It's ironic: The medications you take to help soothe one problem can wind up creating others. Proton pump inhibitors, aka PPIs (common ones include Zantac, Pepcid, Prilosec, and Nexium), are commonly taken to reduce stomach acid and relieve heartburn. PPIs work mainly by eradicating H.Pylori, a bacterium that can lead to heartburn and ulcers. 

Unfortunately, cutting back on your stomach acid doesn't just get rid of these bad guys. Your stomach acid is also vital for digesting proteins and absorbing vitamins and minerals. That's one reason why long-term PPI is associated with vitamin deficiencies, which can themselves be precursors to even worse problems, like atypical bone fractures.

If you don't want to suffer from heartburn or acid reflux but also want to maintain your gut health, Dr. Tang recommends GastroMend-HP as a natural alternative to PPIs. This blend of botanical extracts and nutrient complexes is both antimicrobial and able to help heal your gut's mucosal lining.

GastroMend HP has a potent mix of natural ingredients, including Mastic Gum (a tree resin long used in the Mediterranean and Middle East to treat stomach pain) and Methylmethionine Sulfonium Chloride (a derivative of methionine found in raw cabbage, often referred to as "Vitamin U" because of its ability to treat peptic ulcers). 

Don't get us wrong -- PPIs (like Prilosec, Protonix, and Prevacid) work well. With prolonged use, however, they can work so well at diminishing stomach acid that the acid can no longer perform its critical functions of killing off bad bacteria and helping in digestion. This can lead to difficulty processing protein and deficiencies in important vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and B vitamins. Vitamin deficiencies can then create more problems, leading to issues like fatigue, atypical fractures, and osteoporosis. GastroMend-HP can help relieve acid indigestion without inadvertently harming your gut.