Beans, and other legumes like chickpeas, lentils and soybeans, are high in soluble fiber, which is considered beneficial for digestion. Unfortunately, it’s this soluble fiber that is also central to why they cause so much gas when you eat them.
Beans (legumes) cause gas because they contain a particular sugar, called an oligosaccharide, that the human body can not break down fully. Oligosaccharides are large molecules. Other sugars are broken down and absorbed in the small intestine, but the human body does not produce an enzyme that breaks down oligosaccharides.
Soaking beans and other legumes overnight before cooking them can greatly reduce the amount of gas-causing galactans they contain. To do this, add them to a large bowl of water, cover them with a tea towel and leave them on a kitchen bench overnight. Drain and then boil them in fresh water to cook them.
Why do beans make you fart?
It is the bacteria in the intestine that finally breaks down these sugars. Doing so causes fermentation and the production of gas that we release as flatulence. By the same principle, other foods that come into the large intestine without being absorbed in the small intestine will cause gas.
How do you get rid of gas from beans?
To prevent gas that is caused by eating beans or other foods, the oligosaccharides must be broken down before they reach the large intestine and become food for the resident bacteria that live there. There is an enzyme that breaks down oligosaccharides, called alpha-galactosidase.
How long does it take for beans to help with gas?
But after three to four weeks, flatulence levels for all the beans returned to normal as people adjusted to the increased fiber. Dr. Todorov points out, however, that 6 to 12 percent of the people saw no decrease in gas with any bean. “People vary in their response to different legumes,” she says.
Why do some foods give you gas?
Foods with certain types of sugars and a lot of soluble fiber may cause gas. This is because the body breaks them down in the intestines, not the stomach. Many of the foods that can give you gas are healthy and essential in your diet.