BALANCING NUTRITION WITH PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

"The patient had collapsed in an airport lounge and was rushed to the emergency hospital while I am rushing to her side. She was suffering from a severe deficiency of potassium, an important mineral that helps regulate heartbeat and other metabolic processes. She does consume alcoholic beverages, had taken diuretic medication for several weeks which flushes out essential nutrients, water-soluble vitamins B and C, and minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc. These deficiency symptoms can be severe as in the case just described, resulting in weakness, nervousness, insomnia, excessive thirst and digestive difficulties," says Nutritionist Simone Gabbay.

The patient in this case was Simone Gabbay's mother who ate few fruits and vegetables, the most abundant sources of potassium. "What makes things worse, is that such symptoms are often 'treated' with other drugs, setting the stage for additonal side effects and multiple chemical dependencies. The cost to the patient, and the health care system are enormous, including ambulance costs, hospital stay, and expensive drugs. If the physician who prescribed the diuretics had advised her to take a mineral supplement, she may never have become seriously ill. Better yet, If she had followed a whole foods diet which naturally balances metabolic function, she may never have had to take diuretics in the first place. I am grateful for the expert medical help she received for it clearly saved her life. However, better patient and doctor education and an awareness of basic nutritional principles could have saved her from this ordeal. My mother does not share my enthusiasm for nutrition and preventive medicine," Gabbay adds.

Simone Gabbay, RNCP, is a Toronto-based nutritionist and author of several books including 'Nourishing the Body Temple.' available from 1-866-322-8209, simonegabbay.com.