A Fear Of Eating Beans Is Worse Than The Wind Itself

The worries of people regarding the excessive release of gas caused by the consumption of beans may be a bit exaggerated. This is the conclusion reached in a recent study published in the Nutrition Journal, called "Perceptions of Flatulence From Bean Consumption Among Adults in 3 Feeding Studies", authored by Donna Winham from Arizona State University and Andrea Hutchins from the University of Colorado.

The researchers explain that many individuals tend to avoid eating beans as they believe that the consumption of legumes will cause a substantial production of intestinal gas or flatulence. To test this, Winham and Hutchins had volunteers consume half a cup of beans each day, and every week, they answered a questionnaire. In the first week, less than half of the bean eaters reported increases in gas production. However, the shocker came when "70% or more of the participants who experienced flatulence felt that it dissipated by the second or third week of bean consumption." This outcome led the authors to suggest that the negative perception of beans is generated by the anxiety of flatulence problems.

This study contradicts Geoffrey Wynne-Jones’ stance regarding beans expressed in 1975. Dr. Wynn-Jones published an alarming treatise titled "Flatus Retention is the Major Factor in Diverticular Disease" in The Lancet. He declared that patients must avoid "windy" foods, with beans being a standout example.

Wynne-Jones’ belief was that diverticular disease is confined to people living in modern urban areas, whereas this isn’t the case with individuals in rural communities. He believes that flatus retention, which he terms the suppression of a natural bodily function, is the primary reason behind the disease. Therefore, he advocates avoiding foods that retain gas, like beans, and concludes it’s born out of a sophisticated mentality.