The pharmaceutical giant is facing a lawsuit from a kidney transplant patient claiming that they allegedly failed to warn the public about the potential for the (cash cow) proton pump inhibitor Nexium® to cause kidney problems, including renal failure.
Recent studies, including one published in the highly regarded journal JAMA Internal Medicine, have shown that PPI users are 20-50 percent more likely to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Although CKD can be treated with medications that can help slow the progression of the disease, eventually the kidneys can stop working - resulting in kidney failure, dialysis, transplant or death.
I predict this is just the tip of the iceberg, and a lot more people are going to start putting two and two together.
Sad but not a surprise
I’m sorry if I sound cynical, but what do you expect?
When someone takes a medication that incapacitates one of their body’s natural processes—in this case, the stomach’s production of acid—there is most assuredly going to be a price to pay.
How could there NOT be?
Nothing the body does is “by accident” and using chemicals to disable one of its functions is rolling out the red carpet for disease.
Right from square one PPIs destroy digestion because acid happens to be necessary to break down proteins. This can lead to gas, bloating, constipation and reduced nutrient absorption.
From there you run the risk of deficiency diseases like osteoporosis and have an increased risk of fractures (a well-known consequence of PPI use).
But why the kidneys?
PPIs have been shown to cause arterial damage. When they affect the arteries servicing the heart, you have an increased risk of heart attack (which is also one of the documented dangers of PPI use).
Well, if the arteries servicing the kidneys are affected, guess what—kidney disease may become your companion.
Plus another contributing factor lies in the poor digestion precipitated by PPIs. When your digestion isn’t accomplished like it’s supposed to be, that can lead to excess wastes and toxins building up in your system.
Since your kidneys help filter toxins out of your bloodstream and eliminate them, they get an additional workload the poorer your digestion is and the more toxic you are.
Fix the problem!
If you suffer from heartburn (AKA acid reflux), instead of merely playing Russian roulette and hoping your number doesn’t come up in the deadly side effects lottery, doesn’t it make sense to help fix the underlying problem?
Poor digestion!
Here’s how you can naturally help your body carry out digestion the way it’s supposed to!
Use the power of food
Stick to real foods—meats, poultry, fish, fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, healthy fats and whole grains—and stay away from fast food, processed foods, and soda. Junk foods stress your system, make you toxic and sap your nutrients.
Avoid pairing animal proteins and starches together in the same meal. This combination is VERY difficult for the stomach to break down and is a leading factor behind our astronomical rates of acid reflux. Instead, pair meats OR starches with vegetables in a meal—I bet you’ll see a world of difference.
Use the power of enzymes
Many people have depleted their body’s enzyme resources, and if you don’t have the enzymes for the job, you can count on digestive problems—it’s a given.
This is especially true if you’re a junk food junkie, use acid reducers like Nexium® (yet another consequence of these poisons!) have had gastric surgery or are elderly.
People who are enzyme challenged have gotten tremendous relief from digestive issues by simply giving their body a little boost with a digestive enzyme formula.
Digestive enzyme supplements work alongside your body’s own enzyme resources to help make sure all of your foods are broken down like they need to be—so you get the benefit of those precious nutrients and can say goodbye to the agony of gut issues!
Work with your body—not against it
When you work with your body to help it accomplish that which Nature intended it to—instead of suppressing one its functions—a whole new world of feeling better can open up for you fast.
Embrace the power of sound digestion and all that it can do for you.
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
