Beans and Flatulence

Quaid,
I have been in a running argument with my dumb-ass brother for 13 years. We have come to the point of not speaking to each other and I would really like the matter settled once and for all. Please help! Do beans really warrant their reputation as a fart maker? Does excitement enhance farting? Is garlic a gas producer as well?

J.J. Walker
New Rochelle, NY

J.J. my friend,
I usually avoid answering these types of questions but in the best interests of family harmony, I will try to help.

Question 1: YES. Beans and other pulses (dried edible seeds) contain an antipyretic factor that interferes with the digestion of proteins. The undigested protein is. worked on by bacteria to produce flatus. Fried foods also produce a lot of gas because they are so difficult to digest; a lot is left for the bacteria to work on.

Question 2: YES. Anything that speeds food through the digestive system (as excitement does) will create undigested food material reaching the colon, creating a feast for bacteria.

Question 3: Garlic inhibits the growth of bacteria and therefore REDUCES the amount of flatus.

Good Question!
QD