Beans are packed with protein, nutrients and are not to mention, they are delicious. It is very popular in many cultures as staple food and one of the best things about it is that it is easy to store and it's longevity makes it a great addition to any pantry.
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But the eternal problem with beans is that they are extremely flatulence inducing aka, they make you fart more than usual.
Why do beans make you flatulent?
As per Bon Appetit, the secret of why beans make us fart lies in the fact that it contains sugars called raffinose, which is the main culprit causing gas. An enzyme called alpha-galactosidase is needed to break down raffinose and the human digestive tract just so happens not to have it.
Raffinose sugar from the beans then ends up fermenting in the gut, which leads to the production of gas inside the stomach, which is then released by the body.
What to do to prevent it?
The fact is that flatulence is normal part of consuming beans and so there is no way to completely eliminate it. There are however steps you can take to offset the gassy feeling to an extent.
According to The Bean Institute, one of the best ways to prevent beans for making you fart, is to soak them. While ideally, soaking them overnight is the best way to go, but when in a pinch, even a quick rinse can make a huge difference.
You can also add herbs in beans in order to prevent flatulence. These ingredients include kombu, which is a Japanese seaweed, cumin seeds, fennel, and even ginger and peppermint.
While it might be embarrassing to fart, if you don’t experience any serious physical discomfort from eating beans, there is no reason why you should let a couple of farts keep you from enjoying this delicious and nutritious food.
Sources used:
Bon Appetit: ‘Whispers: Why Do Beans Make Me Fart? Is There Anything I Can Do?’
The Bean Institute: ‘Two Ways to Soak Beans to Reduce Gas’
Cleveland Clinic: ‘What You Should Know About Beans and the (Embarrassing) Gas They Cause’
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