Farting

We all do it. And apparently, it's good for you, to a point.

According to a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, eating gas-inducing food help gets microbes into our gut, and those microbes help prevent infection, protect our intestines and boost the immune system.

And according to said doctor, "A healthy individual can have up to 18 flatulences per day and be perfectly normal."

Does that mean we're supposed to keep track? A little fart chart, of sorts?

Here's more, according to NPR:

All these microbes are gas-making fools. They eat up unused food in your large intestine, like fiber and other carbohydrates we don't digest, and churn out a bunch of gases as waste.

But that's not all they make. They also produce a slew of molecules (called short chain fatty acids) that may promote the growth of other beneficial bacteria and archaea.

And the more fiber you feed these friendly inhabitants, the more types of species appear, studies have found. This bump in microbial diversity has been linked to a slimmer waistline.

And if your gas is a bit smelly? Well, if it's from the sulfur compounds in vegetables, it's a good sign. More fiber equals more gas, which keeps those microbes moving.

So while it may always be culturally embarrassing, it's good for you! So fart away.