Today’s blog is kind of fun. It asks and answers a few of those head scratching questions that perhaps you always wondered about. If you are anything like me, I have good intentions of looking something up then forget, or sometimes the question is too embarrassing to ask. Let’s see if we can answer a few of those head scratchers today.
OLD WIVES TALES
My former mother in law more than a quarter century ago used to give me advice. Some I gratefully took, and others I questioned. She advised if I rubbed fireplace ashes into my children’s chicken pox, they would disappear or if I put sliced potatoes on a feverish forehead, the fever would dissipate. Thanks, but no thanks.
WHAT’S UP DOC?
How many times were we told to eat our carrots because they are good for our eyesight? Each time the folks served carrots, right? Maybe the parental units were right. The fact is that carrots are rich in beta-carotene which the body utilizes to produce Vitamin A. Carrots are good for lowering cholesterol levels and yes, for improving vision. Vitamin A helps the eye convert light to a signal to the brain allowing you to see better in low light.
PLEASE PASS THE CRANBERRIES
Have you also heard that cranberry juice is good for a urinary tract infection? WebMD says that cranberries don’t work for everyone and they don’t treat the UTIs that you already have. They do make urine more acidic, which is less friendly to bacteria like Escherichia coli (E. coli) that are usually to blame. If you suspect a UTI, consult your provider pronto!
SPEAKING OF URINE…
Here is a subject that nobody wants to discuss. Have you ever wondered why asparagus makes your urine smell funky? I looked it up and ww.aurorahealthcare.org gets down to the truth of the matter. The culprit of the funky smell appears to be asparagusic acid. This is a compound high in sulfur and abundant in asparagus. When your body breaks down asparagusic acid, it releases volatile components that are responsible for the dreadful smell of asparagus urine. Sometimes as quickly at 10 minutes! So, there you have it. You’re welcome.
GOUT ANYONE?
Hopefully you aren’t one of the lucky ones that suffers from gout. If you are, my condolences. It is a painful, crippling condition. Those affected know that cherry juice is sometimes recommended. Does it really help? I read that cherry juice lowers uric acid. That is the culprit of gout. Both the lowering of uric acid and the increase in antioxidants may help lessen the number of gout attacks. Also recommended are copious amounts of water, milk and interesting enough, coffee.
CHAT WITH YOUR PROVIDER
Before you make any dietary changes, be sure to chat with your provider. Perhaps dietary changes will suffice, and sometime good old-fashioned medicine may be in order.
HDD
I’m afraid that HDD can’t help much with poor eyesight, UTI’s, gout or funky urine. We can help with all of your diagnostic ultrasound needs. Call us at 505-350-3397.