How many medications are you taking? It seems that everyone is taking at least one type of medication after age 50. One of the biggest concerns that holistic nutritionists have for their clients is whether or not their clients are getting their RDA's of vitamins and minerals to perform all the processes our bodies perform each day! One thing that can hinder this is medication. Do you know what nutrients are depleted by the medications you are taking? Keep reading to find out what's being depleted and how you can ensure your body is getting everything it needs.

Heart Medications and Nutrient Depletion:

There are SO many different medications out there to ensure the heart is pumping healthfully. Here are a bunch of examples of nutrients your medications are depleting:

Cholesterol-Lowering drugs:

Statins: Lipitor, Pravachol, Zocor, Mevachor, Lescol

  • Deplete: Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin E

Bile Acid Sequestrants: Colestid, Prevalite, Questran

  • Deplete: Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Beta-carotene, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Folic Acid

Blood Pressure drugs:

ACE Inhibitors: Prinivil, Zestril, Vasotec, Captopril

  • Deplete: Zinc

Beta Blockers: Blocadren, Tenormin, Nadolol, Toprol, Inderal, Lopressor, Cartrol, Brevibloc, Sectral, Betapace, Corgard,

  • Deplete: Coenzyme Q10, Choline, Chromium, Vitamin B5

Calcium Channel Blockers: Cardizem, Norvasc, Procardia

  • Vitamin D may interfere with drug activity so be sure to take separately

Loop Diuretics: Demadex, Edecrin, Furosemide, Lasix

  • Deplete: Vitamin B1, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc

Potassium Sparing Diuretics: Aldactone, Dyrenium, Midamor

  • Deplete: Folic acid, Calcium

Thiazide Diuretics: Diucardin, Diuril, Enduron, Microzide, Hydrodiuril, Indapamide, Mykrox, Renese, Thalitone, Zaroxolyn

  • Deplete: Coenzyme Q10, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc

Blood Thinners:

Coumadin, Warfarin, Heparin, Lovenox, Normiflo, Orgaran

  • Deplete: Coenzyme Q10, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, Folic acid, Calcium

Vasodilators:

Hydralazine

  • Deplete: Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin B6

Glycosides: Lanoxin, Digoxin

  • Deplete: Vitamin B1, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Vitamin K

Other Medications/Over-The-Counter Medications and Nutrient Depletion:

Did you know that all those nutrients are depleted by taking the above medications? Maybe you aren't taking a medication for your heart. Maybe you're taking (or took in the past) one of these:

Antacids: Zantac, etc

  • Deplete: Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Phosphorus, Vitamin B12, Zinc, Magnesium

Antibiotics:

  • Deplete: B Complex Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Folic acid, Biotin, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, and "good bacteria"

Antihistamines:

  • Deplete: Vitamin C

Barbiturates:

  • Deplete: Vitamin C

Corticosteroids: Prednisone, etc

  • Deplete: Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Zinc

Estrogen Preparations:

  • Deplete: Folic acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Zinc

Laxatives:

  • Deplete: Potassium, Vitamin A, Vitamin K

Oral Contraceptives:

  • Deplete: B Complex Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E

Penicillin:

  • Deplete: Vitamin B3, Vitamin B6

Sulfa Drugs:

  • Deplete: Para-Aminobenzoic acid (PABA), "good bacteria"

Synthetic Neurotransmitters:

  • Deplete: Magnesium, Potassium, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6

Lifestyle Choices and Nutrient Depletion:

There is also the concern about the effects that some lifestyle choices have on our bodies:

Smoking cigarettes/tobacco:

  • Depletes: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E

Brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste:

  • Fluoride depletes: Vitamin C

Drinking coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks:

  • Depletes: Biotin, Inositol, Potassium, Vitamin B1, Zinc, Vitamin B12

Drinking carbonated soda:

  • Depletes: calcium. It actually robs calcium from the bones because of the excess amount of phosphates that are in carbonated sodas!

Drinking alcohol:

  • Depletes: B Complex Vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium

Stress:

  • Depletes: Vitamin C, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Magnesium, Zinc, Potassium

How to Treat Nutrient Depletion:

I'm sorry if at this point you're feeling a little overwhelmed but it's overwhelming to imagine how many people aren't even AWARE of the nutrients that are depleted while taking their meds. Awareness is key and the first step we need to take together. The next step is getting in touch with someone who is qualified to make dietary suggestions, provide you with healthy recipes rich in the nutrients that might be lacking, and recommend top-quality supplementation. The Naked Label is a great place to begin this process. Click Here to find a nutritionist near you and begin the process.

If you found this article helpful, leave a comment below or spread the awareness to your friends, family and coworkers using the Facebook and Twitter links below. We can't address this until we're aware of the nutrient depletions that medications have on our bodies. Help me spread the word!

Source:

Balch, Phyllis. 2010. Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Fifth Edition. Penguin Books Ltd: London, England. Page 336