Doctors explain how Will Smith’s diet can cause extreme gas – after Men in Black director says actor’s flatulence cleared film set

Oscar winner Will Smith accelerated on the Men in Black set so sharply it caused an evacuation of the cast and crew for three hours, the film’s director said.

Gastrointestinal experts suggested that the actor likely had an overgrowth of bacteria in his small intestine, leading to the excessive flatulence described by the film’s director Barry Sonnenfeld, who said, “Will Smith is a fart.”

Mr. Sonnenfeld, who also directed the Addams Family films, said Mr. Smith was embarrassed by accidentally passing gas on set in 1997 while he and co-star Tommy Lee Jones were in a “hermetically sealed” capsule .

The 56-year-old has previously admitted that he is a ‘gassy’ person and that his family ridiculed him about it in a roundtable discussion with his children and wife Jada.

Flatulence is harmless, but can be problematic in social situations. It is a normal function of healthy digestion and, aside from the occasional public embarrassment, is usually nothing to worry about.

Excessive gas can come from certain foods that are difficult to digest and could indicate irritable bowel syndrome, an imbalance of gut bacteria or even an allergy.

According to the director’s recollection, the incident occurred when Smith and co-star Tommy Lee Jones were in a transforming car, which required them to be “hermetically sealed” in a capsule.

According to Mr. Sonnenfeld, Mr. Smith’s gas was so pungent that cast and crew were forced to evacuate the area until the stench dissipated.

He said: ‘We evacuated the stage for about three hours. And that’s incredible. No, he’s, you know, a nice guy. Just, he farts.’

Excessive smelly flatulence may be the result of an imbalance in intestinal bacteria that can produce sulfur-containing gases, which are responsible for the strong odor.

When the bacteria that populate the intestines are out of balance, harmful bacteria can overgrow and produce more smelly byproducts as they break down undigested food.

Most of the human bacteria in the body are stored in the large intestine, commonly called the intestine. The small intestine typically has a smaller population of bacteria.

It is normal for bacteria to live in the small intestine, but too much can overwhelm the good bacteria and cause digestive problems.

Dr. Shilpa Sayana, a Los Angeles internist, told DailyMail.com: ‘I think his acrid gas was probably hydrogen sulphide dominant SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), a medical condition that is often underdiagnosed in some people. easy to repair solutions.

‘Treatments range from antibiotics, supplements, dietary changes and evaluating underlying causes, such as recent food poisoning, chronic stress and exposure to toxins.’

The average healthy person has one or two bowel movements a day, but Mr Smith revealed on a 2019 episode of Red Table Talk that he suffers from frequent constipation and says he can go three days without a bowel movement.

His son Jaden responded, “That’s not right. And that’s why your farts smell like that.’

When his mother-in-law then said she was “always gassy,” Smith agreed, adding, “I like being gassy.”

While the body’s bacterial composition plays an important role in digestion and gas formation, the food we eat is also a factor in what gives gas its distinctive odor.

Sulfur-rich foods can lead to foul-smelling flatulence because intestinal bacteria break down the sulfur-containing compounds in these foods, creating hydrogen sulfide gas, which has a characteristic rotten egg odor.

Will Smith, pictured in 2017, has admitted to being a gassy person in the past, but he said it doesn’t bother him

Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower, as well as garlic and onions, meat and eggs, and certain types of beans contain sulphur.

Milk and other dairy products can also cause gas, as can some fruits that are high in fructose, a type of sugar. When the digestive system does not process fructose properly, it can lead to stomach pain, bloating, diarrhea and bad gas.

Smith’s wife, Jada, cited his diet at the table as a contributing factor.

She said, ‘What if you’re going to eat broccoli and then ice cream? Chocolate cake and an apple? That’s why he smells the way he smells.’

Dr. Sheila Walker-Carroll, a holistic practitioner based in Dallas, said undigested food can ferment in the intestines, resulting in the production of gases with a particularly unpleasant odor.

She added that not getting enough water can make the problem worse: ‘Insufficient water intake can affect digestion and lead to constipation, which can worsen gas problems.’

Excessive flatulence can also indicate irritable bowel syndrome, which causes disturbances in bowel function, including altered motility, which causes gas retention and leads to bloating.

Certain allergies can also cause excessive and especially smelly gas.

Dr. David Clarke, a gastroenterologist in Oregon, said: ‘Diseases (such as celiac disease) that cause reduced absorption of nutrients from the intestines can lead to increased gas formation as the nutrients are metabolized by bacteria.

Dr. Walker-Carroll added: ‘Intolerances (such as lactose or gluten) can lead to gas as the body struggles to break down certain foods.’