Lime In The Coconut Specialty Compounding Pharmacy: How To Stay Healthy

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.

The Lime In The Coconut Specialty Compounding Pharmacy

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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, December 8, 2016

Staying Healthy During The Holidays

We've said it before and we'll say it again: your health is your most valuable asset. No matter how you plan on celebrating the holiday season, we encourage you to make a conscious effort to keep your immune system strong and your health intact. Our compounding pharmacy at the Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you stay healthy this holiday season with these quick, common-sense reminders.

1. Watch Your Nutrition
Cookies, candy, hot chocolate, Christmas cocktails... sweet treats and alcohol are far too accessible during the holidays. Indulging in a special beverage or a decadent dessert isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's important to do so in moderation. Your body has to work hard to process toxins like sugar and alcohol, so consuming large quantities of these substances can weaken your body's natural defenses and make you more likely to get sick.

2. Don't Underestimate The Importance Of Mental Health
Your mental state plays a huge role in your overall physical health. If you are extremely stressed, for example, you may be more likely to catch a cold or nasty virus that could lead to a headache, fever, or stomach bug. Avoid overloading yourself with too many commitments this holiday season. Don't be afraid to say "no" when necessary!

3. Stay Active
Physical exercise boosts your immune system and contributes to greatly improved overall health. The cold temperatures and hectic schedules sometimes make it all too tempting to let exercise slide to the back burner (or off the stove entirely) during the holidays, but it's often far easier to make time for a little bit of exercise every day than being sick for several days in a row.

4. Make It From Scratch
When cooking or baking this holiday season, taking the time to make your items from scratch provies a great opportunity to make them more healthy. Instead of blindly filling your body with the refined sugars in the cake mix, for example, you can make your own and substitute healthier sweeteners (like agave nectar). It doesn't have to be a huge concession on your part to make a big difference - a little bit goes a long way!

5. Avoid Unnecessary Contact With Germs
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. One of the best ways to keep yourself from getting sick is to simply avoid contact with germs and illness-causing bacteria. Wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently, and avoid sharing foods or beverages with other people. There's a reason these suggestions are so pervasive in our society - they go a long way towards reducing unnecessary exposure to unhealthy viruses and bacteria.

6. Increase Your Body's Natural Defenses
Your body is equipped with germ-fighting cells and bacteria that are designed to keep you healthy. In addition to eating a healthy, balanced diet, you can increase this natural defense system by taking immune-boosting supplements. We offer a variety of these supplements, including elderberry juice and probiotics.

Happy Holidays From The Lime!
On behalf of everyone at our Lake of the Ozarks pharmacy, we hope you and your family enjoy a safe and healthy holiday season. If there is any way we can be of service to you, please don't hesitate to let us know! We look forward to talking with you.