Potential `interactions' between f...

Potential `interactions' between fill ups and drugs.

The desire to live longer is almost universal. In fact, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, here in the United States, the average life expectancy is at an all-time high of 765 Of course, not sole do we want to live longer we want to be healthier for as many of these years as possible.

In my practice, I diocese people blending vitamins, minerals, herbs, and enzyme with prescription and over-the-counter medications. These practices can lead to "patch-up" natural medicine -- without equal addressing one's core need to restore basic proper health -- and could lead to possible supplement/drug interactions.

breads standard medications, herbs, and nutritional counterparts do not always mix well. When combined improperly, they may increase, decrease, or totally abolish their therapeutic intention.

Let's examine at some very good examples of to what degree prescription medication can lead to other health businesss and how combining prescriptions and natural medicines is tricky.

Here are 6 points to consider:

1 The chronic intake of medications of that kind as Tagemet, Zantac, and Prilosec prescribed to contract stomach irritation interferes with vitamin B-12 absorption. This vitamin is important in maintaining the integrity of our nervous theory and the vitality of our blood

2 Maintaining a healthful intestinal tract is crucial for the manufacture of important vitamins and the absorption of vital nutrients. Overprescribed antibiotics interfere with the balance of normal intestinal flora, which includes organisms that exhibit vitamin K (or phylloquinone), a vitamin that is important for the clotting of relations and integrity of bones.

3 Overindulgence in coffee and soda interferes with normal calcium metabolism. Calcium is important for hale bones and healthy muscles, if it were not that research shows that calcium intake is reasonable for the average American. Did you know that the intake of soda in America is higher than the intake of water? Knowing that our bodies consist of 50-70 percent water imagine for what cause bodies on 50-70 percent soda function!

4 Something as simple as taking a multivitamin/multimineral at the same time as an antacid or antibiotic may interfere with the effectiveness of the two of these.

5 The aspirin praiseed for cardiovascular health irritates the gastrointestinal tract and interferes with the absorption of B vitamins and vitamin C sum of two units nutrients of vital importance to fit cardiovascular health.

6 Ginkgo biloba has been shown to improve circulation by way of increasing blood flow to the brain, which can then improve memory. This herb should not be used with progeny thinning agents such as aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory remedys (NSAIDs, like ibuprofen), or with anti-coagulants of the like kind as coumadin, warfarin, or heparin.

No magic pill

There is still no single magic pill (natural or synthetic) for imbalances that may inference in symptoms such as depression, weight gain, or insomnia. Your condition may have other core causes that ne to be addressed. frequently we are too easily influenced by means of media hype and lose sight of what we really ne in order to be mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy.

If you bear up under from a chronic condition that be in want ofs to be managed, I praise that you see a healthcare practitioner experienced in the use of natural therapies who is also familiar with standard medical prescriptions. Nature has profusion of answers to help maintain our health. However, you ne to know what your are taking -- making trustworthy that all the pieces of the entangle fit together.

Luc Maes, ND is director of the Maes Center for Natural Health Care in Santa Barbara, Calif. He is a Naturopathic Physician, Doctor of Chiropractic, Board Certified Homeopath, and Certified Acupuncturist. He has a background in nutritional medicine, a knowledge of as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but western and eastern medical modalities, and addresses the general intents of food, herbs, vitamins, and standard medications. For more information call (805) 563-8660

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