Legumes May Trigger Symptoms in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects roughly 10 % of the French population and is characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and/or constipation. Legumes such as chickpeas, lentils and beans contain FODMAPs—fermentable sugars that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and fermented by colonic bacteria, producing gas and discomfort.

Dietitian‑nutritionist Oriane Macke explains, "Les personnes ayant l'intestin irritable peuvent alors ressentir un travail plus intense, voire très douloureux, pour digérer les légumineuses." Tolerance varies individually; some patients may handle certain legumes better than others, but generally a difficulty with one type often extends to most legumes. The advice is not to eliminate legumes entirely but to adjust portion sizes, preparation methods, and food pairings to improve digestibility.