Treating minor ailments Check out the pantry before the pharmacy

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 8

Treating minor ailments Check out the pantry before the pharmacy

YOUR FOOD STYLE

JANICE BREMER DIETITIAN

Does it ever occur to you to take a walk to clear a headache, or go and lie down with a tummy ache? Or is aspirin your first reaction for instant solace? And if your bowels are sluggish do you seek a remedy in the pharmacy or the pantry?

Some common drugs have become household commodities, prescribed and administered by ourselves without knowledge of possible interactions with nutrients, or possible harm to health with prolonged or excessive use. Commonly used drugs that are especially prone to limit absorption, hasten excretion or impair tissue storage of essential nutrients include antacids, laxatives, cathartics and diuretics.

Health-conscious people look for relief from minor ills in their lifestyle. Rest, stress release, physical activity, water and healthy food at regular intervals, all have positive effects on headaches, avoiding heartburn, period pains, tiredness and depressed feelings. Any drug exposes us to risk of side effects. As we become more aware of nutrition it might be tempting to try to rectify shortfalls ourselves. But in turn, dosing up on individual nutrients may interfere with drug action, or affect other nutrients. The interactions between drugs and various components in our diets, are partly responsible for the erratic responses we have to drugs.

In discussing the potental interactions among food, nutrients and drugs we have to include coffee (caffeine), alcohol, vitamin and mineral or other nutritional supplements,

as well as drug usage. Vitamins A, D, E, K and C may. interfere with drug action. Minerals have to be timed so they do not interfere with drug absorption. Over the counter Over-the-counter drugs are not as blameless as their accessibility suggests. We may lose a variety of nutrients from prolonged use of laxatives because the speed up of food movement through the gut reduces time for absorption. Also fat-solu-able vitamins and minerals may be trapped in the laxative itself, and be carried through the intestine without absorption. Excessive use on a daily basis can leave a body depleted of fluids and electrolytes causing fatigue, and even confusion.

It is possible for people who self-prescribe laxatives to develop laxativedependent constipation which can be corrected with a diet, combined with exercise to “wean” off the drugs. Even excessive use of bran can cause excessive loss and reduced absorption of the important nutrients, iron and zinc. Diuretics can affect mineral excretion. There may be excessive loss of potassium with some varieties, and also magnesium loss. A low sodium diet, high in potassium and rich in magnesium, is sometimes all that is required to correct this problem, if the drug must be continued.

Aspirin may increase vitamin C excretion and deplete potassium. Iron deficiency, anaemia, is a side effect of long term

use 1 . When aspirin is essential, nutrient supplements may be necessary. Folate can be affected. Precautions including taking aspirin with food to avoid stomach irritation, taking plenty of fluids, and avoiding use with alcohol.

Antacids may cause phosphate depletion, and too regular use in the absence of a diagnosed complaint, should have us asking ourselves if we are indulging in meals that are too large, or too rich. Small meals that are low fat, and taken frequently through the day are a better solution to the complaints that call for antacids. Alcohol is our most abused drug and the major nutritional concerns affect folate, vitamins 81, B 6 and 812 and zinc and magnesium. Oral contraceptives affect the absorption of a long list of nutrients and minerals including vitamins 86, 81, 812, vitamin C, riboflavin, folate, calcium, iron, copper, phosphorus, zinc and magnesium. The iiriportance of the alterations in these nutrients is yet to be established.

Prescription drugs

Many drugs are prescribed to bind harmful substances and may damage the absorptive surface • of our gut or bind certain nutrients as well, preventing their absorption. Other drugs may be prescribed to counter side effects of the initial drugs — nausea, flatulence, altered bowel function, heartburn. Some drugs need to be taken away from meal times, with fluids, on an empty stomach or with

food, some, with milk, some without milk.

Dietary fibre and fats may affect the. absorption of certain drugs. Coffee and tea affect some, and even licorice can confuse our assessment of the action of some drugs.

Many drugs can cause sodium or water retention — steroids, drugs for high blood pressure and antiinflammatory drugs. Low salt and high potassium diet, is worth a try before other drugs are introduced. Tranquilisers and antidepressants may cause weight gain. Whether weight is water or fat, it is important to assess the effects of a drug, with a period of controlled food intake.

Not only can drugs influence nutrient absorption, metabolism or excretion, they can also affect appetite, taste and intestinal functions, that can influence our wellbeing. People on long-term prescriptions need to be aware of good nutrition. Not only are nutritional disorders a risk, but a deterioration in nutritional balance can alter drug action, so this must be monitored. A diet of the most nutritious foods is the least complicated way to deal with these possibilities, but supplements must be set by your own doctor.

There is generally no justification for assuming that, nutrients supplementation is 1 needed on the basis of drug therapy alone. We need blood tests, assessed by your doctor, and In some cases nutritional assessment. Background nutrition is crucial to withstanding the introduction of foreign agents into our bodies.