South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Eggs among most common culprits for allergic reactions
Q: I suffered with both constipation and diarrhea for 56 years. The pain was terrible, and the onset of an episode would throw me into a panic attack. There were times I ended up passing blood. Then at 57, I was tested for allergies. EGGS! My reaction was five times the upper limit on egg whites and three times the limit on yolks. An egg a day was the one food my parents had insisted I eat!
A: A study of children with chronic constipation found that this problem resolved when they avoided the foods that caused them allergic reactions (European Journal of Pediatrics, September 2011). Wheat and egg are among the most common culprits. It’s too bad this wasn’t well-known when you were a child. A year or two of strictly avoiding eggs might have saved you more than 50 years of misery.
Q: I took hydrochlorothiazide for 10 years to treat blood pressure. As a result, I developed diabetes, for which the doctor prescribed some pills I don’t like.
When I saw my new doctor last spring, I provided a list of vitamins and food that I eat in place of pills to control diabetes, blood pressure and high cholesterol. He read the list and then he looked at me and said, “If this is what you are doing, keep it up! All of your numbers are low!” Mostly it was just common everyday food such as garlic, turmeric, cinnamon and vinegar water. I am just about through with diabetes. I think people should know about these options.
A: Hydrochlorothiazide and similar blood pressure diuretics can raise blood sugar, as you learned through experience. Generally, doctors prescribe medications to control diabetes, though diet and exercise can be very helpful. We’re impressed you have done so well, and it makes sense for you to have your doctor monitor your progress.
There are many non-drug ways to control blood sugar, and you are using several of them. Both turmeric and cinnamon have research that supports their effectiveness.
Q: The doctor added fenofibrate to my meds because I had high triglycerides (400-plus). Within six weeks, my triglycerides were down to 179. As an extra benefit, the uncontrolled diarrhea I’ve been experiencing for almost two years has almost completely disappeared. The gastroenterologist I’ve seen says fenofibrate can bind with fats and lower triglycerides. So far, it has been good for me. Is there anything else I should know about it?
A: Fenofibrate is an often-overlooked drug in the doctors’ lipidcontrolling toolbox. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1993 and first sold in the U.S. under the brand name Tricor in 1998.
In addition to lowering triglycerides, it also can reduce total and LDL cholesterol and raise “good” HDL cholesterol. People with metabolic syndrome (high cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose and blood pressure along with a large waistline) are especially likely to benefit from fenofibrate. Side effects include liver enzyme elevations, digestive discomfort and headache.
Fenofibrate may also have unexpected benefits for the brain. There is preliminary evidence of antidepressant and neuroprotective activity (Biomolecules, May 2022).