There are so many things that a married couple discovers about each other only when they start living under the safe roof after tying the knot. Some habits, which might have seemed sweet during the courtship period, have the potential to slowly become the bone of contention between a couple. A husband might not like his wife’s habit of overspending whereas the lady of the house might be constantly annoyed by his habit of inviting people for dinner at the last moment. These are just some examples. But will you be surprised if we tell you that a husband’s most annoying (read stinky) habit might be the secret of his wife’s long life? At least that’s what the researchers at the University of Exeter have found.

Now, this might be the best piece of news for men, while for the rest of the population, it can be quite a shocker—according to a study conducted at the University of Exeter, farts have immunity-boosting properties. And it’s an open secret that men are more prone to flatulence than women and don’t most wives complain about their husbands’ habit of passing the gas?

According to the researchers, the chemical compound called hydrogen sulphide, which is responsible for the nose-pinching stink of flatulence, might have potent health benefits when a person is exposed to it in low dose. Explaining the findings of the study, the researchers said that to understand the science of flatulence, one needs to first know about the large number of microbes present in the human body, particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. Some of the byproducts that these microbes produce during the metabolic process have protective properties, and hydrogen sulphide happens to be one of those.

Interestingly, with it’s antioxidant and other properties, the foul-smelling hydrogen sulphide is considered to have many health benefits. Several studies have brought to light that hydrogen sulphide is beneficial in treating age-associated diseases, thereby adding years to a person’s life. However, some studies challenge the health benefits of farting because high exposure to hydrogen sulphide can actually be detrimental for health

So, the next time, before you complain about your husband’s disgusting habit of passing the gas, take a deep breath, pause and think about the many benefits (or not) it has to offer!