Cranberry Juice with Acid Reducing Medication - Reduce nutrient deficiencies caused by GERD and heartburn medications

Cranberry Juice with Acid Reducing Medication - Reduce nutrient deficiencies caused by GERD and heartburn medications

Cranberry juice is well known to help reduce the frequency and/or severity of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other urinary problems, including kidney stones. One of the main causes of UTIs is the presence of the bacteriaE. colithat adheres to the cell walls of the bladder and urinary tract, causing infection. Cranberry Juice prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls, reducing the chance of infection. It also increases the pH of urine; Bacteria that cause UTIs have trouble growing in an acidic environment.

E. coliis often featured in the news as a contaminant in recalled foods or in lakes or other bodies of water where people are suspected of avoiding swimming.E. coliis a natural “component” in the feces/stool of mammals – humans.E. coliHelps break down food to release its nutrients for use. It also makes vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting ability. WithoutE. coliA person would bleed to death in the intestines because vitamin K is needed to produce blood clotting factors.

E. coliBacteria becomes a problem when there is too much of it or when it is found in places outside the intestines and colon. Therefore, eaten food contaminated withE. colicauses illness. Often theE. coliWhat enters the urinary tract comes from the feces of the person who develops the urinary tract infection.

Apart from the fact that we are effective against itE. coliThis remarkable juice has also been found to inhibit the growth of mold and yeast, which can also cause bladder infections.

Cranberry Juice has also been shown to be a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Due to its high mineral and vitamin content, it has been repeatedly used to support asthma and other respiratory diseases, cancer, various inflammatory diseases, and even to protect the skin from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation (UV) and the sun (Cohen,). 2011).

However, recently (Cohen, 2011) it was discovered that cranberry juice will reduce the amount of nutrient deficiencies caused by the acid-reducing drugs H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors:

> Cimetidine (Tagamet®)

> Esomeprazole (Nexium®)

> Famotidine (Pepcid®)

> Lansoprazole (Prevacid®)

> Nizatidine (Axid®)

> Omeprazole (Prilosec®)

> Pantoprazole (Protonix®)

> Rabeprazole (Aciphex®)

> Ranitidine (Zantac®)

H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly prescribed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn, sour stomach, and virtually all other symptoms affecting the stomach, including nausea. It was also prescribed for palpitations when no cardiac pathology was found.

In 2010, the drug esomeprazole (Nexium®) was the number 2 prescribed drug in the United States (and number 1 by income for all drugs prescribed in the same year). 25,872 prescriptions were written for this one GERD medication alone. The cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor® was number 1 with 37,523 prescriptions (Drugs, 2011).

Nutrient deficiency caused by medication

All drugs deplete vital nutrients from the body, although no drug depletes them all. The depletion occurs either because the drug binds to the nutrient, then both are washed together, or by a secondary effect - the drug interferes with the absorption of the nutrient so that the body's stores are not revived, thus causing a deficiency of nutrients being used without being replaced in the diet or through supplementation.

Because H2 blockers and PPIs work in the stomach to reduce acid production, most nutrients in the diet are not processed as they should be, so they are not absorbed by the body for use.

H2 blockers and PPIs interfere with the absorption of most water-soluble vitamins (B vitamins, vitamin C, etc.) as well as minerals that require high levels of stomach acid to convert into a usable form (such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium).

How can cranberry juice help prevent nutrient deficiencies caused by these medications?

Cranberry is an acidic substance. Drinking cranberry juice with meals helps absorb the nutrients that would otherwise be blocked by the medication. Cranberries are also a rich source of many nutrients, especially those blocked by the H2 blockers and PPIs, as well as quercetin, which helps reduce inflammation. A side effect of acid-blocking medications is inflammation of the stomach lining.

Safety notice

Cranberry is in theEricaceaebotanical family. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to another member of this family, you may also react to cranberry. Other medicinal members include bearberries, blueberries, blueberries, mayflower, uva ursi and wintergreen.

Do not eat or drink cranberries if you are sensitive to any member of this family.

References

Cohen, Suzy (2011). Drug Muggers: What drugs are depriving your body of essential nutrients - and natural ways to restore them. Emmaus, PA: Rodale.

Drugs.com (2011). “Pharmaceutical Sales 2010”. http://www.drugs.com/top200_units.html.

Best wishes,

Dr. Ronda Behnke Theys ND, CHom

Homeopathic Centers of America

Disclaimer: The information provided by Dr. Information provided to Ronda Behnke Theys is for educational purposes only. It is important that you do not make any health decisions or discontinue medications without first consulting your personal physician or healthcare provider.

Inspired by Ronda Behnke