Producing gas is one of the most natural bodily functions everyone has.Yet, it is considered embarrassing and funny at times. Let’s look at some reasons to understand why do we fart and how to avoid this discomfort.Farting (flatulence), also commonly referred to as gas, is the intestinal wind that is passed from our body. Every single person on the earth produces gas at an average human farts around 5-15 times a day! There are multiple reasons why we form gases in our digestive tracks. One of the reasons is that we swallow air while talking, chewing, or drinking carbonated drinks, which are high in sugar (oligosaccharides). This air forms gases once they move through our stomach, colon, and eventually rectum. This regular gas build-up is natural. In fact, it is actually a sign of good health to some extent.Our diet consists of a variety of foods, including dairy, beans, eggs, fast food, and some of these foods are high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, which are a leading cause of gas build-up in our body. This can also lead to bloating. Beans are seeds of several genera of a plant family, Fabaceae. Eating legumes is healthy and is an excellent source of fiber. Some of the most common types we eat include black beans, kidney beans, which are more likely to be gassy. There are around 400 varieties of dry beans found around the whole world!If you are curious to know more about such fun topics, click here to learn more about why do judges wear wigs, and why do we fall.Why do beans cause gas?Beans and legumes (musical fruit) are a standard part of our dietary culture. They are one of the main culprits causing gas and bloating. We consume various types of beans like pinto beans, baked beans, or legumes such as chickpeas and peanuts. In fact, black beans are full of heart-healthy nutrients and are recommended for a healthy lifestyle.Beans are very rich in fiber. They also contain a complex chemical called raffinose, which is difficult for our body to digest due to an enzyme called alpha-galactosidase. It is a complex sugar. When we eat a bowl of beans or legumes, they absorb water to form a paste-like texture. Once it reaches the small and large intestine, the good gut bacteria and enzymes ferment these beans and produce gas (flatulence) during digestion. Eating them too quickly can cause bloating, stomach ache, and stomach discomfort. Another reason is that beans also contain oligosaccharides, which cannot be broken down by the human body and be absorbed in the blood. Hence, it directly goes to our large intestine and small intestine where bacteria break down and absorb these oligosaccharides and release gas containing hydrogen and methane, which causes you to fart. This is actually normal and medically reviewed to be in good health.How long do beans make you fart?Beans are healthy when eaten in moderate quantities, but when too many beans are consumed in a short amount of time, it has a few downsides. So, even though we love cooking kidney bean and mashed bean paste, it can cause a lot of gas and bloating and make your digestive system feel uncomfortable. Beans are also high in fiber and sugar, and these sugars in beans can make the digestive system a bit woozy and cause gas. In general, it is normal to feel flatulent six to eight hours post-eating. You might be thinking how long do these symptoms persist?The answer to that question is around two to three weeks, according to a study done in 2011. Here the participants had eaten around half a cup of beans daily. If you have ingested beans recently and your digestion and digestive system are functioning normally, it could just take up to 11 hours to digest the sugars and fibers, and the symptoms could subside within a day, too. The important part is to remember that this process is normal and that you can try various methods to reduce any discomfort you could face by finding out which method works best for you.How to get rid of gas after eating beans?As you might have experienced sometimes, beans can cause discomfort and embarrassment. Excessive bean intake can cause gas, bloating, and pain. This is due to beans containing raffinose, which is difficult to process due to alpha-galactosidase. Even though it is a sign of good health, some tips can help you reduce this discomfort and embarrassment.To reduce this gas and bloating, the trick is to introduce legumes into your diet slowly. Start small and eventually build up to intake more beans. It is said that cooking slowly and soaking canned beans will help reduce gas. Chewing each and every bite slowly can also help in reducing gas. Another household method includes adding a bit of epazote and carom seeds while cooking them. And don’t forget to cook the beans thoroughly until they are soft to avoid any discomfort afterward!What foods make you fart?Due to increasing dependencies on fast foods and hotel-made food, our diet has considerably changed. This has also changed the way we process food. Drinking a lot of carbonated drinks daily also has a significant impact on producing more gases, and hence, we fart more.Some of the typical food we eat that makes you fart include dairy products, eggs, onions, broccoli, wheat, whole grain, cabbage, pork, fruits, and many more, but what makes us fart after eating these types of foods? Most of these types of food are high in fiber, contain raffinose (difficult to digest due to alpha-galactosidase), and sulphur containing chemicals like methionine or gluten. Some of these nutrients or chemicals are hard to process. When the food products contain sulphur, it can lead to smelly farts we all despise! However, the gut bacteria and enzymes in our gut utilize this source of energy which gives the by-product wind, which composes of hydrogen and methane in our colon.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do beans make you fart, then why not take a look at why do we need elections, or why do men grow beards?
Producing gas is one of the most natural bodily functions everyone has.
