Talked With Your Pharmacist Lately?

Do you believe that the most important task performed by pharmacists, is reading the terrible handwriting on the prescriptions given to them?  If you do, perhaps you should rethink your position.  A recent study shows just how important your pharmacist can be for your wellness plan.

According to the “Life…Supplemented” Healthcare Professional (HCP) study, pharmacists do what they talk about when it comes to taking supplements. The study found that 87% of pharmacists surveyed, believe supplements can improve or maintain the health of their customers.  This nearly matched the 86% of pharmacists reporting they used supplements for “overall health and wellness”, in their own lives.

Even more fascinating, is that 2 out of 3 pharmacists noted that customers initiated the conversations about supplements.  So, the trust customers have in supplement advice from their pharmacists is very apparent.

Douglas MacKay, ND, with the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) noted:

“A pharmacist’s training specifically qualifies him or her to take a comprehensive look at an individual’s current prescribed medications and determine if any potential drug-dietary supplement interactions or drug-induced nutrient depletions may need to be addressed…it is important to talk to a pharmacist or other qualified health practitioner about all the things you are taking for your health.”

Check out a short article, regarding the CRN study today.

The Bottom Line:  Get to know your pharmacist better.  Instead of just dropping off and picking up prescriptions, ask questions about the supplements you’re taking.  This valuable insight should not be overlooked.

Are you going to ask your pharmacist a question next time?

It’s your life, live well.

Are You Being Duped By Food Names?

Imagine, you’re sitting in a busy cafe, looking over the lunch menu.  You scan the menu, reminding yourself  of the need to eat something “healthy”.  The waiter comes, and you tell her, “I’d like the grilled chicken salad, with iced tea please”.  You congratulate yourself for making a good food decision.  But, could it be that you’ve just been duped by a misleading name for the food you ordered?

A study by University of South Carolina professor Caglar Irmak, suggests that dieters need to be more vigilant when choosing their food.  Mr. Irmak and is fellow authors, have found how easily dieters, with good intentions, are mislead by food names.  The above story illustrates how food items with the name “salad”, are often perceived by dieters as healthier, than when the identical food product is named “pasta”.  In other words, dieters unwittingly fall into “naming traps” when selecting foods.  Dieters often end up selecting  foods, which aren’t likely to help them reach their diet goals.

You need to read an excellent summary of the study I found at eurekalert.org.

The bottom line:  the marketing folks are more in-tuned to the fact that certain words may be perceived by dieters to indicate “healthy”, when in fact the food product may not.  Don’t hesitate to ask your waiter what’s actually in the food item and how it’s prepared.  This may not be fail proof, but it will keep you on your toes while eating out.

It’s your life, live well.

The New Secret Of Vitamin C!

Do you still remember your mom telling you, “don’t forget to drink your orange juice!”  I still hear those words, almost as if  it were today.  But you know, sometimes mom did know best, even without the latest research at her fingertips.

I saw an article the other day, that made me to take another look at my own daily intake of vitamin C.  You know, the vitamin nobody seems to talk about these days.  It seems, the experts would rather discuss the finer points of  ”exotic” supplements such as resveratrol, pomegranate, and acai.  So, what about good ol’ vitamin C?  Is it still relevant?  You bet it IS!

Dr. Mark Moyad of the University of Michigan, and his fellow researchers, reviewed over 100 vitamin C studies conducted over a 10 year time period.  The majority of the studies indicated that a daily intake of 500 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C, is needed to achieve optimal health results.  The current Recommended  Daily Allowance (RDA) of vitamin C is 75 – 90mg daily for adults.

While it’s recommended that you eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, Dr Moyad noted less than 20% of adults reach 9 servings daily.  Thus, most adults must take a vitamin C supplement to reach the 500mg intake for optimal health benefits.

Vitamin C can benefit your health by:

  • Improving immune systems weakened by stress and smoking;
  • Lower your risk of strokes;
  • Reducing the affects of aging on skin; and
  • Reducing inflammation in your body.

I like 2 things about this webMD.com article.  First, in addition to supplementation, it discusses great ways to easily include more fruits and vegetables in my daily diet.  Secondly, the article forced me to look at my current vitamin C  intake.  I currently get about 120mg of vitamin C from food, and another 90mg from a multivitamin daily.  So, I must take an additional vitamin C supplement to reach the optimal 500mg daily intake suggested by Dr. Moyad’s study.

The bottom line:  you need to continually review your supplement intake and diet regimens, against the latest research.  Never get complacent and assume your wellness plan is flawless.  Research continues to show ways for you to fine tune whatever you’re doing for better health.

Are you getting enough vitamin C?

It’s your life, live well.

Who Else Wants Coffee?

Men, go to your nearest coffee shop right now!  Don’t let anyone or anything stop you.  Your life may depend on how much coffee you drink everyday!

A recent heath study, conducted by researchers at Harvard’s School of Public Health, indicates a link between coffee consumption in men and a  lower risk of developing prostate cancer.  Nearly 48,000 U.S. men participated in the study from 1986 – 2008.

Researchers found the following associations from the study:

  • Men who drank 6 cups  of coffee or more, had a 60% lower risk in developing prostate cancer;
  • These same men had a 20% lower risk of developing any form of cancer;
  • Men who drank 3 cups of coffee or less, showed a 30% lower risk of prostate cancer;
  • Whether the coffee was decaffeinated or regular, the results were the same.

The study results are worthy of attention because among U.S. men, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer.  Also, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death among U.S. men.

Check out a summary of the Harvard study at msnbc.com.  Also, see  the additional benefits of  this wonderful beverage in the article “Coffee the Good News“, at Harvard’s public health site.

Now that’s something to drink to!

It’s your life, live well.