Why Eating Beans Is So Stinky And How to Fix It!

Do you smell that?

You know what I’m talking about….

It’s the aftermath aroma to a bowl of beans that knocks you straight to the floor.

In my family with four older brothers, it was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

But (no pun intended) have you ever wondered what you would really do if the beans in your food storage became a major staple of your diet?

It brings a whole new meaning to the adage about trouble hitting the fan.

So Why Bother Eating Beans?

Sometimes it may feel like it isn’t worth the trouble but the truth is….beans are the ultimate superfood!

Beans are one of the most nutritionally complete foods available.  In fact, no other food comes close to beans in providing protein, fiber and antioxidants in such high quantities.

Beans give you a lot of bang for your buck.  They are low in cost, cholesterol free, low in fat (2-3%), and high in fiber, protein, carbohydrate, folate, and many trace minerals.  In fact, because beans are high in fiber and low in fat they can actually help lower your cholesterol.

Beans are worth eating because they are healthy, cheap and tasty! Here are some details:

9 Amazing Bean Benefits That Everyone Misses

• High in protein — eating 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of cooked beans is equivalent to eating two ounces of lean protein, yet costs only 20 cents per serving.
• Cheap and filling! (There’s a reason Dave Ramsey says to go on the beans and rice diet to save money!)
• Lots of fiber — a 1/2 cup serving of cooked dry beans has 4 to 10 grams of fiber.
• Rich in complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates are known as “smart carbs.”
• Rich in antioxidants.
• Low in fat.
• Have a low glycemic index.
• Can help lower blood pressure
• Can prevent and cure colon and bowl problems

What makes beans the musical fruit?

To put it simply, beans contain sugars that our digestive tracts lack the enzymes to digest.  A lot of us lack the enzymes because in our culture beans are not a dietary staple.

But it doesn’t have to be that way!  Think about it, millions of people around the world eat a diet of beans and don’t suffer like we do when it’s done.

3 Easy Ways to Enjoy Beans without the Gas

1. Soak and Rinse: Soak beans for 8 hours or over night. Drain beans and discard the soak water before cooking.  Rinsing the beans before you cook them have been shown to help reduce gas.
2. Try Beano®: Beano® is an over-the-counter supplement that contains a natural food enzyme which helps prevent gas before it starts.  It doesn’t have to be awkward (but it may save your life), simply place a tablet on everyone’s plate to take before dinner. (Take special care if young children are around and always read and follow dosage instructions labeled on the bottle.)
3. Eat More Beans! To fight the noisy side effects of beans, you need to eat more beans!  We know it sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true!  Studies show “An increasing body of research and the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans supports the benefits of a plant-based diet, and legumes specifically, in the reduction of chronic disease risks,” they started people on pinto beans, black-eyed peas, or vegetarian baked (navy) beans. During the first week, 35% reported increased flatulence but that fell to 15% by week three, 5% by week five, and 3% by week eight. Much of the bad rap for beans grew out of short-term studies in the 60’s that didn’t account for our body’s ability to adapt.

4 Simple Solutions for Eating More Beans

We get it, outside of bean burritos and chili it can be hard to think other options to feed your family.  And let’s be honest you can only have bean burritos and chili so often…

1. Use beans in your desserts to cut the fat. You can read more about how to make delicious cakes, cookies and brownies using beans instead of butter and or oil, by catching our Food Storage on a Diet Class HERE.
2. Cook your own beans. Many think they simply don’t like beans, but just like anything else, it’s usually because they have only eaten them out of a can.  Fresh cooked beans are delicious.  Laura Ingalls even included her love of bean porridge in her fictionalized memoir Little House on the Prairie.
3. Get Soup’d up. Many soups call for beans plus as an added bonus, soups are filling, perfect in the winter, and cheap to make!
4. Make it super ready with our NEW Everyday Bean e-Cookbook!  It has 90+ delicious recipes to help you incorporate beans in your diet all day long including breakfasts, side dishes, dinners and desserts!

Now that you know all of the wonderful reasons you should be eating more beans, what will you make first?  It really isn’t scary, you really have nothing to lose and everything to gain–including a bunch of money and better health!