Why do baked beans give you wind?

Blame it on your gut bacteria!

Baked beans are a tasty treat that are high in fibre and therefore good for your digestive system. However, as they make their way through your body, they also produce an unfortunate side effect: flatulence. This bodily function is a result of sugars called oligosaccharides that are contained within the beans. These sugar molecules are too big to be absorbed in our small intestines, and our bodies do not produce the enzyme that can break them down, so they carry on through to the large intestines intact and undigested.

Here, they’re met by our gut bacteria, which have no problem breaking them down into something more manageable. As they do this, they produce gasses including hydrogen and methane, which gradually accumulate in your lower intestine and escape through your rectum as flatulence.

Our gut struggles to break down the sugars in baked beans

 

However, if you want to avoid having to blame the noise (and smell) on the dog, then there are some gas-relieving supplements that you can take. These typically contain the enzyme alphagalactosidase, which is capable of breaking down the sugars in the small intestine, before those pesky gas-producing bacteria can get to them.

For more incredible facts, make sure you pick up the latest copy of How It Works. It’s available from all good retailers, or you can order it online from the ImagineShop. If you have a tablet or smartphone, you can also download the digital version onto your iOS or Android device. To make sure you never miss an issue of How It Works magazine, make sure you subscribe today!

Plus, take a look at:

Why does cooking bacon smell so good?

Baking science: how to make the perfect cake

The science of hungry: can being hungry really make you angry?