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I love detailed explanations! The more info the better! I appreciate you taking the time to type all that out!

When you say you make the spread or dip, is it Heather's bean spread in the EFI diet book? Do you only use a few Tablespoons of the spread as well? Yep, I've made Heather's bean spread and then experimented with my own mixes. Heather's is the tastiest, though. Since I've been eating more beans lately I'll have more than a few tablespoons.

Do you just add dry cumin that you find in the spice aisle? Yes. I never heard that this helped with gas. I didn't know that until recently either. I don't know if it really does, but I like the flavor--there is a soothing quality to it. Good to know! I'm not sure parsley would taste so good with beans! Just an example. But I have seen it in bean soup recipes. But I have heard to chew fresh parsley leaves after a meal to aid in digestion. Haven't tried that yet either. I've tried this a couple of times. I can't recall if it helped with gas but I remember it didn't taste very good!

If you only eat a few Tablespoons of the beans on the couscous or a few Tablespoons of the dip, what do you do with all the left over beans from the 15 oz jar? Sometimes I'll have it for lunch AND dinner and, of course, I live with bf so he'll eat some. You could share it with coworkers, too! Do you freeze it or does it stay edible in the fridge for a while? I've never needed to keep it more than two days in the refrigerator because I'm constantly snacking on it. Sometimes I'll make half the can and then use the rest to make a black bean salsa for my non-IBS bf or friends.

I've tried Beano in the pill form...chewing a few of them right before eating something I think may cause gas, like asparagus. It does also come in a liquid. But both forms contain Artificial Sweetener (pill contains mannitol and liquid contains sorbitol ), so I try to just double up on my digestive enzyme which contains the same active ingredient as the Beano without the Artif. Sweetener. Those darn artificial sweeteners! They show up everywhere! Well, I guess I won't be trying it any time soon. I sometimes take both though. I still get the gas, so don't know if I would suggest the beano does anything for me.

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