The Magical Fruit

Spilling the Beans
Originally uploaded by Roger Smith

When I first started this eating plan, I seriously increased the amount of beans in my diet. It went from an occasional side dish to one cup at every meal. While I was thrill with the weight loss, my wife wasn't too pleased with the... *ahem* super gaseous releases.

Beans contain indigestible sugars, so when they reach our intestines, the bacteria that live there go wild. The have quite a feast and the result is lots of gas. Its the same process that makes beer bubbly and bread rise. Except inside of the human body, its much less pleasant.

In addition to over-the-counter remedies for gas, dieters can also try gentler beans like lima beans and split peas. Lee Perkins, president of the Pacific Grain and Foods in California, recommends mixing beans with other foods to help digestion.

Adding an enzyme by including a carrot or onion can help break down the complex sugars to simple sugars...