LAXATIVES & ANTACIDS - Formula 105
If you’re like most people, when you have an upset stomach you automatically reach for an antacid or a laxative, depending on the problem. And it makes sense, as most cases of simple digestive upset are caused by either excess stomach acid or a slowdown in the passage of food through the gastrointestinal tract.
Your digestive tract is basically just a big tube, about 30 feet in length, that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus. Yet it’s charged with the seemingly impossible task of turning a double-decker hamburger and fries into fuel that the body’s cells can use, then whisking away what’s not used. Every day, your digestive tract must handle some three gallons of food, liquid and digestive juices, and provide your body with a continuous supply of water.
So it’s not to surprising that if you eat too much, eat too quickly, or indulge in foods that just “don’t agree with you,” your digestive system can rebel. That’s when you find yourself suffering from indigestion, the feeling of being overly full, gaseous, bloated or nauseous. You may feel the need to belch or even vomit.
In the case of acid indigestion, the most common cause of indigestion, your stomach gets upset because it’s overproducing stomach acid. While stomach acid is absolutely necessary in order to break down food, an excess amount can irritate the lining of your stomach or upper part of your small intestine, and even cause ulcers. Fortunately, most cases of acid indigestion are quelled by taking over-the-counter or prescription medications containing aluminum which neutralize excess stomach acid. Examples include aluminum hydroxide (Alu-Tab), aluminum hydroxide plus magnesium carbonate (Gaviscon Liquid) and aluminum hydroxide plus magnesium hydroxide (Maalox).
Another very common digestive problem is constipation, a decrease in the frequency of bowel movements accompanied by a stool that is hard, dry and difficult to pass. Just about everyone suffers from constipation now and again, especially pregnant women, older people, and those who have recently had surgery. But that doesn’t make it any easier to take!
Constipation occurs when your food moves too slowly through your large intestine. Within your large intestine, a certain amount of water is reabsorbed from your food and sent back into circulation. But if your food lingers in the large intestine, too much water can be reabsorbed, drying out the intestinal contents and producing a stool that’s dry and hard to eliminate.
Constipation can usually be relieved by consuming more dietary fiber and water, and stepping up your exercise. But many people like to use laxatives because of their quick action. A variety of laxatives are available, including stool softeners such as docusate (Colace), which pull water into the stool making it softer and easier to pass; bulk-forming laxatives such as psyllium (Metamucil), which attract water into the intestine, softening the stool, and fiber to bulk it up; stimulant laxatives such as bisacodyl (Correctol), which stimulate contractions in the large intestine by irritating intestinal walls; and lubricants such as mineral oil to coat the walls of the intestines and the stool to ease its passage.
Nutrients Depleted
Gaviscon Liquid, Alu-Tab, Maalox, and other aluminum antacids can rob your body of calcium, folic acid, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin D, zinc and other nutrients. Correctol can deplete you of calcium and potassium, while mineral oil can deplete you of vitamins A, D, E and potassium.
Symptoms of Nutrient Depletion
It may be difficult to tell if you run short of the nutrients depleted by medicines for excess acid and constipation, for the symptoms are often subtle and can be confused with other problems. These symptoms include:
- Calcium – osteoporosis, muscle cramps
- Folic acid – fatigue, weakness, irritability, diarrhea, fetal abnormalities
- Magnesium – irregular heartbeat, confusion, fatigue, personality changes
- Potassium – irregular heartbeat, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, cardiac arrest
- Vitamin A – night blindness, poor bone and tooth formation, weakening of the immune system
- Vitamin B12 – weakness, fatigue, sore tongue, depression, anxiety, numbness and tingling sensations
- Vitamin D – muscle weakness, soft bones, muscle cramping and twitching
- Zinc – slow wound healing, loss of ability to smell and taste, loss of appetite
Formula
Formula 105 includes vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, folic acid, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and more. This makes it ideal for combating the nutrient-depletion caused by many popular medicines used for acid indigestion and constipation.
