Q. If you are going to zap your kitchen sponges in the microwave to disinfect them, make sure they are wet. If one puts in dry sponges, they could start a fire.
A. Even a wet sponge may not be safe in the microwave. One reader reported: “I just wanted to let you know that we microwaved our WET sponge this morning and it caught on fire. Now our house smells and we're not sure about the microwave. It was pretty scary AND annoying at 6:30 in the morning!”
Another reader added, “I am surprised you advocate disinfecting sponges in the microwave. I read about this in a cooking magazine and tried it, placing my DAMP sponge in the microwave for two minutes on Christmas day, 2005. We then left the house. Upon our return, we noticed a burning smell the minute we walked in the door. The sponge had ignited, ruining the microwave. We now disinfect our sponges by boiling them in water on the stove.”
Q. This is surely not one of the more important or serious questions you may be asked, but will you PLEASE offer some remedies to help fade spots (age or liver spots) on the hands and elsewhere on the body? I have been told that these are from too much sun years ago. I do hope that something can be done since they continue to get worse.
A. Age or “liver” spots are officially called “solar lentigines.” These brownish spots frequently show up on the face and other places where people have been exposed to excess sunshine.
Dermatologists have traditionally recommended fade creams that contain hydroquinone (found in products like Esoterica and Porcelana). It is highly controversial, however. The FDA is threatening to ban hydroquinone because of animal studies suggesting it may have cancer causing properties. The European Union has already banned hydroquinone from cosmetics.
Many dermatologists maintain that in the low concentrations found in over-the-counter products, hydroquinonone poses no risks. Nevertheless, you may want to consider other options. One is the prescription acne or anti-wrinkle cream tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, Renova) applied once daily for six months. Dermatologists can also eliminate age spots by freezing them with liquid nitrogen or by using a laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.
Whatever you do to eliminate age spots, reduce sun exposure from now on. Use a UVA and UVB sunblock that contains zinc and titanium to prevent recurrences.
Q. My father-in-law has completely cut out all green leafy vegetables because he is taking the blood thinner Coumadin (warfarin). Must he really eliminate all these healthy vegetables?
A. Anyone taking Coumadin must be extremely careful about interactions with food and other medicines. Green leafy vegetables contain vitamin K which can counteract the effectiveness of the blood thinner. That doesn’t always require total elimination of such healthy foods. As long as your father-in-law keeps his vitamin K intake constant the doctor can adjust the dose of warfarin accordingly.
We are sending you our Guides to Food, Drug and Coumadin Interactions for more details about vitamin K levels in foods and dangerous drug combinations. Anyone who would like copies, please send $2 in check or money order with a long (no. 10) stamped (63 cents), self-addressed envelope: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. FD-195, P. O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027.
