Bottom Line's Daily Health News------------------------------MAALOX MOMENT? MAYBE NOTTurning on the television or reading the newspaper is becoming anexercise in anxiety. If it's not terrorism, it's the latest health crisisor the struggling economy. All this stress is sending lots of us to ourmedicine chests to calm our nervous stomachs. And what do we usuallyreach for? That old standby -- an over-the-counter (OTC) antacid.Advertising claims would lead you to believe that any OTC antacid,such as Tums, Rolaids, Maalox or Pepcid, is harmless enough. Littledid you know that taking an antacid actually can make your stomachproblems worse. Stomach Acid: "A Good Thing"You may be surprised to learn that Daily Health News ContributingEditor Andrew Rubman, ND, describes stomach acid as a good thing.Proper digestion takes place as a series of functions, all of whichdepend on the presence of adequate stomach acid while you are eating.When you take OTC antacids -- or even worse, the "more effective"prescription variety -- you're cutting down or even eliminating theacid you need at mealtimes. Without it, your stomach can't adequatelybreak down food into its nutrient components. What's more, as wedescribed in the May 26 issue of Daily Health News, inadequatedigestion of proteins encourages the liver to increase production ofLDL cholesterol -- the kind of cholesterol that does the most damageto your body.An all-too-common result of taking OTC antacids on a regular dailybasis is an increase in cholesterol, which is then often treated withyet another drug to lower cholesterol levels. Not a roller coasterride you want to be on.Go with the FlowIf you stop taking antacids as a favor to your liver, what do you doabout your sour stomach?"Prevent it in the first place," says Dr. Rubman. Make sure you haveadequate acid in your stomach during mealtimes, when you need it, andless stomach acid when you don't need it. "What we call excess stomachacid," he explains, "is what we should call inappropriate stomachacid. "To make sure your stomach has sufficient acid at mealtimes, Dr.Rubman advises against "grazing" -- snacking on food -- throughoutthe day. Snacking signals the stomach to pump acid rather than savingit for mealtimes.In addition...Always chew your food thoroughly. Introducing saliva into the food asyou chew will get the digestion process off to a good start.Don't drink very much liquid while eating a meal. Dr. Rubman says morethan a few sips of fluid will dilute the acid in the stomach. Also tryto limit fluids for 30 minutes before you eat and for an hourafterward. His general rule: One fluid ounce of water for every twoounces by weight of solid food.To avoid acid overproduction, Dr. Rubman also advises a few changes ineating habits...Don't overeat. Leave that extra little bit of room for dessert, andthen skip it.Eliminate from your diet foods that have refined sugars, such asdesserts. Sugars tend to destabilize the stomach, decreasingefficiency of digestion and nutritional value and creating gas.Avoid caffeine and fried foods. Caffeine stops starch digestion andcan impair acid production with meals. Fried foods creategastrointestinal inflammation and speed the aging process.Between-Meal DefensesIf you still suffer from a sour stomach between meals, put somethingin it that will quiet it without triggering more acid production. Dr.Rubman has several suggestions..."A time-tested remedy, believe it or not, is sauerkraut," he says. InEurope, you can even buy sauerkraut juice for just that purpose. Fiveor 10 minutes after consuming sauerkraut, your stomach will relax andyou'll feel great. Sounds weird, but in fact, the enzymes releasedduring the fermentation of the cabbage as it turns into sauerkrautactually help break down and neutralize the inflammatory componentsof a sour stomach.Should sauerkraut not be for you, some herbal products soothe andnormalize the stomach without suppressing acid production. Dr. Rubmanrecommends gentian, an herb that comes in tinctures, capsules andfluid extracts. "Usually using eight to 10 drops in a little bit ofwater will do the job," he says. Use this as needed rather thanprophylactically.Glyconda, a traditional herbal combination that includes turkeyrhubarb root, cinnamon and goldenseal, is another old-fashionedremedy, one that grandmothers in Italy have been giving theirfamilies for years. Dissolve 10 to 20 drops in two ounces of warm teaor water, and drink before a meal.Other products that address the problem...* Gastri-Gest, a combination of plant-derived enzymes taken as needed as an antacid substitute. Available from Priority One (800-443-2039).* Compound Herbal Elixir, a botanical mixture that can be used as needed as a "tummy tonic." Available from Eclectic Institute (800-332-4372, www.eclecticherb.com).Both of these products also are available at quality health-food stores.When Problems Don't ResolveOccasionally, a more severe stomach problem causes between-meal acidproduction. "This occurs when something in the stomach liningstimulates it in the same way that food does," explains Dr. Rubman.Typically, the cause is a yeast organism or something similar. Often,the culprit is the same creature found in vaginal or oral thrush. Youcan avoid it by following the above steps to maintain adequate stomachacid levels during meals.Caution: Anyone with gastritis that persists for more than 10 days orrecurs more than once a month should be tested for the bacteriumHelicobacter pylori.It also might be an ulcer, which would require special treatment."Having a gastric or duodenal ulcer is one of the few problems thatcall for prescription antacids to suppress stomach-acid productionwhile the lesion heals properly," says Dr. Rubman. If your problemdoes not respond to the natural remedies above within a few days, seeyour health-care provider to rule out a more serious condition.When it comes to acid indigestion, don't let the cure be worse thanthe disease. Healthy eating habits and a strategy to work with thebody's natural digestive function will go a long way in calming thatgrumbling pain.------------------------------------------------------------------------
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FOREVER YOUNG?Antioxidants are very much the rage these days, touted aspreventatives and treatments for everything from aging to cancer.Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q) is a natural antioxidant -- a substance thatdestroys certain harmful molecules in the body -- and a criticalplayer in our internal energy-producing processes. Co-Q may sound verybeneficial, but do we really need to take Co-Q supplements on a regularbasis?Co-Q is a vitamin-like substance that is present throughout the body,especially in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas. It is needed forcell growth and maintenance. We acquire some of it through food --especially organ meats, mackerel, peanuts, sardines and soy oil. Ourbodies also synthesize it.Co-Q levels decline with age -- which has led to speculation that Co-Qsupplements might help increase longevity.Alas, research has shown just the opposite, albeit in lowly worms.Scientists often use worms to study aging because some kinds have alife span of only a few weeks. In a recent experiment, worms that werenot able to make their own Co-Q (because of a genetic deficiency)lived 60% longer when Co-Q was not added to their diet.Granted, human and worm physiologies are very different -- but there isno evidence that an increased level of Co-Q increases lifespan orprevents illness.That said, Co-Q does have clear benefits for people who already havecertain medical problems. Other research -- this time using people, notworms -- indicates that Co-Q supplements may improve heart function inpatients with congestive heart failure. Supplements also can protectcancer patients against the toxic effects that certain chemotherapydrugs have on the heart -- but they may be harmful to patientsreceiving radiation therapy.Good news: A small study, done just last fall by Clifford Shults, MD,associate professor of neuroscience, University of California, SanDiego School of Medicine, showed that Co-Q supplements slowed theprogression of Parkinson's disease in early stage patients.If you have any of these conditions, talk with your health-careprovider about using Co-Q in addition to any prescription drugs thatyou may be taking. Co-Q is available over the counter as tablets,powder-filled capsules and oil-based "gelcaps." It causes minimalside effects -- occasional diarrhea and other gastrointestinal upsets-- and no known toxicity.Although Co-Q may play a role in treating certain conditions, eatingright and exercising regularly remain key to long-term health. Nowthat summer is nearly here, feast on fresh produce -- plumpstrawberries, juicy watermelon slices, leafy green vegetables. Enjoytennis, swimming and other outdoor activities. Such seasonalpleasures invigorate body and soul far more than any dietarysupplement ever will.Be well,Carole JacksonBottom Line's Daily Health News------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sources:* Andrew L. Rubman, ND, associate professor of clinical medicine, College of Naturopathic Medicine, University of Bridgeport, and medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, both in Connecticut.* BC Cancer Agency, Provincial Health Services Authority, British Columbia, www.bccancer.ca* International Coenzyme Q10 Association, wwwcsi.unian.it/coenzymeQ Pamela L. Larsen, PhD, senior scholar on aging, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, and author of a Science study on coenzyme Q10 and worm longevity.* National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/cam/coenzymeQ10* Clifford Shults, MD, associate professor of neuroscience, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, and author of an Archives of Neurology study of coenzyme Q10 and Parkinson's disease.