Does Hummus Make You Poop – A Quick Guide to break down the humble hummus…
Hummus. What an amazing invention. Nothing quite beats a bowl of fresh hummus, some tasty bread, and a quiet afternoon. The flavor of hummus is unmatched, and it is ideal for most diets. However, it does seem to have an unusual effect on our digestive systems.
What’s the story here?
Well, you may be wondering if hummus makes you poop. The truth is, yes, but it’s more than that. Hummus is actually really good for you, and it helps out your body more than you might realize.
We aren’t saying it’s super healthy, because usually, it contains quite a lot of oil, but it does have aspects that help it help you!
So, here’s the deal…
Does Hummus Make You Poop More?
Hummus has the ability to make your bowel movements more regular, yes. Hummus has a high fiber content, which can actually make you more regular in your toilet activity.
It has a dietary fiber that will help to soften your stools and bulk them so that you have an easier time passing them.
So, to put it simply, hummus does help you poop more. This is especially good if you find yourself suffering from constipation, it can help to encourage movement in your bowels, and unblock your digestive tract.
Why Does Hummus Make You Poop?
We all know that fiber is good for healthy bowel movements, it is often why we start the day with high fiber breakfasts, it gives us energy, and it also helps our bowel movements for the day.
Chickpeas are very high in fiber, not dissimilar to beans and oats, so, their high fiber content will actually help your bowels get shifting.
Of course, this is fantastic if you are constipated, and are struggling to have healthy bowel movements.
Yet, we might urge you to avoid hummus if you are suffering from the messier, opposite of constipation.
Does hummus cause diarrhea, well, yes, if you eat too much of it, suffer from IBS, or if your stool were already perfectly loose, then you’re just making them looser?
Hummus’ ability to help you get the movement going around the back is all down to fiber, and so, think of hummus much as you would think of a plate of beans, or a bowl of oatmeal.
Is Hummus Good For An Upset Stomach?
Yes and no. To be short. It really depends on you as an individual. If you suffer from IBS, or if you suffer from diarrhea, then hummus is probably the opposite of what you need.
However, if you are ‘backed-up’ and are unable to relieve yourself, then hummus might be the trick to get the ball rolling.
Does Hummus Make You Fart?
Much like beans, and other fibrous food types, yes, it does. Hummus is made from chickpeas, these are legumes. If you get gas with beans, you will get gas with hummus too.
For some people, the effects of hummus can be even more ‘extra’, if you have a GI inflammation, or even sometimes IBS, legumes can be hard to digest and will induce inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
Does Hummus Cause Smelly Gas?
Similar to our last point, hummus can also give your gas a less than pleasant odor. It won’t always occur, but if you eat hummus in droves, then you will probably get bad gas.
This is because a sugar/ carb, in hummus known as raffinose is found in chickpeas. This is the same substance that you might find in brussels sprouts, and we all know how those make our gas smell.
It is this substance (raffinose) that creates that bad smelling gas once you have eaten sprouts, and you will likely get it after eating a lot of hummus as well. So, just be aware of this.
Be aware of raffinose. If you have a date coming up and don’t want to shock your date with some odorous flatulence, these are the foods to watch out for;
- Cabbage.
- Sprouts.
- Broccoli.
- Whole grains.
- Asparagus.
- Chickpeas.
- Radish.
Why does this matter?
All of these containers that gas-inducing sugar in high amounts, it is very common in many vegetables. They are all high in fibers as well. Which does not break down until it is in your small intensity, which is what causes the gas, followed by the odor from raffinose.
Is Hummus Good For Your Gut?
However, if you are suffering from a stomach ache, and you do not care if you suffer a bit of smelly gas, hummus can be a real lifesaver.
Since chickpeas have so much of this fiber in them, and raffinose, it can ease some issues.
The healthy bacteria in your gut will break it down and your colon will digest it slowly, so it is a good snack for an uneasy gut. However, do not eat too much, less is more with hummus and a bad belly.
Are Chickpeas A Laxative?
If you are constipated and do not fancy taking a trip to the drug store, then you will probably find that some vegetables and legumes can be a helping hand for you.
With a bad belly, you might want to reach for the hummus or even some lentils. You see, 1 cup of lentils (boiled) contains 14.2g of fiber, and 1 cup of chickpeas gives you 13.7g of fiber. So, eating these will increase how much your body produces butyric acid.
This is a fatty acid that can act as a natural laxative!
It may sound strange, but a tub of hummus could very well be a cheaper option for you than laxatives in some cases. Although, if you’re really hurting, we still recommend sticking to prescribed laxatives.
Finally, Know The Side Effects Of Eating Hummus
Hummus can be really good for you, but what it does to your GI tract is not always good news.
Be careful about eating too much because too much can cause problems.
Men should eat 30g of fiber per day, and women should have 21g. If you eat more than 70g of fiber per day, you will start to get issues with your digestion, including IBS.
Commercial hummus contains 15g of fiber per tbsp. This means 4.5 tbsp of hummus per day can make you at risk for an unhappy tummy.
… But, there’s a catch.
Some of us are used to high-fiber diets, so it really depends on your body. If you already have digestive issues, we would recommend going easy on it, but this is not the case for everyone.
Hummus is pretty safe to overdo it with, but remember, you can have too much of a good thing, and while it tastes delicious, remember, it can be harmful to your GI tract.
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