HRT Causes Nutrient Loss – Learn The Supplements to Add To Your Diet

Posted by Cathy on

I am blessed with an outstanding community in Los Angeles of Alternative Medicine and Natural Medicine doctors.  One great pioneer in the field is Dr. Hyla Cass.  We meet once a month, along with other movers and shakers in the Alternative Medicine Community to learn from each other, network and enjoy a wonderful meal.  

I wanted to re-post some excerpts from one of Dr. Cass’s recent articles.  This information is so critical and yet left unsaid by most doctors that prescribe the drugs.  

If you or someone you know is taking Hormone Replacement Therapy, please read Dr. Cass’s vitamin supplement suggestions.  I’m not sure why they won’t just call a spade a spade, HRT is Artificial Estrogen Replacement. HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy does sound much more benign and certainly less scary.

If you suffer from menopause hot flashes and night sweats  we understand you may be suffering for years and dealing with the menopause symptoms can make life unbearable.  There are other options and ones that work.  We understand herbs can be a little scary too.  The real difference with Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbs for menopause is the hundreds of years of continual use throughout Asia.  You can read more about our Menopause Relief Herb Pack if you would like to learn more… otherwise, please take Hyla’s suggestions to heart and add some supplements if you absolutely must use HRT for your menopause hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings and other symptoms.

By Hyla Cass, M.D.

A little known, but potentially life-saving fact is that common medications deplete your body of a host of vital nutrients essential to your health. In this practical guide I’ll show you how to avoid drug-induced nutrient depletion and discuss options for replacing nutrient-robbing medications with natural supplements.

America has been called a pill-popping society, and the statistics bear this out. Nearly 50 percent of all American adults regularly take at least one prescription drug, and 20 percent take three or more. (1) Our increasing reliance on prescription medications has contributed to the growing problem with nutrient depletion. The truth is that every medication, including over-the-counter drugs, depletes your body of specific, vital nutrients. This is especially concerning when you consider that most Americans are already suffering from nutrient depletion. Additionally, many of the conditions physicians see in their everyday practice may actually be related to nutrient depletion. The good news is that, armed with information and the right supplements, you can avoid the side effects of nutrient depletion, and even better, you may be able to control and prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

A Common Scenario

I have seen case after case of patients who have experienced nutrient loss from taking prescribed medications. Too often, neither the patients nor their doctors are aware that the medications are the real cause of their symptoms.

Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion is Widespread

Physicians often tell their patients that symptoms arising from nutrient depletion are simply “part of the illness” or just signs that they’re “getting older.” To make matters worse, physicians frequently try to address the symptoms arising from drug-induced nutrient depletion by prescribing even more drugs, further compounding the problem.

On the flip side, some drugs can deplete nutritional status by increasing the desire for unhealthy foods, such as refined carbohydrates. Many of the neuroleptics (anti-psychotic drugs) and some antidepressants cause insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, with results in blood sugar swings. Patients then crave simple carbohydrates, such as sugar, bread and pasta. Steroid drugs, including those given by an inhaler, can create similar issues as well.

HRT is a Common Nutrient Robbers

Nutrients are essential to the metabolic activities of every cell in the body. They’re used up in the process and need to be replaced by new nutrients in food or supplements. Some drugs deplete nutrients by speeding up this metabolic rate. These drugs include antibiotics (including penicillin and gentamicin) and steroids, such as prednisone, and the gout medication, colchicine.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Many baby boomers are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can deplete vitamins B6 and B12, folic acid and magnesium. These nutrients are critical for heart health, as well as for mood. Rather than an antidepressant prescription, these women should be given the appropriate supplements to restore balance. I have seen many women do well once these nutrient depletions were addressed.  This applies to younger women on oral contraceptives as well.  (Well said Dr. Cass, I couldn’t agree more.)

For women on standard HRT (estrogen and progesterone, orally, including as an oral contraceptive, or as a transdermal skin cream) I may also recommend calcium (1,000 mg to 1,200 mg daily), folic acid (400 mcg to 800 mcg), magnesium (500 mg), vitamin B2 (25 mg), vitamin B6 (50 mg), vitamin B12 (500 mcg to 1,000 mcg), vitamin C (500 mg to 1000 mg) and zinc (25 mg to 50 mg).   

Summary

Drug-induced nutrient depletion is far more common than has been acknowledged. In evaluating patients’ symptoms, doctors must assess whether symptoms are due to the illness, to the side effects of the drugs, or to drug-induced nutrient depletion. Considering the inadequate nutritional status of the majority of the population, we must remember that the illness itself may be due, in part, to nutrient deficiency. For insurance, it is easiest to provide baseline coverage: a daily high potency multivitamin mineral formula, CoQ10 (200 mg), omega-3 fatty acids (2 grams) and additional vitamin D and probiotics.

The bottom line: Physicians must look more deeply and determine underlying causes to determine whether drugs are harming patients – and what we can do to reverse these effects. As a consumer, be aware of these drug-nutrient depletions, and do what you can to avoid taking medications whenever you can, using natural products instead.

For more information, see my book, Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About Nutrition [http://www.cassmd.com/SuppYourPrescrpBk/SupYourPrescp_bk.html] available at my website, www.cassmd.com.

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