Why Does Eggplant Cause Gas? And How to Stop It If It Does - The Wellness Nerd (2023)

FAQs

Why does eggplant make me gassy? ›

Though uncommon, another potential eggplant side effect is stomach upset such as nausea or vomiting due to its high fiber content. Consuming too much fiber can cause gas and discomfort in those with sensitive stomachs.

HELPS WITH DIGESTION

The high fiber content in eggplants, which is a crucial element to maintaining a balanced diet, is a great way to improve your gastrointestinal health. This means that when you've gotta go, eating eggplant regularly will help everything move along smoothly!

The fiber in eggplants is mainly composed of pectin, meaning that eggplants are easy to digest, gently ensuring good digestive health.

If a healthy food gives you gas – such as whole grains and vegetables -- reduce the amount you eat. Then, gradually start eating more of the food – increasing the amount bit by bit over weeks – to give your digestive system time to adjust.

Cruciferous veggies, such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cabbage, and vegetables that contain fructose, such as onions and asparagus, can cause gas. If you find yourself experiencing painful gas after eating salad or other vegetables, try eliminating foods one by one until you find your trigger.

Eggplants contain oxalates, though they have fewer than most fruits and vegetables. Oxalates can contribute to kidney stone formation in some people who are more prone to absorbing oxalates. Without treatment, kidney stones can lead to acute kidney injury or kidney death.

SALTING: Slice the eggplant, then sprinkle salt (coarse salt is best because less is absorbed) onto one side. Leave it for 30 minutes, to allow the solanine (a chemical found in the flesh) to leach out, and brush off with a damp cloth.

Cooking will destroy the lectins in eggplant and potatoes, but raw tomatoes and peppers may be a problem for very sensitive people. The lectins in raw tomatoes can be reduced by removing the seeds, but nothing can be done about the lectins in raw peppers.

High fiber (and low calorie count) in eggplant helps your digestive system stay healthy.

Eggplant. Eggplants are low in FODMAPs and an ideal choice for any IBS-friendly diet. 4 They're also low in calories and a good source of manganese, folate, and potassium. Eggplants contain both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Can you be intolerant to eggplant? ›

Allergic reactions to eggplant have only been reported rarely and are attributed to cross-reactivity with proteins of tomato and grass pollen (oral allergy syndrome). Symptoms of eggplant allergy can range from mild to severe and may include: Itching or tingling in the mouth. Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat.

eating raw, low-sugar fruits, such as apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, grapefruits, peaches, strawberries, and watermelons. choosing low-carbohydrate vegetables, such as green beans, carrots, okra, tomatoes, and bok choy. eating rice instead of wheat or potatoes, as rice produces less gas.

Avoid vegetables such as peas, onions, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, mushrooms, as well as asparagus. Avoid whole grains that are high in carbohydrates such as whole wheat, bran, and pasta. While delicious, avoid fruits such as peaches, prunes, apples, and pears.

Cucumbers can provide gas and bloating relief by reducing gastrointestinal swelling. Plus, they have one of the highest water contents of all vegetables at around 96%! Eating cucumbers or drinking cucumber-infused water can help balance your sodium levels, flush excess water from your system, and release trapped gas.

Beans. It's hardly a surprise to see beans atop the list of bloat-causing foods. After all, the legendary powers of this legume have even captured the attention of lyricists: Beans, beans, the musical fruit… Science is behind that tune, explains Czerwony.

Eggplant has antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which help protect your cells against damage. It's also high in natural plant chemicals called polyphenols, which may help cells do a better job of processing sugar if you have diabetes.

The eggplant can be cubed or cut into rounds, depending on your preference. To cook eggplant in a pan on the stove, simply heat olive oil in a pan over medium or medium-high. Once the oil is hot, add the eggplant and cook until the eggplant is tender, around five to seven minutes.

Eggplants are a nutrient-rich food that contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals. They may benefit your overall health, including your heart.

Do you eat the skin on a eggplant? ›

The skin is entirely edible, though with larger eggplants it can be a little tough. If your eggplant is young, tender, and on the small side, the nutrient-rich skin can probably be left on for skillet frying or braising. Otherwise, peel the skin and then slice or cube the flesh.

Eggplant is full of beneficial fiber and nutrients but does not have many calories. Cook eggplant prior to eating it, since it has a bitter flavor when eaten raw. Sauteing eggplant is a quick way to heat the vegetable and allows you to toss additional veggies into the mix.

While the skin of a small young eggplant is edible, the skin becomes bitter on larger or older eggplants and should be peeled. When in doubt, the answer to, "Do you peel eggplant before cooking?" is yes, peel it.

However, eggplants also contain a substance, solanine, which is used to defend themselves against fungi and insects. It is precisely on this substance that the bitter taste of the eggplants depends. To eliminate it, the most common methods are soaking in water and vinegar and the salt technique.

Most people prefer to rinse their eggplant after salting it, but you'll be fine without this extra step. Instead, you can simply blot excess salt with a paper towel or bypass this step entirely for a super well-seasoned eggplant. Should you peel eggplant before cooking?

Soaking to minimize oil absorption: Eggplants can absorb a significant amount of oil during cooking, especially when frying or sautéing. Soaking the eggplant in saltwater for 20-30 minutes before cooking can help to reduce oil absorption by breaking down the fruit's cell walls.

Eggplant belongs to a family of plants known as nightshades. People may be more likely to develop an eggplant allergy if they are also allergic to other nightshades, including tomatoes, potatoes, or peppers. Eggplant also contains a chemical called salicylate, which is an ingredient in aspirin.

For higher yields of fruiting crops such as tomatoes and peppers, extra phosphorus and potassium should be given after flowering and fruiting. To increase the flowering of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, give the plants an Epsom salt solution–1 tablespoon mixed with a gallon of water.

Eating a high-fiber diet is good for overall intestinal and colon health. The American Institute for Cancer Research and ACS recommend aiming for at least 30 grams of fiber from food sources each day. Focus on incorporating a variety of whole grains, colorful fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and beans into your diet.

Does eggplant cause gas and bloating? ›

All Those Veggies

She notes that broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and cabbage are members of the cruciferous family, and can cause gas. “Other foods like eggplant, peppers, grapes, and melon can have the same effect, yet they provide multiple health benefits.”

Dark Leafy Greens

Along with spinach & kale being optimal choices, green olives, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, collard greens, sea vegetables like seaweed, leeks, peas, and Swiss chard are all high in chlorophyll, which means they can help cleanse your digestive tract and detoxify your liver.

If you have IBS, we recommend you avoid cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage or salads containing these vegetables, such as coleslaw. We also suggest you limit your intake of artichoke, onions, leeks, garlic, and asparagus.

Avoid cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, coleslaw and sauerkraut. Also, limit artichoke, brussels sprouts, onions, shallots, leeks and asparagus.

The aubergine sign (also known as egg-plant sign or deformity) is a clinical sign of a fractured penis. Hemorrhage beyond the tunica albuginea produces swelling and bruising of the penis simulating the appearance of an aubergine.

“A ripe eggplant contains the most solanine: 75 micrograms per gram of fruit,” he added. “In order to injure herself, a 150-lb person would need to eat about 40 million micrograms of solanine, which is 500,000 grams of eggplant, or 1000 eggplants in a single sitting.”

In fact, water can help with bloating and gas, two common symptoms people experience from time to time. No matter what is causing your bloating, gas, or similar symptoms, drinking water is one of many healthy habits that can provide you with both short-term relief and overall improvement.

As bananas ripen, their resistant starch is turned into simple sugars, which are more digestible. As such, eating ripe bananas may help reduce gas and bloating ( 13 ).

Is oatmeal good for gas? ›

Whole grains such as wheat and oats contain fiber, raffinose, and starch. All of these are broken down by bacteria in the large intestine, which leads to gas. In fact, rice is the only grain that doesn't cause gas.

Excess upper intestinal gas can result from swallowing more than a usual amount of air, overeating, smoking or chewing gum. Excess lower intestinal gas can be caused by eating too much of certain foods, by the inability to fully digest certain foods or by a disruption in the bacteria normally found in the colon.

More gas is produced after meals, particularly those that contain lots of fibre, such as cereal, bread and pasta. Although there are many other foods, such as artichokes, beans, Brussels sprouts and eggplant, which also greatly influence the volume and aroma of farts.

If you have a serious nightshade allergy, talk about getting an EpiPen with your doctor. EpiPens are filled with epinephrine and are used to counter the allergic reaction. EpiPens are not an alternative to medical treatment.

The most common edible nightshades are the tomato, potato, eggplant, bell pepper and chili pepper. Some diets claim that nightshades are inflammatory and should be avoided. This idea is rooted in the fact that nightshades are a large family of plants that contain a chemical compound called alkaloids.

Nightshades naturally contain glycoalkaloids, which can stimulate an immune response and contribute to leaky gut or IBS in people who lack the proper enzymes to digest them.