Digestive Health Bloating & Gas Print Why Beans Cause Gas Medically reviewed by linkedin Medically reviewed by Priyanka Chugh, MD on December 02, 2019 Priyanka Chugh, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Learn about our Medical Review Board Priyanka Chugh, MD on December 02, 2019 Written by facebook twitter linkedin Written by Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial policy Amber J. Tresca Lauri Patterson/Vetta/Getty Images More in Digestive Health Bloating & Gas Daily Care Exams & Procedures Celiac Disease Constipation Diarrhea Inflammatory Bowel Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome More Digestive Diseases Peptic Ulcer Disease Heartburn SIBO Gallbladder Disease Stomach Flu Hemorrhoids View All Everyone passes gas about 14 times a day, and it can happen even while sleeping. Gas is part of the natural digestive process, and there's no getting around it. If gas isn't bothersome for any reason, it's typically not something to worry about. However, many people find gas embarrassing, particularly if passing an excessive amount of gas. It is true that some foods may tend to make a person produce more gas than other foods. In particular, foods that have a high fiber content are a frequent offender when it comes to causing symptoms of gas and bloating. It is also true that most people do not get enough fiber in their diet and should be eating more fibrous foods. One food that has an especially notorious reputation when it comes to gas is beans. Beans are well-known for their ability to cause flatulence, but the cause as to why may surprise you. Understanding Gas Intestinal gas is primarily composed of hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, all gasses that are, odorless. In about one-third of people, however, intestinal gas also contains another ingredient: methane. It's unclear why some people's bodies produce methane and others do not. One way to tell if there is methane in gas is to look at stool: people who produce methane typically will have stools that float in water. Sulfur is the substance that gives gas to have its distinctive odor. Therefore, it follows that eating foods high in sulfur, such as garlic, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, can cause your gas to be "smellier." Why Beans Cause Gas Beans (legumes) cause gas because they contain a particular sugar, called an oligosaccharide, that the human body can not break down fully. Oligosaccharides are large molecules and are not broken down and absorbed in the same way that other sugars are, by the normal digestive process that takes place in the small intestine. This is because the human body actually does not produce the enzyme that breaks down oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides in beans make it all the way to the large intestine undigested. It is the bacteria in the intestine that finally breaks down these sugars. Doing so causes fermentation and the production of gas that we release as flatulence. By the same principle, other foods that come into the large intestine without being absorbed in the small intestine will cause gas. For example, stress can cause food to move through the digestive tract too quickly to be properly digested, resulting in the production of excess gas. Preventing Gas From Beans To prevent gas that is caused by eating beans or other foods, the oligosaccharides must be broken down before they reach the large intestine and become food for the resident bacteria that live there. There is an enzyme that breaks down oligosaccharides, called alpha-galactosidase. This enzyme, which the human body does not make, is derived from the fungus Aspergillus niger and is available in pill form under the brand name Beano and others. Alpha-galactosidase may not appropriate for people with diabetes as the premature breakdown of oligosaccharides can lead to an increase in blood sugar. It should also be avoided in people with a mold allergy. Alpha-galactosidase may also increase galactose levels in the blood and should not be used by those who have the genetic disease galactosemia. A Word From Verywell As long as it's not causing pain or excessive bloating, gas is a normal and expected part of the digestive process. In fact, gas is an indication that things are going the way they should in the intestines. Gas itself from diet won't cause any real harm, but taking steps to minimize gas can be used if it causes too much trouble. People who feel they truly have too much gas or discomfort from gas should talk to a doctor about how best to manage it. Can Flatulence Be a Sign of Disease? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms and causes of gas in the digestive tract. Published July, 2016. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Treatment for gas in the digestive tract. Published July, 2016. Additional Reading Winham DM, Hutchins AM. "Perceptions of flatulence from bean consumption among adults in 3 feeding studies." Nutr J. 2011 Nov 21;10:128. DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-10-128. Continue Reading