Are your Medications Depleting Nutrients from your Body?

[?] Subscribe To
This Site

Are Medications Depleting
Nutrients from your Body?

Even if you focus on eating a healthier diet to stay healthy, medications, both prescription and non-prescription may be necessary from time to time. Circumstances often require the use of one or more drugs but …

…. Did you know that many of these drugs can cause your body to lose nutrients?

This Could Happen to You

The fact is that this condition occurs frequently enough to warrant a name. The medical name for this is 'drug-induced nutrient depletion' and it is of vital significance to both health professionals and the general public.

We spend just as much money fixing complications of prescription drugs as we spend on the drugs themselves. Understanding the interactions of nutritional supplements and prescription drugs could make them safer and more effective. For some excellent reading on this topic I recommend "Supplement Your Prescription." by Dr Hyla Cass ->>

Scientists have known for decades that many drugs commonly prescribed by doctors can cause the depletion of one or more nutrients but, as you can imagine, this information has not received the publicity it deserves.

Even so, we all know that ....

Drugs Have Side Effects

According to research, many of the side effects from drugs can actually be due to nutrient depletion caused by the drugs. Some commonly prescribed and over-the-counter drugs include:

Aspirin can deplete vitamin C, calcium, folic acid, iron, and potassium.
NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs), including ibuprofen and naproxen can deplete folic acid.
Cardiovascular drugs, ACE inhibitors, such as diuretics, beta-blockers and cholesterol lowering drugs deplete one or more of the following nutrients: B vitamins, vitamin C, folic acid, CoQ10, magnesium, zinc and/or potassium.
Antacids may deplete calcium, phosphorus, folic acid, and potassium.
Oral contraceptives can deplete nearly all of the B vitamins along with selenium, magnesium and zinc.
Ulcer medications such as pepcid, axid and zantac can deplete calcium, vitamin B12, folic acid, iron and zinc.

In a nutshell, both prescription and over-the-counter drugs have the potential to deplete nutrients from your body and minerals and the B vitamins are the most common drug-depleted nutrients.

Furthermore, with the generally poor American diet, a high stress lifestyle and air pollution you can probably see the potential for serious nutrient deficiencies.

Are you willing to take the risk to your family’s health?

Since the health of many people depends on medications, eliminating them is not a practical answer and changes in someone’s diet need to be carefully supervised by a physician.

So, where does that leave you and your loved ones? What is the answer? ....

You Can Change

I would like to suggest you make some changes in your lifestyle including a proper diet and supplements designed to help replace the nutrients that may be depleted.

Your doctor would probably recommend eating more fruits and vegetables and that would be a very good start.

You should also ask your physician and/or pharmacist about your medications and the possible interactions they may have with nutrients.

Your next step would be to choose a high quality multi-mineral and whole-food multi-vitamin supplement in order to replace what is missing in the foods you consume.

Take Back Control

Remember - Ultimately, your health is your responsibility.

For more information on drug-induced nutrient depletions refer to the book "Nutritional Cost of Prescription Drugs" by Ross Pelton, R.Ph. and James B. LaValle, R.Ph.

Also be aware that some herbs can react with meds, both prescribed and over the counter, and some herbal combinations can cause serious side effects.

Consult your health practitioner on all drugs, herbs and supplements you are taking.

Do You Have Some Strong Opinions on This Topic?

Are you willing to share? Here is your chance to influence "Fence Sitters" like myself toward your way of thinking. Who knows, you might even be able to win some converts.

What do you really think about medication? What about Herbs and Nutrition Supplements? Do you have some good examples to prove your opinion?

Established thinking argues that only drugs can protect us from all manner of ills but there are some very strong arguments for avoiding drugs altogether.

What is your opinion?

If you have a great story or some incite on this very controversial subject please share it here!

Enter Your Title

Tell Us Your Story! [ ? ]

Close Help

Entering your story is easy to do. Just type!...

Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story.

TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

Upload A Picture (optional) [ ? ]

Close Help

Do you have a picture to add? Great! Click the button and find it on your computer. Then select it.

Add Picture Caption (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Top of the page Are Medications Depleting Nutrients from your Body?