An art of lif DOCTOR WARNS AGAINST HOLDING IN FARTS

Says it can have grim consequences reathing is an art, a very scientific art that is more than just inhaling and exhaling air.

“Breathing has always been a part of our wellness arsenal, but somehow as one grows older, breathing becomes less and less scientific. It becomes shallow, and we begin to breathe in the chest, rather than the stomach,” explained Yoga Instructor at Art of Living, Pauline Sebina.

“Many stress related ailments, whether physical, mental or emotional, may be caused by improper breathing, and fortunately, they can be easily reversed by adopting natural breathing mechanisms."

Breathing properly increases the lungs capacity to get more oxygen. The lungs’ main function is

Although farting is embarrassing for most people and some may find it extremely hilarious, it is normal and is actually considered healthy.

A fart, also known as gas or flatulence, occurs when there is a build -up of gasses in the small intestine from digestion and respiration. Also, when one eats, chews or swallow food, they swallow air too, which builds up in the digestive system. While some of the air is absorbed, the excess is released either in the form of a burp or a fart, according to Dr Rebaone Modongo.

“Everyone releases flatulence and poops,”he said and warned against holding them in as doing so could to help oxygen from the air we breathe enter the red cells in the blood.

“They then carry oxygen around the body to be used by every cell in our body. The lungs also help the body to get rid of CO² when we breathe out. Extra oxygen in the blood stream stimulates the excretory system, thereby clearing the body of harmful toxins. It also provides additional energy and vitality. “Have you ever seen a baby breathe”? Sebina asks rhetorically. In and out, deep and even, slow, easy and calm. If you look closely, you will see that it is not the chest that is rising and falling, rather it is the stomach. To put it more precisely, it is the diaphragm, the muscle between the chest and the abdominal cavity, which moves.

Now, compare this with your own style of breathing. Chances are that you will find that it differs. If you are like most people, your upper contribute to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), haemorrhoids or even increase the risk of cancer.

On average, a person passes gas 14 to 23 times a day. Depending on what they eat and the lifestyle they follow, one may produce more or less farts. Most farts are odorless and raise no alarms. However, given certain factors, they may be smellier and more loud. According to Dr Modongo, it is normal to fart up to 25 times a day. However, more than that is said to be excessive farting. “If you are passing more gas than usual, it could be accompanied with symptoms such as burping, bloating and pain and discomfort in the stomach. You have to go to the doctor and get your gut checked. The smell would be an indication of your gut bacteria too,” he said.

Adding that it was unfortunate that some people were too embarrassed to fart and would rather hold BitYinR. ACHEL RADITSEBE

He said; “I have spoken to people who would never be caught deadAfalrmtinogsotragominogntothpoionptoin the tobirleetaakt woofrkdfioarrarnheoxeama pcloe,ntinue and tthhartoisuaghretahllye bciogusnymtrpyt,okmilling of IBhSuand ritecdasn moakree irtewcoerisvei. KeepingThtheatoguatsbirneyaokuwr satsofimrascthdetected can make it ten times worse.

last week of August when the Hea “Whatever needs to come out needns ototiccoemdeaonuitnfcorreaarseeaosofnp,eifople esp you adrreekneeupnindgerthfiavtegyaseainrsthceorme,plainin if youinargednioatrgrohinogeatoitnheGtaobileotronne and s a regualraerabsa,sBiso, wtehtait, ySoeuliabre dPohinikgwe and is keepiDngiawrarhstoeeina tihsedree,scthriabt eisd as the the pluoropsoeseoorf gwoaintgeroyuts. tCoaonl wwehich m normalise it break the fart and poo

least three times in 24 hours. taboo? We all do it,” he said. curs alongside nausea, vomiti and fever.

Diarrhoea can cause a lot of