Think before popping a pill...
If aspirin was launched today, it would not be an over-the-counter drug. Chances are it would be a controlled substance.
They seem like life's little saviours, always at hand to provide instant relief from any number of symptoms, but let's be honest - you don't really enjoy taking these pills and potions. Who would? Do you find yourself popping them like sweets, convinced they'll solve your aches, pains and daily discomfort? Please don't kid yourself.
You may have heard the saying; 'Don't use a plaster to fix it'. Well that's exactly what prescription drugs, aspirin and over-the-counter painkillers do - they provide a 'quick fix'. They mask the pain rather than actually addressing the underlying problem. Many of you think nothing of regularly popping these medications into your mouth without really considering what may be causing the upset or persistant pain.
Despite what pharmaceutical companies would have you believe, these 'medicines' are not the cure to your problems. By masking your pain with pills and liquids you could be hiding something that may be a serious health concern, or simply avoiding a series of symptoms that could easily be rectified with a slight change to your diet or lifestyle.
Not only are over-the-counter medicines expensive but these pills are also made from chemicals that can be toxic to the body. When we suffer pain we invoke a stress response in the body, which is further heightened by popping a pill or two to 'fix' the problem! If you regularly fight pain and discomfort with these 'medications' then you've probably got a drawer or cupboard full of 'chemical all-sorts'. They can cause inflammation in your internal organs and affect the function and tone of your abdominals.
If you regularly consume such medication then you can kiss goodbye to a flat stomach!
Get more exercise, learn to breathe more effectively and reduce your stress levels. THAT will help solve your ailment problems. In many cases you really don't need medicinal help - heartburn, for example, is very often a side-effect of dehydration. Simply drinking sufficient quality water could rectify your symptoms. Only use a medicinal aid if you really think you need it. Don't always be on the lookout for that 'quick fix'!
SIMON'S TIPS FOR CUTTING OUT MEDICINAL HELP
Next time you find yourself with a headache, resist the urge to pop an aspirin. Get some fresh air instead. Often this is all you need to clear a sore head.
Don't be too hasty. Give your ailments a chance to subside before reaching for the medicine cabinet. Your symptoms may well reduce without the need for chemical assistance.
Go through your medicine cabinet or drawer. Empty out all drugs and pills that you have not used in the last 6 months. They are obviously not needed and may well be past their sell by date too. The less medication you have to hand, the less chance you have to use it.
Use Ginger. This herb is an anti-inflammatory and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties. Fresh ginger works well steeped in boiling water as a tea or grated into vegetable or fruit juice.
Take your daily Fish Oil Supplement. High quality fats found in fish oil have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce joint inflammation and promote joint lubrication - ideal for treating aches and pains without medicinal aid.
Be aware of the side effects of birth control pills. Many women on the pill experience weight gain, mood swings and breast tenderness. The pill promotes continuous high levels of estrogen in a woman's body, which can cause cramping, as well as painful and irregular periods. A woman's natural cycle is composed of rising and falling levels of estrogen and progesterone. Birth control pills work by keeping estrogen at a sufficiently high level that they fool the body into thinking it is pregnant, so that another pregnancy cannot occur. Continually high levels of estrogen can also lead to migraines and high blood pressure. Just be aware!
Reduce Sugars and Grains in your diet. Sugar and grain avoidance for most people will lower insulin levels. Elevated insulin levels in the body are one of the key reasons why inflammation occurs. That is why stopping sugar and sweets is so important to controlling your pain and other types of chronic illnesses.
If you want to beat cellulite, drop the pills! Medication can disturb the body's natural processes, disturbing the purification system that is naturally in place. Diet pills, sleeping pills and diuretics can all lead to cellulite, by causing water retention in the body. Retaining water inhibits the body from flushing the system of toxins, leading to the formation of cellulite.
So, there you have it. Some of the consequences of taking over-the-counter medicines, as well as some of the potential alternative solutions. Next time you reach for those 'magic' pills, ask yourself; 'Do I really need this?'
© Fitstreet 2005
