PPI's for GERD, can cause side effects which can be serious

PPI's for heartburn and GERD were found in a large study, to increase the risk for kidney disease according to an NIH bulletin. Interestingly enough, the prescribing info for Nexium admits kidney disease as one of several side effects. 

Among the other side effects listed in the Nexium info was "atrophic gastritis" (when you kill the stomach acid, you leave the stomach open for that).  In addition to increased fractures from  osteoporosis and more.

I suffered from severe GERD and since the 1980's, had slept sitting up to avoid stomach acid in the lungs (and was unwilling to take Nexium or any of the PPI's because of the side effects). In 2008, my hubby had an arachnoid brain bleed and I lost my appetite.  He was in the hospital for 13 days - the first night I was home alone, I slept better than I had in 20 or more years because I did not have any GERD.  That day, I had a lot less to eat.  On the second day, I decided to go on Weight Watchers (I was a member of the website) and since then, I've never had any GERD. (gastric esophageal reflux)...

Turns out being on Program with Weight Watchers causes GERD to go into remission - no medical provider had ever told me that and when I told  the medical provider I was going to at the time about this, she said "Even before you lost all the weight?"  I answered, "yes! from the first day of calorie restriction on!"

I ended up losing 106 lbs and to this day, I've kept it off - a nice side effect of being on Weight Watchers!

Bottom line, if you suffer from GERD, going on program with Weight Watchers will not only work to put it into remission from the first day but also cause weight loss and more good effects.

CoEnzyme Q10 for cancer?

According to the NIH, the supplement CoEnzyme Q10 may be effective in protecting against some types of cancer.  They write:

--- Cancer. Research suggests that low coenzyme Q-10 levels are associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. Also, early research suggests that taking coenzyme Q-10 along with other antioxidants increases survival time by 40% in patients with terminal cancer.

 Since this supplement offers all kind of other benefits (it's a great anti oxident for one), my take is can't hurt to take it daily.  It's expensive but then, protecting one's health might be worth it! :)

More Bad news about birth control meds and more

update on pills and more

Haven't updated in a while so here is a catch up....

 New birth control device has nasty side effects and is not any more effective than the BC pill (about 60%), if that.  Natural Family Planning... 95% effective and 100% safe - any reason to not switch?  Essure is an implanted device in the uterus but the small coils have been found in several other places in the body like embedded in the colon.  Other side effects women have experienced with Essure, are include perforated organs, fetal disfigurement due to nickel poisoning, chronic pain, exhaustion.

S/ex change operations -  Johns Hopkins is still not doing "gender reassignment" surgery because they found in their studies, a greatly increased rate of suicide in post ops (suicide rate in post ops of gender reassignment surgery is 20% higher than in the general population).

Weight Loss - And in case you were thinking of using "Garcinia Cambogia" (advocated on TV) as a weight loss supplement, you might want to reconsider it - apparently recent studies found it neither safe nor effective.