why do beans make you gassy?

It’s National Eat Your Beans Day (who knew that was a thing?!) and we couldn’t help but wonder the one thing on everyone’s mind this special ‘holiday.’

Why do beans make you gassy?

Beans can make you gassy because they contain complex sugars called oligosaccharides, specifically raffinose and stachyose. Human digestive systems lack the enzyme alpha-galactosidase needed to break down these sugars. As a result, oligosaccharides pass through the stomach and small intestine undigested and reach the large intestine.

In the large intestine, the oligosaccharides are fermented by bacteria, producing gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and methane. This fermentation process leads to the buildup of gas, which can cause bloating, discomfort, and the release of gas, commonly known as flatulence.