# Does "Beano" actually work? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 6, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764 "2005-11-06T06:25:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/1 "2005-11-06T06:25:35Z")
I probably should have asked this question 5 hours ago beofre I ate that can of [Ranch Style Beans](http://store1.yimg.com/I/foodlocker_1868_10141474) :smack: (quite good, by the way! 🆒 ), but does [BEANO](http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=10449&catid=10&brand=7278&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=10&trxp2=10449&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND) actually work? 45+ years on the planet & I’ve never tried the stuff. Supplements like “Gas X” have never done anything for me. Have any of you ever tried Beano? ---
**Author:** ![elfbabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b782af/32.png) [@elfbabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfbabe)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/2 "2005-11-06T08:46:23Z")
The **Mercotan** family gives it to the dog with every meal. And believe me, the house smells _very different_ if someone forgets to stock up and we run out of Beano. :eek: :eek: :eek: ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/3 "2005-11-06T10:23:02Z")
- - - I have used it in the past and it does work. Tastes kinda odd, but you just put a couple drops on the first mouthful of food. Problem is though you have to take it at the same time you’re eating or it won’t work. ~ ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/4 "2005-11-06T21:18:54Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I probably should have asked this question 5 hours ago beofre I ate that can of [Ranch Style Beans](http://store1.yimg.com/I/foodlocker_1868_10141474) :smack: > (quite good, by the way! 🆒 ), but does [BEANO](http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=10449&catid=10&brand=7278&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=10&trxp2=10449&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND) > actually work? 45+ years on the planet & I’ve never tried the stuff. Supplements like “Gas X” have never done anything for me. Have any of you ever tried Beano? Don’t know much about Beano, but Gas-X isn’t a supplement, it’s a pill for the gassy part of heartburn – simethicone, a blend of dimethicone (silicone “oil”) and silicon dioxide, is also sold industrially as “Antifoam” and as infant colic drops called “Mylicon.” I wouldn’t expect it to do anything for bean gas except make the farts come out more easily. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/5 "2005-11-06T22:28:44Z")
Yes, beano works. It helps reduce the amount of particular starch molecules, which bacteria love to chomp on to produce gas. Beano is an enzyme that cleaves these molecules, allowing you to absorb them rather than let the bacteria eat them. Gas-X will **not** work for flatulence. All simethicone does is break up bubbles already in the system. It reduces their size, so they don’t stretch out the stomach or bowels so much. But you’ve still got as much swallowed air in the system. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/6 "2005-11-06T23:14:59Z")
I cast another vote for Beano. However, I just have used the other approach and avoided the foods that are the worst offenders. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/7 "2005-11-07T00:00:38Z")
Gas-X won’t kill the farts, but it will turn them into tiny, little, less noticable poots. I sometimes make my husband take it before bedtime. It’s the difference between being vaguely aware of a strange smell when I pull the covers up over my shoulder, and being blasted out of my peaceful sleep with an air horn. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/8 "2005-11-07T00:14:34Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > …It helps reduce the amount of particular starch molecules… Not starches, sugars! > [@](#): > > Helps stop flatulence and/or bloat as a result of eating a variety of grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, and vegetables containing the sugars raffinose, stachyose and/or verbascose before it starts. From the OP’s Beano link. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/9 "2005-11-07T02:21:28Z")
I had thought starch was a particular type of glucose and thus a sugar, so I checked out Wikipedia: > **[Starch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starch)** > > Starch or amylum is a polymeric carbohydrate consisting of numerous glucose units joined by glycosidic bonds. This polysaccharide is produced by most green plants for energy storage. Worldwide, it is the most common carbohydrate in human diets, and is contained in large amounts in staple foods like wheat, potatoes, maize (corn), rice, and cassava (manioc). > Pure starch is a white, tasteless and odorless powder that is insoluble in cold water or alcohol. It consists of two types of molecules: the... > [@](#): > > starchs are truly very yummy and good to eat but somtimes can kill you and u will have to go and live underground in a coffin So, hope that clears that up. Oh, and Beano is awesome, and the inventor deserves a Nobel prize. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/10 "2005-11-07T16:19:35Z")
Would that be for Chemistry… or Peace? ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/11 "2005-11-07T16:36:27Z")
Sequential thread titles. . . “That was me” vs. “That was I” and “Does Beano actually work?” ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/12 "2005-11-07T16:37:03Z")
This thread just wouldn’t have been complete without a **lieu** post! ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2005, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/13 "2005-11-07T17:32:41Z")
And here I thought this thread would be about Biffo the Bear and the real [Dennis the Menace.](http://www.toonopedia.com/dennisb.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/14 "2005-11-08T06:18:43Z")
I used to have the same problem as **Batsinma** ’s husband. I’m not saying I’m cured now, but…well, no one’s complained in a long time. ☹ Anyway, Beano never had any noticeable effect on me. Unfortunately. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-beano-actually-work/329764/15 "2005-11-08T13:37:36Z")
Geeky brewer fact…you can use Beano to homebrew low carb beer. [http://byo.com/mrwizard/1112.html](http://byo.com/mrwizard/1112.html)