If you’re anything like me, you become a little leery when you’re prescribed a new medication. What are the side effects, and the long term consequences of this medication? Are these consequences worth the foreseeable benefits? Is it even the right medication for your unique condition? Is it worth the financial cost, or is it covered by your insurance? These are all common questions, especially for those of us who aren’t use to taking prescription medications on a regular basis.
There is a lot that goes into making sure you get the most out of your prescribed medication. First, and most obviously, getting your prescription actually filled is step one, taking your medication on time, and then making sure you have a good understanding of the directions you’ve been given. It’s important to ask your healthcare provider the correct questions and honestly voice your reasons for hesitation. Often times when we choose to take our medication choices into our own hands without consulting our doctor, we wind up adding greater complications to our illness and in turn, create for ourselves a lower quality of life.
As intimidating as a new medication can appear, it’s vital that you communicate with your health care provider, and do everything you can to reach a mutual agreement on a plan that works both for your lifestyle and your condition, which supports medication adherence. The statistics speak for themselves, medication non-adherence has been found to lead to nearly 20% of preventable adverse drug events in the community setting, and 25% of premature nursing home admissions. Not only that, but it can easily lead to the progression of diseases that would otherwise be preventable, extra doctors visits, and the possibility of premature death.
If you don’t know where to start, or how to keep yourself on track with your medication, here are a few tips from us to you:
Organize- Pick up a pill organizer from your local pharmacy to eliminate any missed or doubled doses.
Ask- Make sure you are taking the best medication for you by doing research on your own, and then taking any questions you have to your trusted physician.
Record- If you feel like you are experiencing adverse reactions or side effects to your new medication, write them down as they come up so that you can accurately consult your doctor.
Remind- Set a reminder on your phone or clock to take your medication at the designated time each day.
Accountability- Talk about your medication use with the people closest to you. Let your significant other, your care giver, or your house mates know about your medication and ask someone you trust to check in with you regularly.
re:iimmune®- Ultimately, most medications do in fact take some type of toll on your body's hydration and intestinal health. Make sure you pair a daily dose of re:iimmune® with your new medication to help ease any possible side effects. Between the ginger for nausea reduction, zinc for immune boosting strength, pre and probiotic blend for intestinal health, and the Clinical Strength hydration formula, you’re sure to feel better, better!
Constipation, infrequent or difficult to pass bowel movements, can cause abdominal pain and bloating. It’s a pretty common complaint among those eating a low fiber diet. Foods such as eggs, red meat and cheese are low-fiber/high fat and slow down digestion. Balancing out your diet with plenty of high fiber foods help to rev up that sluggish digestive system and is one of the best ways of preventing and treating constipation.
There are other less well-known causes of constipation. Certain medications such as narcotic painkillers, antacids, blood pressure medications and allergy medicines containing antihistamines can be the culprit behind constipation. People suffering from hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland is underactive, are dealing with a slowed metabolic process. This includes the digestive system.
Lack of exercise also plays a major role in constipation. Too much sitting can really slow down the system whereas activity and good muscle development helps to keep digestion running smoothly.
Back to those high fiber foods! The average American only consumes around 13 grams of fiber per day which doesn’t even come close to the recommended amount. Women ages 18 to 50 should be getting 25 grams per day and men in the same age bracket should have 38 grams. After age 50, the numbers go down slightly at 21 grams for women and 30 grams for men. The most fiber filled foods include fruits (pears, berries, apples and oranges), vegetables (carrots, potatoes, squash, broccoli and Brussels sprouts), beans, lentils, split peas, whole grain breads, brown rice, oatmeal, nuts and seeds.
Last but certainly not least is making sure you are fully hydrated. The digestive process slows down considerably when we aren’t taking in enough water and dehydration can lead to constipation. Using re:iimmune helps to optimize your digestive tract as it contains L-Glutamine which draws water over the intestinal wall and aids in absorption. We’ve also included probiotics, friendly bacteria, and a prebiotic food source to encourage healthy bacterial growth. Kick constipation to the curb with proper hydration, a high fiber diet and plenty of exercise! 
Our gut health impacts nearly every other part of our bodies. When it’s functionality is disrupted due to poor diet, illness, bacteria, stress, etc. it can really take a toll on our system and quality of life. Here are a few tips to get your gut health back on track!
ore, “If you don’t recognize the ingredient, it’s probably not good for you!” -well here I am to prove this concept wrong. Rather than writing off ingredient’s with big, foreign, or funny sounding names, it’s time to start learning some new words and what they mean in relation to your body. It’s always important to do your own research anytime you begin taking a new supplement or medicine so that you’re aware of what you’re putting into your body, and WHY. We’re here to tell you about one of our favorite commonly unrecognized words -L-Glutamine.
all itself.
