BackNutritional Support for Successful Therapy
Article submitted by Dr. Puzant Torigian, Clinical Nutrition Pharmacist, Americare Pharmacy.
For more information, he can be reached at 201-461-2472, or by e-mail: torigian@aol.com.
All too often, older patients do not realize that it is essential for their physician's therapy to be more successful if they maintain sufficient and balanced intake. Some drugs do damage to the digestive process and can cause a mild malnutrition. A malnutrition state can slow down the healing process and can cause unnecessary side effects that may not be anticipated by the physician.
Among the simplest (also least expensive) methods of assuring better nutrition, (especially for older patients who have denture problems) is that they can not chew their food sufficiently. It is essential that they make a stronger effort to chew, chew, chew. Digestion begins in the mouth when the saliva is melded into food during the chewing process. Saliva begins breaking down the sugars and starches in the food. Chewing well causes the saliva to intersperse with the food allowing for better digestion.
The use of antacids and potent drugs like Nexium™ can also cause malnutrition by preventing the formation of sufficient Hydrochloric Acid in the stomach thus slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates. Similarly, TUMS™ neutralizes the Hydrocloric Acid and slows down digestion and should not be used indiscriminately.
Then too, antibiotics are sure to cause diarrhea by killing the good bacteria that inhabit the intestinal tract and are responsible for braking down foods for their nutritional value. A good Probiotic capsule should be taken with all antibiotics. The particular Probiotic should be multi-strains and not just acidophilus, or Yogurt. Not all Priobiotic products supply multiple strains necessary. Altered flora can bring on yeast and candid infections that are difficult to reverse.
Most physicians expect or rely on this kind of information to be given by the patient's Pharmacist. Some Pharmacists have studied nutritional support therapy. Do not hesitate to ask your pharmacist for such advice when dispensing such drugs. Pharmacist Gary Gecht, the proprietor, offers the services of a Clinical Nutrition Pharmacist to advise patients at no additional charge for this service. Prevention is far less expensive than cure.