Gassy Beans

[goodgiver]

I know that this ? must be in this thread somewhere but I can't find it. How does a person reduce the amount of gas that beans produce when made into soup or anything else?

[Uncle Bob]

If you are talking about dried beans...soaking over-night then pouring off the soaking water....par-boiling...boil for several minutes then pour off water and start with fresh..and epazote an herb you might find (dried) in the produce specialty section of your grocery...

There may be other ingredients in your soup that will cause this condition also.

Hope this helps

[Aurora]

There are nearly as many "tricks" to reduce the gas effects of beans as there are cooks. I've never seen any scientific study or empirical evidence that measures the true flatus quotient of beans or other foods. All I have heard or seen are based upon rumor or folklore.

None of the suggestions I've seen, and I've tried most of them, have had any significant influence on my system after eating typical gas producing foods. I would not discourage you from trying any of them. After all, what do you have to lose?

Intestinal gas and flatus caused by indigestible complex sugars in certain foods varies from person to person. What may work for one person may not work for another. My father could eat beans, cabbage, cucumbers, etc. and suffer little gassy consequence, however, I must have inherited my mother's digestive system since I could fill a blimp after enjoying the same foods no matter how they were prepared.

The gas is caused by bacteria in the intestine which is able to digest the complex sugars and the gas is the byproduct of their digestion. The only true method of relieving the gas without lighting up the room is to keep the intestinal bacteria from having a feast by breaking down the complex sugars into digestible sugars. There is an enzyme contained in certain molds that will break these sugars down to more simple compounds. This enzyme is sold over the counter as a supplement pill or liquid under brand names such as Bean-o and Bean-zyme.

Perhaps someone should write to MythBusters to take on the bean challenge.

[Candocook]

By building up a tolerance for the type of fiber that beans have. Eating them often and getting your digestive tract familiar with them.

[skilletlicker]

Originally Posted by Candocook

By building up a tolerance for the type of fiber that beans have. Eating them often and getting your digestive tract familiar with them.

Agreed with emphasis!

[suzyQ3]

Originally Posted by Candocook

By building up a tolerance for the type of fiber that beans have. Eating them often and getting your digestive tract familiar with them.

Uh, still waiting here.

[Candocook]

Originally Posted by suzyQ3

Uh, still waiting here.

Not sure I "get" it. ;o)

[redkitty]

Sigh. Welcome to the life of a vegetarian! I still soak beans and discard the water thinking this helps. I'm about to try Bean-O!!

[jennyema]

Originally Posted by skilletlicker

Agreed with emphasis!

What kind of "emphasis?"


I love beans and eat them all the time but still have a bit of a problem sometimes. I think draining the soaking water helps a bit, as does Beano but have not found epazote to work at all. Perhaps this is just me though. I just plan my bean eating such that I avoid business meetings and social events and the like. My gas doesn't bother me.

[Constance]

I have read that putting an aspirin in the beans disables the enzymes that cause the flatulence.
I don't bother...it's more fun to play fart football.