Your body produces hydrogen sulfide in specific amounts in specific places—mainly in your digestive tract and bloodstream. When you smell a fart, you're inhaling a tiny amount of hydrogen sulfide mixed with many other gases. It's not clear whether this casual exposure reaches your cells in amounts large enough to produce the anti-inflammatory effect seen in the lab study. The researchers who conducted the 2014 study were actually trying to develop drugs that would deliver hydrogen sulfide in controlled doses, not relying on farts.
Why the research doesn't support using farts as a health practice
Several gaps exist between the lab findings and real-world health claims. First, the 2014 study used human cells in a dish, not living people. Lab results often don't translate to the human body. Second, the study used a synthetic compound designed to release hydrogen sulfide slowly and steadily—very different from the brief, unpredictable exposure of smelling a fart. Third, no studies have measured whether smelling farts actually changes inflammation or cell function in people.
Additionally, farts contain many gases besides hydrogen sulfide: methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and others. Some of these may be irritating or have no benefit. You have no way to know the composition of any given fart or how much hydrogen sulfide it contains. Relying on farts as a health intervention would be like trying to treat a headache by randomly eating different foods and hoping one contains the right amount of aspirin.
What conditions people claim farts help with
Online, you'll see claims that smelling farts can help with arthritis, heart disease, dementia, and cancer. These claims are not based on evidence. They typically reference the 2014 study but misrepresent what it showed. The study tested hydrogen sulfide on cells in a lab; it did not test farts on people with any disease. No clinical trials have been conducted on humans to see whether smelling farts improves any health condition.
If you have any of these conditions, smelling farts should not be part of your treatment plan. Talk with your doctor about treatments that have been tested in people and shown to work. If you're interested in hydrogen sulfide as a potential therapy, researchers are developing drugs that deliver it in controlled doses—that's the direction the science is actually moving.
The difference between hydrogen sulfide and farts
It's important to separate the compound from the source. Hydrogen sulfide is a real chemical with real effects on cells. Scientists are genuinely interested in it as a potential medicine. But that doesn't mean farts are medicine. A fart is a complex mixture of gases, and you can't control what's in it, how much of it you inhale, or how often you're exposed.
Think of it this way: oranges contain vitamin C, and vitamin C is good for you. But you wouldn't say "eating random things that might contain vitamin C" is a health strategy. You'd eat oranges or take a vitamin supplement with a known dose. The same logic applies here. If hydrogen sulfide turns out to be useful as a medicine, it will come as a drug with a measured dose—not from smelling farts.
What you should know about digestive gas in general
Farts are a normal part of digestion. Everyone produces them. The amount and smell depend on what you eat, your gut bacteria, and how quickly food moves through your system. Smelling your own farts or someone else's occasionally won't hurt you. But there's no evidence that it helps you either.
If you're interested in supporting your digestive health, focus on things with actual evidence: eating fiber, staying hydrated, moving your body regularly, and managing stress. If you have digestive problems like bloating or gas, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian. They can help you identify foods that trigger symptoms and suggest changes that actually work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does smelling farts really reduce inflammation?
The 2014 study showed that hydrogen sulfide reduced inflammation in human cells in a lab dish. But no studies have tested whether smelling farts reduces inflammation in people. The amount of hydrogen sulfide in a fart is very small, and it's unclear whether it reaches your cells in large enough quantities to have an effect.
Can smelling farts help treat disease?
No. Smelling farts is not a treatment for any disease. If you have a health condition, work with your doctor on treatments that have been tested in people. Researchers are developing drugs that deliver hydrogen sulfide in controlled doses, but those are not farts.
Is hydrogen sulfide in farts dangerous?
In the small amounts present in farts, hydrogen sulfide is not dangerous. Your body produces it naturally during digestion. However, exposure to high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas can be harmful. Smelling occasional farts poses no risk.
What foods make you produce more hydrogen sulfide?
Foods high in sulfur—like eggs, meat, garlic, onions, and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage—tend to produce more hydrogen sulfide when digested. If you notice increased gas or bloating after eating these foods, you might experiment with eating smaller portions or cooking them differently.
Should I change my diet based on the fart study?
No. The study doesn't support changing your diet to produce more farts. If you want to support your digestive health, focus on eating plenty of fiber, drinking water, and moving regularly. If you have concerns about gas or bloating, talk with a doctor or dietitian.