Big Pharma spends millions advertising its heartburn drugs, urging people to pop them like candy. But a new landmark study in Germany shows that popular acid reflux pills may be associated with dementia.1
Researchers studied a class of drugs known as PPIs, or protein pump inhibitors. Brands include Prevacid, Nexium, and Prilosec.2
They examined the medical records of 73,000 elderly patients. Almost 3,000 of them were regular PPI users. The findings were shocking.
Those who regularly took PPIs were 44% more likely to develop dementia. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Neurology published the study.
Big Pharma’s Prescription for Dementia
But keeping Americans thinking they need PPIs is big business. Drug companies rake in a whopping $10 billion a year off these prescriptions. More than 15 million Americans use PPIs.3
And that doesn’t include sales of over-the-counter versions of the drugs.4
If you take PPIs, you can end your dependence on these dangerous drugs… And stop putting yourself at risk for Alzheimer’s.
First, talk to your doctor. Ask if you really need to be on PPIs. Discuss whether you can transition to less harmful alternatives. Antacids and H2 blockers are two heartburn treatments that don’t come with dire side effects. We don’t recommend you use them unless it’s to wean yourself off dangerous PPIs.
Antacids (like TUMS) contain calcium. This counteracts stomach acid.6
H2 blockers include Pepcid, Zantac, and Tagamet. They are effective at lowering stomach acid production and have fewer side effects than PPIs. But H2 blockers are not meant for long-term use. Use them only to wean yourself off PPIs. And then gradually stop taking H2 blockers as well.
Some people have had success with deglycyrrhizinated licorice root, or DGL. Taking two tablets 20 minutes before each meal works best. DGL is available in health food stores and online.8
Try to drink at least eight glasses of alkaline water per day. The higher pH neutralizes pepsin. This is the stomach enzyme that causes heartburn and esophageal damage.
We recommend Essentia. It’s a fluoride-free, 9.5 pH alkaline water in BPA-free bottles. You can find it at many grocery stores or online.9
Limiting the foods and drinks that trigger heartburn can go a long way to curing the problem. The worst offenders are:
- Soda
- Chocolate
- Fried Foods
- Citrus
- Ice Cream. Dairy and sugar content make it a top reflux trigger.10,11
Foods that fight acid reflux include bananas, melons, the occasional serving of brown rice, and ginger. Organic green vegetables are great, too.[xii]
PPIs are far from the only dangerous medications pushed by Big Pharma. We list others in our special report, The Top 10 Dangerous Pharmaceutical Drugs—And Their Natural Alternatives. It’s an important read for you and your family. There’s a good chance someone you love is endangering his or her life. And they may have no clue.
Get all the details HERE.
In Good Health,
Angela Salerno
Publisher, INH Health Watch
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References:
1http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-dementia-reflux-idUSKCN0VO27I
2https://chriskresser.com/fda-sounds-alarm-on-dangers-of-antacid-drugs/
3http://consumer.healthday.com/cognitive-health-information-26/alzheimer-s-news-20/could-widely-used-heartburn-drugs-raise-dementia-risk-708034.html
4http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/844317#vp_1
5http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=193721
6http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/20000823/antacids-with-calcium-are-fine-to-point
7http://www.aboutgerd.org/site/treatment/medications/h2
8http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/acid-reflux-natural-treatments/#take_licorice
9http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20443643,00.html
10http://www.refluxmd.com/acid-reflux-identifying-triggers-reflux-disease/
11Koufman, Jamie, Sonia Huang, and Philip Gelb. Dr. Koufman’s Acid Reflux Diet: 111 All New Reflux-friendly Recipes, including Vegan & Gluten-free. Katalitix Media, 2015. 50. Print.