Coffee, Tea, Cocoa Interfere with Iron Absorption

Q. I'm a vegetarian who gives blood several times a year. Every now and then my hemoglobin is too low and they cannot take my blood.

How should I time my caffeine consumption so that it doesn't interfere with iron absorption? I’ve heard I should wait two hours, but is that two hours from the start of my meal or the end? How soon can I eat iron-rich foods after drinking coffee or tea?

A. It’s not the caffeine that’s the problem. Compounds (polyphenols) in many beverages can interfere with iron absorption from foods like beans and leafy green vegetables. Cocoa, peppermint, black and chamomile tea as well as coffee all cut down on iron absorption (British Journal of Nutrition, April, 1999).
Although there has been little research on the time frame for this interaction, waiting two hours after the end of a meal should solve the problem.

Q. My husband has a really high sex drive, but after working all week and keeping the house tidy and cooking, I cannot be bothered. On the weekend when we take care of our baby grandson, I don’t have the energy.

Are there any foods that could reduce my husband’s sex drive? I have tried foods to increase my libido but I still cannot keep up with him. We are drifting apart because of this.

A. There are no foods that we know of to increase or decrease sex drive.Black licorice may lower testosterone and can have a negative impact on libido. Too much licorice, however, can raise blood pressure, deplete the body of potassium and cause other complications.

There are many medications that can dampen desire, but they also have other side effects. You may want to seek counseling to help the two of you manage your sexual relations. You might both benefit from an evaluation of hormone levels to see whether there is an imbalance that needs correcting.

Q. I was saddened to read about people suffering the side effects of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. In less than a year, I have lowered my cholesterol 30 points by doing nothing but take fish oil. I take a tablespoon of cod liver oil a day.

Not only does it lower bad cholesterol, it also raises good (HDL) cholesterol. I wish more people knew about this very simple and safe remedy. One friend said it tastes bad, but that’s not true if you take Carlson or Nordic Naturals.

A. The benefits of fish oil are well established. There are more than 10,000 articles on fish oil in the medical literature. Many refer to its ability to lower triglycerides and raise good HDL cholesterol. Fish oil also has anti-inflammatory activity.

For people who cannot tolerate statin-type medications there are many other ways to reduce cardiovascular risk. We discuss them and the value of fish oil in our Guide to Cholesterol and Hearth Health. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (63 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. C-8, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It can also be downloaded for $2 from the Website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

Q. I have read about various constipation treatments in your column. I have a different and more enjoyable solution--ice cream with sorbitol (the non-sugar sweetener). It has been working for me for years.

A. Non-sugar sweeteners like sorbitol are not absorbed from the digestive tract and have a laxative effect. Whether found in sugarless gum, candy or ice cream, they can all help relieve constipation. Too much, though, may cause diarrhea.