Thursday, January 26, 2017

More Than A Cosmetic Problem - Part 3

Being overweight or obese greatly raises your risk for other health problems:
  • Coronary Heart Disease
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Stroke
  • Type 2 Diabetes
  • Abnormal Blood Fats
  • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Cancer
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Reproductive Problems 
  • Gallstones

The Greatest Weight Loss Myth

The greatest weight loss myth is that losing weight is all about willpower, eating less, and exercising more. Weight loss and weight gain is often assumed to be about willpower and "calories in" versus "calories out." That is so over-simplified and untrue. 

The human body is a highly complex biological system, with many hormones and brain centers that regulate when, what, and how much we eat. It's well-known that genetics, hormones, and various external factors have a huge impact on body weight. Although it's still the individual's responsibility to do something about their weight, blaming obesity on some sort of moral failure is unhelpful and inaccurate. 

The problem is greater than simple "calories in" and "calories out." The type of foods you eat can influence how many calories you consume, but it's really the "calories out" part of the equation that is much more complex than made out to be. Genetic predisposition and hormones really greatly influence our own metabolic rate, which is the energy (or calories) that we burn when at rest.

So when addressing weight gain and obesity, our focus should really be on what foods and lifestyle activities can positively influence all these hormones.

Contact The Lime In The Coconut To Schedule Your Consultation Today!

Feel As Good On The Inside As You Do On The Outside!


111 Crossings West, Suite 6
PO Box 2145
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 964-6786 

Hours:
Monday-Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Do You Have An Unhealthy Gut? 6 Warning Signs

Gut health is a crucial component of overall health. Your gastrointestinal tract is a delicate ecosystem home to millions of microorganisms. If this ecosystem becomes compromised or imbalanced, you may experience any number of adverse health effects.

In order to maintain overall physical health, you must restore balance to this system as quickly as possible. Your compounding pharmacy at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help by identifying some potential warning signs of an unhealthy gut.


Possible Warning Signs Of An Unhealthy Gut 

1. Poor Immune System
Do you find yourself getting sick constantly? If your microbiome is out of whack, it can affect your immune system in multiple ways. One example is that the membranes of the intestinal walls may become permeable, allowing toxins to escape into the rest of the body. Your immune cells must work around-the-clock to keep these toxins in check, draining them of the energy required to fight off additional viruses and bacteria. Alternatively, an over-population of harmful bacteria may suppress the immune system or prevent it from functioning altogether.

2. Skin Irritations Or Blemishes
We don't often think of it as such, but skin is an organ - in fact, it's the largest organ we have. Multiple studies have recently discovered links between skin conditions and gastrointestinal challenges such as bloating and constipation. It is reasonable to believe that skin irritations, blemishes, and conditions such as acne, rosacea, dermatitis, and psoriasis can sometimes be the result of an unhealthy or unbalanced microbiome. 

3. Difficulty Maintaining A Healthy Weight
The bacteria that reside in our gastrointestinal tract play a significant role in digestion. Recent studies have shown that in comparison to slim individuals, obese people tend to have higher levels of certain bacteria and lower levels of others. Since each of these types of bacteria play important roles in the breakdown of sugars and storing/burning of fat, scientists believe that this bacterial imbalance may be partially responsible for an obese individual's challenges of maintaining a healthy weight.

4. Autoimmune Diseases
A person is diagnosed with an autoimmune disease when his immune cells mistake healthy, needed cells as foreign bodies that must be attacked. While the root cause of many autoimmune diseases are still unknown, some experts speculate that they may be linked to an imbalance of bacteria in the gut. We know that this bacteria plays a vital role in maintaining our immune system, so it seems reasonable to believe that an imbalanced gut may be partially responsible for the development of some autoimmune disorders.

5. Digestive Issues
This is perhaps one of the most obvious signs that a body's internal microbiome has been thrown off-balance. Because the bacteria in your gut plays such an integral role in the digestive process, a person with an unhealthy gut may experience any number of adverse digestive symptoms. These may include (but are not limited to) gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, and acid reflux.

6. Mental Health Challenges
The concept of a gut-brain connection is relatively new to modern medicine, but it seems to hold several an incredibly powerful (and relevant) insights. Just as feelings of stress or nervousness can affect the gut, an imbalanced gut can directly affect the brain. Individuals who are battling with mental health issues may have an imbalance of healthy and unhealthy bacteria in their guts.

Healing An Unhealthy Gut

While the symptoms we just described are certainly not limited to imbalances in the body's natural microbiome, they are often related. If you are experiencing any of the health challenges we have discussed, it might be wise to take steps to restore balance to the bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract.

The first (and possibly the most important) step you should take is to clean up your diet. If possible, you may also want to consider moving way from antibiotics and other prescription medications (including birth control) that may be upsetting your body's natural ecosystem. You can also take steps to rebuild a population of healthy bacteria by consuming probiotics. Probiotics are found naturally in certain foods such as natural Greek yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi. They can also be taken in the form of oral supplements.

Pick Up Your Probiotic At The Lime!

Our pharmacy at the Lake of the Ozarks offers a superior probiotic supplement called Ortho Biotic. It is one of our top-selling products, and for good reason. This special blend of bacteria strains have been specially chosen to complement and complete the body's natural ecosystem. For more information about probiotics, contact our Lake of the Ozarks compounding pharmacist by calling (573) 964-6786.


Feel As Good On The Inside As You Do On The Outside!


111 Crossings West, Suite 6
PO Box 2145
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 964-6786 


Hours:
Monday-Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Friday, January 13, 2017

4 Supplements To Start Taking Today

Your body is a complex and carefully designed organism. In order to maintain optimum health, literally billions of cells, nerves, microorganisms, muscles, bones, ligaments, and more must work together in perfect harmony. Though your body is designed to succeed, it needs a little help now and then to continue performing at maximum health and efficiency. As the proud (and only) resident of your body, it is up to you to help it out whenever you can. The Lime in the Coconut is here to assist you along the way!


Dietary Supplements - Why Are They Necessary?

Supplements do exactly as their names suggest - they supplement your body's nutrition to help it achieve optimum health. They are designed to add nutritional value to complement the food and drink you consume on a daily basis. Generally, dietary supplements consist of one or a combination of any of the following:
  • Minerals
  • Vitamins
  • Amino acids
  • Metabolites
  • Herbs
  • Extracts
  • Botanicals

Which Supplements Should You Take?

There are hundreds of different types of supplements available on the market today. It is up to you and your doctor to decide which supplements are best for you and your unique needs. However, there are certain supplements that can benefit nearly every person in nearly every situation. Here is a quick look at some of the supplements we recommend all of our customers consider incorporating into their daily regime:


1. Alpha Base Capsules
This superior supplement by Ortho Molecular Products offers an important mix of micronutrients that play strong roles in boosting immune function and converting food into usable energy. These nutrients also help with cell regeneration, tissue repair, and detoxification.*


2. Ortho Biotics
Your gut is home to literally billions of microorganisms. These microorganisms must be maintained in a careful balance in order for them - and you - to thrive. Unfortunately, this balance can be upset by any number of different things, including medications, antibiotics, excessive alcohol, oral contraceptives, and poor diet. Ortho Biotic offers seven probiotic strains that have been proven to withstand challenging conditions, thus helping to restore the population in your GI tract.*


3. Orthomega
Omega-3 fatty acids are a crucial component of overall health. They offer multiple benefits, such as support for the cardiovascular system and support for healthy brain cognition and function. The body cannot produce omega-3 fatty acids on its own, so you must consume them regularly in order to maintain proper supply. Orthomega is a high-quality fish oil supplement that, in addition to providing the benefits we just discussed, also helps maintain healthy joints, skin, and connective tissues.*


4. Traumeric
Inflammation is the body's natural, healthy response to harmful stimuli that may pose a threat to overall health, such as bacteria or viruses. When part of the body becomes inflamed, it is flooded by white blood cells and immune cells that work to protect the body from this threat. If the body's natural processes become imbalanced, the inflammation response may fail to perform correctly. Traumeric is a unique formula of natural ingredients that are specifically designed to support the immune system by cultivating a balanced inflammatory response. It also supports the musculoskeletal system.*

Pick Up Your Supplies At The Lime In The Coconut!

We're proud to be your #1 health resource at the Lake. In addition to Alpha Base Capsules, Ortho Biotic, Orthomega, and Traumeric, our Lake of the Ozarks compounding pharmacy is proud to offer a huge selection of herbal, vitamin, and probiotic supplements to help our clients become their healthiest selves. If you have questions about which supplements may benefit your specific needs, one of our staff members would be more than happy to assist you. We'll see you soon!

* Information from OrthoMolecularProducts.com


Feel As Good On The Inside As You Do On The Outside!


111 Crossings West, Suite 6
PO Box 2145
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 964-6786 


Hours:
Monday-Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Friday, January 6, 2017

Important Health Benefits Of Taking A Probiotic

True or false: all bacteria is bad.

Bacteria has a poor reputation of being dirty and causing illness or disease. However, the answer to the question above is false. Certain types of bacteria are not only good - they're an essential component of overall health. Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms. If the population becomes diminished or imbalanced, you may suffer a wide variety of unpleasant symptoms, including bloating, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, acid reflux, food allergies, and more. Unfortunately, Americans routinely do multiple things that hurt this population. (Taking antibiotics is one example.)


Where Do Probiotics Come In?

Probiotics are active strains of healthy bacteria that, when consumed, serve to help restore and balance the population of the crucial microorganisms that inhabit in the intestinal tract. Active probiotics can be found in certain foods, such as Greek yogurt and natural varieties of sauerkraut and kimchi. They can also be taken in over-the-counter supplements. The Lime in the Coconut Compounding Pharmacy carries a top brand of probiotics called Ortho Biotics. Keep reading to learn more about the health benefits probiotics offer and why you may want to consider taking them.

Health Benefits Of Taking A Probiotic:

Probiotics Restore The Population Of Healthy Microorganisms.
When people are sick, they are often prescribed antibiotics to kill the bad bacteria. Unfortunately, antibiotics kill more than the harmful bacteria - they also kill the ones that play crucial roles in maintaining overall health. Probiotics offer a variety of health benefits by helping to restore this population.

Probiotics Help Boost The Immune System.
The bacteria in our gut tends to change as we age. Unfortunately, one of the primary changes we see is a decrease in certain strains of bacteria that are essential to immune health. Taking a probiotic can help build these strains back up, making the body more resistant to colds, the flu, and other nasty viruses.

Probiotics Help Improve Gastrointestinal Health.
Since a large percentage of our overall microorganism population inhabits our guts, taking a probiotic can be a great way to relieve symptoms and health problems that stem from the gut. Probiotics have been shown to help with ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, Crohn's Disease, and other inflammatory bowel diseases. Because of the gut-brain connection, improving gastrointestinal health may also help combat mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety.

Probiotics Help Improve Vaginal Health.
There is an especially delicate balance of microorganisms that are essential to vaginal health. Unfortunately, spermicides, antibiotics, and birth control pills can throw this ecosystem out of balance. Taking probiotics may help women overcome unpleasant health problems such as yeast infections and urinary tract infections by restoring this balance.

The list doesn't stop there. Maintaining a healthy population of gut flora has also been shown to help reduce skin irritations, improve oral health, fight diabetes, combat obesity, and lower blood pressure. A 2007 study also found that when breastfeeding mothers took a daily dose of probiotics for 28 days, their colicky babies began to cry less than breastfeeding mothers who did not take probiotics.


Get Your Probiotics At The Lime In The Coconut!

Your local compounding pharmacy at the Lake of the Ozarks is proud to offer a superior probiotic product, Ortho Biotic by Ortho Molecular Products. Ortho Biotic contains a comprehensive blend of multiple different strains of healthy bacteria in order to support overall health. For more information about Ortho Biotic or information about taking a probiotic, visit our pharmacy. We are located behind Break Time in Lake Ozark, across from the car wash. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Feel As Good On The Inside As You Do On The Outside!


111 Crossings West, Suite 6
PO Box 2145
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 964-6786 


Hours:
Monday-Thursday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM