Beans, lentils and chickpeas are notorious for their ability to cause bloating and wind thanks to their high fibre content. Despite this, you may not need to avoid them altogether. Many people tolerate canned legumes better than they do dried varieties.
Simply place dried beans in a container, cover them with water and let them soak. They'll need to soak eight to 12 hours, but the key to eliminating the gas is draining and rinsing every three hours. Yup, you read that right. Drain, rinse and start soaking again every three hours.
Chickpeas are made up of oligosaccharides, sugars that are also found in other foods like rye, onions, and garlic. Since they are highly concentrated in chickpeas, a lot of it has to pass through our system, causing longer and more severe bouts of bloating or uneasiness.
Not all types of pulses increase gas equally. If one bean bothers you, try a different one to see if it causes less gas. Lentils, split peas and black-eyed peas, for example, are lower in gas-producing carbohydrates than other pulses. Chickpeas and navy beans are on the high end.
Risks. People should not eat raw chickpeas or other raw pulses, as they can contain toxins and substances that are difficult to digest. Even cooked chickpeas have complex sugars that can be difficult to digest and lead to intestinal gas and discomfort.
Chickpeas are high in dietary fiber, especially a soluble fiber called raffinose. The good bacteria in your gut breaks this down so your colon can digest it slowly. Studies have found that eating more chickpeas can help make bowel movements easier and more regular.
1. Allergic reaction. Some people are allergic to legumes, including chickpeas. Eating chickpeas if you have an intolerance may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and itching of the skin.
Generally, though, the majority of solid food will exit the stomach within two to four hours after you finish your meal, so you could start to experience gas after that period of digestion, says Dr. Singh. "If it's caused by an intolerance with dairy or gluten, gas can definitely happen sooner."
While not every recipe calls for soaking beans before cooking them, if beans give you gas, soaking can help. Soaking overnight and then discarding the soaking water leaches out sugars in beans that are responsible for gas production.
Legumes, or beans, are often called the “musical fruit” because they contain indigestible saccharides. Baked beans, chickpeas, lentils and soybeans have high amounts. So IBS patients should avoid them, or eat them in very small quantities.
Let's start with fiber. One half cup of cooked chickpeas provides a whopping six grams of dietary fiber. Fiber is a nutrient proven to promote both gut and heart health.
Rich in protein and fiber, chickpeas are also low-glycemic carbohydrates and full of inflammation-fighting nutrients.
According to several articles, soybeans are the fartiest and also contain the highest percentage of sugars. Navy beans and pinto beans are the next top offenders. And other worthy contestants include black beans, lima beans, black-eyed peas, and chickpeas.
Lentils, split peas and canned beans tend to be less gas-producing.
Common causes of foul-smelling gas can be a food intolerance, high-fiber foods, certain medications and antibiotics, and constipation. More serious causes are bacteria and infections in the digestive tract or, potentially, colon cancer.
Bananas may cause gas and bloating in some people due to their sorbitol and soluble fiber contents. This seems to be more likely among people with digestive issues or who aren't used to eating a fiber-rich diet.
Natural remedies for gas include: Peppermint tea. Chamomile tea. Anise.
Beans & Legumes
Note: some people claim that beans and legumes can cause inflammation because they contain lectins which are hard to break down. However soaking, sprouting and cooking beans and legumes can neutralize the lectins and make consuming these foods perfectly safe.
While including chickpeas in your diet may be beneficial for you, eating them daily may not be so healthy. Eating fibre and protein is good as far as your body is able to assimilate it. Excessive fibre or protein can lead to problems of indigestion like gas, bloating and acidity.
Canned chickpeas are pre-cooked chickpeas. You can eat canned chickpeas straight out of the can! (Just be sure to rinse them off before chowing down to wash out excess sodium) Otherwise, you can roast them or turn them into any number of delicious dishes, like these here.