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Ways to Reduce Flatulence From Beans

Beans provide us with protein, fiber and minerals to keep a regular digestive tract and stay healthy. Vegetarians often use beans in place of meat because of these healthy benefits, but beans can increase flatulence due to a sugar they contain that our bodies cannot process. Vegetarian or not, if you love beans but hate the idea of an embarrassing bout of gas after consuming them, learn ways to reduce the flatulence to help.

  1. No Canned

    • Avoid canned beans and stick with ones you soak and cook yourself. Soaking the beans overnight or for longer if the specific brand instructs can release some of their gas-promoting sugars. Change soaking water at least two times during the process, don't cook the beans too fast when they are ready for cooking and rinse them once after cooking to further help dissipate gas-causing sugars.

    Enzyme Supplement

    • Try taking a natural enzyme supplement made specifically to reduce gas prior to eating beans. You can usually find these at your local drug store and they work by providing your body with the enzymes it needs to help breakdown the sugars in beans. Take it prior to eating the beans as a preventative step, or take it afterward to help treat gas or lessen it.

    Eating Speed

    • Don't eat beans too fast. Eating any food too fast can cause you to intake air while you eat and create embarrassing gas bubbles in your stomach. If you are eating beans take slow and small bites and chew your food thoroughly. A good rule of thumb is to bite down on food at least five times to ensure you chew food enough and don't eat too fast.

    Don't Mix

    • Avoid pairing beans with other foods or beverages that enhance flatulence. This includes greasy foods that your stomach cannot process quickly, fatty meats and dairy products along with caffeine and carbonated beverages. All of these can upset the digestive tract and lead you to produce more gas. Also if you notice any other foods in particular that cause you to have more gas, avoid pairing them with beans.

    Dietary Tricks

    • Change your daily diet to help promote digestion and reduce flatulence overall. Drinking a cup of ginger tea after a meal can ease the stomach and help reduce bloating and gas, so try doing this after eating beans or a large meal. Also add yogurt with probiotic digestion-promoting enzymes to our daily diet either in the morning or at night to help fight flatulence and keep your digestive tract healthy.

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