If legumes (split peas, chickpeas, lentils, beans, dried beans, etc.) are rich in protein, fiber, and low in calories, they hide a darker side… Indeed, pulses can make us inflate the belly!
The explanation is simple: on the one hand, pulses are rich in non-degradable carbohydrates, and on the other, fibers they contain are quite hard. What, when they are consumed, results in a fairly long digestion time, and fermentation in the stomach. With, as a result, a distention of the abdominal wall (a big belly effect), irritated intestines, and possibly gas. Not really what we dream of.
Fortunately, there is a very simple trick to make legumes go hand in hand with a flat stomach: before cooking them, you must always soak them for several hours in cold water, rinse them, then discard the first cooking water.
