Is Your Antacid Wrecking Your Bones?

For many people regularly taking antacids, there may be consequences.A new study in the prestigious Archives of Internal Medicine shows popular antacids Prilosic and Nexium increase the chance of fracturing a bone by a whopping 25%. The drugs, known as proton-pump inhibitors, interfere with the uptake of calcium into bones, and were also found to increase the likelihood of contracting a severe bowel infection called Clostridium difficile (or C-diff) that's hard to treat even with powerful antibiotics. See the Los Angeles Times for a smart summary of the research.

Dr Merrell's Tip: To reduce the risk of developing a bowel infection as a result of using antacids, drink a mixture of one drop oregano oil in a cup of water daily. Oregano has anti-bacterial qualities that can help kill bacteria in the stomach.