If your doctor says you need a drug for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or high blood sugar, you might think it is the only thing you can do. You may feel frightened at the prospect of looking for an alternative or going against your doctor’s recommendations.
But research shows drugs may “fix” a particular symptom, like high cholesterol, but they usually don’t address the underlying cause of a health problem. Diet and lifestyle changes are different because often they do address the cause of a problem like heart disease. In fact, the cause of one problem is often also the cause of many other health problems. So when you reduce your risk for heart disease with diet and lifestyle changes you simultaneously reduce your risk for health problems like cancer, obesity, diabetes, stroke, dementia, even depression.
Before you get that prescription filled, consider what lifestyle changes you could make, first. Just these five changes can make a big difference in your condition or your risk.
1. Exercise daily. The best way to make it a habit is to set aside the same time each day. Find fun things to do, but keep it easy and convenient. Exercise reduces blood pressure, improves circulation, especially in your legs, keeps your heart strong, improves blood sugar regulation, lowers cancer risk, lifts depression, and can help you lose weight. No pill can make all those claims.
2. Eat Mediterranean. No cuisine is as delicious and healthy. Garlic, olive oil, seafood, fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs, red wine—practically every food in this diet is good for you. For inspiration, get a cookbook like Cooking Up an Italian Life by Sharon Sanders.
3. Take a high antioxidant multi-vitamin. It’s the only guaranteed way to get the amounts of vitamin E, vitamin D, vitamin C, some of the B vitamins and selenium which are associated with lowered risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes and dementia.
4. Take fish oil. It reduces the inflammation that comes with age contributing to many chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer and dementia.
5. Get help if you need it. Ask your doctor to refer you to a registered dietitian, who has the time and expertise to provide personalized guidance. Depending on your diagnosis, your medical insurance may pay for your visits to a dietitian.
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Don't let your doctor or pharmaceutical ads talk you into taking a drug you may not need, before you have a chance to try and improve your health naturally. Avoiding prescription drugs, with all the serious side effects that accompany many of them, means taking charge of our own health with a pioneering spirit. It takes the courage to turn away from the “simple” drug solutions so prevalent in our current way of thinking about medical problems.
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Written exclusively for Stop Aging Now, the authority on anti-aging research, anti-aging nutrition, and anti-aging supplements.
