Frequent readers of my blog know that I am a huge supporter of evidence-based supplements. My own experience with taking enzymes has finally begun to pay off and recently, I reached my goal weight. In the 15 months since beginning this journey, my overall health has improved more than ever before. I will talk a bit about why I believe it is important for everyone to be aware that all supplements are not created equal - and how you can use this knowledge in your own life to improve the quality of your diet and health.
If you have suffered from health issues since childhood, I would like to share with you that the same things that made me sick as a child, may also be making you sick. In my case, I was widely prescribed painkillers for my chronic eczema, an over-the-counter antihistamine for my allergies, and anti-inflammatories for my migraines. All of these medications and many others have been shown to have negative effects on each other. In our society, we usually get back whatever we put in our bodies so it was no surprise to me that all of these things were also making me very sick as well.
Why was I taking so many medications despite being a healthy child?
I was always prescribed these medications due to my constant outbreaks of eczema, allergic reactions, and migraines. I had suffered from minor digestive issues since early childhood, which was treated with over-the-counter antispasmodic medication. When I was in high school, my digestive issues were completely left untreated (no antispasmodic or any other medications) and I started having stomach pains.
Why did you stop taking all the medication?
I stopped taking all my medications as soon as I realized that they were not affecting my overall health because of this knowledge. The more I learned about how these medications interact with each other, the more I realized it was not harming me on purpose but rather that they had been prescribed by a doctor without knowing their effects on the body.
How do I know if I am one of these people?
You may be experiencing negative effects from medications if you are experiencing any of the following:
1. Constant headaches or migraines. I finally found that if I stopped taking ibuprofen, my headaches would go away. This was after years of all sorts of treatment, such as eliminating food allergies and switching to different anti-inflammatory pain relievers (Aspirin, Aleve, etc.) On the other hand, when my husband stopped taking his prescribed antidepressants (after 20+ years), he began having migraines again (which were not due to food allergies).
2. Chronic skin rashes or eczema. Eczema is a recurring skin problem that manifests itself in the form of itching, blistering, or cracking. Some eczemas are seasonal (like my face) and some people have them all the time. If you have it all the time, chances are that you had it as a child so you may need to "get rid of" this symptom.
3. IBS or other digestive issues/pain/constipation. If you are experiencing any of these things, digestive enzymes may help you reverse the symptoms.
4. Sleeplessness and insomnia. Though the current conventional wisdom is that sleep medications like Ambien and Lunesta are helpful in providing a good night's sleep, other studies have shown that these drugs disrupt your natural sleeping patterns and cause side effects such as amnesia, hallucinations, depression, and even aggression. Many people using these drugs have had to discontinue because of these side effects.
Conclusion
We believe that we are helping our bodies when we take pills and/or supplements, right? I know a lot of people who love taking supplements but they all seem to be doing so because they have been told that they are healthy or this is the "best" way to live. And although taking these supplements may provide you with the things you want in life, you may be doing more harm than good.
As I shared with my friends and family about my success with digestive enzymes and weight loss, many people expressed scepticism about their value. Because everyone does it differently, even if it is for health benefits, everyone's experience will vary on how effective these products can be for them.
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