UoN The Hidden Half: Bean (Tio canela)

This Tepary bean, Phaseolus acutifolius, is native to Mexico and can grow in extremely dry conditions. Bean and pea plants both belong to the same family of plants and are grown all over the world as important sources of protein. The high levels of oligosaccharides in beans lead to the unfortunate flatulence that can follow a meal of beans. These oligosaccharides cannot be digested by our stomachs which means bacteria living in our intestine digest them for us and produce gas as a result.