Advice Index Children Dieting & Weight Loss Going Vegetarian Health Lifestyle Nutrition Relationships Teens Savvy Veg Bio What's A Savvy Veg Advertise Subscribe Contact Us

Free SV Reports!

Vegetarian Nutrition

10 Tips for Going Veg

Eat Beans Without Gas

Veg Social Etiquette

Veg Non-Veg Together

Savvy Veg Fans

"I am awed by the variety of information, recipes, tips etc. I am and will remain a regular visitor :)" - Steph S.

"Thanks for providing the healthiest of the vegetarian recipe options out there, & for choosing recipes that celebrate whole foods!" - Trish R.

"Your website is really cool. The articles are fantastic and the recipes are varied and not difficult. I can't wait to tell my friends about this site!" - Kathy C.

"Your site is quite wonderful. Thank you for helping us live in a sustainable, ethical and healthful way for all living things" - Erin L.

"I just found your website and love that many of the recipes are vegan! Thank you thank you! Love it! So stoked to find you." - Elaine E.

"Thank you for the great advice ... I'm sure your web site will answer all my questions. I'm very happy I found your web site ... thanks again" - Gailey M.

More Testimonials

Cooking Onions In Vegetarian Diet Cause Stomach Gas

Question: I love onions & don't want to give them up. What to do?

I read what you said about beans and stomach gas. If I drain off the soaking water for beans I cook myself or rinse canned beans, I don't have any problems with them.

However, onions do cause me problems the next day. What can I do about that? I love the flavor onions give to food and don't want to give them up. - M. J.

Savvy Vegetarian Advice

Dear M. J.,

Apparently it's the fructose in onions that causes stomach gas. Try cooking onions in a little oil until they're soft before adding them to foods - that will partially break down the sugar. Or steam them first. Also, reduce the amount you eat. A little onion goes a long way in my experience.

You can also try cooking onions with stomach gas-alleviating spices like ginger, cumin, cardamom, caraway, turmeric, fennel, asefoetida (hing). Asefoetida is extremely strong, just use a small pinch, and heat it first in oil to reduce bitterness. It also can be an onion substitute for people who can't do onions (like me).

The Japanese sea vegetable kombu is also recommended for stomach gas - if you can figure out what to do with it. Mostly I've used it in soup stocks. You can also add it when cooking beans. Sprinkling toasted nori on your food might help.

Digestive probiotics like yogurt and kefir (acidophilus) in moderation may reduce stomach gas by restoring balance to the digestive flora. In India, yogurt is often eaten with meals in a drink called lassi, or in yogurt salads called raitas.

All these remedies are for cooked food. I guess for eating raw onions you'll have to pick your times for least exposure. Or eat your main meal, including onions at lunch time, when your digestion is strongest.

If your digestion is at it's best, you won't have as much of a problem with stomach gas from any foods, so work on that. Probiotic tablets or digestive enzyme supplement are helpfuls. Udo's Choice makes a good brand, available at Vitacost.

All the best! Judith Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian