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Why do beans make people so gassy?

Beans can cause people to fart due to the carbohydrates they contain. In particular, beans contain oligosaccharides, which are non-digestible, fermentable fibers that can cause excessive gas in some people. The body cannot easily digest oligosaccharides. Therefore, these undigested carbohydrates reach the large intestine, where bacteria help to break them down. This results in the production of gas as a by-product of this digestive process. Certain oligosaccharides that are present in beans are responsible for producing more gas than other carbohydrates. For example, beans are rich in raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs) , which include carbs such as raffinose and stachyose. The body does not naturally contain an enzyme known as α-galactosidase, which is responsible for breaking these carbs down. Instead, these carbs travel to the large intestine where they undergo microbial fermentation by colonic bacteria. This results in the production of gases such as hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide, which causes flatulence. Producing excessive gas can result in the following symptoms: farting abdominal rumblings abdominal discomfort cramps diarrhea nausea If a person believes they are experiencing these symptoms due to eating beans, it is advisable to keep a food journal. This will allow them to record what they have eaten and when they experience flatulence.