I received the following in a newsletter\/advertorial from Sherry Brescia.<\/p>\n
When it comes to heartburn, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)\u2014such as Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid\u2014are the #1 most prescribed treatment.<\/p>\n
Since their initial arrival on the US drug market back in 1989, PPIs have been hailed as \u201can invaluable, safe, and effective agent for the management of a variety of acid-related disorders.\u201d<\/p>\n
Um, I beg to differ.<\/p>\n
First of all, PPIs \u201cwork\u201d (and I use that term loosely) by raising your stomach\u2019s pH and shutting down its acid production. With less acid in the stomach to shoot up into your throat, you may feel relief from heartburn.<\/p>\n
But alas, when you play games with Mother Nature (in this case, by impairing one of your body\u2019s innate processes), you are opening yourself up to a plethora of potential problems, including increasing your risk of death.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what I mean:<\/p>\n
The five ways PPIs can kill you
\nCrippling your stomach\u2019s ability to produce acid like it was designed to can have these deadly consequences:<\/p>\n
1- Chronic kidney disease
\nPPIs can cause kidney inflammation (called acute interstitial nephritis) which can progress to chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease and ultimately kidney failure.<\/p>\n
2- Heart attack
\nIn addition to reducing acid in your stomach, PPIs also reduce the acid activity of lysosomes\u2014cells that breakdown proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids. They also impact cellular functions, including those related to blood clotting. And they damage the inner lining of your arteries.<\/p>\n
All of which raises your risk of heart attack.<\/p>\n
3- Weakened immune function
\nPPIs cause poor digestion (because stomach acid is needed to properly digest proteins\u2014imagine that!), which leads to imbalances in your gut microbiome.<\/p>\n
Since your gut houses 80 percent of your immune system, unhealthy changes in the makeup of the microbiome can lead to weakened immune function.<\/p>\n
Your immune system not only protects you against bugs and viruses, but also deadly diseases like cancer!<\/p>\n
4- Dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s
\nIn the course of thwarting your digestion and absoprtion of nutrients, PPIs also increase your risk of dementia and Alzhemier\u2019s due to reduced absorption of essential brain nutrients (especially Vitamin B12).
\nIn addtion, PPIs have been shown in studies to increase the brain\u2019s concentration of amyloid-beta\u2014an amino acid that is the main component of the characteristic amyloid \u201cplaques\u201d found in the brains of Alzheimer\u2019s sufferers.<\/p>\n
5- Overall death risk
\nA study conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine and published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) showed that long-term use of PPIs increases overall death risk by a whopping 50 percent.<\/p>\n
And there\u2019s even more!
\nOver and above the ways PPIs can flat-out kill you, they also:<\/p>\n
Cause gas, bloating and constipation (because of ruined digestion)
\nIncrease your risk of fractures (due to reduced absorption of bone-strengthening vitamins and minerals)
\nLead to low energy levels and metabolism (a result of impaired Vitamin B12 absorption)
\nMake you more susceptible to food poisoning and food-borne illnesses (since stomach acid kills many dangerous microbes in your food)
\nAnd they increase your risk of COVID too! Researchers have observed that people taking PPIs twice a day were found to be nearly four times more likely to contract the \u2018Rona.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I received the following in a newsletter\/advertorial from Sherry Brescia. When it comes to heartburn, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)\u2014such as Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid\u2014are the #1 most prescribed treatment. Since their initial arrival on the US drug market back in 1989, PPIs have been hailed as \u201can invaluable, safe, and effective agent for the management … <\/p>\n