Suzy Cohen, RPh, "America’s Most Trusted Pharmacist" and author of Drug Muggers, shares that popular medications can mug your body of essential nutrients in a variety of ways:

•  Altering the acidity in your gastrointestinal or urinary tract

• Stimulating or inhibiting enzymes involved in the transport of nutrients around your body

• Stimulating or inhibiting enzymes involved in activating nutrients or in transforming them into more usable substances.

"Basically it’s the biggest rip-off that could ever happen, and you never see it coming. It’s nutrients that are being stolen from your body by the medicines you take, by the foods that you eat, or drinks that you drink,” says Cohen.

Available drug muggers, their problem characteristics, and supplemental nutrients include:

1.     Cholesterol Medications- Fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps, memory loss, shortness of breath, higher risk of cancer, frequent infections, liver damage, heart disease

Necessary extra nutrients: CoQ10, vitamin D, B12, high-quality multivitamin

2.     Acid Blockers-Heart disease, high homocysteine, fatigue, candida, irritable bowel syndrome, increased cancer risk, poor vision, high blood pressure, anemia, and more.

Necessary extra nutrients: Acid blockers steal every nutrient because they affect gut pH. You may need B6, CoQ10, and trace minerals.

3.     Thyroid Medications-weight gain, hypothyroidism, chronic diarrhea, lessened interest in sex, anemia, weakness, brittle nails, irritability, fatigue, osteoporosis, tooth decay, high blood pressure, heart disease, insomnia, acid reflux, digestive problems, slower wound healing, higher risk of cancer.

Necessary extra nutrients: Iron, calcium, calcium/magnesium combo

4.     Blood Pressure Drugs-Osteoporosis, heart disease, slow wound healing, frequent infection, leg cramps, depression, memory loss, lowered immunity, vision problems, enlarged prostate, edema, weight gain, hair loss, high blood pressure, fatigue, mood swings

Necessary extra nutrients:  B vitamins, vitamin C, zinc, calcium, magnesium, potassium

5.     Birth Control Pills-Necessary extra nutrients:: Heart disease, fatigue, candida, increased risks of stroke and cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, insomnia, lowered immunity, memory loss, irritability, nerve pain, hypothyroidism, inability to cope, higher risk of breast cancer

Extra nutrients you may need: Beneficial floras, magnesium, zinc, most minerals, B vitamins, vitamin C; Cohen says Hawaiian spirulina can help with trace mineral restoration.