Magnesium helps with regularity
Q. I have a solution for constipation I would like to share with your readers. I take around 500 mg magnesium every night. The result is what “normal” people experience: a regular, comfortable bowel movement. Nothing else I tried in the past helped me so gently.
Is there a problem taking this supplement? I’ve mentioned my approach to two doctors, who didn’t think it was harmful. Your opinion would be appreciated.
A. Magnesium is in several time-honored laxatives. Some people even tell us that taking this mineral before bedtime helps them sleep. It may also prevent nighttime leg cramps.
People with kidney disease should avoid extra magnesium. Even healthy people can experience diarrhea if they take too much. The normal supplement ranges between 300 mg and 500 mg.
Q. I’ve been struggling with body odor for years. When someone approaches me, I hear the person continuously sniffling or covering up his or her nose to mask the odor. What is it that irritates so many people on a daily basis?
I’ve used anti-bacterial soap for years, but it only helps for a short while. There has not been a day without someone sniffling or moving away from me. It’s really affecting the way others look at me in my workplace, commute and outings. I try to avoid enclosed areas like elevators, and try to keep my distance from others, if at all possible.
Once I thought this odor was due to a serious nail fungus. After taking oral Lamisil, I no longer have the fungus, but I still smell bad. I’ve had many sleepless nights worrying about how others would react to me on my commute and at work. Please help!
A. Only a physician can diagnose what’s causing your problem. Some people have a metabolic disorder called trimethylaminuria. A defective enzyme allows a chemical to build up in the body that smells like dead fish.
If this were your problem, a special diet might help. Avoiding eggs, milk, meat, beans, fish and cheese could reduce the odor. Some people report that chlorophyll pills also help. If a different condition is responsible, perhaps your physician will be able to come up with an effective treatment.
Q. I have been on Prevacid for a few years for acid reflux. I am trying to get off of it, but whenever I cut back, my symptoms get worse. Are there any other ways to control reflux?
A. Medications that suppress acid formation in the stomach (Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix) are quite good at relieving symptoms of reflux and heartburn. When they are discontinued, however, people experience a phenomenon called drug-induced acid rebound. That means the stomach pumps out even more acid than it did initially. This effect can last for many months.
Gastroenterologists are debating the significance of this rebound hypersecretion of acid (Basic & Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, January 2006). Some data suggest that the excess acid production may lead to prolonged heartburn.
We have offered numerous other ways to control heartburn symptoms in our new book, “Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy” (Rodale Books). They include cutting back on carbohydrates, chewing sugarless gum after meals to stimulate saliva, sipping ginger tea or swallowing a little yellow mustard. Anyone who would like more details can find them at www.peoplespharmacy.com.