The Dangers From the Common Use of Antacids

ByShaun Snapp

Executive Summary

  • Antacids are normalized as part of something to manage gastric acid problems.
  • What is problematic is what antacids do to digestion.

Introduction

  • Everyone is familiar with antacids like TUMS; antacids are very powerful antacids that control the body’s ability to produce acid rather than merely buffering the acid with a base like calcium carbonate.
  • Antacids are very commonly used and have been overmarketed and overused and taken for far too long a duration of treatment by many millions of people worldwide.

We will cover how the use and overuse of antacids.

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About Gastric Acid

This video explains the problem with gastric acid and acid reflux. This is one of several gastric acid illnesses. 

The video also explains many problems with the gastroesophageal junction, which produces too much stomach acid. It should be addressed rather than trying to suppress stomach acid production. Unfortunately, what is expected is for the individual to take antacids or a PPI like Nexium rather than addressing the problem with the gastroesophageal junction.

This video does an excellent job of explaining the misdiagnosis of acid reflux. 

What About Antacids?

As was stated earlier, PPIs are just a more aggressive type of antacid, which has a different way of reducing stomach acid. The most popular brand is called TUMS.

TUMS has created a series of well-known advertisements that show people fighting food.

One question that should be asked is why one’s diet is such that it causes heartburn and causes someone to take an antacid.

At the 9 minute 15 second mark in this video, there is a TUMS ad that sets up a concept called “TUMS-Worthy.” This is where…

Food is so good its worth getting a little heartburn, and then popping a couple of TUMS.

This seems to prevent TUMS as a type of dietary supplement.

This is a more medical presentation of TUMS, produced by TUMS. However, while the video explains that TUMS addresses stomach acid, it does not address how suppressing stomach acid negatively impacts digestion and nutrient absorption. The video states that if a person has a problem with stomach acid for more than a few weeks, they should see a doctor because antacids do not address the underlying issue. However, the only thing that seeing a doctor will generally result in is a prescription for a PPI, which also does not address any underlying problem.