According to WebMD, protein requirements vary from 50 to 60 grams, depending on sex. However, high-protein diets focus on adding more protein than you typically do through various sources. Some of the most common high-protein diets, like Paleo and Atkins, concentrate on getting more meats, poultry, fish, eggs, and vegetables into your life while cutting out the carbs, per Mayo Clinic.
However, high-protein foods, like eggs, meat, chicken, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, are also high in sulfur. According to WebMD, sulfur is in both cysteine and methionine, amino acids necessary for strong tissues and flexibility. Sulfur foods break down in the gut to create hydrogen sulfide, which can make your gas stinky. Research in Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care shows that having a bit of hydrogen sulfide in your gut through the breakdown of cysteine is beneficial to health, even though it might make your gas stink. But too much can cause adverse side effects.
If you think sulfur-rich foods might be causing your pungent gas, try balancing your meals with foods low in sulfur. For example, you might eat your chicken with a salad, including carrots, celery, mushrooms, and bell peppers. It’s all about balance.