In this brief article, we will answer the question, “Do chickpeas cause gas?” and provide information on whether hummus can cause gas, how gas can occur, whether chickpea allergies or contamination can cause gas as well as how to reduce gas formation.
Do chickpeas cause gas?
Yes, chickpeas can cause gas. This is because chickpeas contain oligosaccharides like Raffinose and Stachyose. Oligosaccharides are a category of carbs. These carbs are difficult to digest.
Indigestion can cause them to ferment in the large intestine. This can result in gas formation. Besides, the enzymes required to digest them are not present either.
However, compared to lentils, chickpeas contain lesser gas. Another possible cause of gas can be the presence of fiber in chickpeas.
There are around 7.6 grams of fiber in 100 grams of chickpeas. As fiber is not properly digested in the intestine, there can be gas formation observed.
Even though fiber is essential for our body, excessive consumption of fiber can cause abdominal bloating and gas.
Can hummus cause gas?
Hummus is a spread made from mashed chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, and tahini. As chickpeas are the main ingredient used to prepare hummus, they can cause gas.
When hummus is paired with other veggies, you might end up consuming more oligosaccharides and fiber. This can result in gas formation.
How can gas be formed?
Gas is formed because of the fermentation of carbohydrates. Certain simple carbs are easily digested but all are not properly digested.
In such cases, these carbs can pass onto the large intestine wherein they get fermented and form methane, carbon dioxide, and other gases. An increase in gas can result in flatulence.
Can chickpea allergies cause gas?
Chickpeas can cause gas in individuals allergic to them. Allergies are caused because of the reaction from the immune system rather than the digestive system.
If you wish to know whether you are allergic to chickpeas, consume a small amount of them and check their effects on your body. You might suffer from bloating but this would be accompanied by rashes, hives, itchiness, and diarrhea.
If you suspect yourself to be suffering from a chickpea allergy, it would be better to visit a doctor. It is also better to stop eating chickpeas if you suffer an allergic reaction to them.
Can contamination in chickpeas cause gas?
Yes, contamination in chickpeas can cause gas. If the chickpeas were not stored or cooked properly, contamination can occur.
Consuming contaminated chickpeas can result in symptoms of food poisoning. Some symptoms of food poisoning can include abdominal cramps, flatulence, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
How to reduce gas caused by chickpeas?
Some steps to reduce gas caused by eating chickpeas are given below:
- Soaking the chickpeas properly is very important. When the chickpeas are soaked, the oligosaccharides are released into the water. According to a study, soaking the chickpeas helped to reduce oligosaccharide value by 40 percent.
Soaking chickpeas overnight would be more beneficial as most of the oligosaccharides present in chickpeas would be completely released in water.
Make sure to discard the soaking water after the soaking time is over. If you are using canned chickpeas, it is important to rinse them under water. This would help in removing any products that can cause gas.
- The fiber present in chickpeas is another factor that can cause gas. To deal with fiber, consume enough water alongside chickpeas containing dish. Water can reduce the symptoms of bloating and abdominal pain.
- You can eat smaller amounts of chickpeas. For instance, consuming 100 grams of chickpeas can cause bloating and pain. However, consuming 50 grams of chickpeas can cause lesser pain or bloating.
- Another way to reduce gas formation would be draining and rinsing the chickpeas after 3 hours. You can soak chickpeas for 12 hours but every 3 hours, you would need to soak and rinse them.
- Pressure-cooking chickpeas might aid in breaking down the sugars which can reduce gas formation.
- Consuming an enzyme supplement can help in dealing with gas. Oligosaccharides are not digested by the body as there is no enzyme present to break them down.
Enzyme supplement contains alpha-galactosidase which can break down oligosaccharides. This can reduce gastric problems.
There are many over-the-counter medications that can help in dealing with gas. You can easily find them online too.
- If you are already suffering from abdominal cramps after eating chickpeas, you can consume a glass of peppermint tea. Peppermint tea can relieve flatulence or other gastric troubles.
Conclusion
In this brief article, we have answered the question, “Do chickpeas cause gas?” and provided information on whether hummus can cause gas, how gas can occur, whether chickpea allergies or contamination can cause gas as well as how to reduce gas formation.
