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1. B12 and what It Means for Your Health by Dr. Martin
2. Do You Have Insulin Resistance?
3. The MOST Important Fatty Liver Detox and Cleansing Antioxidant
4. A Practical Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion by Hyla Cass, M.D.

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B12 and what It Means for Your Health by Dr. Martin

B12 deficiency is a common disorder affecting millions of people in North America. One reason it's common… doctors aren't trained to look for it… and the serum B-12 test is unreliable.

But… those aren't the only reasons why B12 deficiency is common.

You can't absorb B12 in your stomach without something called intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is secreted by your stomach, enabling you to absorb B12. Which means… If you have ANY digestive issues, you'll have a problem absorbing B12.

Many medications also directly impact your B12 levels… Proton Pump Inhibitors (acid reflux), Metformin (metabolic syndrome, diabetes), H2RA's (Zantac, Pepcid, etc.), antibiotics, and many NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory)… They All lower your B12.

And… Drinking alcohol (even wine) ROBS you of B12. Throw in the fact most of the world is scared of red meat… and you have a recipe for population-wide low B12.

The problem with B12 deficiency… it causes a lot of different… and sometimes weird symptoms.

You need B12 to make red blood cells, nerves, and DNA…This is why you can have many different symptoms all over your body, inside and out…

Symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, a lump in your throat, depression, anxiety, faintness, tinnitus, muscle spasms, twitches, confusion and dementia, dizziness, numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands, arms, legs, and feet.

Read that list again. Every system in our body is represented.

Let me highlight 3 symptoms.

First… The most common symptom is FATIGUE. It makes sense because B12 is often called the "energy vitamin." It's impossible to have energy if you don't have enough red blood cells…And you need B12 at the cellular level to make energy.

Your brain needs B12. 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer COMBINED. Alzheimer's and dementia are BIG problems.

The health of your brain is like a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Every piece is needed to complete the puzzle… Lose just one piece, and the whole puzzle is ruined. There are a lot of 'pieces' when it comes to making sure your body doesn't outlive your brain…

And B12 is a big one.

A chronic B12 deficiency can cause your brain to shrink… it can literally cause your brain to rot.

Nerve Pain or Neuropathy

Your nerves are protected by an outer layer called the 'myelin sheath.' Without protection from the myelin sheath, your nerves can't function. When you don't get enough B12 — it could damage the myelin sheaths protecting your nerves.

Here's the thing…

MILD B12 deficiency can lead to neuropathy (pain, numbness, tingling) of your extremities.

Alright… Let's talk about the B12 test.

Most "alternative" doctors agree the optimal levels for B12 are…
800-1200 pmol/L.

As mentioned…If your B12 levels aren't optimal… Then you're most likely TIRED, have poor concentration, and are at risk of brain disorders. You may already have heart palpitations and neuropathy or nerve pain.

How do you fix low B12?

If you have a digestive issue already… Even "mild" problems like bloating, heartburn, indigestion… Then you have to also fix your gut. Digestive enzymes and Probiotics are a good place to start.

If you're low in B12… then you need a B12 supplement. But, most B12 supplements are in the WRONG form.

First of all…If you swallow a pill that has vitamin B12 in it… it's useless. As I mentioned earlier… you need intrinsic factor in your stomach to absorb B12… 99.9% of vitamin B12 on the market comes in the form of cyanocobalamin. It's also not effective.

Instead… B12 needs to be in the form of METHYLCOBALAMIN

Recommended by MCVitamins

B12 for Nerve Health - The B12 in Nerve Support with Benfotiamine has B12 is already converted to the Methyl B12 so it doesn't need the Intrinsic Factor to be absorbed.

And for those who are told they have too much B12 in their blood

Digestive Problems

Do You Have Insulin Resistance?

One in three Americans—including half of those age 60 and older — have a silent blood sugar problem known as insulin resistance.

Do you suffer with any of the following?

Unexplained weight gain: gaining weight too easily, and finding the fat is being stored around your abdomen

Hunger: increased hunger, including feeling ravenous, at times, and feeling hungry even after a meal

Cravings: cravings for sugar and carbohydrates (as they turn into sugar)

High blood sugar (high blood glucose) and also episodes of low blood sugar

Low energy: fatigue (feeling more tired than usual), and especially fatigue or sleepiness after meals

Cognitive issues: mood swings, brain fogginess and inability to focus

Digestive issues: tension in the abdomen, bloating, indigestion, bowel problems

High triglycerides

High LDL “bad” cholesterol

Low HDL “good” cholesterol.

If you have any one of these conditions, and you probably have more than one, then you likely have Insulin Resistance.

What is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin Resistance is a metabolic disorder – your metabolism is not working as it should. Metabolism describes the chemical reactions in the body’s cells that change food into energy.

Carbohydrates are simply long chains of sugar molecules hooked end-to-end. When a person eats carbohydrates, their normal digestive process breaks up these chains into the individual sugar molecules and they pass right through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream and load up the bloodstream with sugar. This prompts the pancreas to release insulin with the purpose of having the cells utilize the sugar to create energy thereby lowering the amount of sugar.

Excessive sugar intake every once in a while, would not be a problem. But as diets today are so high in carbohydrates, people have a constant high level of sugar pouring into their bloodstream year after year.

Continual excessive sugar intake means insulin is being pumped into the blood continually. Over time, the cells become resistant to the normal amount of insulin and don’t utilize the sugar. The body’s response to this is to create even more insulin. So, over time there’s more sugar and more insulin in the blood while the cells continue being resistant to utilizing the substances they need to produce energy.

This excessive sugar in the blood turns into fat, cholesterol and triglycerides.

This process continues until the pancreas reaches the maximum amount of insulin it can produce, and when the insulin resistance continues, the blood sugar begins to rise out of control. The result is Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is actually an extreme case of Insulin Resistance.

What can you do?

The good news is that Insulin Resistance can be addressed by lifestyle changes that reduce the amount of sugar (including carbohydrates) being put in the body.

The process that causes Insulin Resistance, as described above, also makes the body deficient of nutrients. This is why people with Insulin Resistance, and later Diabetes, develop all kinds of health problems. So, the answer to this is to provide the body with the correct type and amount of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients through nutrient-rich foods.

Diet

A high carbohydrate diet is not the diet that our bodies evolved with.

In the World Health Organization report, Technical Series Report 916, page 42, it states, “We should eat a diet consistent with the diet our genes became programmed to respond to.” Genetically, our bodies are designed to respond to nutrition from meat, fat and plants. So, to counter insulin resistance, adapt your diet to include protein sources, good fats and more vegetables, and reduce the amount of carbohydrates you are consuming. The best diet to counter Insulin Resistance follows these guidelines.

Exercise

Exercise is very important. Regular physical activity will reduce your blood sugar, blood pressure, triglycerides and cholesterol levels. Exercise will help you maintain a healthy weight.

It’s always a good idea to speak with your doctor before beginning an exercise program or radically changing your diet.

In a University of New Mexico School of Medicine study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, overweight people who lost 10% of their weight through diet plus exercise saw insulin sensitivity improve by an impressive 80%. Those who lost the same amount of weight through diet alone got a 38% increase. And those who simply got more exercise, but didn’t lose much weight, saw almost no shift in their level of insulin resistance. (1)

Can Camel Milk Help Insulin Resistance?

As reported in a study, "Data available on experimental research and most of the human studies indicated that camel milk administration can have positive effects on glycemic control, by reducing fasting blood sugar, decreasing insulin resistance ..." 2

Camels are unique animals, and their milk is also unique. Camel milk contains an insulin-like protein that can help with insulin resistance.

Camelicious camel milk powder is packed with vitamins and minerals and contains high proportions of anti-bacterial and anti-viral substances, antioxidants, and immune system boosters. In fact, camel milk is considered a superfood because of its high nutritional value. Camel milk has more calcium than other milks and beneficial levels of bioavailable minerals – selenium, zinc, potassium, magnesium, copper, iron, and other minerals. It also has 3 to 5 times more Vitamin C than cow milk.

Camel milk is a light, pleasant tasting milk and is consumed as milk, or used to replace cow milk in cooking and baking.

Camelicious camel milk powder is 100% whole camel milk from grass-fed camels. It’s non-GMO, gluten free and does not contain any added antibiotics or hormones.

Go to Camel Milk to learn about super nutrition and to Order. This page has a link to its beneficial effects on healthy blood sugars and Insulin Resistance.

The MOST Important Fatty Liver Detox and Cleansing Antioxidant

This “superhero” antioxidant is the best way to detox your liver. Find out why.

On a standard American diet, you overload your liver with carbs. This causes many liver problems, including a fatty liver. The body runs best on ketones, which are also great for your liver health.

Many people have spent years on an unhealthy high-carb diet that causes serious damage to the liver.

How can you promote the health of a damaged liver with nutrition? The answer is glutathione.

Glutathione is a superhero antioxidant that helps protect and repair the liver.

There are more than 100,000 peer-reviewed papers on glutathione in scientific journals. Low glutathione is linked to at least 75 major diseases.

According to research, glutathione:

• Prevents liver damage, including a fatty liver

• Detoxifies the liver and reduces oxidative stress

• Reduces exercise fatigue

• Counters insulin resistance

• Helps protect your mitochondria

There are nine common things that deplete glutathione:

1. Alcohol

2. Trauma

3. Stress

4. Toxins

5. Infection

6. Junk food

7. Aging

8. Overtraining

9. Sugar and refined carbs

The best ways to boost your glutathione are:

• Beef

• Fish

• Cruciferous vegetables

• Garlic

• Onion

• NAC

• Curcumin

• Melatonin

• Vitamin D3

• SAMe

• Alpha-lipoic acid

DATA: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10566232/

Read more about Glutathione

A Practical Guide to Avoiding Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion by Hyla Cass, M.D.

A little known, but potentially life-saving fact is that common medications deplete your body of a host of vital nutrients essential to your health. In this practical guide I’ll show you how to avoid drug-induced nutrient depletion and discuss options for replacing nutrient-robbing medications with natural supplements.

America has been called a pill-popping society, and the statistics bear this out. Nearly 50 percent of all American adults regularly take at least one prescription drug, and 20 percent take three or more.(1)

Our increasing reliance on prescription medications has contributed to the growing problem with nutrient depletion.
The truth is that every medication, including over-the-counter drugs, depletes your body of specific, vital nutrients. This is especially concerning when you consider that most Americans are already suffering from nutrient depletion.

Additionally, many of the conditions physicians see in their everyday practice may actually be related to nutrient depletion.

The good news is that, armed with information and the right supplements, you can avoid the side effects of nutrient depletion, and even better, you may be able to control and prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

A Common Scenario

I have seen case after case of patients who have experienced nutrient loss from taking prescribed medications. Too often, neither the patients nor their doctors are aware that the medications are the real cause of their symptoms.

For example, Kathy, a 57-year-old retired schoolteacher, was being treated by her internist with three medications: the thiazide diuretic, Diuril, for high blood pressure; Fosamax for osteoporosis; and the beta-blocker, Tenormin, for heart palpitations.Kathy was referred to me because she suffered from fatigue, anxiety, depression and insomnia.

I couldn’t find an obvious psychological explanation for these symptoms, except perhaps for the stress of her physical illnesses. The likeliest cause of her symptoms was the drugs themselves. So, rather than adding an antidepressant, an anti-anxiety pill or sleeping agent, I investigated the known nutrient depletions associated with these medications.

Any one of her three medications could be depleting her potassium and magnesium levels, resulting in arrhythmias, hypertension, fatigue and depression. Additionally I discovered that the diuretic she was taking could be depleting her zinc levels. Follow-up lab tests confirmed that Kathy was deficient in three essential minerals: magnesium, potassium and zinc.

Based on the lab results, Kathy’s internist agreed to oversee her medications while I supervised her nutritional regimen. Daily doses of magnesium, zinc and potassium, in addition to a high-potency multivitamin, resolved Kathy’s “psychiatric” symptoms. Once her mineral levels were restored, Kathy’s energy and mood were back to normal. Best of all, not only was she spared the burden of taking additional medications, she was able to lower the doses of the three she was already taking.

Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion is Widespread

I see cases similar to Kathy’s more frequently than I’d like. Physicians often tell their patients that symptoms arising from nutrient depletion are simply “part of the illness” or just signs that they’re “getting older.” To make matters worse, physicians frequently try to address the symptoms arising from drug-induced nutrient depletion by prescribing even more drugs, further compounding the problem.

To understand the role various medications play in causing nutrient depletion, we must first look at the variety of nutrient-depleting mechanisms in pharmacy.

Many drugs, such as the stimulants Ritalin (methylphenidate) and Adderall, are prescribed for attention deficit disorder. These can reduce appetite. This, in turn, decreases the intake of beneficial nutrients. Some antidepressants also tend to have this appetite-reducing effect.

On the flip side, some drugs can deplete nutritional status by increasing the desire for unhealthy foods, such as refined carbohydrates. Many of the neuroleptics (anti-psychotic drugs) and some antidepressants cause insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, with results in blood sugar swings. Patients then crave simple carbohydrates, such as sugar, bread and pasta. Steroid drugs, including those given by an inhaler, can create similar issues as well.

Certain medications reduce the absorption of specific nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract by binding to them before they’re absorbed into the bloodstream. The antibiotic, tetracycline, for example, can block absorption by binding with minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc in the GI tract. (2)

Weight loss drugs and cholesterol-lowering medicines similarly bind to fats, preventing them from being absorbed. Drugs that treat acid reflux or heartburn raise the pH environment of the upper GI tract, which reduces absorption of needed vitamins and minerals. This is especially problematic among the elderly, who often are already low in stomach acid.

Nutrients are essential to the metabolic activities of every cell in the body. They’re used up in the process and need to be replaced by new nutrients in food or supplements. Some drugs deplete nutrients by speeding up this metabolic rate. These drugs include antibiotics (including penicillin and gentamicin) and steroids, such as prednisone, and the gout medication, colchicine.

Other drugs block the nutrient’s effects or production at the cellular level. In addition to the intended effect on enzymes or receptors, medications can influence enzymes or receptors that help process essential nutrients. For example, widely prescribed statin drugs block the activity of HMG-CoA, an enzyme that’s required to manufacture cholesterol in the body. This action also depletes the body of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which requires HMG-CoA for its production. This has a serious negative impact on muscle and heart health.

Drugs also can increase the loss of nutrients through the urinary system. Any drug that does this can drain the body’s levels of water-soluble nutrients, including B vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium and potassium. The major offenders are medications to treat hypertension, particularly the diuretics that reduce blood pressure by increasing the volume of water flushed out of the body.

Common Nutrient Robbers

The bottom line here is, we need to be aware of drugs that are nutrient robbers. The following provides some of the major drug categories:

Anti-Hypertensives

The ALLHAT (Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial) (2) concluded that thiazide-type diuretics are better than ACE inhibitors and calcium-channel blockers at preventing heart attacks in high-risk people. Physicians often prescribe potassium to offset the well-known potassium depletion associated with this prescription.

However, these diuretics are also known to deplete other minerals, such as magnesium, sodium, potassium and zinc, which are seldom specifically supplemented. One study found hypokalemia (low potassium) in 8.5 percent of people treated with thiazide diuretics and hyponatremia (low sodium) in 13.7 percent in the same patient population. (2,3) This indicates the importance of testing levels, and not simply restricting sodium. (2,3)

Thiazide diuretics also decrease magnesium in approximately 20 percent of patients (4) and can significantly decrease serum zinc. (5) Loop diuretics deplete potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, pyridoxine, thiamine and ascorbic acid.

One study showed that thiamine deficiency was found in 98 percent of patients with congestive heart failure who took 80 mg of furosemide daily, and in 57 percent of patients who took just 40 mg daily. This shows a dose relationship. Furosemide also increases excretion of ascorbic acid and pyridoxine. (6)

For these patients, consider the following daily supplements: calcium (1,000 mg), magnesium (250 mg to 500 mg), potassium (100 mg), vitamins C (1,000 mg), B1 (320 mg), B6 (10 mg to 25 mg) and zinc (25 mg).

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers are among the oldest classes of antihypertensive drugs. They lower blood pressure by reducing the effects of catecholamines, thereby reducing the force and speed of the heartbeat. Beta-adrenergic blockers deplete CoQ10 by interfering with the production of this essential enzyme for energy production. (7) This lack of CoQ10 is particularly dangerous, considering that the target condition is cardiovascular disease. Since the heart is particularly rich in CoQ10-hungry mitochondria, the energy factory of the cell, the end result can be heart failure. To offset this negative side effect you can take CoQ10, 100 mg to 300 mg daily with fat-containing food for best absorption.

These drugs also reduce production of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine). Produced from serotonin at night in the pineal gland by stimulating adrenergic beta1- and alpha1-receptors, this neuro-hormone regulates circadian rhythm and promotes sound sleep. By blocking beta receptors, these drugs may inhibit the release of the enzyme serotonin-N-acetyltransferase, which is necessary for the synthesis of melatonin, resulting in sleep disturbance. (8) Take melatonin (3 mg) at bedtime to counter this effect.

Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs

Statin drugs are the most widely prescribed medicines for lowering cholesterol. In fact, Lipitor (atorvastatin) is the best-selling drug on the planet. However, physicians need to address a serious risk. Statins deplete the body of CoQ10 with the following potential side effects: heart failure, muscle pain and weakness, irritability, mood swings, depression and impotence. (9-11) The last few side effects may also be due to lack of cholesterol, which is needed for brain cell and hormone production.

Therefore, people on statins should take 100 mg to 200 mg of CoQ10 daily to counter this potentially fatal depletion.

While no specific recommendations from the pharmaceutical industry exist, one pharmaceutical statin manufacturer observed the depletion effect in early research. This manufacturer holds a patent on a combination statin and CoQ10. Sadly, the patents have never been activated, nor have any warnings been provided by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry.

Health Canada, on the other hand, which is the federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health, requires that manufacturers of statin drugs include warnings on patient safety information sheets about the potential for myopathies and impaired cardiac function.

Acid Blockers

Antacids, histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) and proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly prescribed for treating heartburn, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcers. Numerous studies indicate that these drugs cause several nutrient deficiencies.

For example, aluminum antacids (Maalox, Mylanta and Gaviscon) and calcium carbonate (Caltrate, Dicarbosil, Rolaids, Titralac and Tums) act by buffering or neutralizing the acid pH of the stomach. Unfortunately, this reduction of stomach acid impairs the breakdown of the ingested food into its component nutrients.

Both PPI and H2 blockers significantly increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency in elderly patients. B12 requires adequate gastric acid for absorption. This population is already prone to deficiency in intrinsic factor, necessary for B12 absorption. (12) This lack of stomach acid also decreases the absorption of folic acid, iron and zinc. (13,14) H2 blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Axid and Zantac) decrease acid secretion by blocking histamine.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs, Prilosec, HK-20), the most potent of acid-reducing medications, are increasingly popular. They reduce stomach acid production by up to 99 percent by decreasing the action of proton pumps, which are part of the stomach lining’s acid-making machinery. This, however, can strongly interfere with nutrient absorption.

One study showed that high doses of PPIs, used for a year or more, could make people 2.5 more times susceptible to hip fracture than control subjects. Lower doses decreased the risk factor to 1.5 times that of nonusers. The longer these drugs are used, the higher the fracture risk. This heightened risk of osteoporosis is probably due to the drastic drop in calcium and vitamin D absorption that occurs with these drugs. Some experts believe the drugs themselves may hamper the body’s ability to build new bone. (15)

For anyone taking acid-reducing medication, I recommend daily intake of vitamin D3 (2,000 IU or more based on lab testing), B12 (200 mcg), folic acid (800 mcg), calcium (1,000 mg), chromium (500 mcg), iron (15 mg), zinc (25 mg to 50 mg) and phosphorus (700 mg).

Oral Hypoglycemics

Metformin (Glucophage, Glucophage XR and Glucovance) enhances the action of insulin in cases of insulin resistance, allowing glucose to enter the cells. This reduces elevated blood sugar. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that diabetics on metformin had B12 levels that were less than half those of control subjects. The longer the drug had been used and the higher the dose, the greater the drop in B12. (16)

In people with Type 2 diabetes who take metformin therapy, serum folic acid levels decrease 7 percent and vitamin B12 levels decrease by 14 percent. (17)B12 and folic acid depletion also increases homocysteine levels. In addition, metformin may deplete CoQ10, thereby increasing heart disease risk. To reduce these effects, patients should take vitamin B12 (800 mcg), folic acid (400 mcg) and CoQ10 (100 mg daily).

Psychotropic Medications

For antidepressants to work optimally, an ongoing supply of the B vitamins must be available as co-factors to help manufacture the needed neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine. (18,19) So, while these drugs may not directly deplete B vitamins, patients on these medications should ensure they get enough of these vitamins. In addition, be aware that lithium carbonate, used for treating bipolar illness, depletes folic acid (take 800 mcg) and inositol (take 500 mg bid).

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Many baby boomers are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can deplete vitamins B6 and B12, folic acid and magnesium. These nutrients are critical for heart health, as well as for mood. Rather than an antidepressant prescription, these women should be given the appropriate supplements to restore balance. I have seen many women do well once these nutrient depletions were addressed. This applies to younger women on oral contraceptives as well.

For women on standard HRT (estrogen and progesterone, orally, including as an oral contraceptive, or as a transdermal skin cream) I may also recommend calcium (1,000 mg to 1,200 mg daily), folic acid (400 mcg to 800 mcg), magnesium (500 mg), vitamin B2 (25 mg), vitamin B6 (50 mg), vitamin B12 (500 mcg to 1,000 mcg), vitamin C (500 mg to 1000 mg) and zinc (25 mg to 50 mg).

Antibiotics

Antibiotics deplete biotin, inositol, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 and vitamin K. Additionally, fluoroquinolones and all floxacins (including ciprofloxacin or “Cipro”) deplete calcium and iron. Tetracyclines (suffix, -cycline) deplete calcium and magnesium. Trimethoprim-containing antibiotics (brand names Trimpex, Proloprim or Primsol) deplete folic acid. Penicillins (suffix, -cillin) deplete potassium. Aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin, cause imbalances of magnesium, calcium and potassium. (20) In fact, one study showed that gentamicin causes increased excretion of calcium by 5 percent and magnesium by 8.4 percent. (21)

When you take antibiotics, consider a B vitamin complex along with it. Or take a multivitamin that contains 25 mg of B1 (thiamine), 25 mg of B2 (riboflavin), 50 mg of B3 (niacin), 50 mg of B6 (pyridoxine), 400 mcg to 800 mcg of folic acid, 10 mcg of B12, and 50 mg each of biotin and B5 (pantothenic acid).

Inositol is part of the B vitamin complex, and is likely to be included in a B vitamin or multivitamin formulation. Otherwise, take 500 mg of inositol. (The RDA is 100 mg per day.) In addition, either take a multivitamin that includes magnesium (500 mg), calcium (1,000 mg) and potassium (100 mg), or take them separately.

Antibiotics can disrupt the natural bacteria flora in the digestive system, killing “good” bacteria, including Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus) andBifidobacterium bifidum (B. bifidum). These are probiotics or bacteria that normally live in and on the human body, concentrated mostly in the digestive and genital/urinary systems. Choose a supplement that contains at least 1 billion live organisms per daily dose.

You also may consider 50 mcg daily of vitamin K, which is normally made by friendly intestinal bacteria. Vitamin K is required for proper blood clotting. Deficiency is rare, but when it occurs, life-threatening bleeding can occur from the smallest injury. Vitamin K also plays a part in osteoporosis prevention.

Summary

Drug-induced nutrient depletion is far more common than has been acknowledged. In evaluating patients’ symptoms, doctors must assess whether symptoms are due to the illness, to the side effects of the drugs, or to drug-induced nutrient depletion. Considering the inadequate nutritional status of the majority of the population, we must remember that the illness itself may be due, in part, to nutrient deficiency. For insurance, it is easiest to provide baseline coverage: a daily high potency multivitamin mineral formula, CoQ10 (200 mg), omega-3 fatty acids (2 grams) and additional vitamin D and probiotics.

The bottom line: Physicians must look more deeply and determine underlying causes to determine whether drugs are harming patients – and what we can do to reverse these effects. As a consumer, be aware of these drug-nutrient depletions, and do what you can to avoid taking medications whenever you can, using natural products instead.

For more information, see my book, Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About Nutrition

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