Methods and compositions are provided for treating fluids, especially spacer fluids and cement compositions as well as drilling, completion and stimulation fluids including, but not limited to, drilling muds, well cleanup fluids, workover fluids, conformance fluids, gravel pack fluids, acidizing fluids, fracturing fluids and the like for introduction into a subterranean zone penetrated by a wellbore, wherein the treating fluid comprises zeolite and a carrier fluid. The treating fluid may additionally include one or more of a viscosifier, organic polymer, dispersants, surfactants and weighting materials.