Antacids Come With a Serious
Downside
Since it has been a while I
thought it was time to remind people about the problems caused by using
antacids or Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) drugs like Zantac, Pepcid,
Prevacid and Nexium on a daily basis.
Several studies have shown an
increased risk of bone fractures from osteoporosis in patients taking P.P.I.’s.
When you lower the acid level of the stomach it also reduces the body’s ability
to digest and absorb calcium and other nutrients from your food. This can lead
to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies because your body will rob nutrients from
your bones and other organs when needed if it isn’t getting what it needs from
your food. After a prolonged period of nutrients being robbed from your bones,
people will begin developing osteoporosis and other serious health issues.
Antacid drugs like Zantac,
Pepcid, Prevacid and Nexium are among the most widely prescribed medications in
the world. They are
typically used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, gastroesophageal
reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease and other acid-related conditions.
And the manufacturer’s attempt to counter the health hazard by adding calcium
to the product is worthless since your body can’t absorb it. It only serves as
a marketing ploy to help sell them to uneducated users. Of course by reading my
blog you will not be one of them.
The
problem is a two-fold problem beginning with the fact that proton pump
inhibitors (PPIs) are drugs that VERY effectively block your stomach’s ability
to produce acid.
While that may sound like a good thing, in most cases it is the absolute worst approach possible for problems like heartburn and acid reflux, as typically with these conditions your stomach is producing too little stomach acid. So taking these drugs will only WORSEN your condition.
According to Mitchell Katz, director of the San Francisco
Department of Public Health who wrote an editorial on
this topic, PPIs are only warranted for the treatment of:
·
Bleeding ulcers
·
Infection with the
ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori · Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (a rare condition that causes your stomach to produce excess acid)
· Severe acid reflux, where an endoscopy has confirmed that your esophagus is damaged
PPIs were never intended for people with heartburn, and according
to Katz, "about 60 to 70 percent of people taking these drugs have mild
heartburn and shouldn't be on them."
When you suppress the amount of acid in your stomach, you decrease
your body’s ability to kill viruses and bacteria. So it actually makes your
condition worse and perpetuates the problem.
One way to help prevent stomach and digestion problems is to take
Probiotics. This will help balance your bowel flora, which can help eliminate bacteria
naturally. It will also aid in proper digestion and assimilation of your food. Ideally,
you'll want to get your probiotics from fermented foods
such as fermented vegetables and kefir, a
fermented milk drink made from RAW milk.
Another option that may be
easier for many people is taking a high-quality probiotic supplement. I
recommend this TrueNature brand probiotic from Costco: http://www.costco.com/trunature%c2%ae-Digestive-Probiotic%2c-100-Capsules.product.100082053.html
These TrueNature brand probiotics are
the best deal around. You can order them online from Costco and the shipping is
free. They have 10 billion cultures of mixed beneficial bacteria which means you get a high therapeutic
dose with only one capsule a day. And these are at a great price compared to
other high quality brands. Everyone should be taking a good quality probiotic
these days to keep their immune system strong and healthy. Your immune system
controls everything in your body and 70% of your immune system is in your gut.
People don't realize that until it is too late.
Study Confirms Olive Oil Is The
Healthiest Choice
(NaturalNews) A new study published October 22 reinforces once again that olive oil is one of the best oils for cooking compared to other seed oils. Researchers based their conclusion on a few different factors, including nutritional content and the oil's ability to maintain quality under high temperatures.
Published in the American Chemical Society's (ACS) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists note that various oils have different physical, chemical and nutritional properties that can be degraded under high heat and repeated use.
Many cooking oils can become impaired while heating in the pan or frying, and the food that you're cooking can actually also lose its nutritional content, making your choice of oil critical for producing a healthy dish.
Mohamed Bouaziz, one of the study's authors, and his colleagues say that when some oils are heated to certain temperatures they can change form and create new compounds that are potentially toxic to consume. These byproducts contribute to the reduction of the food's nutritional content.
Olive oil withstands high temps, maintaining its impeccable, healthy qualities, scientists say
"They found that olive oil was the most stable oil for deep-frying at 320 and 374 degrees Fahrenheit, while sunflower oil degraded the fastest when pan-fried at 356 degrees," stated the ACS press release.
"They conclude that for frying foods, olive oil maintains quality and nutrition better than seed oils." Olive oil is one of those ancient gems of a food that has been around for centuries, particularly in the Mediterranean.
The best type to use is "virgin" or "extra virgin" olive oil, as fewer chemicals have been used for extraction. The more chemicals involved in extracting the oil from olives, the more it loses its nutritional value, according to a Natural News report published last May on the oil's benefits.
"True virgin olive oil has an abundance of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It has been used for centuries for its anti-inflammatory properties. Because it is derived directly from the fruit of the plant, it also helps with digestion."
Olive oil extremely useful in treating a variety of ailments, studies find
The health benefits don't stop there.
Oleocanthal, the phytonutrient in olive oil, actually mimics the effect of ibuprofen in that it reduces inflammation and can decrease women's risk of developing breast cancer and its recurrence, according
to the Olive Oil Times.
Scientists are also studying other compounds found in the ancient oil including squalene and lignans, which could possibly help fight cancer. Olive oil is rumored to reduce the risk for heart disease, as it lowers the body's levels of total blood cholesterol. Regular consumption may decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, scientists say.
One "prominent cardiologist" recommends consuming up to two tablespoons a day to fully enjoy the oil's various benefits, reports the Olive Oil Times.
"Although the reasons are still not fully clear, recent studies have proved that people with diets containing high levels of olive oil are less likely to develop rheumatiod arthritis.
"A high consumption of olive oil appears to improve bone mineralization and calcification. It helps calcium absorption and so plays an important role in aiding sufferers and in preventing the onset of Osteoporosis."
Older individuals who consume olive oil daily are better protected against having a stroke, according to a
recent study conducted in France and published in the online issue
of Neurology. The "intensive" consumers of olive oil
experienced 41 percent fewer strokes compared to those that didn't use
the oil at all.
You
Should Not Trust a Robot For Prostate Surgery
It looks and sounds like one of those miracles of modern medicine. A robot that does surgery.
What could be wrong with that? After all, robots are perfect, right? Mistakes can't happen.
We won't have to worry about a slip of the scalpel or a shake in your doctor's hand. But things have gone terribly wrong.
People, many who thought they were just getting routine procedures, have ended up with torn organs, ripped blood vessels and damaged muscles. Some will even need colostomy bags for the rest of their lives.
So if you're planning on having any surgical procedures and your doctor says he wants to use the da Vinci robot, here are some important things you need to know now before it's too late.
Dr. Richard Ablin, a professor of immunobiology and pathology at the University of Arizona Medical School, calls robotic surgery "a train that is ready to come off the tracks." Actually, it looks like it already has been derailed.
Dr. Ablin says that when the da Vinci robot was approved by the FDA for prostate surgery, there were no real studies to back up its safety or effectiveness. All the FDA required is that a pig's bladder be removed with the device.
But the da Vinci robot is putting more than just men who need prostate surgery at risk. It has been used for all kinds of operations, including hysterectomies, gallbladder and kidney surgery.
Now, just because it's called a "robot" doesn't mean that a real doctor isn't needed. The surgeon looks into a camera that shows a three-dimensional image of where he's operating. He then manipulates tiny instruments and the computer in the robot translates that into "hand" movements.
So you can see that this not only requires a skilled surgeon, but one who knows how to make the robot do precisely what he wants. And that's a big part of the problem. When the FDA approved the device in 2000, it said that doctors needed to have "extensive" training in how to use it. So Intuitive, the company behind the da Vinci, put together an "exam," and a three-day "hands on" training session.
But by 2002, that magically got replaced by a 10-question online quiz and just one day of practice. It looks like that "extensive" training idea was a little too extensive to get these robots into hospitals.
And documents are showing that often it was the da Vinci sales team doing the "training." An email from an Intuitive sales manager in 2011 asked other salesmen to get surgeons going using the robot, and not to let "proctoring or credentialing get in our way."
Salesmen were often right in the operation room giving advice to doctors! To think that your doctor, someone who spent years and years learning his profession, could be given advice -- during actual surgery -- by da Vinci sales reps is unbelievable.
But this only came to light because of the tragedy the Taylor family suffered. Fred Taylor was told that his prostate surgery would be less painful, safer, and that he would have a faster recovery because of the da Vinci robot.
Instead, Fred, who was 67, and a very active man, ended up incontinent, wearing a colostomy bag, and suffering from sepsis. He later had a stroke.
After Fred passed away, his wife sued Intuitive. And she's not the only one. There's a whole list of cases, some settled confidentially, against this company and its robot.
And now there are thousands of these robots doing thousands of surgeries all around the country with doctors operating them who may be trying to figure out how they really work while you or a loved one is "on the table."
Simply put, if you wouldn't agree to letting a member of the da Vinci sales staff operate on you, then just say "No" when your doctor suggests robotic surgery.
It’s Vitamin D Time Again
It is time to remind everyone that unless you live in a sunny part
of the US you should consider taking daily Vitamin D3 supplements for the next
few months. Not only has Vitamin D been found to be extremely important for
keeping your immune system strong and many other health benefits, a new study
shows just how important it is for a healthy brain associated with heart
disease. The recommended dose by most naturopaths is 4,000 to 10,000 IU per
day. You can increase that dosage for a few days when fighting off a cold or
the flu.
The NaturalNews article below gives an update on how important
Vitamin D is for our brains.
Vitamin D deficiency decreases brain function and increases mortality rate after heart attack
(NaturalNews) Maintaining good health through nutritious foods isn't just important for every day well-being but can be crucial when the body needs to repair itself following an injury. Our bodies have miraculous healing capabilities, which can be heightened with a little extra help from nature's vitamins.
Luckily for us, everything that we need to be healthy is found naturally in our environment, and this includes elements that are helpful for healing. Scientists believe that humans require just 13 different vitamins to stay healthy, all of which offer unique health benefits.
While science has already unlocked many benefits of vitamin D, this latest bit of research unveils yet another remarkable revelation: Healthy vitamin D levels help the brain recover and function better following a heart attack.
"Vitamin D deficiency increased the risk of poor neurological outcome after sudden cardiac arrest by 7-fold"
Conducted by Dr. Jin Wi, the study sought to observe how vitamin D deficiencies affect patients recovering from cardiac arrest, so far a poorly researched subject.
Not only did the study's outcome show that low vitamin D levels increased the risk for poor brain function after sudden cardiac arrest by sevenfold, but the deficiencies were also linked to a higher chance of death following sudden cardiac arrest.
Dr. Wi and his team analyzed clinical data from 53 unconscious patients who were resuscitated after experiencing sudden cardiac arrest at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital in Seoul, Korea. The patient's "neurologic outcome" was measured using the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score six months after discharge.
A CPC score of 1 to 2 was considered a "good" neurologic outcome, while scores 3 to 5 were considered "poor." Of the 53 patients analyzed, CPR was performed on 41 one of them, or 77 percent.
Those with high risk of cardiac arrest should avoid vitamin D deficiencies
Based on the results, scientists were able to conclude that the patients with poor neurological outcome had significantly lower vitamin D levels than those who had a good neurological outcome.
About 65 percent of the patients with vitamin D deficiencies experienced a poor neurological outcome six months after discharge compared to 23 percent of patients with healthy vitamin D levels.
Nearly 30 percent of patients with vitamin D deficiencies passed away at the six-month mark compared to none of the patients with healthy vitamin D levels.
"Nearly one-third of the patients who were deficient in vitamin D had died 6 months after their cardiac arrest, whereas all patients with sufficient vitamin D levels were still alive."
Scientists say people with a personal or family history of heart disease should especially avoid vitamin D deficiencies. "Other risk factors for cardiac arrest include smoking, obesity, diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and drinking too much alcohol," warned Dr. Wi.
A large, randomized trial is required in order to learn whether or not vitamin D supplements can actually be used to treat people that are at high risk for developing heart complications.
Comment: As always, if you have questions or would like more information on any of the topics in the blog or other health related items, just let me know and I will help any way I can.
Until next time, stay healthy and happy
JD
Roma
The information on
this blog is provided for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for
professional medical care, and medical advice and services are not being
offered. If you have, or suspect you have, a health problem you should consult
your physician (preferably a Naturopath).
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