Will an over-the-counter protein pump inhibitor for acid reflux such as Zantac reduce acid over all in my body and make me more alkaline?
"Will an over-the-counter acid-reflux drug such as Zantac reduce acid overall in my body and make me more alkaline?"
(One clarification first: Zantac is an H2 blocker, not a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) such as omeprazole. Both classes suppress stomach acid, so the same principle below applies to each.)
On the surface, it might seem logical that reducing hydrochloric acid in the stomach would reduce the body's total acid load. In the long run, it likely turns out quite the opposite. When you decrease hydrochloric acid, you decrease your ability to properly absorb and assimilate minerals. Minerals attached to alkalizing, negatively charged ions — like citrate, carbonate, ascorbate, and fumarate — are the very source of the alkalizing reserves the body uses to buffer excess metabolic acids.
Decreasing stomach acid and digestive strength can therefore reduce the availability of mineral compounds within the body. Prolonged use of proton pump inhibitors has, in fact, been associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures — likely related to this very mechanism.
From the Alkaline for Life perspective, the goal is always to uncover and correct the root of the problem — in this case, to figure out what's causing the reflux and resolve it, rather than suppress a symptom. Never stop a prescribed medication without first talking with your healthcare provider.
