| We all know the song and what it’s about, | | | | the gas causing devil. I was also told that in the |
| but the popular question I get asked every day is, | | | | overnight soak step, if one adds a quarter of a |
| “How do I avoid the ‘music?” Well, | | | | teaspoon of baking soda, then that will also help in |
| to avoid the ‘music’, one needs to start | | | | the demise of gassiness. Do I believe this? |
| with why beans affect us this way to begin | | | | Hmmmmmm, maybe not so much. In my |
| with. So I asked a bean expert and what I am | | | | house, this three step cure doesn’t seem to |
| told is that we get gas from beans for one simple | | | | work so well. We still deal with the |
| reason. Beans contain complex sugars called | | | | unpleasantness of flatulent. Does it lessen the |
| oligosaccharides. We don’t have the | | | | roar? Not that we can tell, but it might work for |
| necessary enzymes in our stomach to digest | | | | you. |
| them, so the stomach passes them along to the | | | | Miracles of Modern Medicine |
| intestines. That’s where they hang around | | | | Now many I talked to swears by Beano, a |
| gurgling and churning until they form gasses. Then | | | | commercial nostrum available in grocery stores |
| there’s the problem of getting rid of the | | | | everywhere. I personally recommend Beano to |
| gasses, which leads me to the old saying, | | | | anyone that asks because it works for me. |
| “There’s more room out than in.” | | | | Beano puts the necessary enzymes to digest the |
| (Which, along with “Pull my finger!” was | | | | oligosaccharides into our systems. And as their |
| my Dads favorite). Unfortunately, the aroma | | | | commercial boasts; “With Beano, there will |
| that comes with the ‘music’ isn’t any | | | | ‘Be No’ Gas!” I’m sure there |
| more flattering than the echoing sound that either | | | | are other possible remedies out there. One person |
| leads to total embarrassment or a round of | | | | mentioned an herb from Mexico called Mexican |
| hearty praise (if you hang around with my | | | | Tea that is an option. Another pointed out an |
| brother and his friends). | | | | active charcoal pill such as Flatulex (Interesting |
| Cure for the Curse | | | | name for such a product). There are even |
| With this said, I decided to start digging a little | | | | some out there that suggest to ‘avoid eating |
| deeper to find the prevention for the well known | | | | beans’, but is my least favorite cure. Beans |
| Curse of the Bean! It’s safe to say that, | | | | have so many benefits ranging from being protein |
| what works with one person may or may not | | | | rich to lowering the risk of cancer and heart |
| work with another. The most popular remedy | | | | problems. But that’s for another article. |
| appears to be a three step procedure for dried | | | | In Closing |
| beans. | | | | I find that no matter what the remedy, finding |
| Cover beans with water, soak | | | | the right answer for everyone seems to be as |
| overnight, | | | | easy as finding the answer to getting a boiled egg |
| Drain and Rinse, Cover beans with | | | | to peel easily. There is no proven answer. |
| water (a second time), | | | | It’s mostly trial and error for everyone. So |
| Boil, Drain, Rinse yet again | | | | until you find your personal remedy, remember |
| I’m told the soaking and boiling of the beans | | | | one thing: It’s a natural biological function; |
| causes the oligosaccharides to seep into the | | | | everyone does it, even your mom. |
| water. And by discarding the water, so discards | | | | |