MANILA, Philippines — Nearly all the prescription and over-the-counter drugs prescribed by doctors will have side effects. Many of these side effects are results of the way drugs interfere with nutrients. Drugs are foreign substances that have no normal function in the body while nutrients do have normal functions in the body.

Our mainstream medical system is mind-set in diagnosing a disease and then prescribes a pill for it. Very little thought is given to what caused the disease in the first place or whether lifestyle changes and nutrition could correct the disease. As a result, older people are, on the average, taking three to eight drugs a day regularly.

You go to get a physical check-up with your doctor after the age of fifty, and if you have slightly elevated cholesterol or blood pressure, if your joints hurt, or if your blood sugar is a bit high, you are likely to be put on drug, with no, or little, suggestion that dietary changes or exercise might help. The drug will cause you side effects. When you complain of these side effects to your doctor, you will be prescribed another drug, which in turn will cause a new set of side effects, for which you will be prescribed yet another drug, and so on. In time, you will be complaining to your doctor about all the drugs and all the side effects, and you will be told that the side effects are simply part of old age. This is simply called “Drug Treadmill.”

Nearly all disease of old age can be very well managed naturally with herbs and vitamin and mineral supplements that have few or no side effects. And most of these ailments can be prevented or reversed simply by lifestyle changes that include drinking plenty of clean water, getting moderate exercises, cutting down on fat and sugar, eating plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits, and taking supplements.

Almost all prescribed and over-the-counter drugs have side effects. It is, therefore, important to educate yourself. There are a lot of books available on prescription drugs that can be understood by the average person. Read up on the drugs you’re taking to find out if they are really safe and effective and what the side effects are.

Many of these side effects are results of the way drugs interfere with nutrients. Drugs affect nutrients in three principle ways:

1. By disrupting the natural bacterial environment of the gut (The beneficial good bacteria).

2. By stressing the liver (the body’s chemical-processing factory …The detoxifier).

3. By blocking the cells normal utilization of nutrients.

Here are some of the common categories of over-the-counter and prescribed drugs, and how they interfere with nutrients:

Antacids: Antacids are routinely prescribed for digestive complaints such as heartburn or ulcers. Antacid reduces the acidity of the gastrointestinal tract and, in doing so, it diminishes absorption of many nutrients. In particular, aluminum and magnesium-based antacids can bond with calcium and prevent absorption. Low calcium levels increase the long-term risk of osteoporosis. By reducing stomach acid, these drugs may lead to still other problems. A more alkaline stomach environment encourages the growth of certain types of bacteria that produce cancer-causing nitrosamines.

Antibiotics: Oral antibiotics, particularly the broad-spectrum antibiotics, destroy the beneficial gut bacteria that aid digestion and protect against infection. Because these beneficial bacteria also produce vitamin K, which is needed for normal clotting, long-term use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can lead to vitamin K deficiency and abnormal bleeding. Antibiotics also reduce absorption of calcium, magnesium, folic acid, potassium, and vitamins B6 and B12.

Antidepressants: CoQ10 and vitamin B2 are two nutrients that are depleted in long-term use of antidepressant drugs. The depletion of CoQ10 and vitamin B2 can result in problems with skin, eyes, mucous membranes, and nerves. In addition, there may be potential for congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, fatigue, and low energy.

Corticosteroids: Millions of Filipinos are dependent on corticosteroids such as prednisone despite their multiple side effects if used long-term. These belong to a class of drugs called cortisones, used to ease the pain of arthritis, relieve lung congestion, and treat autoimmune disease. They are also prescribed for skin problems and blood and eye disorders. However, researchers found that the zinc levels are lower in patients treated with corticosteroids. Zinc is necessary for male potency and for healthy prostate gland. Zinc also enhances wound healing and is essential for a clear complexion.

Estrogen: Estrogens are prescribed to relieve menopausal hot flashes, to alleviate annoying menopausal symptoms, and to preserve bone density. However, prolonged uses of estrogen lowers folic acid and vitamin B6 levels, which can raise blood homocysteine levels. This is significant because elevated homocysteine is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In addition, estrogens raise glucose levels, which may predispose a woman to insulin resistance and diabetes, which further increase the risk of heart disease.

Glucose-lowering drugs: Some of the oral anti-diabetes drugs have been reported to be associated with increased cardiovascular mortality as compared to treatment with diet alone or diet plus insulin. The drug decreases folic acid and vitamin B12 levels, thereby increasing homocysteine and the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. Folic acid and vitamin B12 help maintain normal DNA, which forms the genetic code. By interfering with these two vitamins, it may have an age-accelerating effect; it might even increase the risk of DNA mutations leading to cancer.

Heart Drugs: Some cholesterol-lowering drugs raises glucose levels, which increase the risk of diabetes and coronary heart disease. It also reduces absorption of vitamin A, B12, D, E and K, and the mineral iron.

Other substances that rob the body of nutrients include:

Substances:

Allopurinol.

Antihistamines.

Beta-blockers.

Diuretics.

Isoniazid.

Laxatives.

Nitrate/nitrite.

Depleted nutrients:

Iron.

Vitamin C.

Choline, chromium, B5 (pantothenic acid) Vitamin B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine) Potassium, vitamin A and K, niacin, selenium, vitamin C and K.