Case Study: Antacids and food poisoning

A female patient stated she would get food poisoning 2-3 times a year. After reviewing her history, I discovered she was frequently taking antacids. Antacids and acid blocking drugs neutralize stomach acid. This inhibits the acid produced by your stomach. This acid is essential to both your digestion and your body's defense mechanism against bacteria; stomach acid is actually a first stop in the body's germ-defense system. When stomach acid is shut down, ingested bacteria may survive in the stomach and then work their way back up the esophagus, or down into the intestinal tract. In addition, without adequate stomach acid food is not properly broken down for absorption. Minerals also cannot be absorbed without adequate stomach acid. I see this frequantly with patients and very often its the result of TOO little stomach acid and antacids are not the answer. I see many patients who have regularly taking acid-blockers for years. I use a systematic approach to help correct their digestion and eliminate stomach acid problems.
After a few months I was able to help her improve digestion and she hasn't had food poisoning since.

* Calcium and other minerals need to have an acid environment for absorption. Frequent use of antacids may reduce absorption of important minerals.