Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/39490
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 – Daily News 5A FEATURES
Honey each day keeps the doctor away
DEAR DR.
GOTT: I have been consuming at least 4 ounces of pure honey every day because of repeated urinary tract infections. Shouldn't that help, or should I try D-Mannose? I'm an 80-year-old female.
Dr. Peter Gott
DEAR READER: Bladder and urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria enter the urethra because of an interruption in the usual flow of urine, kidney infection, kidney stones, urethral strictures, an enlarged prostate in men or poor general hygiene. Some patients with disor- ders such as diabetes, can- cer and HIV are at increased risk of develop- ing UTIs.
Symptoms may vary according to sex, age, and the location of infection in the urinary tract, and may include a frequent urge to urinate, pain, burning, a strong odor, a bloated feeling, cloudy urine or urine that has a reddish color because of the pres- ence of blood. Honey is known to contain anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties, making it effective for some people in fighting bacteria that cause bladder infections, but honey may not always be the answer. If symp- toms worsen or even fail to improve, I recommend you seek medical atten- tion. If you are prone to frequent attacks, I suggest your physician order a clean-catch midstream sampling for analysis. This will allow him or her to determine which antibi- otic will be most effective. Treatment will likely be through the use of an oral medication unless a per- son requires hospital admission and the use of intravenous antibiotics. The best home remedy
is prevention. This can be accomplished by increas- ing daily fluid intake, emptying the bladder at the first indication of needing to urinate, wear- ing cotton underwear, eat- ing cranberries, blueber- ries and pineapple, drink- ing tea made with mint or olive leaf, or taking a vita- min C supplement. Cran- berries and blueberries contain antioxidants thought to help the immune system. Pineap- ple contains bromelain, which has anti-inflamma- tory properties that are believed to lower symp- toms. Vitamin C is
thought to increase urine acidity, which in turn reduces the growth of bacte- ria. Teas contain- ing mint or olive leaf are antibiotic in nature. Developing research suggests that eating yogurt enriched with L
acidophilus daily might lower the chance of devel- oping bacterial vaginal infections. However, it may not be effective when there is a history of repeated UTIs.
Studies on the effec-
tiveness of most home remedies remain question- able because of inconsis- tent dose recommenda- tions and a host of other facts. Some people may find remedies extremely effective, while others may require prescription- strength medication for control.
I think 4 ounces of
honey every day is exces- sive. Remedies often call for 1 teaspoon of honey mixed with cider vinegar, cinnamon or a pinch of salt. I've never known a person to take 4 ounces. I urge you to speak with your physician about your habit and ask his or her opinion as to whether it is appropriate.
D-Mannose is a sugar supplement used for pre- venting UTIs. It might prevent certain kinds of bacteria from sticking in the urinary tract and caus- ing infection. It appears to be safe for most adults, but might harm the kid- neys, cause loose stools and bloating in high doses. Readers who would like related infor- mation can order my Health Reports "Bladder and Urinary Tract Infec- tions" and "Compelling Home Remedies" by sending a self-addressed, stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 U.S. check or money order for each report to Dr. Peter Gott, P.O. Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title(s), or print an order form from my website's direct link: www.AskDrGottMD.com /order_form.pdf.
Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including "Live Longer, Live Better," "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet" and "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook," which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com.
Hateful harpy haranguing her heirs
Dear Annie: ''Elaine'' has been married to my brother for 45 years. She is critical, opinionated and condescending, and she loves to use her poison tongue to point out our faults to her husband and children. I do my best to remain cordial for my brother's sake, but it is nearly impossible. When they married, we welcomed Elaine with open arms, but she made it clear that we were never good enough. When I was a teenager, she tried to plant seeds of doubt in my mind, saying my parents didn't love me. When Elaine went back to college later in life, she became worse. She analyzed everything we said or did at family gatherings, making all events stressful. When confronted about her attitude, she blamed others because, of course, she is never wrong. I now realize Elaine lacks self-
confidence and trashed our family in order to eliminate competition for the affection of her husband and children. She has no respect for others. After my parents died, Elaine told my daughter that her grandparents didn't love her, and that their lives were one bitter feud that only Elaine was smart enough to notice. My confused daughter asked me about these comments, which fortunately gave me the opportunity to set the record straight.
Annie's Mailbox
by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar
I wish my brother would speak up, but he has been dominated too long. It won't do any good to tell Elaine what I think of her. She can't see that she has alienated everyone with her abrasive personality. But she is now spreading her vile, delusional untruths to the next generation. How do I nip that in the bud? — Sick of the Shrew Dear Sick: We're impressed that you've toler-
ated this woman for 45 years. If Elaine tells a lie in your presence, say sweetly, ''Now, Elaine, dear, you know that isn't true. You sim- ply must stop making things up.'' Unfortunately, you have little con- trol over what she says to her chil- dren behind your back. When you see the kids, be sure to emphasize the good things — how much the family loves them, and how they should come to you if they ever have any questions. Dear Annie: I am an elderly
woman with fragile bones. Often, when I meet someone new, they expect me to shake hands. In my day, the woman always extended her hand if she wanted to shake, but this custom has changed. I have experienced excruciating pain and, once, a broken bone that didn't heal properly. How can I avoid shaking hands? — Crushed in Florida Dear Florida: We have actually
covered this topic before. Here are some of our readers' suggestions:
bowing instead, wearing a wrist brace, or holding the person's out- stretched hand with both of yours and saying, ''I'd love to shake your hand, but it's too painful for me.'' Dear Annie: I read with interest the letter from ''Worried in Cali- fornia,'' whose 13-year-old twin sister has wild mood swings. I am the mother of twin girls. At the same age, one of my girls developed the same attitude. Although we tried various doctors, counseling, etc., nothing changed. At the age of 47, she was diag- nosed with Graves disease, which is a thyroid condition. It took a long time to diagnose even though there is a history of thyroid prob- lems, including Graves disease, in my family.
Through all those years, my daughter's moods were out of con- trol. Now that she is receiving the proper care, she is a totally differ- ent and quite happy person. Would you please tell ''Worried'' to ask her parents to get her sister tested for a thyroid problem? Even if she tests only slightly above or below normal, the difference can be unbe- lievable. — Canadian Mother
Annie's Mailbox is written by
Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
Shingletown Community Harvest Sale
The Open Door Community Church, 33883 Highway 44, in Shingletown will be hosting its fifth Com- munity Harvest Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 17.
A 10 x 10 booth space is available and can be reserved by call- ing Pat Hightower at 474-4791 for an appli- cation.
Applications can also
be downloaded from the Church website at www .odcc- online.org/opportunities