Readers: Hot water works like coffee, aids in digestion
Q: I read your column about the effects of coffee on moving one’s bowels. It may not be the caffeine doing the work. My grandmother did not drink coffee, but every morning first thing she drank a cup of hot water “for her bowels,” she said. I think hot water would have the same effect whether it had caffeine in it or not.
A: The researchers we mentioned who tested the effects of coffee on rats’ digestive function found that decaf worked like regular coffee to enhance the power of intestinal contractions, demonstrating that caffeine is not the primary actor.
Scientists have used hot water as a control in a study of postoperative recovery of bowel function (European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, January 2018). Among women who had undergone Caesarean section deliveries, those who drank coffee were quicker to pass gas — which demonstrates the digestive tract is returning to normal.
A meta-analysis involving six clinical trials with 600 patients concluded: “Postoperative coffee consumption is effective and safe for enhancing the recovery of gastrointestinal function after abdominal surgery” (Scientific Reports, Nov. 26, 2018).
Many other readers share the conviction that hot beverages of any sort can benefit bowel function. One would need to experiment between hot and cold coffee to see if temperature is a key factor.
Q: My husband, age 70, was just diagnosed with a vitamin B12 deficiency. Why is a B12 test not a part of regular bloodwork after a certain age? The symptoms mimic dementia and myriad other illnesses, including depression and anxiety. He’s gradually getting better after a month on vitamin B12 supplements.
A: You are correct that vitamin B12 deficiency is common among the elderly (Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, February 2015). A Canadian study found that older men who get more vitamin B12 from their diets are less likely to be depressed (European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2016).
Testing for vitamin B12 is not a simple blood test, though. The diagnosis may require a test for methylmalonic acid (MMA) as well as serum B12 (cobalamin). Doctors should consider such testing for people with symptoms of cognitive decline.
Q: I was on brand-name Lasix for over 30 years to treat lymphedema. Now that I can get only generic furosemide, I have found that the generic does nothing to reduce swelling. It only causes allergic skin outbreaks. I am 65, and I fear I will not be able to manage my condition in the future because the generic is ineffective. Can you advise me how I could find brand-name Lasix?
A: You are not the first reader to report problems with generic furosemide. With a prescription from your doctor, you should be able to purchase brand-name Lasix from a legitimate online Canadian pharmacy for about one-third as much as it would cost in the U.S.
Q: What’s the most effective bug spray to keep ticks off ?
A: According to Consumer Reports (July 2019), either putting DEET-containing bug repellent on your skin or wearing permethrin-treated clothing can help. Even with such precautions, however, you must perform tick checks whenever you come inside from your walks.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Send questions to them via www.peoplespharmacy.com.