At various times, I’m asked sensible questions and, hopefully, the answers I found may be of use to others:
Question: I’m not a bean eater, but I’m farting like crazy. What could be the cause?
The American College of Gastroenterology reports that nearly 50% of normal, everyday people like you and me, get gas from fructose, the common fruit sugar that is found in fruit juice and used as a sweetener in many canned drinks.
The average can of fizzy drink contains around 25g of fructose and many people drink 2 or 3 cans a day. Breath analysis tests show that fructose imbibers give off excess levels of hydrogen and often reveal a form of fructose malabsorbtion, suffering symptoms such as gas and diarrhoea.
The reason is the body normally absorbs fructose before it reaches the large intestine. When this doesn’t occur, the fructose becomes high-octane fuel for bacteria that normally live peacefully in the gut. The hydrogen gas created gives rise to symptoms of bloating, rumbling, pain, loose stools and flatulence.
—–000—–
Question: My partner already has her ear lobes pierced and wants to add more metal to her upper ear. What can I tell her?
That she’s in danger whenever she passes a heavy magnet? Tell her there’s a greater risk of infection from this form of invasive procedure, as cartilage takes much longer to heal as there is less blood circulating than in the lobes. Further, gun-piercing should be avoided, as it is more traumatic in cartilage than flesh and only an antiseptic, disposable needle should be used for this procedure.
—–000—–
Question: Is there any connection between smoking and quality of sexual performance?
It’s a myth that you have to light up after sex; one should reserve all oral work for during the performance. Urologist, Richard Misten, co-author of The Sexual Male, writes, “Smoking causes damage to smooth muscle inside the penis that interferes with erectile functioning”. Current research also indicates that tobacco use negatively impacts sexual performance, diminishing desire as well as physically impairing performance, thereby decreasing sexual frequency and satisfaction. There are many other factors affecting sexuality, but the wise have it that refraining from smoking will benefit your sex life.