Why do chickpeas cause discomfort? | The Times of India (2024)

Digestive problems are fairly common, and they can lead to a feeling of physical discomfort by causing pain, or the feeling of embarrassment by causing you to, let’s just say release that pain in the form of wind! Whatever the case, a faulty digestive system is problematic, and it is an unpleasant feeling. Unfortunately for us, many foods that we eat on a daily basis can cause problems, and today we will take into account one of the most infamous foods in this regard - chickpeas, and how it makes you regret eating too much of it.

FODMAP is an acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols, all different kinds of sugar that are not completely absorbed by our intestines. When these sugars reach the small intestines, they attract water as they move towards the large intestine, where they are fermented by gut bacteria. The water absorption causes the intestinal wall to stretch and expand, causing pain and discomfort, while the fermentation causes the production of excess gas.

We do not possess the enzymes required to break down FODMAPs, which is why they pass through the mouth, stomach, and small intestine to the large intestine without any interference. Chickpeas are made up of oligosaccharides, sugars that are also found in other foods like rye, onions, and garlic. Since they are highly concentrated in chickpeas, a lot of it has to pass through our system, causing longer and more severe bouts of bloating or uneasiness. Therefore chickpeas must always be eaten in small quantities and must be avoided by people suffering from digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The best way to secure the release of oligosaccharides from chickpeas is to soak the legumes overnight. This significantly reduces the components of the sugar, thus reducing the discomforting and gas-causing effect of oligosaccharides. Another uncommon way to aid digestion not just for chickpeas but for many other foods is enzyme supplements, which perform the role of enzymes our body otherwise lacks.