Is Your Medication Holding You Back?
Nutrient-dense foods are essential to combating the “drug muggers” out there. Drug muggers as described by Suzy Cohen, author of the book Drug Muggers, are “over-the-counter or prescribed medication, food, herb, medical condition, or lifestyle choice that is capable of robbing your body’s natural stores of an important vitamin, mineral, or hormone.”
The pharmaceutical industry is a multi-billion dollar industry.
Yet, chronic disease is on the RISE.
We have all bought into the “get better fast” method and taking a medication for a quick fix has become the norm, rather than the exception.
But do we ever stop to consider that our medications might be getting in the way of optimal health? The very things we take to get “better” are actually depleting us of important nutrients that we need to keep us healthy at the cellular level. This is where chronic disease begins. A colleague recommended this book that details what nutrients are depleted or blocked when taking certain medications.
I am not a medical doctor and would never tell anyone to stop their medications. And I do realize there is a need for medications sometimes.
Please always consult with your medical doctor before stopping or starting a medication.
However, we need to be informed about what is actually happening in the body when we take medications, and how to counteract these depletions with diet and lifestyle. And as we age, we have a harder time digesting and absorbing these nutrients anyway, so my motto when eating nutrient-dense foods is always “you can’t have too much.”
People often ask me, “what should I eat?” It’s actually pretty simple. The average person without food sensitivities should aim for the following to achieve Eating For Health:
Eat a variety of fresh vegetables with lots of colors ➡️ as many as possible at all meals. I recommend 2-3 cups of leafy greens (spinach, chard, bok choy, etc) and 1-2 cups of crunchy vegetables per day (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels, etc)
Eat a variety of proteins to get all amino acids in your diet ➡️ 2-4 servings a day (3 ounces animal protein or 6 ounces plant protein is a serving)
Eat a variety of good quality fats / oils ➡️ 2-3 tablespoons of quality oils & 4-5 tablespoons nuts/seeds per day (flax, sunflower, pumpkin, almonds, etc)
Eat unrefined starches ➡️ 1-2 cups per day. Examples include whole grains, winter squash, yams, corn, rice
Eat seasonal fruit ➡️ 1-2 cups a day (or 2-4 medium pieces)
Eat booster foods ➡️ 2 teaspoons - 4 tablespoons per day (nutritional yeast, algae, spices, seaweed, sauerkraut)
It’s actually less complicated than we make. And it’s not always about being on the paleo, keto, vegetarian, and (fill in the blank) diet. But in the defense of the non-nutrition professional, I know the conflicting messages are very confusing. To take the pressure off — eat lots of plants, some animals, and avoid too much sugar and processed foods. Get good sleep, reduce stress, and spend time with those you love. Pick one to do at a time if it makes it easier, until they become habit. This is the key to health and longevity.
(Sources: Bauman College Eating For Health Model; S. Cohen, RPh Drug Muggers, 2011)
