Guwahati, April 4 -- Maximilienne Toetie Allaart, University of Tubingen

We've all been there: you try your best to keep it in, but you just can't hold it anymore. You have to let it slip - how bad could it be? Then the unpleasant smell wafts your way, and all you can do is hope that no one comes near you for the next couple of minutes.

However uncomfortable or embarrassing they are, farts are natural and a sign that your digestive system is alive. Quite literally, actually. It's not just your own body that's responsible for producing gases. Trillions of microbes live in your gut, helping you digest your food - and producing farts in the process.

Our gut microbes play an indispensable role in our health. This is why it's so important t...