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Comment by Affric | Hacker News Reader

How’re the farts?

Americans (maybe you aren't) seem to love to hate on e.g. Mexican and Indians for eating a diet high in beans. But what they don't realize is that your gut flora gets used to this and we bean eaters don't fart anymore than is biologically necessary. Americans seem to only occasionally eat beans and so the gut flora isn't used to it, leading to farts.

I guess that's where the Taco Bell jokes comes from that I never really understood. I think it's fair to say that Americans in general don't get enough fiber. I happen to eat probably more fiber than the average person due to dietary choices, and beans have never caused a problem. Lettuce on the other hand...

it's just comic hyperbole, it's not a reason to reduce a nation of people to tropes -- furthermore the question was framed towards someone who is switching to this diet with past gastro problems, no need for guessing national stereotypical beliefs given that there is sufficient context here to ask the question ; it probably isn't just blind comedy.

Yes, this change is a net increase in my fiber intake, which for most of my life had already been enough, I would guess (breakfast of rolled or steel-cut oats, big salads, beans and tortillas, almost all home-cooked meals with relatively fresh ingredients).

I had intended to include a note about farts being less of a problem than one might have thought, but I think I ran out of time.

You got it in one.

Some guy in on HN telling people about his diet. There were no comments. Thought I might start a conversation because I found it interesting. Asked a question that I thought would surely be on the minds of others with an attempt at humour. Kept it short and sweet.

People have jumped in and started talking. I would do it again.

I don't think it fits with HN guidelines.

How long does it take to get used to beans?

Also, is there any recommended strategy? E.g. to gradually increase the portion size over some specific time?

I'd say less than a week of daily usage to get through the phase.

Fair question. I fart more when I deviate from this diet, like if I eat a bunch of bread (hard to resist fresh bread, and my spouse likes to make it sometimes) or candy. I fart more when I'm stressed and/or eating too quickly or too much. On the best days I'm on top of things, not rushing meals, and the flatulence is negligible.

Interesting. I do think one of the most interesting things about diet is that so much of it is time. When we feel like we can dedicate ourselves to doing it right it's a lot better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRSFa0wOXbE

I was expecting Blazing Saddles...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPIP9KXdmO0

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