Q. A lot of my friends are vegetarians. That means social gatherings are heavy on beans, hummus, broccoli and other foods that cause me a great deal of gas. I really suffer afterwards.
I cannot avoid these events and it would be impolite to refuse the food. Help!
A. Take along Beano. The enzyme can help break down the complex carbohydrates in beans and other vegetables that contribute to gas. You may also want to bring Angostura bitters and put a few drops in your drinking water. This is an old-fashioned remedy for flatulence.
Other options include fennel seed tea or ginger. We are sending you our Guide to Digestive Disorders with more details and a recipe for de-gassing beans. You may wish to share it with your friends.
