Smelling Your Partner's Farts Has Many Health Benefits, According To Research

While there are many things that can make us laugh in a relationship, nothing guarantees anywhere near as many LOLs as the controversial act known as the infamous 'Dutch oven'. You're smirking just thinking about it, aren't you?

A simple yet effective wind-up method, the offender just has to rip a mean, ponging fart in bed, before tactically wafting and simultaneously pulling the duvet over their partner's head.

Weirdly, we tend to be less repulsed by the scent of our own flatulence, but effectively hotboxing your partner with its potent nature provides all-round great fun - a tried-and tested pranking classic.

But as much as your bed-mate might like to complain about it, researchers at the University of Exeter have found that it could actually be good for your partner to inhale your stench. Seriously.

One of the researchers, Dr Mark Wood, said: "Although hydrogen sulfide is well known as a pungent, foul-smelling gas in rotten eggs and flatulence, it is naturally produced in the body and could in fact be a healthcare hero with significant implications for future therapies for a variety of diseases."

Hydrogen sulfide is one of the gases released that provides farts with their God-awful smell, but also gives them various health benefits.

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Researchers found that the microbial byproduct can actually reduce the risk of various life threatening illnesses like cancer, heart attacks and strokes, as well as preventing arthritis and dementia in old age, as well as helping to preserve mitochondria, which drives energy production in blood vessel cells and regulate inflammation.

"When cells become stressed by disease, they draw in enzymes to generate minute quantities of hydrogen sulfide," said Professor Matt Whiteman, from the University of Exeter's medical school.

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"This keeps the mitochondria ticking over and allows cells to live. If this doesn't happen, the cells die and lose the ability to regulate survival and control inflammation."

To make sure the body retains and produces the right amount of hydrogen sulfide, the researchers created a compound known as AP39.

Whiteman added: "We have exploited this natural process by making a compound, called AP39, which slowly delivers very small amounts of this gas specifically to the mitochondria.

"Our results indicate that if stressed cells are treated with AP39, mitochondria are protected and cells stay alive."

So next time you stink out the bedroom and you get an earful, you can tell your other half that you're actually doing it to benefit them, then do it some more. Cupcake them, if you really care about them.

Topics: Research, Community, Weird, Health

Mark McGowan

Mark is a journalist at LADbible, who joined in 2015 after a year as a freelance writer. In the past he blogged for independent football fan channel Redmen TV, after graduating from Staffordshire University with degrees in journalism and English literature. He has worked on campaigns such as UOKM8? and IIOC.