Gas and Bloating From Plant-Based Eating
Science is making plants easier to digest.
As the popularity of plant-based eating continues to soar, some people are less than thrilled about the tummy troubles that come with eating more beans. Loathed problems like gas and bloating can be attributed to FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-saccharides, disaccharides, mono-saccharides and polyols). These compounds, found in certain plant foods, are poorly digested and can lead to unpleasant intestinal symptoms, especially in people with irritable bowel syndrome.
Now, some relief may be at hand, courtesy of a Finnish study. Researchers succeeded in using certain enzymes to break down FODMAPs, making them more digestible and much less likely to bring on stomach woes. The end goal with this enzymatic intervention would be creating new, stomach-friendly plant-based food products like meatless burgers and whole-grain breads.
See also: Gut Check: Test Your Knowledge of the Low-FODMAP Diet
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
