HAVING A DRINK WITH DINNER We know that red wine contains heart-healthy nutrients such as resveratrol. This is a strong, helpful antioxidant that sweeps away damaged cells. Because of several pos itive studies regarding red wine, many peop have a glass at dinner each night. But did yo know that it can mug your body of vital nutri that affect stomach and liver health? True, y heart may benefit from red wine, but at the p your gut. You could get the same benefits fro (without fear of liver damage), in case I coul But if not, that’s OK. If you like to drink (anyt please take care of your liver, stomach and c B-complex, vitamin C, trace minerals and he buy all these for under $30 a month—aren’t - le u ents our rice of m grape juice d interest you in that. hing alcoholic), then olon. Replenish with some althy probiotics. You can you worth it?
What you’re eating can
affect your meds too.
•Salads and leafy greens
may reduce the effective-
ness of anticoagulants.
•Cruciferous veggies and
soy/tofu can interfere with
thyroid medications, and
reduce thyroid hormone.
•Calcium-rich dairy foods
can reduce the absorption
of many bone-building
medications.
•Tyramine-rich foods (e.g.,
salami and aged cheese)
may dangerously spike
blood pressure and head-
aches when combined with
MAO-type antidepressants.
•Grapefruit juice can
increase side effects
from calcium channel
blockers, antihistamines,
statins and sedatives.
anti-inflammatory effect on the body,
and in time, they may be used for
other indications. Many patients
start out gung-ho on these drugs
with a renewed commitment to get
healthier. But within a few months,
side effects such as muscle aches,
fatigue, leg cramps, shortness of
breath, heaviness in the arms or
legs, and memory loss may occur.
This happens in part because statin
drugs deplete CoQ10, a nutrient you
need to keep your muscles healthy
and strong. When you run out of
CoQ10, these and other side effects
make you feel like throwing your
statin out. But you may not have to.
Many readers of my syndicated
column, “Dear Pharmacist,” have
emailed me to say “Thanks!” So just
give me two weeks—try the CoQ10,
I think you’ll see a big difference.
Stay on it for as long as you take your
medication, and beyond. This nutrient
is really good for your heart anyway,
plus it raises your energy and it
improves liver health.
THE QUICK FIX
❚ CoQ10: 100 mg daily
Hormone-Replacement Therapy
Women use these medications ( Prem-pro, Premarin, Climara, Vivelle Dot, Ogen, FemHRT and others) to control those power surges around menopause, and they certainly do their part to take the “hot” out of hot flashes. Synthetic hormones seek to correct a deficiency of estrogen hormone, but they seem to cause more nutrient depletions than they correct. They slowly wipe out a woman’s stash of vitamin C, many B vitamins and key minerals, making you more susceptible to developing such problems as low thyroid, heart disease, depression and memory loss. I think that replenishing your lost nutrients allows you to get the most out of your medicine and offset some of these risks.
THE QUICK FIX
❚ SAMe: 200 to 400 mg once or twice daily (avoid in bipolar disease)
References:
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