Beano and Absorption

Hey all -

Lori Black posted last week about using 3 beano before a meal to aid in digestion and reduce gas of that meal.

I picked up a bottle of it and have good results in eliminating gas entirely when I eat my problem foods (namely pizza).

I know that when a DS patient needs to stop losing they will often prescribe Creon which is basically a digestive enzyme.

My question is whether or not taking something like beano is akin is taking Creon. Basically it's helping to break down food so it is better digested. Does this also mean that we're possibly absorbing more because it's being broke down?

I've found for myself that after taking beano I am a bit more "plugged up" than normal and once I go I also have firmer stools.

I'm trying to avoid taking it simply because I don't want to get into the habit of using it to eat foods I should eat less of.

essentially when you use a digestive enzyme (like beano) you are chemically undoing your DS. To what point or if it will result in you absorbing so many calories you'll stop losing weight or regain, that's one of those YMMV types of things.

Scott

That's pretty much the thought I'd had. It makes it convenient when I want to have something that typically doesn't agree with me but I don't want to make it a habit.

I still have weight to lose so ...

Hey Tali,

After posting I started thinking the whole thing through and have decided to use it more sparingly as I'm not trying to gain any more weight.  I'm thinking that if we only use it once in a while that we're better off if we're at the weight we want to be at.  I will say, Creon is a pancreatic enzyme where Beano is a digestive enzyme.  I'm curious if there's a difference.

Lori

pancreatic enzymes (from my understanding) are our digestive enzymes. The only difference between creon and beano is quality and quantity and the type of enzymes that it introduces. Beano (from my understanding) only has enzymes to break down carbs, specifically complex carbs.

Scott

Thanks Lori -

I think it'll be a special occasion thing for me as well. I like that it works and I'll keep it on hand because it's just not always convenient to have the rumbly tumbly!

*sings out* Oh Diana....where ARE you?????  (she might be having PS and out of commission for a bit....but she might know more about this.)