Post by VannyPost by VannyFollowing on from my previous post on PPIs, I want to bring your
attention to the following article.
How Medicine Drains Vital Nutrients from the Body
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1395028/How-medicine-draining-vital-nutrients-body.html
There is only a modicum of information available on the effect of drugs
on nutrition and, generally, it is not in a form that is understandable
for the layperson, ie. scientific publications, reports in medical
newspapers, etc. However, what is out there has been collated and
written up in book form by the American pharmacist Suzy Cohen. I have
not bought any of her publications, but there is enough information out
there for you not to have to buy any either, for example, she has a
YouTube account.
Which Medications Are Robbing Your Body of Essential Nutrients-and
Natural Ways to Restore Them" at Amazon (Please note that I am a fellow
http://www.amazon.com/Drug-Muggers-Medications-Essential-Nutrients--/dp/1605294160/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336476762&sr=8-1
PPI meds make magnesium and calcium less available.
And the same for folic acid and vitamin B-12 and likely
for inositol as well. Plus these meds are toxic analogues
to melatonin.
I quit the PPI meds and added both betaine HCL with pepsin
capsules (several per the larger meals) and later high dose
melatonin. I can eat and drink anything. No following the
NO NO food lists. Though until you are utterly healed
tomato and citrus may need to avoided.
Trig
You have quit one medication for another medication for which the
side-effects are even less well understood.
http://www.drugs.com/cons/betaine.html
You may think that it is helping you, but I would be more interested to
see what your latest oesophageal gastroduodenoscopy showed and to look
at your blood values, in particular lipid levels. Barrett's oesophagus
can occur in patients with absolutely no symptoms of GERD. This is why
cancer of the oesophagus is a big killer - it is generally detected too
late.
Dietary betaine and choline has been shown to be protective with respect
to heart disease. However, oversupplementation with betaine may be
linked to cardiovascular disease due to increased plasma lipid profiles
with low HDL (good lipid complexes) and high cholesterol. As you are
aware high cholesterol clogs up the arteries and increases the risk of
ischaemic stroke, ischaemic heart disease, pulmonary lung embolism, etc.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22577451
There may be benefits in supplementing with betaine if you have diabetes
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22510294
The body makes betaine hydrochloride. Because betaine is usually taken
with folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, this would indicate that
the drug results in these deficiencies in the long-term.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/betaine-000287.htm
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with
medications, you should take dietary supplements only under the
supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider.
Most side effects from betaine are mild and include diarrhea, stomach
upset, and nausea.
Betaine can raise total cholesterol levels. People who are overweight,
have heart disease, or are at risk for heart disease should not take
betaine without talking to their health care provider.
People with kidney disease should not take betaine...."
A better aim would be to eat healthily, follow a GERD-free lifestyle and
not self-treating with overdoses of chemicals that may cause harm over
the long-term. Just losing weight and throwing away the frying pans can
relieve the symptoms of GERD.
I would rather have GERD than a stroke.
Dietary sources of betaine
http://www.ajcn.org/content/83/4/905/T2.expansion.html
http://www.ajcn.org/content/83/4/905.full
https://www.shands.org/health/Complementary%20and%20Alternative%20Medicine/33/000287.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FDN/is_2_8/ai_103194443/
A PPI med is vastly more dangerous than a nutrient.
Your concern about blood lipids might be real but only over the
longer term at most. I've zero side effects. Plus I wasn't using
betaine (for the most past) but rather betaine HCL. And
I was following the counsel of a health care provider albeit
a qualified one hence not a conventional drug provider Doc.
I took it for awhile and now I only take it now and then
at higher dose because I've got it. It is a methyl group
contributor and as one the paper you cited indicates it
often helpful. I've other tricks in my bag.
It helped even when I was heavy. My BMI is likely better
than most now and is in the so-called healthy range.
I bicycle, lift weights, hike, and run in addition
to a lower carbohydrate diet. Though I peanut butter
and tomatoes, so I am past the silly no no food lists
which are a full sign of failure in approach, IMO.
When the esophagus is inflamed due to impaired
motility most any food will cause trouble.
This maybe one of my last posting to the Usenet for
awhile, depending
how things go in the near future. YMMV people but
I got over it and the conventional Docs were more of
hurtle than a help. Now, I can eat anything especially fatty
foods. If you can't your regimen is defective, IMO.
There is more to blood lipids than total cholesterol levels.
When I can afford it I have them checked. I've taken steps
than should be helping, steps your conventional Doc knows
nothing about. When I get numbers, I post them from another
account. Likely some years from now if the Usenet is still
here by then.
Best Wishes................Fading to Black.........Trig
Trig