Were you able to get your stomach to adapt to beans/legumes?

[Anonymous]

My husband and sons love bean-based dishes and I want to love them. I know the health benefits and like the idea of eating less meat. We always soak the beans overnight, which is supposed to make them easier on your stomach. But I still get horrible gas and sometimes diarrhea when I eat them.

Certain varieties seem worse than others (black beans are the worst). I seem to be more ok with chickpeas and lentils. I know quinoa isn't a bean but it also wreaks havoc on my digestion.

Any tips to adapting myself to these healthy foods? Right now we cook about 2 bean-based recipes a month and eat them for 2 days.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure you don’t have bean sensitivity? I love beans, and usually when eating then regularly, bloating / gas decreases. Don’t ever remember getting diarrhea though. If it’s this bad, may be beans are just not for you. Stick to lentil and garbanzo. Try to add cumin to beans, some say it helps with bloating. If nothing works, maybe beans are just not for you.

[Anonymous]

This sounds like an allergy. An allergist can do a blood test.

[Anonymous]

If you’re having diarrhea, it is a food sensitivity, and not some thing you are likely to be able to adapt to.

[Anonymous]

I would try taking gas-x or beano preemptively and eating small portions.

[Anonymous]

Mashing a bit helps with gas,but diarrhea I’m not sure about…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would try taking gas-x or beano preemptively and eating small portions.

This could be worth trying. Potentially along with an allergy test if available.

Also l have a family member everyone dreaded being in an enclosed space with right when they became vegetarian since the bean gas was intense. But after a month or two they adapted and it wasn't a problem anymore. Don't know more details than that.

[Anonymous]

I have ulcerative colitis. Over time by having them somewhat regularly I have been able to adapt to small amounts of very well-cooked beans, but it’s still a struggle.

[Anonymous]

You could try cooking them with a piece of kombu https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/kombu-a-nutritional-powerhouse-from-the-sea/2013/01/29/aa4bb830-4ad4-11e2-a6a6-aabac85e8036_story.html#

[Anonymous]

I’m ok with beans and lentils, but chick peas make me miserable. I almost wanted to cry from gas after eating a chick pea salad lol.

[Anonymous]

I can eat any legume as long as I don't follow it with any sugar or sugar substitute, and drink plenty of water in the hours after the meal. I read somewhere years ago that this would help, and it does.

I cannot eat raisins or dried fruit no matter what though.

[Anonymous]

Your body is telling you it doesn’t like it.
I will just cut it any kind of bean variety.

[Anonymous]

You have to soak the beans overnight to get rid of the indigestible stuff.

[Anonymous]

Nope. I love lentils and can eat them in small quantities, but any legume bigger than a lentil give me significant bloating, gas and discomfort. I love chickpeas but can't have more than, like, 5, at every meal

I have to be careful with cabbage, broccoli, onions, bell peppers, and some other foods as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope. I love lentils and can eat them in small quantities, but any legume bigger than a lentil give me significant bloating, gas and discomfort. I love chickpeas but can't have more than, like, 5, at every meal

I have to be careful with cabbage, broccoli, onions, bell peppers, and some other foods as well.

Me again. I've tried to soak beans, I've also tried to change out the water after boiling. I've given all these foods plenty of tries, but no. They just don't work for me.