What NOT to do

I discourage my patients and newsletter subscribers from taking antacids on a regular basis because they contain aluminum, small amounts of which can cause constipation.

If you take antacids regularly, you should avoid milk. A combination of the two can cause excessive alkalinity in the blood, which can lead to serious kidney damage, including renal failure, a potentially fatal condition. If you occasionally take antacids, better beverage choices are ginger tea, aloe juice, or chamomile tea, which ease gas, bloating, and cramps.