5 Prescriptions For Optimal Health (Plus a Bonus Tip)

We’ve become dependent on prescription medications in the U.S. This is a fact. A Mayo Clinic report published in July of 2013 says so. Over a 12-month period, 68.1% of all Americans received a prescription from at least 1 drug group, 51.6% received prescriptions from 2 or more drug groups, and 21.2% received prescriptions from five or more drug groups [1]. To say it another way, we’ve become a nation of pill poppers desperate for answers to our most pressing health concerns. 

Now turn back the clock a bit as I enlighten you with a glimpse into my personal background. At the turn of the 21st century, I found myself sitting in a university classroom trying with all my might not to nod off, as I gazed half asleep at my college professor lecturing intensely in the front of the room. He was describing in great detail how zero- and first-order kinetics of various types of drugs required separate algorithms to calculate their final half-lives and serum concentrations. (Now you understand why I was trying not to nod off!) Had I known back then that my professor’s valiant teaching efforts—well-intentioned as they may be—would largely prove inadequate in my efforts to bring health to others as a pharmacist, I would’ve undoubtedly found a different classroom to sit in. I was, however, naive to the point of understanding the actual shortcomings of the pharmaceutical world as they existed. And so I carried on.

Chickpea Vegetable Medley with Brown Rice

Recently, I did a book review on author Rebecca Joy's new book Inner Course. Her amazing journey of healing and recovery unfolds as she shares her story of being raised from birth into a religious sex cult, then finally leaving after 25 years. Not only is Rebecca's story an incredible dose of inspiration to all those who read it, but so is her secret talent of cooking.

This week I feature her delicious, mouthwatering recipe incorporating fresh vegetables, whole grains, and a few tomato products that whips up into an easy-to-make vegetable medley the whole family will love! This is comfort food at its finest without having to sacrifice your health or your waistline.

Make Our Food Work For Us

by guest blogger Jody Perrecone

Earlier this month, I attended Veggie Fest in Naperville, Illinois.  Not just for vegetarians, this festival drew over 25,000 people, had food demonstrations, dozens of speakers, and over 100 booths.

One of the speakers was Sara Sukumar, PhD, Professor of Oncology and Pathology and Director of the Breast Cancer Program at Johns Hopkins University. She spoke on anti-cancer properties in specific foods.  Here is her list:

What's The Best Plant-Based Diet?

Your health depends heavily on your lifestyle and, more importantly, the foods you choose to include in your lifestyle. Over the past few years there has been a popular and growing movement to transition towards a plant-based diet in order to achieve better health and trimmer waistlines. The science and evidence is certainly there to support this move towards a plant-centered diet, not only in terms of health, but also in terms of benefiting the environment and the welfare of all living beings on the planet.

Along with these many benefits comes many choices. There's at least a dozen or more different plant-based diets to follow so which one is the best? Which provides the greatest benefit to you?

We'll get to these questions soon, but first let's take a look at just a few of the popular plant-based diets out there to give you a sense of what's available.

Popular Plant-Based Diets

1) The Fab Five - The Plant-Based Pharmacist

I've laid out some simple guidelines to adopting a whole foods, plant-based diet and which foods to incorporate as part of this eating style at my website. This includes five basic food groups I like to call my Fab Five:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Legumes
• Whole Grains
• Nuts/Seeds

I focus on keeping things simple and including all of your calories from these five food groups. The amounts of each food group and tips on how to adopt this health-promoting diet can all be found here.

Food Co-ops - The Smart Buyer's Destination For Locally Grown [Organic] Produce

"But it's too expensive to eat healthy!" If I had a dime for every time I heard this excuse I'd be one of the youngest retirees on the face of the planet. Eating healthy has become synonymous with eating expensively, but it doesn't have to be. It is what you make of it.

You can spend a fortune shopping at the trendiest and fanciest health food store down the block filling your cart full of high end organic produce, or you could accomplish the same by seeking out less conventional routes for grocery shopping. This is where food co-ops come into play.

What Is A Food Co-op?

A food cooperative (or food co-op) is simply a food distribution outlet organized by a group of volunteers working together to meet their common economic and social needs. In other words, it is a member owned "grocery store". This doesn't mean there has to be an actual grocery store to shop at. Many food co-ops simply have pickup sites where once a week members will come pick up their "share" of the crop for that week.

Food co-ops almost always focus on buying from local farms if at all possible. Many will also concentrate on buying organic goods or at least have organic goods available for their members should they choose this option.

Overall, buying the bulk of your fresh produce from a food co-op can save you a lot of money. It's not unheard of to save 50% or more off of regular retail prices at the local supermarket for the same items. Plus, the fruits and vegetables are typically fresher since they've been picked a day or two prior (if not the same day) to you picking them up. You get fresh produce at a fantastic price that's even organic in many cases.

Talking Whole Foods With Holly - Founder of My Plant-Based Family

The plant-based community is an ever growing community of many fascinating and wonderful people. Many of these people are looking to improve their health by going plant-based. Holly was one of these people, and she has a great story to tell!

Not only did Holly take the leap of faith and adopt a whole foods, plant-based diet, but she managed to get her whole family to embrace this lifestyle. And their results speak for themselves. This was certainly no easy task by any means as they had several kids running around the house keeping them busy!

So how'd she do it? What's her secret? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this exclusive interview with her as she reveals the life of her Plant-Based Family...

Jim and Holly

Holly and Jim's two young boys

Dustin:  Holly, I ran across your site (My Plant-Based Family) the other day and have to admit I think it's great! What's it all about and what inspired you to create it?

Holly:  When we initially decided to transition to a plant-based diet I had a difficult time finding resources. I would find websites or blogs that were vegan but used oil, white sugar, and white flour. Other sites or blogs relied heavily on processed products like vegan margarine and faux meat products. Most of the recipes I found were also not suited to families with small children.

I decided there needed to be a resource for families who want to eat whole food, plant-based foods that were affordable, easy, and delicious. I focus on helping people make the transition from omnivore to plant-eater, extending grace when it’s needed and equipping people to actually do it.

Defend Yourself!

by guest blogger Jody Perrecone

We use a variety of gear to prevent injury. A motorcyclist wears glasses and a helmet to protect their eyes and head. Construction workers wear steel-toe shoes and hard hats. Potholders are used in the kitchen to grab something hot. What is needed within our bodies to protect us from disease?

Plants.  Yes, that’s correct.  Amazingly, nature has built into plants the ability for them to produce compounds for them to fight disease.  When we eat the plants – vegetables and fruits – the same plant compounds fight disease in us.

Gardening As A Natural Stress Reliever

by guest blogger Mark Carol

Work, family, bills, and other obligations and responsibilities can make stress a part of your daily life. Stress can help you get motivated, but too much stress can increase your risk for illnesses such as stroke, heart attack, and high blood pressure. Natural stress reducing activities, like gardening, can be an ideal solution to finding a peaceful balance in your life.

The Benefits

Gardening has been shown to have many health benefits. In fact, the activity is recommended by the JAMA, or the Journal of the American Medical Association, to lower the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by nearly fifty percent. According to Capital District Community Gardens, tending a garden alleviates stress by immersing you in nature. Gardening requires dedication, care and patience to be successful. When tending your flowers, fruits and vegetables, you are spending time on something that redirects for attention away from daily stress. Gardening also provides you with real results that you can share with family, friends and neighbors.

Oral Health And Plant-Based Diets

We all know that eating a plant-based diet abundant in fruits and vegetables does wonders for our health. The reduction in the three most talked about diseases in these regards are obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. All of them can be prevented or reversed just by adopting healthy eating habits but there's another great benefit to eating wholesome, healthy foods―superb oral health!

Following a diet of whole, plant-based foods has been shown to reduce bad breath, prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease, and even reduce the risk of oral related cancers. A closer look at each one reveals why this is so.

Beating Back Bad Breath

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is caused mainly by the formation and release of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) during bacterial breakdown of proteins [1]. Eighty to ninety percent of halitosis cases originate in the mouth due to the abundance of food particles left behind after eating. Bacteria, located within the oral cavity, then have a field day with feasting on these food particles. This is especially the case in individuals suffering from gingivitis and periodontal disease as these bacteria can be found hiding beneath diseased gum lines. However, the main stomping ground for these bacteria is on the back third of the top surface of the tongue. In fact, four times as many bacteria are found there than in any other part of the mouth [2].

The other 10%-20% of bad breath cases originate from sources such as infections, medication, kidney failure, liver failure, and pancreatic disease amongst other things. The putrefaction of food in the lower digestive tract is also a likely culprit in these cases. Sulfur containing gases from certain foods like garlic and onions can be absorbed into the bloodstream and make their way to the lungs where they are then exhaled through the mouth producing a foul odor. This odor can last up to three days after consuming such foods.

Extend The Life Of Your Produce: 5 Easy Ways To Keep Them Fresher, Longer

by guest blogger Jemima Lopez

Age, income, size of household—these are all factors that can determine how much money one chooses to spend on groceries. While the amount may vary, one thing is certain: most of those groceries go to waste, especially perishable items like produce. In fact, Americans chunk about 470 pounds of groceries into the trash each year because they spoil too quickly, according to  statistics. But there are a few tricks to help keep some of your groceries— especially your fruits and vegetables—stay fresher, longer.  To learn how to get a better bang for your buck, continue reading below.

1)  Shop Responsibly 

For many, grocery shopping is a hassle. This is why some choose to grocery shop only once at the beginning of each week. But "stocking up" on a week's worth of produce on a Sunday for example won't save you any money—you'll most definitely have a few rotten items by the week's end (most produce only lasts about five days). So instead of selecting produce you think will last you an entire week, only pick out items you plan on using immediately.  Shop with meals already in-mind so you know what you need and don’t need. This trick will also help prevent you from "over shopping" which also leads to unused food and a waste of money (you don’t need all six avocados just because they're on sale). In other words, do not buy more than you will consume. Also, be realistic. If you know you don’t have the energy to cook healthy during work days, shop for a few fresh items on the weekend and just cook then. 

10 Tips for Making a Plant-Based Diet Affordable

Plant-based diets revolve around produce and whole foods, with little to no nutrients coming from animals. For those who know where to find the nutrients they need, this does not pose a problem. Plants can provide all of the nutrients people need to remain healthy and disease free. Because whole foods are sometimes more expensive than highly processed foods, it may take a little research to make vegan or vegetarian diets affordable. The following tips can help lower your grocery bill when implementing this healthy lifestyle.

1. Grow as much of your food as possible 

Growing and preserving fruits and vegetables can drastically cut down the cost of buying fresh from the produce section of the store. Frozen and canned foods maintain much of their nutritive value and you are sure of what they contain. There are no additives and preservatives that you don't know about.

2. Buy in bulk when you can 

Many times, a store will offer a promo code or coupon for a percentage off if a specific amount is purchased. Buying large quantities and storing it yourself can prevent unnecessary trips to the store.

3. For convenient pre-packaged foods, try shopping online 

These companies may also offer coupons or discounts if you decide to purchase their products in bulk. Online coupons can also be redeemed for extra savings.

Getting Juiced! Day 7

Well it all comes down to this, day 7, my final day on the job.  I ended day 6 last night with no hunger cravings and headed to bed early.  I got some great sleep once again.  I think I'm really starting to get used to this juicing thing now that I've reached my final day.  Don't get me wrong I'm still looking forward to eating tomorrow but the hunger cravings aren't nearly as intense throughout these last couple of days.

Day 7

Breakfast

Sweet Potato, Orange, and Strawberry Juice

-  1 sweet potato

-  2 oranges

-  7 strawberries

-  1 carrot

-  1 green apple

Getting Juiced! Day 6

Welcome back everyone.  I've reached the morning of day 6 of my 7 day journey.  I feel so alive this morning!  Got some great sleep last night and had no hunger cravings at all before I turned out the lights.  I think that strawberry smoothie did the trick last night.

I have a long day of work ahead of me but I'm looking forward to it.  No time to get my morning stretching in to loosen this young man up so I'll have to go through my routine when I get back from work tonight.  On to today's menu...

Day 6

Breakfast

Pineapple, Peach, and Pear Juice
-  1/2 pineapple (cored)
-  2 peaches
-  2 pears

Getting Juiced! Day 5

Here we are again... Day 5.  Last night was filled with a few cravings for a midnight snack.  I worked the night shift yesterday so my sleep regimen was thrown off a little.  I always find that I need a few hours to wind down after getting home late at night from work before I'm ready for bed.

My hunger center had pretty much subsided until around 11pm when a bowl of Kashi Cinnamon Harvest shredded wheat cereal was calling my name.  I reluctantly never gave in though.  I'm bound and determined to make it all 7 days without consuming any solid food.

Day 5

Breakfast

Apple, Pear, and Romaine Juice
-  1 green apple
-  2 pears
-  1 heart of romaine lettuce
-  1 piece ginger (thumbsize)

Getting Juiced! Day 4

I had some of the best sleep yet last night while on my 7 day liquid fasting challenge.  I feel great this morning - no headache, no food cravings, and lots of energy!  I hope this keeps up throughout the day.  Late afternoons and evenings are always the worst.  That's when the hunger and cravings set in.

Day 4

Breakfast

Cantaloupe, Mango, and Tangelo Juice
-  1/2 cantaloupe
-  1 mango
-  1 tangelo

Getting Juiced! Day 3

I thought this 7 day juice fast was shaping up to be a breeze but I was sorrily mistaken last night.  The green drink at dinner (Day 2) was less than enjoyable.  I managed to get through it but then as the night went on the hunger pains really started to get the best of me.  I headed to bed earlier than normal with a slight headache.

I normally suffer from migraines every few months but this was one of those headaches you get when you haven't eaten for a long time and your body is begging for something with some substance to it.  It made my attempt to get a good night's sleep pretty miserable as the next couple of hours was spent tossing and turning.  I'm hoping that's just part of the detoxing phase.  It's usually the first 2-3 days where people experience any "withdrawal" symptoms from what I've seen.

Luckily, I woke up this morning without the headache and no pressing hunger pains.  I'm beginning to love my mornings.  I feel the best during these times.  Now on to today's menu...

Getting Juiced! Day 2

I have to admit that my hunger center was working overtime last night as I headed to bed.  I dismissed these feelings, however, in hopes of waking up the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to go.

Day 2

Today started off fantastic!  I awoke without the dreaded starvation feelings that I thought I would have.  I wasn't not hungry but definitely not salivating at the thought of eating anything available whether it was edible or inedible.  I count that as a small victory for my second day on the job.

Getting Juiced! Day 1

No, I'm not talking about the latest Major League Baseball players getting caught shooting up with anabolic steroids if that's what first came to mind.  This is a whole different kind of juicing.  One that promises better health and lots of energy to go with it.  After being inspired by the documentary Fat, Sick, And Nearly Dead  I decided to take the 7 day juicing challenge!

I won't be juicing 100% of the time for the seven day period but I will be on a liquid fast for the full 7 days.  I will be juicing as much as possible and throwing in a smoothie every once in a while for a treat.  I know what you're probably thinking.... "Seven days and not a single bite of food to eat!  That's crazy!"  Well, it may sound crazy but it actually gives your digestive tract a break and helps clean out any crap (literally!) that you've been shoving down the old hatch.

A Plant Based Odyssey

I grew up in the Central Valley of California in the 60's and 70's, and had a Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer sort of a childhood, filled with adventures in an area of the country known at that time as "The Fruit Basket of America." Thousands of acres of peach, almond, walnut, and olive groves stretched for miles in all directions, and I and my best friend often hiked out along the railroad tracks or canal banks into the country to catch lizards, snakes, and frogs or just explore and play in and around the orchards on the blistering hot, summer days we often had.

The son of a small business owner and an 8th grade English teacher, my early diet was filled with economically conservative-type meals like tuna casserole, hot dogs, burgers, chicken, pork chops, and other generally meat heavy bills of fare, some of which I resisted like it was deadly poison, much to my mother's aggravation. In retrospect, perhaps I wasn't too far off in my early assessment of this kind of food.

One good habit that I can really thank my mom for was that she always insisted that I eat some fruit every day, and was always happy to cut up an apple or an orange for me as an afternoon or evening snack, as well as making sure she sent me to school with something packed in my lunch pail or brown bag. Of all the dietary advice I received in my early years, that has been one that has stuck with me, and one that I have tried to pass along to my kids as well.