All Beans Are Not the Same in Gassy Side Effects

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You might not know a line of Shakespeare, and you might even forget the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner," but this chestnut is a classic to all: "Beans, beans are good for the heart ... the more you eat, the more you ... " You can finish the rest of the verse yourself, no doubt, but new research suggests that all beans are not created equal when it comes to your risk of flatulence. And even the worst offenders are not as bad as many might think. Despite the known health benefits of beans and legumes, many people tend to shy away from them because of fears of excessive and embarrassing gas. The new report analyzed flatulence and stomach distress, including stool changes and bloating, among people in three studies that looked at beans and heart disease risk. The findings appear in Nutrition Journal. The people in two of these studies ate either a half cup of pinto beans, black-eyed peas, or baked beans daily for eight weeks. People in the comparison groups of the studies ate canned carrots daily.