![\"Dotdash](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0a83f053e97340cf4314e66fc6f8cf57.jpeg\"\/)
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Dotdash Meredith Food Studios<\/p>\n
Beans are magical, and not just in fairy tales. Everyone from your favorite social media chef to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/a> is pushing for increased bean consumption<\/a>, and there\u2019s plenty of good reason\u2014beans<\/a> are rich in protein and fiber, making them an affordable foundation for a nutritious and filling meal.<\/p>\n Despite their benefits, you could say beans don\u2019t have the best reputation, thanks to their … after-effects. So, when we heard about a simple trick that helps reduce gas in beans, you bet we investigated the method.<\/p>\n Why Do Beans Cause So Much Gas?<\/p>\n \u201cBeans produce gas mainly due to oligosaccharides, which are complex sugars like raffinose and stachyose,\u201d says recipe developer and food expert Rizwan Asad<\/a>. \u201cWe lack the enzymes to break these down, so they end up fermenting in the gut, creating gas.\u201d<\/p>\n According to our friends at Eating Well<\/a>, high-protein foods contain compounds that can exacerbate gas or lactose in dairy. In beans\u2019 case, hard-to-digest complex carbohydrates (including oligosaccharides and fiber) cause further fermentation and discomfort.<\/p>\n Soup Loving Nicole<\/p>\n Why Cooking Beans with a Carrot Makes Them Less Gassy<\/p>\n While it\u2019s not exactly a scientific breakthrough, cooking a carrot in your beans does help cut back on gas. \u201cThe idea behind it is that carrots\u2014when cooked with beans\u2014may absorb some of the compounds that contribute to gas,\u201d Asad says. \u201cIt\u2019s not that the gas literally ends up in the carrot, but rather that the carrot may alter the cooking liquid or help with digestion in a more indirect way.\u201d<\/p>\n Other Ways to Prevent Gas<\/p>\n The carrot method helps cut down on gas, but it\u2019s not the only way to make eating beans a more enjoyable process. Here are five other tips to implement into your bean routine:<\/p>\n Soak your beans overnight: \u201cSoaking beans<\/a> is by far one of the most effective ways to reduce gas,\u201d Asad says. \u201cLet them sit in water for 8 to 12 hours and make sure to discard the soaking water\u2014this removes much of those gas-causing sugars.\u201d If you truly don\u2019t have time to soak your beans, rehydrate them in a pressure cooker<\/a>.<\/p>\n Consult your pantry: Spices and herbs like cumin, bay leaves, and fennel, as well as baking soda, are known to help break down the gas-causing sugars in beans. Warm beverages like mint or ginger tea can also aid digestion.<\/p>\n Take a supplement: Digestion-easing supplements like Beano and asafoetida<\/a> exist for a reason. For best results, take your supplement before eating the beans.<\/p>\n Move it around: Go for a walk, hit the gym, or give yourself a little belly massage after eating to loosen and release any gas in your abdomen. It sounds silly, but it works.<\/p>\n![\"Soup](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/d1ecee9fb495833ebdbcf3f664adfe8f.jpeg\"\/)
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