| In today's society, prescription medications are | | | | doctors prescribe preventative medicines to lower |
| very commonly used to treat disease, but what | | | | cholesterol (statins), lower blood pressure |
| most doctors don't realize is that many of these | | | | (diuretics), thin the blood (aspirin), and reduce |
| drugs can cause deficiencies of vitamins, minerals, | | | | inflammation (NSAIDS). Collectively, these |
| and other important nutrients required for normal | | | | medicines can lead to deficiencies of coenzyme |
| body functions. Some of these functions include | | | | Q10, vitamin B1, vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin B-12, |
| energy production, protection against free radicals, | | | | iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, selenium, |
| and repairing and replacing worn out cells of the | | | | zinc, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin E, and beta |
| heart, lungs, skin, bone, etc. Initially these | | | | carotene. Why is this harmful? |
| deficiencies equate to generalized symptoms such | | | | Example 1: Medications which lower cholesterol are |
| as fatigue, dry scaly skin, weight gain, depression, | | | | given to reduce the risks for heart disease, but |
| difficulty sleeping, muscle stiffness, joint aches and | | | | they can also cause a deficiency of CoQ10 inside |
| pains, and poor memory. Over longer periods, | | | | the body. A deficiency of CoQ10 is linked to |
| these nutrient deficiencies can lead to a faster | | | | congestive heart failure and high blood pressure. |
| progression toward chronic degenerative diseases | | | | Thus taking the medication over long periods of |
| like cancer, dementia, heart disease, osteoporosis, | | | | time may actually increase the risk for heart |
| diabetes, cataracts, etc. | | | | disease. |
| How come my doctor has never mentioned this | | | | Example 2: Medications which lower blood pressure |
| to me before? | | | | can induce deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, and |
| Simple, your doctor was most likely not trained in | | | | potassium. Research now shows that a deficiency |
| nutrition. Yes, you read correctly. Most medical | | | | in these minerals can cause high blood pressure. |
| schools do not even offer classes in nutrition, so if | | | | Additionally, many blood pressure medications also |
| you doctor wanted to receive training in this area, | | | | deplete CoQ10. |
| he/she would have to seek it out elsewhere. | | | | Example 3: Taking aspirin thins the blood, but this |
| Currently, there is a grass roots effort in place to | | | | may also cause deficiencies in folic acid and |
| teach physicians about medication induced | | | | vitamin C. Folic acid deficiency causes elevations |
| nutritional deficiencies, but until this information | | | | of a harmful chemical in your blood called |
| becomes part of the medical curriculum, you | | | | homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine is an |
| should take measures on your own to ensure | | | | independent risk factor for heart disease, cancer, |
| that your nutritional status remains intact when | | | | Alzheimer's disease, and osteoporosis. Vitamin C |
| you are taking a medication with known nutrient | | | | deficiency reduces the body's overall antioxidant |
| depleting side effects. | | | | status. Poor antioxidant function is associated with |
| CATCH 22 - In order to prevent heart disease | | | | every known chronic degenerative disease. |