San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Search is on for alternative to coconut macaroons for IBS
Q: My wife has suffered from irritable bowel syndrome for years. Multiple tests and exams have consistently ruled out more severe disorders.
She has had success with coconut macaroons but has gotten to the point that she simply cannot tolerate their taste and texture. Can you suggest alternative forms of coconut or other home remedies?
I hear there is some form of peppermint oil that might help. What is it, and how well does it work? IBS is becoming very disruptive to her life.
A: Irritable bowel syndrome is challenging. Symptoms can include flatulence, bloating, abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea or constipation. We have heard from many readers that two or three coconut macaroon cookies daily can be helpful in easing diarrhea.
Since your wife now detests them, she needs an alternative. If she can tolerate dried coconut flakes, that may do the job. Some people sprinkle them on their morning cereal with success.
Enteric-coated peppermint oil has been used for decades to treat symptoms of IBS. The American College of Gastroenterology recently noted “peppermint oil may offer benefit for overall symptoms and abdominal pain in patients with IBS” (American Journal of Gastroenterology, Jan. 1, 2021). The gastroenterologists based their recommendation on a dozen randomized controlled trials.
You can learn more about managing IBS, constipation, diarrhea and other intestinal problems in our eGuide to Overcoming Digestive Disorders. This
online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab at PeoplesPharmacy.com.
Q: I was going to buy some fresh beet juice from the refrigerated section of our supermarket because I read that it could be helpful for high blood pressure. However, the label warned that it was not pasteurized and could be unsafe for the elderly.
I don’t want to take a chance. Would canned beets or juice be useful for lowering blood pressure?
A: Most of the studies demonstrating
that high-nitrate beet juice can help lower blood pressure provided participants with bottled beet juice rather than fresh. According to the Cleveland Clinic, canned beets are great, too. Look for cans with no added salt if possible, since salt added in canning might raise blood pressure for some people.
One other precaution: Those who have suffered kidney stones will want to be cautious about consuming beets or juice. This root vegetable is rich in oxalates that can raise the risk of this painful complication.
Q: In 2014, my husband was
diagnosed with guttate psoriasis, peeling from scalp to feet. After topicals failed, he began drinking three cups of green tea per day. Nothing exotic, just supermarket brands.
In two weeks, the psoriasis was gone. We continue to drink green tea throughout the week, and the condition has never returned.
A: Very few dermatologists would recommend this remedy. However, Chinese scientists studied the effectiveness of Ltheanine, a compound found in green tea, to treat psoriasis symptoms (Frontiers in Pharmacology, July 26, 2021).
To conduct their study, they induced a psoriasis-like condition in mice with a drug called imiquimod. Then they compared topical L-theanine to placebo and identified a number of inflammatory pathways affected by L-theanine.
Other researchers focused on the green tea ingredient EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) (Phytotherapy Research, September 2020). It too shows promise when applied topically to psoriasis.
We appreciate your report that drinking green tea could be an effective way to get the benefits of L-theanine against psoriasis.