Can lentils cause gas?
Lentils, those small legumes found all over the world, have been considered one of the world’s healthiest food sources. However, there is a lingering question that many are asking – can lentils cause gas? Now, before we dive too deep into this topic and start blaming innocent little beans for our embarrassing flatulence at family gatherings, let’s understand what causes gas in the first place.
Understanding Gas
Gas is simply air that enters your digestive tract when you swallow or breathe. But it doesn’t stop there; as digestion begins to break down food in your stomach and intestines, more gas is formed. The gases produced here include nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen, hydrogen sulphide, etc., all with their unique odor profiles. These gases move through your intestinal tract until they are eventually expelled via farting or belching.
Why do Some Foods Cause More Gas than Others?
Certain foods have properties that can slow down digestion; fiber being one such property. While fiber isn’t directly responsible for causing gas during a meal like protein does (more on this later), it instead influences how quickly digested materials travel through our gut and exit from our bodies.
Another factor influencing whether a particular food generates gassiness would be based on its carbohydrate content – oligosaccharides specifically- which remain largely undigested within intestinal tracts[1] due to the enzyme inefficiency common in most humans.[2]
The natural breakdown process leads to subsequent fermentation by colonic bacteria resulting in increased flatus production and distension.
Further examples of carbohydrates present in foods associated with high levels of flatus production consist namely: raffinose (found mainly crystallised sugar beetroot syrup^3), lactose (a type of disaccharide molecule found naturally within milk-based products) fructose^4,[5], stachyose (typically present in legumes such as beans, peas and lentils ) [6]. At the same time, proteins have to undergo minimum digestion process in the stomach^7 with the use of acid primarily then enter into a higher degree of hydrolysis via enzymes once they reach our intestine.
Why do Lentils Cause Gas?
Lentils are natural sources of dietary fiber which can lead to delayed digestion. This delay results in a buildup of gases. Furthermore, lentils also contain significant amounts of oligosaccharides that cannot be broken down by human digestive enzymes.^5
Hence plenty amount is left for fermentation in our gut resulting in gas production.
Another major reason for being gassy is connected with these dry beans’ relatively low fat content count[7]: Fats seem to slow food passage from your stomach through your intestines , providing more opportunity for intestinal bacteria to create gas.[8]
We Are Not Saying Stop Eating Them!
Eating lentils comes with many health benefits like essential amino acids and if cooked properly there would not be much problem.
Let’s face it; no one wants to send out an attack on everyone within arm’s reach at social events due to something they ate earlier! But potentially avoiding foods rich in carbohydrates like Lentil soup altogether isn’t necessarily worth it when you know how hugely healthy their components are![11]
So what can we do? Guzzling water during meal-time or munching on peppermint afterwards may help minimize gastrointestinal distresses caused by ingesting beans and other high-fiber packed foodstuffs however moderation will always prove key!
Tips For Making Legume-Based Dishes More Digestible
- Soak Legumes(with exception towards pre-soaked canned products) overnight before cooking them thoroughly
- Rinse rinsed several times under running water .
- Flipping entirely any soaking liquid prior proceeding freshly made batches – this approach contents high levels of gas-promoting active ingredients such as oligosaccharides present at higher concentrations grow within the soaking water;
- Cook Lentils preferably separately from any high fiber vegetables or components like beans without including desired herbacy.; This enables keep all their ingredients digestible and separates prebiotic food sources.
- Adding certain herbs/spices when cooking lentils can make them more nutritious for a daily diet; Ginger, turmeric & Cumin (Indian Spices) have antioxidant properties that aid in the digestion process.
Conclusion: Can Lentils Cause Gas?
In conclusion, yes! Any food with a lot of fiber or carbohydrates may cause gas – and this includes our beloved lentils. However, that doesn’t mean we should stop consuming it altogether as there are ways to lessen its gassy effects – before mentioned tips being applicable- alternated with due diligence which promotes better eating choices nationwide![10] Overall these leguminous seeds add immensely to your diet especially when monitored responsibly. With some moderate experimentation, it’s possible that you’ll find out how much intake works best suited for both tummy comfort and nutritional needs.[9]
So carry on enjoying these emerald jewel-like nutrient packages , just remember not become affected once they reach the digestive tract[12].