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Monday: Mind/Spirit
Tuesday: Metabolic/Endocrine
Wednesday: Cardiovascular
Thursday: Women
Friday: Diet/Nutrition
Saturday: Leadership
Sunday: Superfoods

Take a Second

1/15/2013

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Ginger in your tea, cinnamon in your oatmeal, cayenne pepper on your eggs, turmeric in your soup, and garlic on your pasta. Herbs and spices have such great medicinal properties. Explore the ones listed above to help support metabolism and immunity. It only takes a second to make this minor tweak, but the key to success is your awareness. Find what works for YOU and what YOUR body may benefit from. I consume turmeric almost daily. Knowledge is power. To your health! <3
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Do you or someone you know take Warfarin?

1/9/2013

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If so, a few important tips:
  1. Do not miss a dose. If you do, do not double up your dose. Keep track of missed doses.
  2. Check your INR (International Normalized Ratio) as scheduled. This number tells you how thick or thin your blood is. Your physician will adjust your dose as necessary. This is why it's important to keep track of any missed doses.
  3. Keep your dietary vitamin K intake consistent day to day. Warfarin works on vitamin K to prevent clots. Vitamin K is found primarily in green leafy vegetables. Ask your physician or pharmacist for a list of vitamin K containing foods.
  4. Warfarin interacts with many things. Consult with your physician or pharmacy when making changes to vitamins, OTC items, diet, and other medications. Any changes made, let your physician know.
  5. Take warfarin with a full glass of water at the same time every day.
  6. Store your medication away from heat, light, and moisture.
  7. Make sure your physician knows of any upcoming surgeries, procedures, and especially dental work. (Let all of your providers know you take warfarin)
  8. Carry an ID card that states you take warfarin.
  9. If you take warfarin, it is for an important reason. Education is needed for friends and family also.
  10. Read your patient information leaflet that comes with your medication. It tells you a lot!
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Tired? Irritable? Cold?

1/2/2013

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Iron is necessary to ensure oxygen delivery to every cell in your body. Do you have low energy? Feel tired? Have trouble sleeping? Are you replenishing your iron stores to ensure you have oxygen for times of stress and illness? I do not have to explain why our bodies need oxygen. Low levels can manifest slowly as headaches, sexual dysfunction, irritability, swelling of the tongue, brittle nails, and lack luster hair to just name a few.

Iron can be obtained from your diet. Some examples of dietary sources include: red meat, lima beans, kale, spinach, watermelon, beets, prunes, clams, almonds, and chlorophyll. Check with your doctor if you need further supplementation.

Keep in mind just like any food you can consume it but are you absorbing the necessary nutrients? The tannins in tea, polyphenols on coffee, phosphates in soda, and calcium if taken within two hours of an iron supplement all impair iron absorption.

You subsequently can also increase iron absorption by combining foods rich in vitamin C (tomatoes, peppers, green veggies, citrus fruits) with iron rich foods.

I routinely boost my iron stores. Sometimes in the winter my lips crack in the corners. When I consciously increase my iron intake, I am able to avoid this. Women especially need to be aware of the benefits of iron very month. Your immune system will thank you. Prevention is the treatment!

One other tidbit I wish I knew earlier is if you aren't ensuring oxygen stores you will burn carbohydrates first instead of fat during exercise as it takes less oxygen to burn carbs. If you are exercising for weight loss ensure your body has plenty of iron.

Oxygen, oxygen, oxygen! The key to optimal wellness :)

A bit of information, to your health! Explore Iron! Questions welcome!

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You Tell Me

1/1/2013

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What do you want to know more about to improve your health? Mind, body, and spirit. Put in a comment.
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Quick Detox

1/1/2013

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Eliminate all aluminum from your diet and lifestyle!!!

Read Labels:
Salt 
Baking Powder
Cake Mixes
Antacids
Soda Drinks
Pickled Foods
Processed Cheeses
Deodorant
To name a few!

Avoid cooking with aluminum foil or using as a wrapping for food.  Avoid drinking out of aluminum bottles or cans (beer/water).

Aluminum is a heavy metal that leaches into food and settles in the kidneys, brain, and intestines. I won't begin to explain what these three organ systems do for your body and mind. 

Aluminum has been associated with Alzheimer's and interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium and phosphorus, two essential components for almost every body function.  

A Quick and Easy Detox: Reduce and Eliminate Aluminum in your Diet/Lifestyle.

There are options!!!!  Read labels and educate yourself.  Prevention is the treatment.

Your body will love you for it!

To your health 

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Can't sleep?

12/29/2012

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Can't sleep, try a handful of raw pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are one of the best sources of tryptophan, an amino acid that increases serotoninin in our brains resulting in increased mood, decreased stress/anxiety, and insomnia relief. Pumpkin seeds are also high in magnesium and zinc. Try soaking the seeds in water for half a day for easier digestion. Pumpkin seed butter is also delicious! Keep in mind tryptophan is considered to be the least abundant amino acid in people's diets. Maybe this is why Ambien is one of the most commonly prescribed medications. Something to chew on... tryptophan= pumpkin seeds :) To your health!
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For You

12/25/2012

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A young man recently asked and showed interest in chakras. Dive in..there's a lot of divinity found in this realm! A bit to share...your body is yours to perfect! Knowledge is power and love!
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minerals and oral contraceptives

12/20/2012

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Oral contraceptives rob your body of essential minerals and vitamin B.  If you take an oral contraceptive you may want to consider taking a probiotic, vitamin B's, and essential minerals like magnesium; in addition to eating antioxidant rich foods.  When your body becomes mineral deficient, it may falsely increase your risk for other medications: thyroid meds, antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, cardiovascular meds.  If you understand how oral contraceptives work in your body you will then understand how you can optimally maintain your own health.  A bit of information you may find useful. To your health!
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Have you put on a white coat?

12/12/2012

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I overheard a conversation today, on my day off from the pharmacy, about how the pharmacist didn't even smile when she picked up her prescription. Let me ask you one thing, have you ever worn a white coat? Do you understand the amount of responsibility a pharmacist holds on their shoulders every day they go to work? Enough to know that if one pill gets into the wrong bottle, a medication overdose isn't caught, or a doctor's handwriting is misread that one error can kill you. We, as pharmacists, are not allowed even one error. We must be 100% every hour, every day. There is a lot on our minds, including, yes, YOUR health and well-being. So, if the pharmacist provides you with the correct medication, in the correct dose, for the correct indication, please don't sweat it if the pharmacist didn't smile at you that day.  Who goes to the pharmacy for emotional support anyway. There are other doctors for that. We care about you but please understand what it means to do our job. Until you have put on a white coat, don't judge. We provide a professional service in a retail environment where less help and greater pressure exists today.  Know what service that is and help us help you. If you don't like the service, find a pharmacist you do like!  In love and respect and in service to your health! We do care about you.  
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Treatment options

12/10/2012

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"While lifestyle changes can really help bring your cholesterol down, Wong says that not enough people give them a real chance." (Nathan D. Wong, PhD, director of the heart disease prevention program at the University of California, Irving) 

"The problem is that both patients and their doctors like immediate results," he tells WebMD. "Lowering your cholesterol with exercise and diet is just not like that."----'High Cholesterol Treatment -- What Works? Safe, effective treatment for high cholesterol isn't hard -- but it can be confusing. Get the facts.' WebMD Feature
______________________________________

Do you ask your doctor about diet and lifestyle changes when a medication is prescribed for you? There are options. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits with you. Just ask.

Many need "a pill" and many don't. Look at the big picture, be patient, and see beyond the quick fix. Most indications include diet and lifestyle as treatment options before medication or in conjunction. Cholesterol is just one example.   



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Magnesium

12/7/2012

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  • Magnesium: 4th most abundant mineral in the body responsible for over 300 biochemical reactions. It only makes sense that if magnesium is deficient in the body something, somewhere won't be functioning correctly. Magnesium effects muscle, nerves, our heart, immune system, blood sugar, bones, and energy production. Magnesium is absorbed in the small intestine. If the "gut" is not functioning correctly, magnesium malabsorption occurs. As related to my last post, the gut is underrated. You can eat all the magnesium rich foods and supplements you want but if it isn't being absorbed your body and mind are suffering. Point 1: Magnesium is an essential mineral for our body. Point 2: The gut is extremely vital to our health. 
  • Testing for Magnesium levels in the blood is misleading. Only about 1% is found in the blood. Magnesium is found mostly in tissue and bone. Therefore, understand the signs and symptoms of low magnesium.


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LIVINGwithachoice:anxiety

12/4/2012

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One of the most common questions I am asked at the pharmacy by young women is "what can I take for anxiety that is natural?". There are options. People do ask. Listen to you body.  You are not the only one. Simple diet and lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Then if you still require medication, at least you have explored your options. Anxiety medications can have side effects, drug interactions, dependency, and contraindications. Know what you are putting in your body. More to come...
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Your gift

11/28/2012

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Do not ignore your gift. Your gift is the thing you do the absolute best with the least amount of effort ——Steve Harvey.

Everyone has a gift, it is yourself.


Read More
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Pharmacist

11/28/2012

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Pharmacists are often the first point-of-contact for patients with health inquiries. Thus pharmacists have a significant role in assessing medication management in patients, and in referring patients to physicians. These roles may include, but are not limited to:

 —clinical medication management, including reviewing and monitoring of medication regimens
assessment of patients with undiagnosed or diagnosed conditions, and ascertaining clinical
—medication management needs
—specialized monitoring of disease states, such as dosing drugs in renal and hepatic failure
compounding medicines
—providing pharmaceutical information
—providing patients with health monitoring and advice, including advice and treatment of common ailments and disease states
—supervising pharmacy technicians and other staff
—oversight of dispensing medicines on prescription
—provision of non-prescription or over-the-counter drugs
—education and counseling for patients and other health care providers on optimal use of medicines (e.g. proper use, avoidance of overmedication)
—referrals to other health professionals if necessary
—pharmacokinetic evaluation
—promoting public health by administering immunizations

—WIKIPEDIA
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Knowledge is Power

11/26/2012

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After reading the fat and calorie content of a food on a menu, 67% of women change their order to something more healthy.  Source: Technomic Inc. via Women’s Health

Most people want to be healthy.

Knowledge is indeed POWER……..Living with a choice

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