Cranberry Juice With Acid-Reducing Drugs – Reduce Nutrient Depletion From GERD and Heartburn Drugs

Cranberry juice is known to help reduce the frequency and/or severity of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other urinary disorders, including kidney stones. One of the main causes of urinary tract infections is the presence of the bacteria E.coli which adheres to the cell walls of the bladder and urinary tract, causing infection. Cranberry juice prevents bacteria from sticking to the walls, reducing the likelihood of an infection resulting. It also increases the pH of urine; bacteria that cause urinary tract infections have a hard time growing in an acidic environment.

E.coli is often in the news as being the contaminant of recalled foods, or found in lakes or other bodies of water where it is suggested that people avoid swimming. E.coli is a natural “component” in human-mammalian feces/feces as well. E.coli helps foods break down to release their nutrients for use. It also makes vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting. Without E.coli in the intestines, a person would bleed to death because vitamin K is needed to make blood clotting factors.

E.coli bacteria become a problem when there are too many of them, or if they are in places outside of the intestines and colon. Therefore, foods consumed that are contaminated with E.coli causes the disease. Often the E.coli that enters the urinary tract comes from the feces of the person who develops the UTI.

In addition to being effective against E.colithis remarkable juice has also been found to inhibit the growth of molds and yeasts, which can also cause bladder infections.

Cranberry juice has also been shown to be a powerful antioxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory agent. Due to its high mineral and vitamin content, it has been used many times to treat asthma and other respiratory conditions, cancer, various inflammatory conditions and even to protect the skin from radiation damage. UV (ultraviolet) and the sun (Cohen, 2011).

But recently (Cohen, 2011), it was discovered that cranberry juice would reduce the amount of nutrient depletion caused by acid-reducing drugs H2 Blockers and proton pump inhibitors:

>cimetidine (Tagamet®)

>esomeprazole (Nexium®)

>famotidine (Pepcid®)

>lansoprazole (Prevacid®)

>nizatidine (Axid®)

>omeprazole (Prilosec®)

> pantoprazole (Protonix®)

>rabeprazole (Aciphex®)

> ranitidine (Zantac®)

H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are often prescribed for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), heartburn, sour stomach, and virtually any other symptom that affects the stomach, including nausea. It has also been prescribed for heart palpitations when no cardiac pathology has been found.

In 2010, the drug esomeprazole (Nexium®) was the second most prescribed drug in the United States (and the number one for revenue for all drugs prescribed in the same year) – 25,872 prescriptions were written for this GERD drug alone . The cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor® was number 1 with 37,523 prescriptions (Drugs, 2011).

Drug depletion of nutrients

All drugs deplete vital nutrients from the body, although no drug depletes them all. Depletion occurs either because the medical drug binds to the nutrient and then they are both flushed together, or by a secondary action – the drug interferes with the absorption of the nutrient, so the body’s stores are not revitalized, thus causing a deficiency when nutrients are used up without being replaced in the diet or by supplementation.

Since H2 blockers and PPIs work in the stomach to reduce acid production, most nutrients in the diet are not processed as they should, so they are not absorbed by the body for be used.

H2 blockers and PPIs interfere with the absorption of most water-soluble vitamins (B vitamins, vitamin C, etc.) as well as minerals that require a high level of stomach acid to convert them to a usable form (like potassium, magnesium and calcium).

How can cranberry juice help prevent nutrient depletion by these drugs?

Cranberry is an acidic substance. Drinking cranberry juice with meals helps absorb nutrients that would otherwise be blocked by medication. Cranberries are also a rich source of many nutrients, especially those blocked by H2 blockers and PPIs, as well as quercetin which helps reduce inflammation; A common side effect of acid-blocking drugs is inflammation of the stomach lining.

Security Note

The cranberry is in the Ericaceae botanical family. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to any other member of this family, you might also have a reaction to cranberries. Other medicinal members are bearberry, bilberry, bilberry, mayflower, uva ursi, and wintergreen.

Do not eat or drink cranberries if you are sensitive to any member of this family.

The references

Cohen, Suzy (2011). Drug abusers: what drugs are depriving your body of essential nutrients and natural ways to restore them. Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale.

Drugs.com (2011). “2010 Pharmaceutical Sales” at http://www.drugs.com/top200_units.html.

Best wishes,

Dr. Ronda Behnke Theys ND, CHom

Homeopathic Centers of America

Disclaimer: The information provided by Dr. Ronda Behnke Theys is for educational purposes only. It is important that you do not make health decisions or stop taking any medications without first consulting your personal physician or health care provider.