Beans kill me. Help!
Yes, beans have a reputation as a gas-causing food that can lead to bloating and discomfort if your body isn’t used to them. But if you do two things, you can significantly reduce and even eliminate gas altogether.
#1. Dump the complex sugars in beans that cause gas. Drain and rinse until you get a clear liquid if you're eating canned beans. When cooking dry beans, be sure to soak them overnight. Tossing the soaking water before cooking is crucial because that’s where many of those gas-causing sugars are. Boil beans in fresh water until tender - when beans easily squish between two fingers.
Here is an excellent article on cooking with dry beans.
#2. Add beans gradually. If you currently aren’t eating any beans, start out with just ½ a cup each day at your biggest meal. When you are comfortable, add another ½ a cup at a different meal.
In this article, we outline some tips for reducing gas and share the foods that are least likely to cause gastrointestinal distress.
The good news is that your body gets used to beans in about 4 weeks if they become a part of your regular diet.