Drugs very often seem to be the only solution for us all our ailments. We are happy to take them, because taking pills is there easy and can really help us. However, drugs are not indifferent to our health. Very often, helping one ailment, they harm another. As it would be worthwhile to give up medications in favor of changing habits nutritional. However, can a proper diet replace medications?
Diet versus medications
There are diseases for which taking medication is necessary and irreplaceable. It is difficult to cure, for example, cancers with a diet alone. There is, however several ailments in which the diet proves so effective (and even more effective because without side effects) like drugs. Belong to them:
1) Hypertension
In case of hypertension, it is recommended to follow the DASH diet. Diet DASH is about eating the right amount of grain products, vegetables, fruit, lean dairy products, fish, good fats, seeds and nuts. Meat should be consumed in moderation, 1-2 servings a week. It should also be strongly restricted consumption of salt and simple sugars. You can read more about the DASH diet in in the article DASH Diet – for hypertensive people.
To confirm Many studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of the DASH diet. One of them showed that the use of the DASH diet reduces systolic blood pressure by about 6 mm Hg, and diastolic blood pressure by about 3 mm Hg. The first positive effects were observed after 2 weeks of use diets.
In another study called the PREMIER study compared the effectiveness of the DASH and DASH-Sodium diets (in which sodium intake was lowered to 2400 mg / day) with 5 drugs that were used in another study. This study showed that the diet can be as effective as it is used as monotherapy.
Applying a diet over 2 weeks it may therefore lead to a pressure drop of several mm / Hg, a using it over a longer period of time may contribute to a drop in pressure 8-16 mm Hg.
Diet can also help reduction, which will work for people with overweight and obesity. Reduction weight of just one kilogram causes a pressure drop of about 1,6 / 1,3 mm Hg.
2) Atherosclerosis
The diet recommended for atherosclerosis is the Ornish diet, which is low-fat vegetarian diet. The Ornish program is called a program reversing heart disease. The program includes more than just application diets, but also physical activity, psychological support and the use of techniques relaxation.
To verify the effectiveness of Ornisha in a program was performed on the reversal of atherosclerotic lesions The Lifestyle Heart Trial. Those patients who had severe lesions were included in the study atherosclerotic. The results were spectacular. As many as 82% of the patients who participated in the program, there was a significant reversal of atherosclerotic lesions. What’s more, there was a reduction in the incidence of coronary pain in 91% patients. On the other hand, in the group treated as standard, with medication, there was pain increased by as much as 165%.
Thanks to such spectacular effects, Ornisha has achieved a 2010 approval of the US Department of Health. Thanks to that it is reimbursed as therapy for sick patients.
3) PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome is an endocrine disorder that which can lead to infertility. It is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, increased levels of androgens and ovulation disorders. For this reason, often hypoglycaemic drugs, ovulation stimulants and anti-androgenic drugs are used.
It turns out, however, that the appropriate diet is focused on weight reduction can significantly increase the amount of ovulation, thereby influencing this way positive for fertility, increase insulin sensitivity, decrease testosterone and other androgens levels and increase SHBG levels.
Of course, strong hormonal disruptions may still be required drug administration. However, with less severity of the polycystic syndrome diet may be a sufficient treatment for ovaries.
These are just some of the ailments that can be treated with diets. Changing eating habits can also help with immune problems, psoriasis, cystitis and many others. Even if it doesn’t until complete recovery, it will definitely support the action of the drugs.
You also need to remember that never you must not give up medications on your own. Every case is different, so Not everyone is affected by a diet in the same way. If you want to give up medications, then you first need to make changes to your diet and only take them after a while use and after consulting a doctor, you can try to discontinue them.
Main photo: Photo credit: neur0nz / Foter / CC BY-SA