View Full Version : Sprouts cause gas???
I have been sprouting like crazy lately (mostly alfalfa and mung bean)... and I have been REALLY gassy -- stink, embarrassing level of gassy.
Is this related??
I haven't had the stinky issues since I went raw!
Could I be allergic??
missvitreous
03-27-2008, 09:09 PM
Sprouted quinoa and mung beans make me gassy, but I can handle alfalfa. Don't know why this is though. :confused:
Aw man... so it's not just me and maybe it is the sprouts. I was thinking -- geez, could it be stress? Naw, I'm busy but not stressin'... Could it be the seaweed in my nori rolls? Naw, I've had plenty of that. Not the green smoothies...
Now... could it maybe just be that I'm not used to them?? I mean... I work at home... it's just me and my dog that have to deal with it. Maybe I could work up a tolerance for the next couple weeks until my husband is back from Brazil. Then the gig is up!
Geez.... I really like them and they're so darn economical!
zig_zag
03-27-2008, 09:46 PM
Hey try sprouting red lentils. They are much more appetizing than mung beans, and the texture is softer. I find them easy to digest... Don't give up on sprouts yet, give 'em a shot;)
This is quite common with beans, so don't be too dispondent (I, too, am a big fan of beansprout salads).
May I suggest you try taking a digestive enzyme with your beansprouts? (yes, I know they are living food and so you would not anticipate needing to take an enzyme capsule, however, beans are an exception). Make certain you buy digestive enzymes which include 'Alpha Galactosidase'. You may find this provides significant help in fully digesting the complex carbohydrates in your beans and beansprouts, thus avoiding excessive undigested particles in your digestive tract, which, if present, can ferment and cause the symptoms you mention.
There are also certain foods which can be consumed at the same time as beans, to help them digest effectively, but I can't recall them right now. You might try Googling for that, and in the meantime, if I remember what they are, I'll repost and let you know.
Good luck!
J.
parsnip
03-27-2008, 10:27 PM
Beano is quite easy to find and contains alpha-galactosidase. I'm not sure whether it would be considered raw or not, but according to their website it's a natural dietary supplement... google it and you'll get their info.
Here's what I found:
Spicing makes beans much easier to digest. That's because herbs and spices are packed with vitamins, trace minerals, and natural pharmaceuticals which alter the chemistry of food. Good ones for beans and lentils are fennel, coriander, cumin, ginger, turmeric (for chick peas, and Indian dhals), paprika, asoefetida, cayenne, black pepper, and salt. Herbs such as thyme, bay leaf, basil, rosemary, marjoram, oregano, and cinnamon stick are also good.
When you make any kind of major dietary change, your digestion takes years to adapt. When it's used to meat, then all of a sudden you're throwing beans down the hatch, your tummy protests: "Ack! Alien food. Does not compute!" Also, when you become vegetarian, you're usually eating a lot more fiber, and fiber cleans out the years of accumulated garbage from your former carnivorous diet, tending to make you a public nuisance.
When you make any kind of major dietary change, your digestion takes years to adapt. When it's used to meat, then all of a sudden you're throwing beans down the hatch, your tummy protests: "Ack! Alien food. Does not compute!" Also, when you become vegetarian, you're usually eating a lot more fiber, and fiber cleans out the years of accumulated garbage from your former carnivorous diet, tending to make you a public nuisance.
Good to add: a few fennel seeds, a slice of ginger, a bay leaf, or a strip of kombu (sea vegetable). These make beans more digestible.
What kind of beans and how much?
Some beans are easier to digest than others, but it's a very individual thing. Try different ones to see what agrees with you the best. Pinto beans, black-eyed peas, black beans and chick peas are relatively benign. Indian pulses, such as split mung beans (mung dhal), or red lentils (masoor dhal) are easy to digest. Navy beans, adzuki beans, green or yellow split peas, and brown lentils, may be harder to digest, and therefore more gaseous. As to how much beans to eat, they're nutrition powerhouses, and a little goes a long way. 1/4 to 1/2 cup cooked is the average serving size.
Drink lots of water, especially first thing in the morning, also herbal teas, fruit juice, plus eat plenty of sweet, juicy fresh fruit to help clean your digestive tract.
Exercise regularly. Yoga is wonderful for digestion. So are walking, bicycling, and swimming.
Eat beans only with your main meal, which should be lunch because that's when your digestion is strongest. Have something light for supper, and try not to eat late, to give your digestion a rest.
Eat beans in soups and stews. The additinal liquid seems to help.
When you're a new vegetarian, your digestion may not be able to keep up with your vegetarian ideals. If you're having severe distress, give yourself a break from the beans.
Maybe this information will help someone else out there -- or the people closest to them. ;)
And I'll look into some digestive enzymes if this is not helpful. Perhaps I could just take them with beans until my body is used to them again. I haven't had this many sprouts in a long time. I do believe they should be a part of my diet, though, so I'm not giving up!
Hey, great post, Eva! :)
Some good suggestions there.
I totally agree about yoga being good for the digestion. I have found that it improves the speed of transit, and generally makes the whole digestive process much smoother. This particularly applies to spinal twists etc., but of course there are also specific exercise to increase one's 'digestive fire'. If this is of interest to anyone reading this thread, then I highly recommend the books from the Bihar School of Yoga (Yoga Publications Trust). They are exceptionally clear and informative, and are written in excellent English. You can find these on Amazon.
J.
tepiglet
03-28-2008, 07:12 PM
Aw man... so it's not just me and maybe it is the sprouts. I was thinking -- geez, could it be stress? Naw, I'm busy but not stressin'... Could it be the seaweed in my nori rolls? Naw, I've had plenty of that. Not the green smoothies...
Now... could it maybe just be that I'm not used to them?? I mean... I work at home... it's just me and my dog that have to deal with it. Maybe I could work up a tolerance for the next couple weeks until my husband is back from Brazil. Then the gig is up!
Geez.... I really like them and they're so darn economical!
This post is very timely for me,since I've bean...er I mean been...having...umm
flatulence issues of late,too.(Sorry,bad pun:p )
I'd blame it on the dog,but we don't have one,and the kids are very quick to
point the finger at me.:)
You know what,it could very well be the nori,especially if you're eating large
amounts.
I've been extremely gassy since last weekend,and the only thing different with
my diet,has been that I bought some nori sheets,and had been using them to
put my daily dinner salad in,and eating as wraps.
Breaks up the tedium of eating my salad with a fork,and I like the yummy taste too.
I also add some dulse to my salads.
Beans,are no problem for my digestion,since I'm a longtime vegan/vegetarian,
and am quite used to eating a lot of beans and sprouts-but everyone is different.
The only change in my diet is that I've been eating a lot of Nori and dulse.
Does anyone know if eating large amounts of seaweed,or specifically Nori,
can cause painful gas and bloating?
Is seaweed difficult to digest?
I've been taking Alissa's enzymes more frequently,but to no avail.
I'm also afraid to go to yoga class until my digestive issues are resolved,since
it could be potentially embarrassing.:eek:
Well, I suppose it's possible, tepiglet!
I must say I've never experienced flatulence issues as a result of seaweed consumption. Seaweed is often prescribed to sooth the digestive tract, due to the gelatinous nature of the sodium alginate. Regulars of this forum have seen me recommend the book many times, but if you want to learn more about beans and seaweeds (amongst a plethora of other interesting foods), and how they can be used naturopathically, do check out Paul Pitchford's 'Healing With Whole Foods', it's fantastically informative.
J.
Actually, that's just triggered my memory!! I think it was Paul's book (I haven't read it for a while) in which I read that seaweed (possibly wakame) can be eaten with beans to ease digestive issues related to the beans. I'll dig it out some time soon and check.
J.
tepiglet-- Love the pun actually. Reminds me of the cheesiness I get from my mom, who was visiting me for (months!) up until a few days ago.
So... I decided to go ahead and get something like digestive enzymes. I found something called Vitamineral Green that seems to be good, and it has the ingredient Alpha Galactosidase (as Arky suggested) to help with gas.
We are clearly all different, but I personally have not had problems with seaweed... Before going raw, I made sushi ALL the time, though. I am the Queen of the Nori Roll. So -- clearly my body is used to nori but not to beans. Could be the opposite for you.
As far as I can tell for the Vitamineral Green, it's vegan/raw/healthy. Seems like a win-win for all but my wallet. But ah well. I don't go out to eat so much anymore, and I don't drink wine or beer regularly. It all balances out except I have TONS of energy and feel great, etc. So it's cool to spend the extra dime if it means feeling AND smelling great. ;)
tepiglet
03-28-2008, 07:29 PM
Thank you for your prompt-and as always-informative,insightful response,Arky.
You are a wealth of great information.
I'll definitely check out the book you recommended.
Not to put too fine a point on it,but I'm now convinced that it must be the excessive seaweed consumption,since nothing else has changed in my diet
of late,but I am a bit confounded,because as you said,seaweed is supposed
to sooth the digestive tract.
The last time I had severe flatulence problems,was several years ago,shortly
before my gallbladder was removed.
Now I'm just confuzzled.:confused:
Arky -- More helpful info! Thanks. I just looked at the "Healing with Whole Foods" book, was trying to figure out why it sounded so familiar. It's actually on my wish list on amazon. I didn't buy it right away because a few of the negative reviews were from people who work in the field of TCM and said that some of the info is contradictory.
That said, the majority of reviews were exceptionally positive and the excerpts I saw seemed to be readable and useful.
I may actually go ahead and order it this weekend -- If I do, is it worth getting the hardcover version??
tepiglet
03-28-2008, 07:42 PM
:p
tepiglet-- Love the pun actually. Reminds me of the cheesiness I get from my mom, who was visiting me for (months!) up until a few days ago.
So... I decided to go ahead and get something like digestive enzymes. I found something called Vitamineral Green that seems to be good, and it has the ingredient Alpha Galactosidase (as Arky suggested) to help with gas.
We are clearly all different, but I personally have not had problems with seaweed... Before going raw, I made sushi ALL the time, though. I am the Queen of the Nori Roll. So -- clearly my body is used to nori but not to beans. Could be the opposite for you.
As far as I can tell for the Vitamineral Green, it's vegan/raw/healthy. Seems like a win-win for all but my wallet. But ah well. I don't go out to eat so much anymore, and I don't drink wine or beer regularly. It all balances out except I have TONS of energy and feel great, etc. So it's cool to spend the extra dime if it means feeling AND smelling great. ;)
Yup,that's me,Queen of the Cheesy.:p
Since Queen of the Nori Roll is already taken...hehehe..
Yeah,I think you're probably right;my body is used to longterm bean and bean sprout
consumption,however,even though I used to eat a lot of sushi and nori rolls
pre-raw/veg,it's been awhile since I've regularly eaten nori and/or any other
type of seaweed in any measurable quantities.
Up until recently,my local grocery has been out of nori sheets and dulse,
and I remember been psyched this past weekend,that they finally had some in
stock.
So,I bought some,and have been eating lots with my salads,and then Wham!Presto Change-O!Instant gas!:eek:
I have some Vitamineral Green in the fridge;it's good stuff,maybe it will help
both of our digestive problems.
The family has been threatening to make me sleep in the dog house...oh wait
we don't have a dog house either...uh-oh...
:p
The family has been threatening to make me sleep in the dog house...oh wait
we don't have a dog house either...uh-oh...
There you go again! hahaha...
I'm glad to hear the Vitamineral Green's good stuff. I searched the board here, and I couldn't find anything negative about it. I'm not into supplements, but I'm trying to be a touch more open minded about a natural one so that I can be sure this is a long-term positive thing for me to be raw!
tepiglet
03-28-2008, 08:01 PM
Just be careful with how much Vitamineral Green you consume in the beginning.
If I remember the instructions on the back of the bottle correctly,you're supposed to gradually increase the dosage.
Otherwise,you could potentially exacerbate the digestive problems you're
trying to get rid of.
I remember being all gung ho with the Vitamineral Green when I first started
taking it,and instead of starting out with a teaspoon or tablespoon,added several tablespoons to my green juice,thinking that I'd derive a greater benefit
from a bigger dosage-not pleasant,let me tell you!:eek:
Several tablespoons?? hahaha I'll keep this in mind!
tepiglet
03-28-2008, 08:07 PM
Yeah,that's the 'therepeutic'(sp?)dosage.:o
I thought I'd speed up the detoxing and healing by upping the amount.
What can I say,patience is not (always) one of my virtues.;)
Well.... I'm sure you sped something up!!
All right -- I think it's about time to unglue myself from the computer. I might go to a little bounce bounce on the rebounder. You know -- help out with the gas. The therapeutic way. ;)
...is it worth getting the hardcover version??
Well, mine's a softcover - in fact, I wasn't aware Atlantic Books did a hardcover version!
The choice is yours but because the book is so large, I must admit that if I had the choice now, and the price difference isn't too big, I would go for hardcover. The book is about 2.5 inches thick, just to give you some idea :)
J.
...Not to put too fine a point on it,but I'm now convinced that it must be the excessive seaweed consumption,since nothing else has changed in my diet
of late,but I am a bit confounded,because as you said,seaweed is supposed
to sooth the digestive tract.
The last time I had severe flatulence problems,was several years ago,shortly
before my gallbladder was removed.
Now I'm just confuzzled.:confused:
There is one possibility that occurs to me, actually (and I may be completely wrong here, this is just conjecture, ok?!). Seaweed is extremely alkaline. Could it be just possible that your stomach is secreting too little hydrochloric acid to overcome the alkalinity of the large quantities of seaweed? To tell you the truth, I'm not actually sure whether seaweed requires an acid or an alkaline digestive environment, but if it does require an acid environment, then failure of your stomach to turn the alkalinity sufficiently acidic might lead to undigested particles of seaweed entering your colon and fermenting.
Again, this is nothing more than a pure guess. I don't wish to be crude, but it'd probably be worth checking it at the point of saying goodbye to it, if you know what I mean, just to see if there are any undigested pieces visible. If there are, it might lend some credence to the above hypothesis.
J.
Cinnamon
03-29-2008, 12:11 AM
All sprouted beans give me THE worst gas, I've tried and tried again to eat them in small amounts in the hopes of them slowly building them up in my system. Just for me it doesn't work, but then I couldn't eat cooked beans in my cooked vegan days either. Even I can't stand to be around myself for days after eating a small amount?!
I hope others do find ways to make them work out, they are a powerhouse of nutrition! There are great ideas being presented in this thread too, I appreciate getting to read it.
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