Editing Bean (section)

== In human society ==

[[File:Carracci - Der Bohnenesser.jpeg|thumb|''[[The Beaneater]]'' (c.1584) by [[Annibale Carracci]] ]]

Beans have often been thought of as a food of the poor, as small farmers ate grains, vegetables, and got their protein from beans, while the wealthier classes were able to afford meat.<ref name="Albala 2007" /> European society has what Ken Albala calls "a class-based antagonism" to beans.<ref name="Albala 2007" /> 

Different cultures agree in disliking the flatulence that beans cause, and possess their own seasonings to attempt to remedy it: Mexico uses the herb [[epazote]]; India the aromatic resin [[asafoetida]]; Germany applies the herb [[Satureja|savory]]; in the Middle East, [[cumin]]; and Japan the seaweed [[kombu]].<ref name="Albala 2007" /> A substance for which there is evidence of effectiveness in reducing flatulence is the enzyme [[alpha-galactosidase]];<ref name="Albala 2007">{{cite book |last=Albala |first=Ken |title=Beans |publisher=Berg |publication-place=Oxford |date=15 August 2007 |isbn=978-1-84520-430-3 |pages=x, xiv, 1, 12}}</ref> extracted from the [[mould]] fungus ''[[Aspergillus niger]]'', it breaks down [[glycolipid]]s and [[glycoprotein]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Di Stefano |first1=Michele |last2=Miceli |first2=Emanuela |last3=Gotti |first3=Samantha |last4=Missanelli |first4=Antonio |last5=Mazzocchi |first5=Samanta |last6=Corazza |first6=Gino Roberto |title=The Effect of Oral α-Galactosidase on Intestinal Gas Production and Gas-Related Symptoms |journal=Digestive Diseases and Sciences |volume=52 |issue=1 |date=2007 |doi=10.1007/s10620-006-9296-9 |pages=78–83|pmid=17151807 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ganiats |first1=T. G. |last2=Norcross |first2=W. A. |last3=Halverson |first3=A. L. |last4=Burford |first4=P. A. |last5=Palinkas |first5=L. A. |title=Does Beano prevent gas? A double-blind crossover study of oral alpha-galactosidase to treat dietary oligosaccharide intolerance |journal=The Journal of Family Practice |volume=39 |issue=5 |date=1994 |pmid=7964541 |pages=441–445}}</ref> The reputation of beans for flatulence is the theme of a children's song "[[Beans, Beans, the Musical Fruit]]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Carey |first=Bjorn |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12483399/ |title=Scientists take the 'toot' out of beans |work=[[NBC News]] |date=25 April 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205042357/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12483399/ |archive-date=5 December 2013 }}</ref>

The [[Mexican jumping bean]] is a segment of a seed pod occupied by the [[larva]] of the moth ''[[Cydia saltitans]]'', and sold as a novelty. The pods start to jump when warmed in the palm of the hand. Scientists have suggested that the random walk that results may help the larva to find shade and so to survive on hot days.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ouellette |first=Jennifer |date=2023-02-09 |title=Study: Mexican jumping beans use random walk strategy to find shade |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/taking-a-walk-on-the-random-side-helps-mexican-jumping-beans-find-shade/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210004230/https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/taking-a-walk-on-the-random-side-helps-mexican-jumping-beans-find-shade/ |archive-date=2023-02-10 |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref>