Beans and flatulence

[Dom Tuk]

Why does eating beans/pulses/chickpeas etc cause flatulence. Does it affect all males/races?. Are women less susceptible or (do they just not let rip). Is there anyway to enjoy these foods without its embarrasing byproduct

[ursula62]

If you are cooking the pulses from scratch, you can limit the gassy effect somewhat by presoaking, and when you bring them to the boil, skim off the scum. After about 20 mins, change the water completely and boil them for 2 hours skimming off any further scum from the water surface as it appears.  Nothing you can do if you're using tinned pulses as they are already cooked and ready to eat from the tin.

However, you can never get rid of the gas completely. It is up to your body to get used to it... you can help by adding pulses to your diet gradually, e.g. adding a handful of cooked pulses to your pasta sauce or shepherds pie mix.

[Grunty]

Regarding the second part of the question, some research four or five years ago showed that women do it less often, but it smells worse.  You and I probably paid for that useful piece of research!  Yes, women are susceptible but they have the decency to be alone at such times.

[gastwo]

Or blame the dog...

[nicola_red]

I find the more often you eat food like that the less it affects you.  As a veggie for 14 years I eat beans and pulses almost daily and rarely feel any of these effects anymore.  Or perhaps it's just because I'm female!

[rinkytink]

 

Watching Rick Steins food heroes last night. He visited an award winning herb grower. She mentioned the name of a herb that will prevent flatulence.........but I can't remember the name of it !!!!

[ursula62]

Savory.

But you would have to eat a lot of it with the beans, e.g. a salad sized portion.

[redmug100]

To answer the first part of your question: Beans & pulses contain complex carbohydrates that cannot be broken down in the upper digestive tract. They have to be broken down in the large bowel by friendly bacteria.  This process produces numerous gasses including carbon dioxide, methayne and hydrogen sulpate(responsable for the smell!). Chickpeas if eaten without other pulses shouldn't have that effect as they are mainly proteen.