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!
We’re sure you are already familiar with the main byproduct of the agave tequiliana plant, as tequila is one of the most popular components of a tasty adult beverage! But this beautiful blue tinged member of the succulent family is also the source of the prebiotic fructan we here at re:iimmune specifically chose to support our diabetic friendly, Clinical Strength Hydration™ supplement.
The fructan is a soluble fiber extracted from the agave plant through a drying process. Found in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and other plants, this starchy substance is not digested or absorbed in the stomach. It passes through the small intestine and ferments in the large intestine, helping to increase calcium absorption while promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines. The fructan helps to improve bowel function, prevents constipation and decreases the the body’s ability to make certain types of fats.
The prebiotic is extracted from organic agave grown in Jalisco, Mexico. A mature blue agave grows to about 6 to 8 feet tall in the course of 5 to 7 years. At this point the carbohydrates stored in the plant’s core (called a pina as it resembles a pineapple after the leaves are trimmed away) are at their peak. Farmers use a simple razor sharp blade to harvest the agave and process it into the sweetener through thermal hydrolysis, heating it at various temperatures.
When re:iimmune was created, each ingredient was carefully considered and scrutinized for its overall benefit. We absolutely wanted to avoid sugar, sucralose and dextrose. We understand the negative impact these can have on anyone’s system but especially those who are recovering from illness, having digestive problems or are struggling with diabetes. The agave fructan is a type of fructose also found in foods such as dates, molasses, raisins, apples and honey. It has a zero glycemic index making it diabetic friendly and because of this and the prebiotic benefits mentioned above, it became part of our hydration formula created to help people get better, better!
For the most part we are all familiar with terms relating to our immune system, whether it be in reference to a weak immune system failing to protect you from disease, or vitamin C having been related to as our most basic form of immune boosting power, but on what level do we take our immune system seriously for its complex and extraordinary design?
In September 2014 the New York Times released an article linking the state of a person’s immune system directly to their ability to recover from invasive surgery- via a study performed on patients having hip replacement surgery. They were able to analyze the patterns of proteins in their blood that would indicate signals of immune strength outside of what we would consider a generalized clean bill of health, those with the stronger immune signals recovered light years ahead of those with compromised signals.
One of our goals with re:iimmune® is to take people from all around the world and provide them with a completely new level of immunity awareness. With re:iimmune’s® calculated blend of pre and probiotics, every time you drink a serving, you are feeding the core of your immune system the very fuel it needs to begin absorbing the nutrients and vitamins your body requires in order to recover from something as serious as invasive surgery.
re:iimmune® also offers clinical strength hydration that aids in preparing your cells, both before and after surgery. Without proper hydration, your body will experience poor oxygen perfusion, essential nutrients will not be delivered to the wound, and your body’s drainage system will not function efficiently. If you fail to properly hydrate your body while it is working to heal itself, you will lose moisture to the wound and the epithelial cells that work to surround the repaired tissue, will not be able to cover the wound at a healthy rate, leaving it open to infection and a slower healing time.
As a whole, it is vitally important to take our guts seriously, and I’m not just talking about that gut feeling you get telling you to make the right choice, but our literal gut, the one that dictates the health and healing properties of our entire body. It takes G.U.T.S. to get well!
"After a 4 month run of colds, flu, stomach ache and sickness- I felt unable to shake off the last of it each time to be able to fully recover. I then got hit with oral thrush which really told me my guts were not in a good way and I suspected I was chronically dehydrated too. With just the first few mouthfuls of re:iimmune I feel uplifted and more energized. It's like drinking a fresh coconut...you know it is good - it feels like it is instantly boosting your health! I changed the food I eat to clean out my system, but the re:iimmune has been a key part of recovering fully and resetting my gut to a healthier state, and no cramping. I am passionate about only putting natural foods in my body and re:iimmune fits this need for me. It is now a firm addition to my medical kit." -L. Dhonau
we reach around the box of donuts and grab a piece of fruit instead, but that momentary feeling of elation often fades by dinner time as we find ourselves reaching for that second helping of buttery mashed potatoes, or a heaping pile of cheesy pasta. Hungry yet? The truth is, our brains react to food with the same addictive stimulation as it would with any other drug. It doesn’t help that portions are larger than ever, and that processed, feel good treats are more accessible than they have ever been. On top of the temptation to indulge, is the confusion; with every diet fad in the book being thrown around at us from all angles. It can become overwhelming to decipher what approach to take when it comes to a healthy diet. Our mantra? Keep it simple. Say no to carb heavy, processed foods that will drain your energy and leave you feeling lethargic. Say yes to whole fruits and vegetables and lean proteins, and most importantly, enjoy the food you eat! Branch out with some new recipes that abide by these principles, but still leave your mouth watering.
ake and I were on our honeymoon in Mexico when re:iimmune saved us. We woke up early to head back to Missouri, and we both felt a little off but not sick. We didn't think much of it since we had just spent a week in Mexico, and were eating different foods than our bodies were use to. When we arrived at the Atlanta airport for our layover, we attempted to get something to eat. We couldn't stomach anything! Luckily I had two re:iimmune packets left! It was the only thing we could keep down and it completely helped soothe our stomachs. I was so worried our last plane home was going to be miserable (or that we wouldn't be able to get on the plane) but re:iimmune got us through it! Now, any time my stomach is upset or my body is just feeling down, I always drink re:iimmune!" -Bekah
forward to longer days, warmer weather, family vacations and romantic honeymoon getaways. If you're anything like me (or like our organized teacher friend, Bekah) you start making your packing list a week before it's time to hit the road. You pack and repack, second guess your apparel decisions a hundred times, and then finally settle into something comfy and set off for paradise. Through crowded airports, new environments, disrupted sleep patterns, and unfamiliar foods- your body doesn't always get the same relief you might feel on vacation. The last thing you want to happen when you're far from home is to deal with the effects of a run down immune system.