Research: Prescription Drugs Could Be Leaching You of Nutrients

On Tuesday, dietary supplement manufacturer Pharmavite announced that while over 50% of all Americans take prescription drugs, most of them remain unaware that they could have reduced levels of certain nutrients as a result, including CoQ10, vitamins C and D, calcium, magnesium, iron, and the B vitamins.

Many medical studies have concluded that those who take powerful pharmaceuticals to treat such things as high cholesterol, heartburn, acid reflux, depression, arthritis, and diabetes are at a high risk of lacking essential and vital nutrients that the body and brain need for optimal health.

"In addition to a balanced diet and regular exercise, people should be attuned to their nutritional status when taking prescription medications and use dietary supplements to ensure adequate nutrient levels," said Alan Agins, Ph.D., President of PRN Associates, Ltd, Pharmavite's parent company.

Studies conducted over recent years have concluded that the average American is taking an average of an astounding 10 prescription drugs, which lends credence to the often-voiced criticism of our society that we are over-medicating ourselves and, in turn, dramatically driving up our own healthcare costs even as we let our health deteriorate because we vainly imagine that "popping a pill" will "cure" us.

Powerful pharmaceuticals, known for their menus of possible side effects, can have the effect of either leaching nutrients from the body, which are removed from the bloodstream when one goes to the bathroom, or interfering with the cells' uptake of needed vitamins and minerals.

These drugs are designed with an active ingredient to target one specific condition or malady, and because of this they can thwart the holism that many medical experts agree is necessary for adequate health and medical treatment.

One of the most notorious problems with prescription drugs is that with continued use, the body builds up a resistance to them, so that typically more and more of the drug is needed to achieve the desired effect. For this reason, health experts say that in order to avoid becoming addicted or having even more nutrient-leaching take place, a person on a medication should also be on a program of diet or exercise that will allow them to eventually do away with their need for the drug.

As prescription drug use has become ever more prevalent in our society, nutritionists have become more vocal in their efforts to get people to adopt lifestyles and eating habits that serve as preventive measures against the need for so many pharmaceuticals.

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