What is intestinal wind?

The digestive tract produces gases that are released through the mouth or the anus. This is in fact a sign that the digestive tract is functioning well. On average, we release between half a litre and 1.5 litres of gas every day, over 12 to 25 episodes. These gases are released either through the mouth, via eructation, or through the anus, which is called flatulence.

What causes intestinal wind?

The bacteria in the intestine ferment food residues, causing the formation of gases. These gases include nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, as well as hydrogen, methane and sulphated gases that are responsible for the odour that accompanies intestinal wind.

Some food generates more gas than others. This is the case with pulses in particular, such as kidney beans, as they contain carbohydrates that ferment when in contact with the intestinal flora.