Lentils, beans & farting

Forums: Food And Drink, Beans, Farting, Lentils
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Why do beans & lentils that cause flatulence?
And is there anyway around the problem?
Madhur Jaffrey (in one of her cookbooks) suggested boiling the beans, then draining the water & replacing with fresh water, then cooking. That was supposed to resolve the problem. It didn't, when I tried this method ...

Tonight I made a wonderfully tasty, super-healthy lentil & many splendid vegetable soup for dinner. My friend C & I really enjoyed it .... But the after effects! Momma mia! Shocked

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I was often told to allow them to soak in water overnight.

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Yes, that's mainly to soften them for cooking, edgar. And before that, I do the picking over business, to get rid on any dodgy beans/lentils & foreign objects. Then wash them under running water a number of times before cooking. Maybe, no matter what you do, beans DO mean farts!? Confused

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I just cook them and then it's every man for himself.

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my friend swears to adding vinegar to the cooking beans ...I say fart away though...healthy...and invest in plug in air freshener:-)

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http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1585/is_n6_v20/ai_16816260

Quote:

Methane and other gases are generated in the colon by bacteria that break down the large quantities of fiber found in beans, grains, and vegetables.

So what should I say? Chinese food, and anything that contains a lot of milk, has the same effect on me. Look out!

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Some interesting links:

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992096
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1585/is_n6_v20/ai_16816260
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/47/60.cfm

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Oh, incidentally, beans cause gas because they contain large amounts of raffinose (oligosaccharides) and our digestive system lacks the necessary raffinase to break it down. Beano contains raffinase.

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I read the other day that if you include a chunk of fresh ginger in the water that it will keep you from farting.

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I have read that if you fart in fresh ginger water all the microscopic life in the water will die slow, agonizing deaths.

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That may be true gustav, but never did a fart smell sweeter.

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Thanks, folks for the advice, comments, links & information. Indeed, at A2K, you can "ask an expert" & get an answer! Smile

You know, I never thought of farting as a USEFUL, indeed healthy, thing to do. I guess you just have to choose the right times to indulge in beans & lentils ... like not the night before that important job interview! :wink:

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Lentils, beans & farting

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