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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gum sweeteners can cause gas

Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon King Features Syndicate

Q. My husband is plagued with diarrhea. He’ll be OK for a week or so. Then, for no apparent reason, he has diarrhea. He’s been eating two coconut macaroons a day for about two weeks. We thought that had taken care of the problem, but it appeared again today.

I read that sugarless gum could cause diarrhea. He chews it every day. Can you tell me about this?

A. Many readers report that eating two coconut macaroon cookies daily helps control their chronic diarrhea. But why treat a problem that might be avoided?

Sugarless gum could be the culprit in your husband’s case. Sweeteners in sugarless gum such as sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol and xylitol are poorly absorbed from the digestive tract. When the residue reaches the large intestine, it can cause gas and diarrhea. Your husband should try giving up the gum to see if that solves the problem.

Q. I have a new use for Vicks VapoRub. It keeps ants away from my hummingbird nectar feeder!

I used to coat the wire hanger of the feeder with Vaseline. The ants would walk right to the edge of the Vaseline, then retreat, until dust made the Vaseline less sticky.

Now that I put Vicks on the wire hanger, those ants don’t even go near the feeder. They turn back at least 8 to 10 inches from the wire hanger. Of course, this isn’t a medicinal use for Vicks, but some of your readers might have hummingbird feeders.

A. Camphor, eucalyptus and menthol, which provide the distinctive smell of Vicks VapoRub, are probably responsible for repulsing the ants. Thanks for sharing your discovery.

Others have told us that Vicks keeps squirrels away from bird feeders. It has also been used for mosquito bites, headaches, paper cuts, nail fungus and coughs.

Anyone who would like our Guide to Unique Uses for Vicks may send $2 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. Vi-76, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.

Q. What is the latest research on the benefits of blueberries? I saw a doctor on “Larry King Live” discussing his book on this topic, but unfortunately I fell asleep.

A. Blueberries have more antioxidant activity than most other fruits and vegetables. Animal studies have shown that these compounds appear to improve learning and memory in aging lab animals. Muscle strength and coordination also benefit. No one knows, though, whether blueberries will turn out to be as helpful for humans.

Q. You recently mentioned black cohosh for treating hot flashes in menopausal women but left out some important warnings. Black cohosh can be associated with liver toxicity and therefore should not be used for more than six months. Any symptoms of liver failure should be reported to a physician immediately.

You should also warn women with a history of breast cancer to avoid using black cohosh.

A. Thank you for pointing out that there have been several cases of liver toxicity reported with black cohosh. Scientists have not yet determined whether black cohosh poses a cancer risk. A study in the International Journal of Oncology (November 2003) suggests that this herb does not have estrogenic activity. Theoretically, this should make it safer than hormone-replacement therapy, but it may interact with chemotherapy agents.