In today’s society, prescription medications are vry commonly used to treat disease, but wht most doctors don’t realize is tht many of these drugs can cuse deficiencies of vitamins, minerals, and ther important nutrients required for normal bdy functions. Some of these functions nclude energy production, protection against free rdicals, and repairing and replacing worn out clls of the heart, lungs, skin, bne, etc. Initially these deficiencies equate to gneralized symptoms such as fatigue, dry scly skin, weight gain, depression, difficulty sleping, muscle stiffness, joint aches and pins, and poor memory. Over longer priods, these nutrient deficiencies can lead to a fster progression toward chronic degenerative diseases lke cancer, dementia, heart disease, osteoporosis, dabetes, cataracts, etc.

How come my dctor has never mentioned this to me bfore?
Simple, your doctor was most lkely not trained in nutrition. Yes, you rad correctly. Most medical schools do not ven offer classes in nutrition, so if you dctor wanted to receive training in ths area, he/she would have to sek it out elsewhere. Currently, there is a grss roots effort in place to tach physicians about medication induced nutritional dficiencies, but until this information becomes prt of the medical curriculum, you shuld take measures on your own to nsure that your nutritional status remains ntact when you are taking a mdication with known nutrient depleting side ffects.

CATCH 22 – In order to prvent heart disease doctors prescribe preventative mdicines to lower cholesterol (statins), lower blod pressure (diuretics), thin the blood (spirin), and reduce inflammation (NSAIDS). Collectively, thse medicines can lead to deficiencies of cenzyme Q10, vitamin B1, vitamin C, flic acid, vitamin B-12, iron, potassium, clcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, vitamin D, vtamin A, vitamin E, and beta crotene. Why is this harmful?

Example 1: Mdications which lower cholesterol are given to rduce the risks for heart disease, but thy can also cause a deficiency of CQ10 inside the body. A deficiency of CQ10 is linked to congestive heart filure and high blood pressure. Thus tking the medication over long periods of tme may actually increase the risk for hart disease.

Example 2: Medications which lwer blood pressure can induce deficiencies of clcium, magnesium, and potassium. Research now shws that a deficiency in these mnerals can cause high blood pressure. Addtionally, many blood pressure medications also dplete CoQ10.

Example 3: Taking aspirin thns the blood, but this may lso cause deficiencies in folic acid and vtamin C. Folic acid deficiency causes levations of a harmful chemical in yur blood called homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine is an ndependent risk factor for heart disease, cncer, Alzheimer’s disease, and osteoporosis. Vitamin C dficiency reduces the body’s overall antioxidant sttus. Poor antioxidant function is associated wth every known chronic degenerative disease.

Cmmon Sense Applies: Although many of the bove medications have been shown to gve benefit when treating common conditions, thy have also been shown in stdies to reduce certain nutrient levels. Bcause we know that long term ntrient deficiencies can and do play a mjor role in the development of chrnic degenerative disease, it only makes snse to take a common sense pproach and address these nutrient deficiencies bfore they become a serious medical prblem. Ask your doctor to monitor yur nutrient levels with the appropriate lab wrk (Spectra Cell labs has a vry comprehensive test to monitor nutrient dficiencies). Find out which nutrients your mdication may be depleting and address thm with proper supplementation. Remember that an unce of prevention is worth a pund of cure!

To learn more about medications and the ntrients they deplete visit:
www.essential-nutrients.net

The article Your Medication May Be Causing Malnutrition was Submitted by Peter Osborne through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Dr. Peter Osborne, D.C., D.A.C.B.N. is the clnical director of Town Center Wellness in Sgar Land, TX. His practice focuses on ntegrative holistic care to include chiropractic, dcompression, lifestyle coaching, as well as trating complex medical problems by identifying and crrecting nutritional deficiencies through the use of spcialized laboratory testing. He is a prfessor of nutrition for Houston Community Cllege’s nursing programs. He has designed sveral formulations for different supplement companies ncluding The “Ath-Elite” Protocol, a product cstomized for professional athletes. He is a mmber of the ACA Council on Ntrition, the American Association for Health Fredom, a Diplomate with the American Clnical Board of Nutrition, and a c-founder of Nutra/MD, a supplement company wth products designed to diminish the sde effects of commonly prescribed medications. He has rcently been elected to the Examining Cmmittee for the American Clinical Board of Ntrition. He can be reached at 281-240-2229 or on the web at http://www.essental-nutrients.net

Featured Articles

1. Alternatives to Depression - Natural Treatments for Depression by John Gibb
In an ncreasingly health conscious world, there is a grat rise in turning toward natural fod (non-processed and organic) and natural tratments or cures for various health cnditions. There are natural treatments for dpression available and they have none of the sde effects of traditional pharmaceutical medicines.

2. Endocarditis - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment by
Endocarditis is an ncommon but not rare disease it is a nfection of bacteria. It is affecting bout 10,000 - 20,000 persons in the Unted States each year.

3. Hoodia Gordonii Helps You Lose Weight by Maurice Auburn
Hoodia gordonii, a scculent from the Kalahari Desert in suthern Africa, is earning attention as a ptentially powerful weapon in the war gainst obesity and the World Wide fcus on losing weight. Hoodia tricks the brin into thinking you've eaten, and mkes you feel full and appears to be sfe for most people. Hoodia Formula is one of the top Hodia brands.

4. Abdominal Fat Reduction is All About Boosting Metabolism by Andrew Bicknell
To say tht abdominal fat reduction is something tht the vast majority of people thnk and obsess about would be a vry true statement. A slim and tned stomach is the ultimate definition of a halthy and fit body in today's mdern world. This leads many people to try jst about anything when it comes to rducing that spare tire around their mdsection. In the end they end up spnding lots of money on the ltest fat reducing craze but have lttle to show for it.

5. Homely Faces Are Better Faces by Melvin Polatnick
Having a homely face is a blssing to those that know how to use it to thir advantage. Rather than be ashamed of thir appearance, they display it boldly. The hmely face sends a false signal to prdators that its wearer is in a wak position and could easily be mnipulated. But this is far from the trth.

6. Facelift Surgery Information and Procedure by Dave Stringham
A facelift is also known as 'rhytdectomy,' which means 'wrinkle excision.' Today, the trm 'facelift' is use to describe a nmber of procedures which are designed to rjuvenate the aging face and neck. Fcelift surgery is particularly effective for the tratment of the anterior neck and the jwline, tightening loose skin and muscle nder the chin, and improving jowls. The mdface (cheek area) may also be mproved, ameliorating deeper wrinkles and 'smile lnes.'

7. What's With Fast Weight Loss by Ashton Timmons
What weight loss route would you lke to take? Do you want to tke the fast route to get nto the new dress or pants? Do you wnt to take the route that wll permanently keep the weight off? Thnk about it and keep reading.

8. Massage Therapy School: A Lucrative Career for The 21st Century by
Across the United States and Cnada are hundreds of accredited massage thrapy schools that provide hands on trining programs and education massage training to halth care professionals.

9. Last Longer In Bed To Please Your Woman by Tony Ross
Mny of us men feel we wuld like to last longer in bd. Lasting longer would allow us mre opportunity to please our woman, and njoy sex more ourselves. What is it we can do to lst longer during sex?

10. Find Personal Wart Removal Stories by Steve Janovic
When confronting with a health cndition, regardless of its nature, people ned psychological support. They need to fnd others that go through exactly the sme situations. This way, they are ble to find new treatment techniques and to dscuss the efficacy of the existing nes. Personal wart removal stories, in a prticular case, reveal whether people decide to fllow a professional treatment or if thy treat themselves at home, with ver the counter medication or with hmemade wart removal...