The second part in our series of charts describing nutrient depletions caused by commonly used pharmaceuticals. This chart covers hormone replacement, oral contraceptives, and various classes of antibiotics.
Many commonly used drugs deplete essential nutrients, meaning that individuals taking a lot of medications may be compromising their nutritional status. Fortunately, these depletions are easy to correct with judicious use of supplements. This chart, the third in our series, reviews the nutrient-depletions associated with common drugs for diabetes, ulcers, and psychiatric disorders.
Garlic, Capsicum, Hawthorn, and Ginkgo are among a number of herbs that can help in preventing or treating cardiovascular disease. Judicious use of these herbs can eliminate the need for expensive medications in many cases. Paul Saunders, ND, PhD, offers his extensive experience using herbs for heart health.
Statins are very effective at reducing LDL and total cholesterol, but they also deplete coenzyme Q10, a naturally occurring substance that is essential for normal muscle and heart function. Citing evidence that a major statin manufacturer knew the risks in the early ’90s but took no action, Dr. Julian Whitaker sent a petition to the FDA to put a black box warning on all statin labels stating the dangers of CoQ10 depletion.
Epidemiologically, elevated homocysteine levels are correlated with increased risk of stroke. But on an individual basis, it is difficult to know when someone’s homocysteine measurement is signaling an increased likelihood of stroke.
Don’t expect too much help from federal authorities when trying to figure out what supplements your child might need. Though there are mountains of scientific studies on childhood nutrition, there is little consensus on how to apply that data in a practical way for optimal childhood nutrition. Parents, undaunted by the lack f “official” guidance, are figuring it all out for themselves.
Do antioxidant vitamins help or hinder conventional cancer treatments? The science on this topic is incomplete and there are strong opinions on both sides. The reality is there may not be a clear-cut single answer. Antioxidants may be extremely helpful in some types of cancer, in combination with some forms of chemo or radiotherapy, but detrimental in others.
The same low-fat, vegetable and fruit-rich diet that prevents heart disease also reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The good news is that diet appears to have the greatest preventive impact in people at the highest genetic risk for Alzheimer’s.
Many people who end up in doctors’ offices have nutritional deficiencies, including deficiencies in protein, B vitamins, and magnesium that markedly impact their overall health status. These deficiencies are easily reversed, if only physicians would think about them.
Data from the long awaited Glucosamine/Chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), one of the largest nutritional supplement studies ever undertaken, shows that while this combination of natural products did not offer too much help for patients with mild arthritis, it outperformed celecoxib (Celebrex) in people with the most severe disease.
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