Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSide EffectsHealth BenefitsDosageGas Producing FoodsBeano Alternatives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Side Effects
Health Benefits
Dosage
Gas Producing Foods
Beano Alternatives
Beano, an over-the-counter (OTC) supplement, contains a natural enzyme calledalpha-galactosidase. This reduces gas production, particularly after you eat certain vegetables, legumes, or whole grains.
When taken before meals, Beano helps break down the complex carbohydrates that might otherwise remain in the intestine, where they ferment and producegas. This can prevent symptoms like flatulence (farting), abdominal cramping, and bloating.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Verywell / Getty Images
Beano Side Effects and Safety
Beano is generally regarded as safe with no known side effects.However, there are some instances in which Beano is not recommended, or when you may need to take special precautions.
Who Should Avoid Beano
While Beano is generally safe to take, there is a rare subset of people with an allergy to alpha-galactosidase, also known asalpha-gal syndrome. People with alpha-gal syndrome are allergic to red meat and can experience a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction known asanaphylaxiswhen exposed to alpha-galactosidase.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
If left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead to shock, coma, cardiac arrest, acute respiratory failure, and even death.
Alpha-galactosidase is extracted from a food-grade mold calledAspergillus niger, so people with a severemold allergymay also need to avoid Beano.
There is no evidence that Beano is unsafe for pregnant people or those who are breastfeeding. Beano has not been tested in children, so consult your child’s pediatrician before giving them Beano.
Precautions With Diabetes
If you havediabetesor a genetic disorder calledgalactosemia, you should not take Beano without consulting your healthcare provider first.
Both galactosemia and diabetes affect how the body processesglucose, the body’s main form of energy. The main ingredient in Beano breaks down indigestible sugars into digestible sugars, which can increase your blood sugar levels.
Studies have also found that Beano can reduce the effectiveness ofdiabetes drugsknown as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. This includes the drugs acarbose and Glyset (miglitol).
Health Benefits of Beano
Beano contains a digestive enzyme that breaks downcomplex carbohydratesthat are hard to digest intosimple carbohydratesthat are easier to digest.
For some people, thedigestive systemhas a hard time breaking down complex carbohydrates, which are made of a long chain of sugar molecules. If these reach thecolon (large intestine), bacteria will start to ferment them and produce gas.
Beano also works on short-chain carbohydrates known asFODMAPs. FODMAPs—which stand for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols—are types of sugar that resist digestion and cause gas and bloating as they ferment.
FODMAPs are one of the dietary triggers implicated in the functional digestive disorder known asirritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
How Fiber Causes Gas
Dosage and Preparation
Beano is vegan-friendly and contains less than 5 milligrams (mg) of sodium per tablet. It is available as a chewable tablet or meltaway tablet. Beano should be taken before eating foods that cause gas but may be effective if taken up to 30 minutes after eating.
The recommended dose of Beano is as follows:
Meltaway tablets are placed on the tongue and will dissolve without chewing or swallowing. Beano tablets can also be crumbled onto food and eaten with your meal if you prefer.
Beano can be taken with every meal. You can even safely double the dose if you are eating larger amounts of gas-causing foods.
Store Beano at room temperature away from heat and moisture. Do not use after the expiration date. Beano should not be used in cooking as heat breaks down the enzymes, making them useless.
Foods That Beano Helps
Many complex carbohydrates are very good for you, and you should not avoid them. The benefits of eating these foods generally outweigh the discomfort they can cause.
This is why Beano can be an effective way to reap the health benefits of complex carbohydrates while avoiding digestive problems like gas, cramping, and bloating.
Foods that Beano can help you digest include:
Grains
Examples include:
Vegetables
Bean Sprouts Benefits: Fresh, Canned, or Stir-Fried
Legumes
11 Health Benefits of Eating Beans
In addition to generic alpha-galactosidase supplements, there are otherOTC gas medicinesyou can try to alleviate flatulence and bloating. Chief among these is a product called Gas-X.
While both Beano and Gas-X treat the same set of symptoms, Gas-X contains an anti-foaming agent calledsimethicone. Gas-X doesn’t stop the fermentation process like Beano does but rather breaks down gas bubbles so that gasses are easily passed through the digestive tract rather than causing intense intestinal pressure.
Gas-X can be taken daily, but, unlike Beano, never take more than the recommended dose. There are different formulations of Gas-X for adults, which are sold in either soft gelcap or chewable tablet forms.
Simethicone-containing products like Mylicon and Little Remedies are available for children. Both are formulated as a flavored syrup.
Can You Take Beano and Gas-X Together?There are no interactions between Beano and Gas-X. As such, it is possible to take them together. Even so, speak with your healthcare provider before doing so.If gas and bloating are seriously affecting your quality of life, you may have an underlying health condition like IBS that would benefit from other forms of treatment.
Can You Take Beano and Gas-X Together?
There are no interactions between Beano and Gas-X. As such, it is possible to take them together. Even so, speak with your healthcare provider before doing so.If gas and bloating are seriously affecting your quality of life, you may have an underlying health condition like IBS that would benefit from other forms of treatment.
There are no interactions between Beano and Gas-X. As such, it is possible to take them together. Even so, speak with your healthcare provider before doing so.
If gas and bloating are seriously affecting your quality of life, you may have an underlying health condition like IBS that would benefit from other forms of treatment.
These additional suggestions may also reduce gas and bloating:
How Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Is Treated
Summary
Beano is an over-the-counter product that helps prevent gas, farting, and bloating when you take it before meals that include vegetables, grains, and legumes that can cause these symptoms. It is considered safe for most people but may need to be avoided if you have diabetes or an allergy to the main ingredient called alpha-galactosidase.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Di Nardo G, Oliva S, Ferrari F, et al.Efficacy and tolerability of α-galactosidase in treating gas-related symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. BMC Gastroenterol. 2013 Sep 24;13:142. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-13-142Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About alpha-gal syndrome.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158Dribin TE, Motosue MS, Campbell RL.Overview of allergy and anaphylaxis.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(1):1-17. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2021.08.007International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Treatment of gas.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for gas in the digestive tract.Lettieri JT, Dain B.Effects of Beano on the tolerability and pharmacodynamics of acarbose.Clinical Therapeutics. 1998;20(3):497-504. doi:10.1016/S0149-2918(98)80059-3Tuck C, Ly E, Bogatyrev A, et al.Fermentable short chain carbohydrate (FODMAP) content of common plant-based foods and processed foods suitable for vegetarian- and vegan-based eating patterns.J Hum Nutr Diet. 2018;31(3):422-435. doi:10.1111/jhn.12546PubChem.Simethicone.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Gas: beat the bloat.Additional ReadingBeano.FAQs.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Di Nardo G, Oliva S, Ferrari F, et al.Efficacy and tolerability of α-galactosidase in treating gas-related symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. BMC Gastroenterol. 2013 Sep 24;13:142. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-13-142Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About alpha-gal syndrome.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158Dribin TE, Motosue MS, Campbell RL.Overview of allergy and anaphylaxis.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(1):1-17. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2021.08.007International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Treatment of gas.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for gas in the digestive tract.Lettieri JT, Dain B.Effects of Beano on the tolerability and pharmacodynamics of acarbose.Clinical Therapeutics. 1998;20(3):497-504. doi:10.1016/S0149-2918(98)80059-3Tuck C, Ly E, Bogatyrev A, et al.Fermentable short chain carbohydrate (FODMAP) content of common plant-based foods and processed foods suitable for vegetarian- and vegan-based eating patterns.J Hum Nutr Diet. 2018;31(3):422-435. doi:10.1111/jhn.12546PubChem.Simethicone.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Gas: beat the bloat.Additional ReadingBeano.FAQs.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Di Nardo G, Oliva S, Ferrari F, et al.Efficacy and tolerability of α-galactosidase in treating gas-related symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. BMC Gastroenterol. 2013 Sep 24;13:142. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-13-142Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About alpha-gal syndrome.Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158Dribin TE, Motosue MS, Campbell RL.Overview of allergy and anaphylaxis.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(1):1-17. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2021.08.007International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Treatment of gas.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for gas in the digestive tract.Lettieri JT, Dain B.Effects of Beano on the tolerability and pharmacodynamics of acarbose.Clinical Therapeutics. 1998;20(3):497-504. doi:10.1016/S0149-2918(98)80059-3Tuck C, Ly E, Bogatyrev A, et al.Fermentable short chain carbohydrate (FODMAP) content of common plant-based foods and processed foods suitable for vegetarian- and vegan-based eating patterns.J Hum Nutr Diet. 2018;31(3):422-435. doi:10.1111/jhn.12546PubChem.Simethicone.Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Gas: beat the bloat.
Di Nardo G, Oliva S, Ferrari F, et al.Efficacy and tolerability of α-galactosidase in treating gas-related symptoms in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. BMC Gastroenterol. 2013 Sep 24;13:142. doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-13-142
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About alpha-gal syndrome.
Bilò MB, Martini M, Tontini C, Corsi A, Antonicelli L.Anaphylaxis.Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2021;53(1):4-17. doi:10.23822/EurAnnACI.1764-1489.158
Dribin TE, Motosue MS, Campbell RL.Overview of allergy and anaphylaxis.Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2022;40(1):1-17. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2021.08.007
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Treatment of gas.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for gas in the digestive tract.
Lettieri JT, Dain B.Effects of Beano on the tolerability and pharmacodynamics of acarbose.Clinical Therapeutics. 1998;20(3):497-504. doi:10.1016/S0149-2918(98)80059-3
Tuck C, Ly E, Bogatyrev A, et al.Fermentable short chain carbohydrate (FODMAP) content of common plant-based foods and processed foods suitable for vegetarian- and vegan-based eating patterns.J Hum Nutr Diet. 2018;31(3):422-435. doi:10.1111/jhn.12546
PubChem.Simethicone.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital.Gas: beat the bloat.
Beano.FAQs.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
