No foods increase or lower sex drive

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 might 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'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. 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. Nonsugar 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, might cause diarrhea.
In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Write to them in care of this newspaper or e-mail them via their Web site: www.PeoplesPharmacy.com.
& copy; 2007 King Features Syndicate Inc.