# Is there a Way to Make Your Beans Fartless?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [November 6, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017 "2000-11-06T22:22:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/1 "2000-11-06T22:22:05Z")
I mean I never eat beans because of this. And I like them I just don’t like the gas or the embarrassment so I don’t eat’em.
So I wondering is there a pill, herb or a “fartless” bean on the market?
BTW do all beans make you toot or just pintos and baked beans? Green beans don’t how come?
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### Author:  [@Pit\_Meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pit_Meister)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/2 "2000-11-06T22:29:03Z")
It’s called Beano and is in every drugstore. If you don’t see it, ask the pharmacist. It’s a simple enzyme, similar to Accent meat tenderizer, usually make from pineapple, that breaks down the fiber.
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### Author:  [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/3 "2000-11-06T22:33:27Z")
Beano works for many people, but it did something weird to my stomach. I can’t explain it, but it was really unpleasant.
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### Author:  [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/4 "2000-11-06T22:39:11Z")
There is a product called “Beano”, which is supposed to help reduce noxious rear-end emissions.
A nutritionist recently told me that people who don’t eat a high-fiber diet on a daily basis are more likely to get gas from beans, etc. If you _gradually_ add more fiber to your diet, you may toot a little less violently as time goes on.
_(meanwhile, I’ll just keep this clothespin on my nose)_
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### Author:  [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/5 "2000-11-06T22:41:51Z")
Beano does work pretty well, but it’s not a guarantee that you will be 100% socially acceptable after eating beans or other fibrous food. You have to make sure to consume the Beano before you start eating the beans.
And, like any sort of dietary supplement, it may have some side effects.
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/6 "2000-11-06T22:44:43Z")
Just eat beans more often. (They’re good for you, and yummy too!) And once your body gets more used to processing the beans, the gas attacks will lessen.
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### Author:  [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/7 "2000-11-06T22:51:14Z")
another few hints if cooking beans from scratch (in dried form)
When soaking the beans, change the water after about half the soaking time.
Whern cooking, add in a little baking soda.
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### Author:  [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/8 "2000-11-06T22:55:27Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Tabithina \*
>
> _(meanwhile, I’ll just keep this clothespin on my nose)_
> \*\*
LOL. I don’t blame ya but you don’t have to for me. For me you need earplugs. My farts don’t stink they are just LOUD!!!
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### Author:  [@zen101](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zen101)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/9 "2000-11-06T23:00:11Z")
Why would you even want to have fartless beans? Man, the smell is half the fun.
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### Author:  [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2000, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/10 "2000-11-06T23:24:56Z")
If you are making dried beans - change the water halfway through the soak time. Drain them and rinse them really well again before you finally cook them.
If you are using canned beans, also drain them and rinse them very well before cooking.
No one has ever had a “problem” after eating any of my bean dishes.
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/11 "2000-11-07T00:16:37Z")
I’ve heard from my vegetarian kinsfolks that seaweed also tends to reduce the emissions level somewhat. Frankly, I’ve never experimented with it to find out.
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### Author:  [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/12 "2000-11-07T00:21:29Z")
There are rare cases where those who are allergic to penicillin may have a milder reaction to the enzyme in Beano.
Again, this is very rare, but if you are allergic to penicillin, the makers of Beano suggest that you first try a small amount to test for any adverse reaction, which should not be dangerous or serious if it does occur.
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### Author:  [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/13 "2000-11-07T02:01:24Z")
Fiber has nothing to do with it. Let’s start with that.
The gases produced by digesting beans are mostly odorless and just carry out the smell of whatever else is in your gut. I have found that gas from people with mostly vegetarian diet does not smell as bad as that from people who eat a lot of meat.
I eat beans very often and do not usually have any problem so it may also be that you make more gass if you only eat them once in a long while. Beans are good for you.
For more details go [here](http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon970815/skinnyon.html).
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### Author:  [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/14 "2000-11-07T02:12:00Z")
I have some Hungarian friends who swear that if you’re using dried beans, add a bit of vinegar to the water when soaking. The two times I had their bean dishes I didn’t have any issues, but you might want to do some further testing before inviting the Queen Mum over.
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### Author:  [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/15 "2000-11-07T02:26:03Z")
[Legumes](http://www.healthwell.com/healthnotes/Food/Legumes.cfm) are very healthy foods. Humans (to different extents) lack the enzyme needed to digest the complex carbohydrate raffinose and this is the cause of the problem. Just like some people lack the enzyme needed to digest lactose.
from [http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/gas/gas.htm](http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/gas/gas.htm)
Most foods that contain carbohydrates can cause gas. By contrast, fats and proteins cause little gas.
Sugars
The sugars that cause gas are: raffinose, lactose, fructose, and sorbitol.
Raffinose
Beans contain large amounts of this complex sugar. Smaller amounts are found in cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, other vegetables, and whole grains.
Lactose
Lactose is the natural sugar in milk. It is also found in milk products, such as cheese and ice cream, and processed foods, such as bread, cereal, and salad dressing. Many people, particularly those of African, Native American, or Asian background, have low levels of the enzyme lactase needed to digest lactose. Also, as people age, their enzyme levels decrease. As a result, over time people may experience increasing amounts of gas after eating food containing lactose.
Fructose
Fructose is naturally present in onions, artichokes, pears, and wheat. It is also used as a sweetener in some soft drinks and fruit drinks.
Sorbitol
Sorbitol is a sugar found naturally in fruits, including apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. It is also used as an artificial sweetener in many dietetic foods and sugarfree candies and gums.
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/16 "2000-11-07T02:29:54Z")
Could any of you proponents of “soaking beans and rinse/throw away the water to reduce their ability to produce gas” give any links that are scientific in basis? My reading tends to think this makes little difference.
What _does_ make a major difference is a steady diet of beans, which previous posters have referred to.
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### Author:  [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/17 "2000-11-07T03:29:37Z")
Yeeeeeeah, **samclem!**
John Thorne asserts that you should simmer the beans IN the soaking water, and then use the same water again for baking (if you are going ahead to the baking stage).
“Throwing out the bean water sacrifices some good bean flavor,” he says, and I agree.
EAT MORE BEANS.
I had butter beans tonight, simmered in chicken stock with onion and red pepper, after eating baked Jacob’s Cattle beans (Down East-style, from scratch, in a beanpot, with molasses and mustard and salt pork and rum) over the weekend. No gas problems.
Yet.
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### Author:  [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/18 "2000-11-07T04:03:06Z")
Sorry, guys, I don’t have a link. I am going _totally_ by personal trial and error. I have a very sensitive digestive system - YMMV.
I will agree that I am probably throwing out a lot of the flavor with the soaking water, but I’m willing to sacrifice flavor for a peaceful gatrointestinal tract.
Ike, those dishes sound deeeeeeelicious 🙂
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### Author:  [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/19 "2000-11-07T04:12:04Z")
Is there any study to claim Beano actually works?
For some people it does work but you must take high does. 4 pills per serving. And the cost is high.
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### Author:  [@Minxsmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minxsmom)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2000, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-your-beans-fartless/40017/20 "2000-11-07T04:19:31Z")
I found a link from _Prevention_ magazine that mentions changing the soaking water.
[http://www.prevention.com/children/remedies/virtped.gaspain.html](http://www.prevention.com/children/remedies/virtped.gaspain.html)
> [@](#):
>
> Soak the beans. To reduce gassiness from dried beans, soak them for several hours in a few changes of water before cooking, advises Behan. “Soaking and rinsing beans does not detract from their protein content,” she adds.
The article is aimed mostly at how to stop gassiness in children, but I would assume that what’s good for a child is good for an adult.
All of the other links I’ve found so far just mention Beano.
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