Beans and other foods high in oligosaccharides can cause gas due to difficulty digesting the sugar. The gas is mostly odorless and not harmful, but can be reduced by soaking and rinsing beans before cooking. Combining beans with dairy and eating quickly can also increase gas.
Many people have noted that beans can have an effect on the gastrointestinal tract, which often manifests itself in the form of gas. This trend is so related to beans that a popular children’s rhyme references it. Many other foods can also increase gas, including other legumes, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and onions. This is because some sugars in these foods are difficult for the human body to break down; beans cause gas because they are often particularly high in this sugar.
While most people may not be aware of it, most of the gas created by beans is actually odorless. The perfumed part consists mainly of volatile sulfur compounds. Specific gases such as sulfur can also be released as bacteria in the intestinal process in other parts of a meal. While the gas may not smell good, it is generally not harmful. Diners may want to avoid combining beans with other odorous foods such as members of the onion family if they’re particularly concerned.
The substance in beans that causes gas is oligosaccharide, a type of sugar that is not normally digestible by the human body. Beans cause gas when this sugar enters the large intestine, which is home to an abundance of bacteria. Since sugar hasn’t been broken down early in the digestive process, these bacteria take hold of it as a source of nutrition, consuming it and multiplying rapidly. The resulting gas is a byproduct of the digestive process of bacteria.
Beans are also high in fiber, another substance that tends to increase gas. Additionally, they are often combined with dairy products in burritos and other Mexican foods; many people are familiar with the side effects of such food, especially when it is eaten quickly. It appears that eating fast makes it harder for the body to break down food, increasing the chance of gas. Stress can also contribute to the problem.
Raw beans cause gas in larger amounts. People who want to reduce their risk can consider soaking the beans for at least eight hours before cooking and rinsing them. Canned beans also need to be rinsed thoroughly. The water appears to rinse out some of the gas-causing sugar, making the beans less potentially volatile. It also happens to shorten cooking times, which can be convenient for cooks in a hurry. When cooking beans, it’s important to make sure they cook until soft.
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