Readers riled over garlic

Q. You wrote that people should not give their dogs garlic to control fleas because it could cause anemia. I gave my dog fresh garlic for years. She had a horrible flea allergy, and nothing else helped at all. Without the garlic, she was miserable.

I kept telling my vet that the garlic was what was helping her, though he would never admit it. By the way, she lived to be 16 years old. You really shouldn’t knock the garlic.

A. Several other readers agree with you, including some veterinarians. One wrote: “I am a holistic veterinarian with 30 years of experience. During that time, none of my canine patients has had anemia from garlic. Onions, yes; garlic, no. I don’t want dog owners to worry unnecessarily.”

Onions can be toxic to dogs and cats because they contain n-propyl disulfide, which can damage the membranes of red blood cells. Garlic also contains this compound, but it seems to pose less of a problem. Rely on your vet for advice.

Q. I have just learned that I have high cholesterol and that I need to treat it with diet and exercise. The problem is that I already exercise and eat a very healthy diet. I doubt I can improve on it.

I have read that taking vinegar every day will lower cholesterol. Is this true? I would prefer to avoid medication.

A. There is some research to suggest that vinegar with a meal can help reduce triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol in rats and rabbits (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, June 22, 2011; Lipids in Health and Disease, Jan. 28, 2010). There is little research about the effect of vinegar on cholesterol in humans.

There are, however, many foods that may help control cholesterol, including walnuts, pomegranates, fish oil, grapefruit, cinnamon, dark chocolate and psyllium.

Q. I had such painful heartburn and reflux that it would wake me up in the middle of the night. I read somewhere that coconut water helps with heartburn. I have been drinking about two cups of coconut water for four days, and the heartburn is almost completely gone. I haven’t even had to give up my morning cup of coffee.

I cannot believe the quick response that I had to coconut water. I also noticed that I’m not getting cramps in my legs at night. A friend said that might be due to the potassium in the coconut water.

A. Coconut water is the clear liquid found inside coconuts. It is a popular beverage in the tropics and is indeed rich in potassium.

Your story is fascinating, but we have found no research to show that coconut water tames acid reflux. We have, however, heard from another reader who reports: “Coconut water helps me with reflux. I drink a box every morning and take no meds. When I had to fast for my colonoscopy and drank coffee on an empty stomach, the acid attack returned. Since I was allowed clear juice, I drank coconut water, and my stomach was soothed.”

2012 King Features Syndicate Inc.