Healthy Bytes

Skip the purple pill

read time: 383 words, about two minutes

There was a study done in Britain and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association which shows an association between the class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec) and an increase (44%-250%) in broken hips.

What’s one got to do with the other…
Your stomach produces hydrochloric acid. The acid helps breakdown food for digestion.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) prevent production of the acid. So what happens with food digestion?

- PPIs reduce and block the absorption of calcium, B12, beta-carotene, folic acid, thiamin, iron, sodium and zinc.
The decrease in calcium absorption leads to weaker bones which increases hip fractures. Decreased B12 can lead to dementia and alzheimers.
- undigested food sits and rots in your stomach
- there’s a greater susceptibility to germs, bacteria, viruses, yeast and mold in the absence of acid. These invaders are free to colonize in your stomach and digestive track. This may damage your stomach cells as well as make you more susceptible to diseases such as gastritis, Crohn’s, asthma, acid reflux (yes this is the “reason” you take these drugs) and stomach ulcers and cancer.
- You’re more likely to experience bloating, gas, bad breath and rashes.
- Liver function is suppressed… fat is not efficiently excreted, protein is not thoroughly digested which reduces your ability to produce HDL – the good cholesterol.

So what should you do if you experience heartburn more than occasionally?

- Eat three meals a day. This allows stomach acid to build appropriately.
- Eat less (hopefully no) processed foods… they’re much harder to digest.
- Chew your food thoroughly. This stimulates enzymes and breaks your food down more.
- If needed, take digestive enzymes.

A study by WRC Laboratories found that orange peel extract (d-limonene) reduces heartburn. The study found that one 1,000 mg capsule every other day for 20 days reduced or eliminated heartburn for most participants for six months or longer. 89% of the subjects got results in 2 weeks. 50% continued to experience relief 4 to 6 months after they stopped taking d-limonene. Some participants continued getting relief by taking just one 1,000 mg capsule once a month.

You can find d-limonene in most nutritional/supplement stores.

Again, would “mother nature” give you stomach acid if you did not need it?

This entry was posted on Wed, 27.Dec.2006 at 6:04 pm and is filed under Health, Pharmaceuticals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.