Millions of people abuse prescription drugs. Each year, four billion prescriptions are written for opioids alone. This is a mind-blowing number! I can’t help to wonder, why are we so dependent on synthetic drugs?
Unfortunately, our society has become just plain lazy. People refuse to be proactive. They don’t want to be responsible. They prefer to take a pill versus addressing their dietary or lifestyle choices. This “quick fix” mind set is literally killing us, and we have no one to blame for it but ourselves.
Prescription Drugs: Alternative Choices
However, we do have a choice. We can choose wellness. Every time we put food into our bodies, it can be something that will nourish and support us. Here is a list of the most common prescription drugs and their natural alternatives. Be proactive. Choose health!
1. Hydrocodone – Controls Pain
Hydrocodone is literally the most prescribed drug in the world. It makes up more than 20 percent of all global prescriptions. It is handed out like candy for even mild injuries, even though it is very addictive. Here is a short list of foods that can help you fight pain and chronic inflammation on a daily basis:
- ginger
- turmeric
- cayenne pepper
- blueberries
- cherries
For a more comprehensive list with recommendations, check out our article, 20 Natural Pain Killers in Your Kitchen.
2. Statins – Reduce LDL Cholesterol
Statins are the generic form of Lipitor, Zestor and Crestor. They make up about 15 percent of global prescriptions and can produce many side effects. For example, in a January 2012 article from The Archives of Internal Medicine, research linked statins to an increased risk for Type-2 diabetes in post-menopausal women.
Check out this list of foods that can help you avoid this class of prescription drugs.
- nuts
- spinach
- apples
- turmeric
- cranberries
- tomatoes
- green tea
- fatty fish
- beans
- alfalfa herb
- capsicum fruit
- garlic
- psyllium
- fenugreek seeds
- butcher’s broom
- licorice root
- hawthorn berry
3. Linsinopril and Norvasc – Reduce High Blood Pressure
Together, Linsinopril and Norvasc make up 23 percent of globally prescribed drugs. This is an shocking percentage when you stop and consider how lifestyle choices could easily replace these chemical medications.
Here is a list of foods to incorporate into your daily routine, that when combined with exercise could reduce high blood pressure.
- Foods high in vitamin C (chili peppers, guavas, bell peppers, thyme, parsley, dark leafy greens, broccoli)
- Any foods high in magnesium (chocolate, green leafy vegetables, Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, blackstrap molasses, pumpkin and squash seeds, pine nuts, and black walnuts)
- Aotassium rich foods (mushrooms, bananas, dark green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, oranges and dates)
- Coconut oil/water and CoQ10 supplements, both of which are very effective in lowering blood pressure
4. Prilosec – Antacid
In some countries, drugs in this class are categorized as over-the-counter medication. So, usage could be much higher than reported prescriptions. Overall, these drugs account for eight percent of global prescriptions. Incorporate these foods into your daily routine to reduce acid reflux.
- grapefruits
- probiotics
- broccoli sprouts
- manuka honey
- mastic gum
- marshmallow tea
- glutamine
- slippery elm
- deglycyrrhized liquorice (DGL)
- aloe vera juice
- baking soda
- pickle juice
5. Azithromycin and Amoxicillin – Antibiotic
Antibiotic resistance is on the rise. No wonder! These pharmaceuticals make up 17 percent of global prescriptions. Every time you turn around, a doctor is pushing more antibiotics. Often this is a result of patients just wanting something to address their aliment, even if antibiotics may not necessarily help.
There are numerous foods that can boost your immune system and help you fight off nasty infections on a daily basis. Check these out:
- garlic
- coconut oil
- turmeric
- foods high in nicotinamide (vit B3) such as salmon, sardines and nuts
- manuka honey
- olive leaf extract
- green tea
- pau D’Arco
- rose water
- myrrh
- grapeseed extract
- golden seal
- oregon grapes
- oregano oil
- andrographis paniculata
- probiotics
- sunlight (Vitamin D)
We do have a choice. Therefore, you are in control of your own life. I sincerely hope that this article can assist you in decreasing your dependency on prescription drugs and/or re-establish health and balance in your body.
Sources:
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This article (Food-based Alternatives to 5 Most Common Prescription Drugs) is copyrighted by Awareness Junkie, 2017. You may not copy, reproduce, publish or distribute any content therein without written permission. You may contact us here.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Moreover, views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of Awareness Junkie or its staff.
