Weight Gain and Unsuspected Gluten Sensitivity, Sub-Clinical Gluten Enteropathy

The ‘Classical Presentation’ is the Exception, not the Rule

by David S. Klein, M.D. FACA, FACPM

Introduction: Obesity is now endemic.  More than a national disgrace, the fattening of America may well be one of our greatest threats to our national security. In North America, the general public spends huge sums of money in futile effort to lose weight, when simultaneously, we are wasting huge sums of money ignoring what may be the treatable cause of weight gain in a large percentage of the population. Gluten Enteropathy is a common cause of weight issues in populations that consume grain as a diet staple.

Celiac Disease (CD) is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with nutritional absorption, and it can result in unexplained weight gain.  Sufferers of CD cannot tolerate gluten, a binding protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Most commonly, gluten is found in food products, but Gluten may also be found in everyday products such as medicines, vitamins, and cosmetic products. It’s best to avoid gluten altogether if you have sensitivity of any sort, but fortunately, there are digestive enzymes devoted to helping people digest gluten and therefore, suffer fewer consequences from ingestion.  I have spent many years studying this subject and I have formulated a wonderful product to help you digest gluten. It’s called “Gluten Digest” and there is more about this incredible supplement later on.

Sensitivity to Gluten is very common.  Affecting as many as 30% of the general population, sensitivity to gluten is a ‘spectrum disorder.’  That is, it varies from Subclinical-mild in severity to overwhelming-devastating. In its’ severest form, it is known as Celiac Sprue, Celiac Disease (CD), non-tropical Sprue, and less commonly as Gee-Herter Disease, Gee-Thaysen Disease or Heubner-Herter Disease.

Celiac disease is both a disease of malabsorption, and an immunological condition. There may be a familial or genetic predisposition to CD, and it may be triggered after trauma, surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, infection, or emotional stress.

Autoimmune in nature, CD sufferers will experience periods of time where symptoms are minimal, stable and flair.  Triggers are usually dietary, as the protein family known generally as  ‘Gluten’ will trigger complaints in most patients, that’s why avoidance, or minimizing absorption (through supplementation) helps control the misery.  Equally confusing is that hormonal shifts, co-morbid disease states, infection and stress can trigger symptoms, as well.

Clinical Presentation: Misdiagnosed as ‘irritable bowel disease,’ CD is a life-long complaint.  Rare is the patient that presents to the office complaining of the ‘classical presentation’ of dramatic weight loss, diarrhea and cramping precipitated by pizza, spaghetti and bread.  More typically, patients present with peculiar, episodic cramping, bloating and weight gain.  Self-diagnosed with ‘leaky gut,’ they often go through an embarrassing series of self-treatment protocols, GI detoxifications and fad diets. A minority of patients present with skin rash known as Dermatitis Herpetiformis, as the principal symptom.

Other Signs and Symptoms Include:

unexplained iron-deficiency anemia

fatigue, depression, anhedonia, anxiety

arthritic bone or joint pain

bone loss, osteopenia, or osteoporosis

tingling numbness in the extremities

seizures, depression, bipolar disorder

dysmenorrhea

canker sores in the mouth

dermatitis Herpetiformis

The most common complaints are dyspepsia, bloating and abdominal uneasiness.

Associated disorders include:

Diabetes

Autoimmune thyroid disease, e.g. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Grave’s Disease

Autoimmune liver disease

Rheumatoid arthritis

Autoimmune adrenal dysfunction; Addison’s Disease

Sjögren’s syndrome

Bipolar Disorder.

Lupus

Diagnosis: To most medical practitioners, blood work is the preferred approach to diagnosis, elimination diet is often the most practical way to infer diagnosis. Elimination of gluten from the diet for a 2 week period is often all that is necessary to infer diagnosis.

The ‘gold standard’ in confirming diagnosis is the endoscopic biopsy.  When positive, diagnosis is firmly established.  Unfortunately, biopsy for CD is fraught with false negatives.

Easiest of all is testing, serum anti-body determinations for IgG, IgA, IgE and tTG IgA and tTG IgE are useful, but the derived information is sometimes confusing.  Best drawn early in the morning, these anti-body titers may demonstrate patterns that suggest gluten sensitivity or frank Celiac Disease.

Nutraceutical Treatment of Celiac Disease

The mainstay of treatment is as simple and as complicated as avoiding Gluten in the diet.  This means avoidance of most processed foods, and nearly all grains.

Gluten is widely used as a binder in medicines, supplements and in many cosmetic products.

It takes a good bit of research to identify sources of Gluten in the ingestible environment, and it takes but a single slip to cause a patient to go into a gastrointestinal crisis.

1. CLA- Conjugated Linoleic Acid.  When taken 1,000 mg two or three times daily, CLA will act as a topical anti-inflammatory for the GI tract.  Taking a week or two, symptomatic relief can be dramatic

2. Castor Oil- This old standby is useful to settle an inflamed GI tract.  Taken ½ Tsp to ½ Tbs in apple sauce, once daily, the irritable bowel symptoms often abate within a few days.  It should be taken for several weeks, consistently, then periodically as symptoms dictate.

3.  “Gluten Digest” Formula- This contains DPP IV (a gluten digestive enzyme)- One or two capsules taken immediately before meals will provide some protection from modest amounts of Gluten.  Taking these digestive enzymes mitigates (but does not completely eliminate) the damage from dietary gluten, but social circumstances sometimes dictate the need for this intervention. Sometimes, well-meaning restaurants do not realize they are putting gluten in their dishes, such as using soy sauce, spelt flour or by cooking their grilled chicken on pans that share space with breaded chicken/meats. You get into gluten more often than you realize! Taking “Gluten Digest” supplements can be one of the most inexpensive ways to control the symptoms associated with accidental gluten ingestion.

Dietary Supplementation

Celiac Disease results in an unpredictable but inevitable malabsorption of essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, oils and essential fatty acids. Many nutritional deficiency syndromes are easily detectable through available nutritional test panels. Most practitioners are unfamiliar with these panels making specific intervention impossible. General supplementation should include:

Mineral chelate (organic mineral salts)

Essential Fatty Acids & Oils

Amino Acid/protein supplementation

Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E

Vitamin D-3 (dosage dictated by age and condition)

These supplements are sold in health food stores, and being a physician, I also offer some very high-quality formulas (www.suffernomore.com). I routinely combine the use of medications with supplements for all of my patients because I feel that addressing underlying vitamin/mineral imbalances is also important to getting well, and feeling healthy and vibrant.

My patients tell me they feel a difference in their health within days to weeks of taking high-quality, pure supplements. It’s important to consider the quality of your nutraceuticals, as well as the foods you eat. As we age, we become less and less efficient in absorbing nutrients from the foods we eat, and from dietary supplements through the gastrointestinal tract.  With CD, this efficiency deteriorates even more dramatically.  In short, it takes a great deal more than the ‘recommended daily allowance (RDA),’ to ensure adequate levels of these important and inexpensive nutrients.

NOTE WELL:  The commonly available OTC multivitamin/mineral complexes are entirely inadequate.

Individuals with CD tend to have elevations in CRP, suggesting increased risk of cardio-vascular disease.  Omega-3 fatty acid (fish oil) administration is an interesting, new intervention for the treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD). Certain omega-3 fatty acids have biochemical properties that promote atherosclerotic plaque stability and thereby decrease the incidence of cardiac ischemia and  ischemic cardiac arrhythmias. An ever-increasing body of evidence supports the role for omega-3 fatty acids, i.e. fish oil, in  through a role as anti-arrhythmic agents, through anti-thrombotic effect, and through atherosclerotic plaque stabilization, probably as a result of topical anti-inflammatory action.

Dosage requirement is between 2 and 3 grams per day, in divided doses.  Generally, the preferred cardiac ratio of 3:2 EPA/DHA, but in inflammatory conditions such as CD, the EPA/DHA ratio does a bit better at 6:1.

Patient should begin with 1 mg per day, increase over a week or two to the desired daily dosage.

I have done my best to outline suggestions for you to better care for yourself, and of course, these are just “suggestions” so please ask your own physician what is appropriate for your individual needs.

David S. Klein, MD has practiced pain medicine for the past 27 years and is the author of over 50 published articles and textbook chapters and has lectured extensively. He is a member of the American Board of Anesthesiology, American Board of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Pain Management, American Board of Minimally Invasive Medicine & Surgery, and has Sub-Specialty Certification in Pain by the American Board of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Klein is presently the Medical Director of the Pain Center of Orlando, located at 225 W. SR 434, Suite #205, Longwood, Florida 32750.

Telephone 407-679-3337.

FAX:  407-678-7246.

www.suffernomore.com

www.stages-of-life.com

The Big List of Drugs that Mug CoQ10

I’ve referenced this ‘Big List’ in a syndicated column, and also in my newest book, “Diabetes Without Drugs.”

The most commonly recognized supplemental form of CoQ10 has been known as “ubiquinone” or “coenzyme Q10″  Now, Japan’s largest producer of CoQ10, has found a way to stabilize a pure and BIO-IDENTICAL form of the nutrient.  It is called ubiquinol, and it’s the downline metabolite of CoQ10.  In other words, it’s the biologically ACTIVE version of CoQ10 so it’s stronger, and it slips right into your cells.  There is no need to worry about whether or not your body (and your gut) can convert the CoQ10 to it’s active form (ubiquinol).

This is REALLY IMPORTANT:

As you age, not only do you produce less CoQ10, but your body becomes less efficient at converting CoQ10 to the active form – Ubiquinol

Certain people have a real hard time converting the CoQ10 to ubiquinol, especially people with diabetes, GI problems, autoimmune disorders, and those with heart disease.  So ubiquinol would be ideal for people who fit in this group, but because you get higher plasma concentrations with ubiquinol, I recommend it for everyone.  It’s definitely improved and worth it because ubiquinol is a powerful antioxidant that nourishes your muscle cells.  It can help you with leg cramps, especially those related to the drug mugging effect of your medications (see below).  It can improve the look of your skin, it can improve liver function and detoxification.  It can increase ATP in the cells, so it’s an energizing molecule…it’s great for fatigue and low thyroid!!!

There are hundreds of medications which could be slowly stealing the life out of you. I believe that when a drug steals a nutrient, you will develop a new symptom.  You may not realize that your new symptom is related to a drug-nutrient depletion. Please consider all the reasons why you might not be feeling as good as you used to, it’s not always black and white, and based on some lab result.  If you are weak and tired, it may be your blood pressure medicine, or your statin, or your hormones, you’ll see these drugs on the list below.

There Are Absurdly Inexpensive Way to Feel Better

The subject of vitamins, minerals and nutrients is explored in-depth in my book Drug Muggers, which explains to you how to feel better when you develop a symptom (so you don’t have to start yet another new drug!!!)  Wouldn’t that be wonderful?  If you knew what medicines were depleting a nutrient, you could quickly fix that deficiency and hopefully erase the symptoms that plague you (without having to resort to more and more pills).  The following list of medications are those that can interfere with your heart-healthy nutrient, CoQ10 and therefore ubiquinol.

Read the list and see if you’re medicine is on it. If you are not sure, please call your local pharmacist to find out if your medication is on the list since I cannot answer you personally. I’ve included as many international brand names as possible, but it helps if you know the “generic” name of your medicine.

With many wishes for great health, here is the BIG LIST of:

Drug Muggers of CoQ10 and therefore, UBIQUINOL

Acebutolol (Sectral, Prent)
Acetohexamide (Diamox)
Acetophenazine (Tindal)
Amiloride and Hydrochlorothiazide (Moduretic)
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Amoxapine (Ascendin)
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Atenolol and Chlorthalidone (Tenoretic)
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Benzthiazide (Exna)
Betaxolol (Betoptic eye drops, Kerlone)
Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
Candesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide (Atacand HCT)
Carteolol (Ocupress eye drops)
Carvedilol (Coreg)
Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
Chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
Clomipramine (Anafranil)
Clonidine (Catapres)
Cyclothiazide (Anhydron)
Desipramine (Imipramine)
Doxepin (Sinequan)
Droperidol (Inapsine)
Enalapril and Hydrochlorothiazide (Vaseretic)
Enoxacin (Penetrex)
Esmolol (Brevibloc)
Ezetimibe (Zetia)
Fenofibrate (Tricor)
Fluphenazine (Prolixin)
Fluvastatin (Lescol)
Gemfibrozil (Lopid)
Glimepiride (Amaryl)
Glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL)
Glyburide (Micronase, DiaBeta, Euglucon)
Glyburide and Metformin (Glucovance)
Haloperidol (Haldol)
Hydralazine (Apresoline)
Hydralazine and Hydrochlorothiazide (Apresozide)
Hydralazine, Hydrochlorothiazide, and Reserpine (Ser-Ap-Es)
Hydrochlorothiazide or HCTZ  (Hydrodiuril)
Hydrochlorothiazide and Reserpine (Hydropres, Hydroserpine)
Hydrochlorothiazide and Spironolactone (Aldactazide)
Hydrochlorothiazide and Triamterene (Maxzide, Dyazide)
Hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin, Saluron)
Imipramine (Tofranil)
Indapamide (Lozol, Lozide, Apo-Indapamide)
Irbesartan and Hydrochlorothiazide (Avalide)
Labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate)
Losartan and Hydrochlorothiazide (Hyzaar)
Lovastatin (Mevacor, Apo-Lovastatin, Anlostin, Aztatin, Belvas)
Mesoridazine (Serentil)
Methdilazine (Bristaline, Dilosyn, Disyncram)
Methotrimeprazine (Apo-Methoprazine, Novo-Meprazine; Nozinan)
Methyclothiazide (Enduron, Aquatensen)
Methyldopa (Aldomet, Apo-Methyldopa)
Methyldopa and Hydrochlorothiazide (Aldoril, Apo-Methazide)
Metolazone (Zaroxolyn, Mykrox)
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL, Apo-Metoprolol, Betaloc, Durules, PMS-Metoprolol)
Moexipril and Hydrochlorothiazide (Uniretic)
Nadolol (Corgard)
Nortriptyline (Pamelor)
Perphenazine (Trilafon)
Pindolol (Visken)
Polythiazide (Renese)
Pravastatin (Pravachol, Apo-Pravastatin)
Prazosin and Polythiazide (Minozide)
Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
Promazine (Sparine)
Promethazine (Phenergan)
Propafenone (Trental)
Propranolol (Inderal)
Propranolol and Hydrochlorothiazide (Inderide)
Protriptyline (Vivactil, Triptil)
Quinethazone (Hydromox)
Repaglinide (Prandin, GlucoNorm)
Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
Simvastatin (Zocor, Apo-Simvastatin, Revastat, Simvacor, Lisac, Cardin)
Sotalol (Betapace, Alti-Sotalol)
Telmisartan and Hydrochlorothiazide (Micardis-HCT, Micardis Plus)
Thiethylperazine (Torecan)
Thioridazine (Mellaril, Apo-Thioridazine)
Timolol (Timoptic, Apo-Timol,
Tolazamide (Tolinase)
Tolbutamide (Apo-Tolbutamide, Diabetose)
Trichlormethiazide (Metahydrin, Naqua)
Trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide (Diovan HCT)

This completes the list of drug muggers, updated February 2010

If you think you are being mugged by one of these drugs, the best thing to do is to supplement with UBIQUINOL. A good place to start is with 100 mg per day. As far as I’m concerned, you could take 200 mg per day.  If you are taking CoQ10, you would take twice the amount, for example (and this is approximate):  
100 mg of CoQ10 is equivalent to 50 mg ubiquinol

I hope this big list helps you. Feel free to forward it to your loved ones, or to repost and credit me (hyperlink back).

Yours in Health,

Suzy

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  Any products mentioned or information within this column is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Dear Readers,

After I presented last year’s dumbest healthcare ‘awards,” I received your emails and chuckles for months afterwards.  Sometimes, ridiculous things happen in the medical industry, so at this time, I’d like to present my second annual ‘Dumb Awards’ in Medicine:

Dumb Award: The first ones goes to (drum roll please)… the Federal Communications Commission for allowing both pharmaceutical and fast-food commercials to blast our airwaves. Just chill out, squeeze some Cheez Whiz on your foot-long sub, and watch “The Simpsons.” During commercial breaks, all of the disorders that afflict your friends and relatives (not you) will become apparent. Watch TV with new eyes okay? You will first notice lots of junk food commercials -which promote disease- followed by drug commercials and attorneys offering their services to people injured by drugs.  Eventually, the news comes on so you can learn about the newest approved drug. Hysterical!

Dumber Award:   We have a tie between anti-depressant drugs and the doctors who prescribe them for every woman who is tired or tearful.  Of the various ‘happy’ chemicals naturally produced in our body, serotonin is the one most likely to be raised by anti-depressant drugs.  But research shows that depression may be caused by elevated stress hormones, low vitamin D levels, diabetes or insulin-resistance (diagnosed or not), low progesterone hormone, niacin or folate deficiency or exposure to plastics.  So what’s up with all the drugs? Their side effects are depressing if you think about it -problems achieving orgasm, low sex drive, insomnia, suicidal thoughts and heart palpitations.  Anti-depressant drugs don’t fix the underlying cause for neurotransmitter deficiencies and doctors should be conducting lab tests to determine the cause for emotional instability before prescribing pills and dismissing you.

Dumberest Award: Yes I spelled “dumberest” that way on purpose, and please throw confetti here… The Centers for Disease Control, who in September 2009, recommended that “All people with suspected or confirmed influenza who require hospitalization be treated with Tamiflu or Relenza.”  By December 2009, based on a number of scientific studies, scientists concluded that the benefits of this anti-viral treatment were grossly over-estimated, because it could only shorten the length of illness by approximately one day.  Whoop-dee-doo! Potential side effects include: Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, arrhythmias, nightmares, dizziness, headache, fatigue, delusions, hallucinations, altered level of consciousness, and seizures. Spare me.

Honorable Mention: To Kellogg’s for making packaging claims last May to the effect that Cocoa Krispies can boost your child’s immune system. They timed their campaign around the swine flu  outbreak so parents would know what to feed their kids (wink). I agree with Kellogg’s that increasing the amounts of vitamins in food can promote health, but even the FDA viewed the Kellogg’s claim as ridiculous and made them stop. What’s next, soda pop posed as healthier because it’s made with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup? Hurry, hurry, for a limited time you can now buy Pepsi-Cola Throwback.   Puhleeze!

1 small beet (washed, peeled and shredded)

Directions: Put the grated shredded beet on top of your green salad instead of carrots. Or into soups, or a few on top of your scrambled eggs.  Why not? It’s so easy you’ll wonder why you haven’t done this for years!  Keep them shredded and ready in a storage container so you can just use whenever you want them.

Suzy’s Craveable Beet Salad

3 medium sized beets (washed, peeled and chopped into bite-sized cubes)

2 cups fresh spinach leaves

1/4 cup coursely chopped walnuts

1 Tablespoon unheated oil (I use hemp seed or flax seed oil)

1 tablespoon vinegar (Balsamic or Apple Cider)

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Hemp seeds (hulled, you can buy them at any health food store)

Squeeze of lime or lemon

1/4 cup feta cheese (optional)

Directions:  Boil the chopped beets for about 15 – 20 minutes on medium-low heat.  They should be tender to but not squishy.   Toss in the spinach leaves for the last 3 to 5 minutes just to wilt.  Then, drain the water off (or save it for a base in which you can make soup in later).  Combine the cooked beets with all the ingredients and stir.  You can play with this recipe if you like fresh herbs and grow them or buy them.  In my home, we like  to add a few leaves of basil or dill… (or rosemary) whatever is in bloom or in the fridge

Christmas Slaw (Beet Cole Slaw)

5 or 6 medium sized beets (washed, peeled, shredded and cooked)

1/2 head of cabbage (I use Savoy)

1/4 cup oil (I use hemp seed, grape seed or pumpkin seed oil)

1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

Juice of half a lemon

About 1/2 tablespoon agave or honey (sorry, I never measure… this is to taste)

Grated fresh orange peel (about 1 teaspoon)

Sea salt & pepper to taste

2 Tablespoons Golden Raisins or ‘Craisins’ (optional)

Directions:  Cook the beets and cabbage slightly.  You can boil them for about 15 minutes, that’s easiest. You want them crisp tender, kind of like cole slaw or maybe just a little bit more tender than that. You can roast them too, but this adds more fat to the recipe because roasting requires that you drizzle the veggies with oil.  So I usually boil them for a bit. This works perfectly.  While the beets and cabbage are simmering, add all the other ingredients (except raisins) in a bowl and whisk vigorously or use a blender gently for a minute. Pour the dressing over the beets and mix well.  Add the raisins (or Craisins) if you like added sweetness.

Beet Juice

4 celery sticks

2 zucchini

1 apple

1 beet

1/2 inch ginger (optional)

Directions:  Juice together in your juicer or Vita-Mix. It will not taste as good in a blender because it gets gritty and chunky however some people like that for the fiber effect.  I use a Vita-Mix because I prefer it smooth.  The ginger will give it a lot of spice, so this is optional and recommended for people who have painful arthritis, knee pain or ailments involving the stomach (for which ginger is famous for).  You can adjust the veggies to your palate.

This bread is moist, delicious and best of all, extremely low in carbs. It is not made with wheat flour. It is made from almond flour.

Makes 1 loaf

Mix almond flour with sea salt, hemp seeds and baking soda. In another bowl whisk eggs with oil and add pumpkin, orange rind, pumpkin spice and walnuts. Combine almond flour with the egg mixture until it is smooth. Pour the dough into your prepared loaf tin and bake for 1 hour, until the top of the loaf feels firm. Remove from oven and cool. Serve with honey or fresh fruit spread. Yum

Drug Muggers:  How to Keep Your
Medicine from Stealing the Life Out of You !

Zinc is needed in order for you to see, to hear, to taste foods and to have sex. It’s important for growing hair and for staying fertile. Did you hear that? If you have fertility issues, this could be the supplement for you. You need zinc in order to make DNA, your genetic code.

There is also evidence to support zinc and it’s protective effect on the prostate. It helps prevent and relieve symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). Adult men need about 1/3 more zinc than adult women because it helps make testosterone. And sexually active men need a little more zinc than men who prefer to just watch TV. That’s because zinc camps out in the prostate and in fact, one article I read said that zinc is 100 times more concentrated in semen, than in a man’s bloodstream.

The ‘metal’ mineral zinc participates in many life-sustaining biochemical reactions in the body by sparking activity in about 100 enzymes. Everyone needs this antioxidant mineral for a strong healthy immune system and it helps to heal wounds quickly.  Zinc can help you if you are prone to digestive disorders. People with Celiac disease, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome are usually always deficient in zinc. Notice that acid blockers, once again, make it to another drug mugger list and zaps your zinc supply. How ironic! Yet you need zinc to help fend off infections of the gut and to maintain a healthy lining. Zinc helps kill bacteria and viruses, not only in the gut, but everywhere. Read More

Zinc is a well known immune protector, boosting activity of our T-lymphocytes, natural killer cells and interleukin. Without enough zinc, we will get frequent colds or infection.  This is a good reason to take zinc at the first sign of the sniffles.  It can attach to the cold-causing virus in the nose or the mouth, and zinc obliterates the virus before it can multiply more offspring.  This keeps you from getting a full-blown infection and may shorten your misery time for a cold by about 3 days.

Levels of this trace mineral decline as we age, and our soils have become depleted in many parts of the world adding to the growing problem of zinc deficiency. It’s actually quite common. In fact, elderly people are usually deficient, as are alcoholics, vegetarians, and those with kidney or liver disease. While researching this book, I learned how incredibly easy it is to lose zinc, a mineral that is rarely talked about and almost taken for granted. It’s lost through sweat and via the feces, urine, hair, skin, semen and menstruation. Liver and pancreatic disorders are associated with lower levels of zinc.

Since zinc is needed to make both insulin and thyroid hormone, a deficiency could lead to diabetes and hypothyroidism, respectively.  Zinc works in tandem with vitamin A, so a deficiency in one could result in a deficiency of the other.  Oftentimes, low zinc means low vitamin A and this explains why you could develop visual problems, macular degeneration, and ultimately blindness.

In summary, a zinc deficiency can have widespread effects all over the body, and may also cause hearing loss, prostate problems, sexual difficulties, frequent infections, poor vision, night blindness, white spots under the fingernails and muscle atrophy.

Learn More About Drug Muggers

Drug Muggers of Zinc

Acid blockers

Ranitidine (Zantac)

Cimetidine (Tagamet)

Nizatidine (Axid)

Famotidine (Pepcid and Pepcid Complete)

Omeprazole (Prilosec OTC)

Esomeprazole (Nexium)

Pantoprazole (Protonix)

Rabeprazole (Aciphex)

Antacids (Maalox, Amphogel, Gaviscon)

Benazepril (Lotensin)

Betamethasone (Diprolene, Luxiq)

Blood Pressure Meds of ACE Inhibitor class

Captopril (Capoten)

Enalapril (Vasotec)

Ethambutol (Myambutol)

Lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil)

Quinapril (Accupril)

Ramipril (Altace)

Trandolapril (Mavik)

Fosinopril (Monopril)

Budesonide (Rhinocort, Symbicort)

Bumetanide (Bumex)

Candesartan and HCTZ (Atacand HCT)

Chlorthalidone (Hygrotin)

Cholestyramine resin (Questran)

Coffee, Tea and Soda (Caffeine)

Dexamethasone (Decadron)

Enalapril and HCTZ (Vasotec HCT)

Enalapril and felodipine (Lexxel)

Estrogen-containing drugs (hormone replacement therapy and birth control)

Estrogen (conjugated) (Premarin, Prempro)

Estradiol (Estrace, Climara, Estraderm, Estring, Activella,

Femring, Combipatch. EstroGel, Menostar and many others)

Estradiol and testosterone (EstraTest, Depo Testadiol)

Ethinyl estradiol (found in many birth control pills)

Fibrate cholesterol medicine

Fenofibrate (TriCor)

Ezetimibe (Zetia)

Gemfibrozil (Lopid)

Clofibrate (Atromid S)

Flunisolide (Nasarel, Nasalide)

Fluticasone (Flonase)

Furosemide (Lasix)

HCTZ or hydrochlorothiazide (any drug containing this,

there are dozens)

Indapamide (Lozol)

Irbesartan and HCTZ (Avalide)

Levonorgestrel (in birth control & ‘morning after’ pill, Plan B)

Indapamide (Lozol)

Losartan and HCTZ (Hyzaar)

HIV drugs including abacavir, lamivudine, didanosine, zidovudine, delavirdine, stavudine

Hydralazine (Apresoline)

Moexipril (Univasc)

Norethindrone (found in many birth control pills)

Penicillamine

Steroids including prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, dexamethasone, etc.

Raloxifene (Evista)

Ranitidine (Zantac)

Thiazide diuretics (HC TZ, Zaroxolyn, chlorthalidone)

Torsemide (Demadex)

Triamterene/HCTZ (Maxzide, Dyazide, Dyrenium)

Valsartan and HCTZ (Diovan HCT)

Excessive calcium supplementation

Put This on Your Plate

Avoid a deadly drug interaction by learning if your medicine interacts with grapefruit.  There is a chart on page 272 listing
dozens of medications.  If you take these meds, you need toavoid grapefruit.

Love yogurt, but hate diary products?  I have the answer.
Find out about delicious yogurt loaded with healthy probiotics
and calcium.  It’s derived from coconut milk!  Page 159-160.

Do you grind your teeth?  I have a natural, safe option for you:
Rriboflavin!  Learn more about this on page 109.

Learn how to buy the right form of beta carotene, a form of
vitamin A.   Buy the wrong form, and you could increase your
risk for cancer.  (page 60)

The real story on how to lower your risk for heart attack for pennies a day using a natural nutrient that sustains life.  (Chapter 4)

People with diabetes can greatly benefit from this nutrient because it may prevent atherosclerosis and clogging of tiny arteries that lead to the kidneys and heart.  It costs $10 a month!  See page 103.

Want great sex?  It could be one supplement away.  Find out what natural over-the-counter nutrient sends blood flowing to all the good parts, including your heart!  See page 254.

Gluten-intolerant?  You may think you’re giving up delicious foods, but there are many alternatives for you.  Find out what grain is safe for you to eat, and an excellent source of vitamin E, calcium, iron and B vitamins. Page 268.

If you are tired, or have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, you could benefit from selenium.  This powerful mineral is a strong antioxidant and anti-cancer supplement but did you know that steroids, estrogen-containing drugs and diabetic medications can be rob you blind?  See Chapter 18.

Do you get frequent vaginal yeast infections or jock itch?  This simple nutrient will restore good health to the mucosal lining of these delicate tissues, lessening the frequency of these uncomfortable and annoying issues.  Page 94.

LEARN THE REASON BEHIND SOME NAGGING, PAINFUL PROBLEMS

If you’ve been suffering from pins and needle pain or numbness, you will find out what natural, inexpensive vitamin can put a stop to it.  (page 146)

People with a history of alcoholism need to take this nutrient, see page 107.

The rates of pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are increasing at an alarming rate.  Find out how to protect yourself from these conditions, and possibly even diabetes by improving gut health with one simple nutrient – a nutrient robbed by virtually all medications.  See page 95.

Want more passion in your pajamas?  Drinking this simple inexpensive tea each day can relieve prostate problems and erectile difficulties, without the dangerous side effects of prescribed sex pills.  Find out more on page 228.

Here’s a super easy way to make delicious soda naturally, without dangerous additives or artificial sweeteners.  Get my recipe on page 262.

Find out what natural nutrient works hard to improve thyroid hormone which in turn helps you burn fat and increase energy.  Page 109.

Are you considering putting your loved one in a nursing home due to dementia.  Don’t make a move until you find out how this B vitamin can restore memory, energy, mood and vitality.  Read more on page 147.

This and MUCH MUCH more in Suzy’s newest release, Drug Muggers:  How To Keep Your Medicine From Stealing the Life Out of You!

Learn More About Drug Muggers

If there is a super star in Big Pharma’s list of money making drugs, it may well be the group of medications known as statins. The New York Times reported last year that statins are, in fact, the biggest selling drugs in the world. Their names, like Lipitor and Crestor, are familiar from countless television and magazine ads and almost everyone knows someone taking a statin. Promoted widely as safe, they are actually known to cause a litany of potential side effects. For example, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) web site notes that about one in 1,000 of those taking statins suffer from muscle pain. Usually, these aches go away. But not always. And now new research shows that in some people statins cause serious structural damage to muscles.

The study, just published in CMAJ (the Canadian Medical Association Journal) suggests that patients who are taking statins and who complain to their doctors about muscle tenderness or pain could well be describing severe muscle problems due to the drugs. Although muscle damage is usually associated with elevated levels of an enzyme called creatine phosphokinase, the CMAJ research shows that’s not always the case. And it may take muscle biopsies to show that underlying structural injury has occurred.

The study was conducted by scientists from the University of Bern, Switzerland and the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. The research team investigated muscle biopsies from 83 patients. Twenty of these had never taken statins. The results showed significant muscle injury only in people who had taken statin drugs. Perhaps what was most surprising is that several people who were no longer taking statins were found to still have significant structural muscle damage.

“Although in clinical practice, the majority of patients with muscle symptoms improve rapidly after cessation of therapy, our findings support that a subgroup of patients appears to be more susceptible to statin-associated myotoxicity, suffering persistent structural injury,” Dr. Annette Draeger from the University of Bern and her coauthors wrote in the CMAJ article.

The study did not address whether statins might cause other significant body-wide damage. However, it is interesting to note that the very organ statins are supposed to protect, the heart, is a muscle. And that raises troublesome questions about possible long term, not-yet-known side effects statin drugs may have on the heart itself.

The researchers did note in a statement to the media that there is “a need to evaluate alternative treatment strategies for patients with significant muscle symptoms.” As Natural News readers are well aware, there are already well-known natural health strategies that lower cholesterol levels safely, without any possibility of muscle damage. For example, previous research has shown certain foods, including tofu, almonds, cereal fiber and plant sterols, can lower total cholesterol and LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, better than statins (http://www.naturalnews.com/008310.html). Weight loss, increased intake of Omega-3 fatty acids and exercise are also drug-free strategies that lower cholesterol safely (http://www.naturalnews.com/025715.html)/

www.naturalnews.com