You are pushing your body everyday to finish tasks at work and at home, to train your body and exercise to be not only in shape but maybe you are an athlete, and at the end of the day you are exhausted and your head hurts so you pop an advil…What’s wrong with that?
Regular use of NSAIDS like ibuprofen, Naproxen, Celebrex, and motrin, etc. could have consequences on your overall health.
HOW DO NSAIDS WORK?
NSAIDs block pain by reducing the amount of inflammation. They do this by blocking the effect of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes. These COX enzymes normally help create chemicals called prostaglandins, which contribute to your inflammation. By blocking the enzyme, the production of prostaglandins decreases, and your inflammation and pain is reduced
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH NSAIDS?
NSAIDS are a common household item with 30 million Americans reaching for an NSAID on a daily basis. But just because lots of people are taking them it doesn’t make them safe.
Long term use of NSAIDs can lead to:
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Gastrointestinal issues like leaky gut, heartburn, ulcers, bleeding, nausea, and vomiting
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Increased risk of asthma and eczema in children
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Cardiac problems
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Increased risk of stroke and heart attack
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NSAIDS work as a blood thinner caution should be used in people who are prone to injury
Even when taken in the short term, NSAIDS can cause gastrointestinal harm. 10-60% of individuals will experience nausea, indigestion, flatulence and abdominal pain with one dose. NSAIDS can lead to more serious issues like GI bleeding, even in smaller doses, and gut mucosal damage. When the lining of the GI tract is compromised this allows for leakage of endotoxin and whole food particles to escape, initiating an immune response and a constant level of low lying inflammation in the body. This can lead to adrenal fatigue, hormonal imbalance and autoimmune disease.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO INSTEAD?
There are great, natural alternatives to reduce inflammation in the body instead of exposing yourself to potentially harmful chemicals.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY SUPPLEMENTS:
Fish Oil
Fish oil contains large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. While you can get these through certain kinds of seafood, taking a supplement may be an easier alternative for you. This also may be a good option for those who have done fatty acid testing and their omega 3 to omega 6 ratio is not optimal and requires larger dosing of omega 3 short term.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an incredible co-factor for so many different processes in the body. It is helpful to promote relaxation of the muscles and aids in recovery. Both oral magnesium as well as epsom salt baths can be helpful. My favorite oral magnesium capsules are made by pure encapsulations.
Curcumin
Turmeric is a widely known spice used in curry dishes and other Indian cuisines. Curcumin is the active anti-inflammatory chemical in turmeric. Thousands of studies have been published showing the promising results of taking curcumin daily to aid in detoxification, reduction in inflammation and promoting BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) for improved cognitive function.
Amino Acids
After a hard workout replacing amino acids is essential for proper detoxification and inflammation reduction. Strenuous exercise and training can deplete our amino acids resulted in muscle soreness. Amino acids can be replaced through IV nutrition offered at Wave on Wave Health or through protein powder supplements. My favorite protein powder is found here or here .
Consume an anti-inflammatory diet
Eating healthy is key to recovery. Avoiding processed foods, refined sugar and any food allergen triggers such as gluten and dairy. Eating a nutrient dense, colorful foods help to combat inflammation. Eating this way will reduce daily inflammation and help you to bounce back quicker!
Phytoprofen by Thorne. This is a great alternative to ibuprofen! Take it the same as ibuprofen for pain relief. It contains curcumin, ginger, boswellia, and bromelain which all fight upstream inflammation. You can order it through my online supplement dispensary.
OPTIMIZE YOUR HEALTH WITH THE HELP OF A FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE PROVIDER
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