If you wish to give your intestine a serving to hand, you’ve in all probability considered making an attempt prebiotic soda. In any case, the declare that it “helps digestive well being” is written proper on the highest of Olipop’s cans. But when after a number of swigs you discover issues are a little bit extra energetic in your stomach, you’re not alone: Some people blame prebiotic soda for his or her prolific farts—and notably smelly ones at that.

Take this Reddit thread: “I drink a single can and for the subsequent couple of days I’m passing completely rancid fuel,” the unique poster wrote, pleading for recommendation. Redditors coming to their help left greater than 200 feedback, lots of which agreed that downing prebiotic sodas made their farts extra intense.

However is there any fact to those claims, or are the drinks merely a handy scapegoat for normal ol’ digestive points?

Seems, prebiotic sodas are usually related to notably offensive farts, Amy Burkhart, MD, RD, a doctor and registered dietitian who makes a speciality of intestine well being, tells SELF. You don’t must look far for a offender. The truth is, it’s proper there within the title: prebiotics.

They’re greater than a advertising buzzword: Prebiotics are indigestible fibers discovered primarily in meals like fruits, greens, and complete grains, Desiree Nielsen, RD, a recipe developer specializing in plant-based vitamin, tells SELF. Relying on the model, a prebiotic soda may comprise a number of totally different sorts, based on Dr. Burkhart. For instance, the Olipop system, OLISmart, incorporates cassava root, nopal cactus, chicory root, and Jerusalem artichoke (the latter two present inulin, a very well-studied prebiotic).

Basically, these fibers feed the nice micro organism in your intestine (probiotics) and are damaged down by way of fermentation, Nielsen says. Whereas this may help help a more healthy intestine microbiome, it could actually additionally result in a much less nice byproduct: fuel.

Whereas these farts don’t normally scent, Nielson says, sure prebiotics can set off extra pungent toots. You may thank their sulfur content material, which is “usually chargeable for the attribute ‘rotten egg’ odor,” Dr. Burkhart says. For instance, chicory root and Jerusalem artichokes (which, as Nielson factors out, go by the nickname “fartichokes”) are filled with the stuff.

In fact, these sodas are removed from the one meals or beverage that may trigger smellier-than-usual farts. Consuming different prebiotic-packed meals—say, a lunchtime salad filled with broccoli and cauliflower, a bowl of comforting black bean soup, or some chips and garlicky hummus—may have related penalties. And, like we talked about above, so can consuming non-prebiotic meals excessive in sulfur, like eggs, based on Dr. Burkhart. In the event you mix the soda with different sulfur-containing meals, the impact can be compounded. (Learn: extra stink.)

As for the gassiness on the whole? Prebiotics are likely to make up a bit of those sodas’ high-fiber content material—and going too onerous on fiber could be a one-way ticket to abdomen discomfort. Loads of these drinks additionally comprise synthetic sweeteners like allulose, erythritol, and stevia, Dr. Burkhart says; for those who’re delicate to those compounds, they will actually make you rip one (or two, or…many extra). Then there’s the bubbly nature of soda: Carbonation is thought to set off bloating and farting, particularly for those who guzzle it shortly or via a straw. “Fizzy drinks are stuffed with little fuel bubbles, and that fuel has to go someplace,” Nielsen says.