Peptide therapy has been surging in popularity in recent years. The first initial form of peptide therapy was insulin use for people with diabetes. Common use of and research into peptide therapy was very minimal for decades because of peptides’ short half-life, as well as their lack of bioavailability. But improvement of these two factors has been in the works, and now peptide therapy is gaining momentum for its many benefits.

Along with insulin, collagen is another peptide that is used for a variety of health benefits, including anti-aging and joint health. The number of peptides becoming available for wellness uses is growing exponentially, and some research suggests that the right peptide can even be used to help overweight individuals reach a healthy body mass index. So does peptide therapy work for fat loss, and if so, how?

The obesity endemic

Modern lifestyles have led to a significant increase in overall obesity rates across the United States. Research has suggested that over 40% of the adult population was either overweight or obese, with over 18% of American children falling into the obese category. With over 300,000 deaths being contributed to obesity-related disease per year in the country, many people are exploring new options to shed unwanted pounds and regain control of their health.

The creature comforts of quick meals and sedentary living have gotten in the way of losing weight for many, while for others, health conditions that lead to unwanted weight gain make it much more difficult to recover. Certain medications also contribute to weight gain, so it becomes a vicious cycle of treatment for one condition while battling another.

Peptide therapy for fat loss is a relatively new way to reach a healthy body weight in combination with healthier choices, and there’s good reason for it.

Peptide therapy for fat loss

Research has shown that some peptides can aid in weight loss efforts. This is likely due to the fact that they can encourage the proper functioning of the lipolysis process.

The body stores fat as an attempt to have a back-up energy reserve for when glucose levels dip between mealtimes. During lipolysis, the body breaks down fat using enzymes and water. When the lipolysis process occurs and the fat becomes broken down, it gets released from adipose tissue into the bloodstream, where it can then be used as a fuel source.

Which peptides help with fat loss?

Research has found that specific peptides need to be used to aid in the fat loss process.  Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are made by the heart and are used to induce a process called natriuresis. This particular bodily process eliminates excess levels of sodium through the renal system. When sodium levels become too high, high blood pressure and heart disease can result.

There are four specific groups of natriuretic peptides. They include:

• Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
• B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
• C-type natriuretic paptide (CNP)
• Dendroaspis natreiuretic peptide (DNP)

These four groups or types make up all NPs and can be the main factor in weight and fat loss through peptide therapy. There are other types of peptides that can help in weight loss, though, as the obesity-battling effects of peptides are not exclusive to natriuretic peptides.

AOD-9604 peptide for fat loss

The AOD-9604 peptide is a synthetically made peptide designed to encourage the secretion of and mimic the effects of the human growth hormone. It was initially marketed as an anti-obesity drug and now can be seen in a variety of different weight loss supplements.

This peptide has the ability to reduce lipogenesis, which is the body’s way of storing fat through synthesizing glucose and other substrates into fatty acids. When this occurs, the body’s cells begin to accumulate fat, and over time the process can lead to weight gain and obesity by way of insulin resistance.

The AOD-9604 peptide can also decrease appetite and encourage the release of fat from cells. 

Ibutamoren mesylate peptide for fat loss

Another synthetic form of peptide that can promote the amount of human growth form in the body is the ibutamoren mesylate peptide, also known as MK-677. Because the human growth hormone can aid in increasing lean muscle mass while reducing fat mass, this peptide encourages that process when used as a part of peptide therapy.

MK-677 has also been shown to help increase energy levels, which in turn can lead to more exercise for individuals who are overweight or obese and generally lacking enough stamina to get through regular exercise routines.

One particular study on the effects of MK-677 found that overall, fat-free mass increased in participants. This is a good indicator that it could help aid in overall weight loss, because often during diets, both fat and muscle are lost.

Vital RX Fat Loss subscription box

Vital RX has developed a Fat Loss subscription box with carefully curated ingredients to help you on your journey to healthy body weight. The box contains MK-677 as well as AOD-9604. Also included are lipotropic injections designed to further aid in the overall loss of fat, as well as a multivitamin to ensure the proper nutrition throughout a period of caloric restriction or diet changes.

Click here for more information on Vital RX subscription boxes and how they can help you achieve your goals.

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Modern medicine has come a long way in treating chronic conditions and sporadic illnesses. When chronic illnesses first began being documented, they were looked at as nothing more than supernatural intervention. But as modernized medicine continued to develop, this old way of looking at death and disease grew less common, and effective treatments were formed.

One effective treatment for a variety of ailments includes insulin, the very first synthetic peptide used in the treatment of diabetes. Since the discovery of insulin and its medical uses, more peptides have been discovered throughout the brain, heart, and other tissues. So what is peptide therapy, exactly? And is peptide therapy safe?

What is peptide therapy?

Peptides are a short-chain of amino acids used for many bodily processes. They are considered to be proteins and are in charge of signaling throughout the body by attaching to receptors on cells, effectively initiating changes and processes while controlling how certain cells react to certain stimuli.

Since peptides are naturally occurring in the thousands, peptide therapy is a form of medicine that has managed to help treat diseases. When using specific peptides, studies have found that the therapeutic medication can target the necessary receptors in an attempt to heal ailments. Some peptides are isolated from natural sources, while others are synthetic.

What is peptide therapy used for?

The first use of peptide therapy helped people with diabetes manage insulin levels, but particular advancements in different forms of treatment has garnered attention for abilities to treat a wide variety of different maladies.

People often use peptide therapy to help combat and manage:

• Osteoporosis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• HIV
• Certain forms of cancer
• Heart failure
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Hereditary angioedema (severe swelling)
• Chronic pain
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (immune disorder causing abnormal blood clotting)
• Hypothyroidism
• Wound healing
• Prevention of bone loss

Other forms of wellness peptide therapy include anti-aging, weight loss, muscle building, insomnia or other sleep disorders, and increased sexual function. As of 2018, there were over 150 peptide-focused medications in development, with 60 already available on the market.

What do peptides do to your body?

The naturally occurring peptides that have a direct effect on how cells work throughout the body are called biopeptides. They are vital components in the structural integrity of tissues and organs, bones and muscle, hormones, antibiotics, and enzymes. The synthetic forms of peptides are also used in courses of treatment, and each specific peptide will do something different for the body. These can be classified into different groups with different medicinal properties.

Groups of peptides include antibiotic peptides, which are used to help ward off infection and act as a first line of defense, whereas cardiovascular peptides contribute to overall heart health. Other groups of peptides include:

• Bacterial
• Brain
• Cancer and anticancer
• Endocrine
• Fungal
• Gastrointestinal
• Invertebrate
• Opiate
• Plant
• Renal
• Respiratory
• Vaccine
• Venom

Although all peptides have a similar structure and function, they are able to assist in the treatment of various diseases because of the sheer amount of them and their classifications. They range from having 2 to 50 amino acids, and where they fall on that spectrum will also differentiate the level and type of treatment they can be used for.

Is peptide therapy effective?

In terms of the very first peptide, insulin injections, there is plenty of evidence to support that peptide therapy does have a positive effect on patients who suffer from diabetes. Insulin is a biopeptide that the body uses to help manage glucose levels in the blood, and is lacked by those who suffer from insulin resistance or diabetes. Thus the insulin injection was born to help combat those ailments, and is still a widely regarded treatment today.

When it comes to other peptide therapies, such as those used in patients with cardiovascular disease, studies have shown that they could be effective in treating heart disease and damage. More research is needed on the subject to confirm the efficacy of peptides for specific heart-related diseases.

Collagen is another peptide that has been used for the treatment of many things, both health-related and in the beauty industry. It has been advertised as an anti-aging marvel and a helpful assistant in maintaining joint health, and even has antioxidant properties that could help reverse oxidative stress.

The future of peptide therapy in medicine

Scientific innovation in the medical space continues to benefit from technological advancements and new discoveries. Peptides, and the continued research around them, have given medical professionals a clearer picture of how they can be used, what their role is in treatment of disease, and where they should continue to go in terms of research.

Early-stage clinical trials for many peptides are ongoing. New peptides are being explored for both assisted reproduction and weight loss, as well as other ailments that could benefit from peptide-induced cell modulation.

Peptide-enriched subscription boxes

Vital RX has launched a series of health subscription boxes that include peptides to help maintain health throughout the year.

The Weight Loss Box includes an AOD-9604 peptide that helps the body release fat from cells and manage appetite, and aids in the prevention of accumulating unhealthy levels of fat throughout the body. It also includes Ibutamoren Mesylate (MK-677), a peptide that encourages healthy levels of bone density and muscle mass, as well as improved sleep quality.

The Detox Box has a super-peptide known as BPC-157 that contributes to overall health. The Immune Box includes CDJ and Thymosin Alpha, known to help improve immune function.

For more information on Vital RX’s subscription boxes and the peptides that go into them, check out all subscription boxes here.

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The human body contains a vast amount of cells, chemicals, and other substances that all contribute to the proper function of its systems and organs. For everything to work as it should, the entire symbiotic system needs to run in harmony. If any vital component of the body begins to fail, the whole system suffers.

Failures in the system can be induced by nutrient depletion, the over- or underproduction of hormones, peptides, or imbalanced oxygen levels – just to name a few. Hormones and peptides are both crucial components to overall health and wellness. But what are they, what do they do to keep everything running as it should, and what is the difference between peptides and steroids?

What are steroids?

Steroids can be both naturally occurring within the body and synthesized outside of it. They are a specific class of hormone and use proteins to help the production and maintenance of muscle and tissue. They aid in cell response when they make their way through the circulatory system and induce physiological responses such as the regulation of gene expression.

A well-known example of a steroid is cortisol, the “stress” hormone. It helps modulate stress levels, and can increase both blood pressure and blood sugar levels in response to stress. Other examples of steroid hormones include progesterone, which is largely used in menses regulation, and estradiol (estrogen). The synthetic version of steroids is used in many medicinal ways, including birth control pills, muscle building and repair, and to battle inflammation.

Why are steroids important?

Steroids are a vital regulator when it comes to bodily processes. They tend to be grouped by what part of the body they come from. Adrenal steroids are created in the adrenal cortex and sex hormones are created in the reproductive organs.

The importance of having a natural balance of steroids in the body draws from physiological functions and what they need to be constantly working. The release of hormones needs to take place in a calculated and harmonious way for these processes to work as they should. When a steroidal hormone is released at levels that are too low or too high, the body suffers.

What are peptides?

Peptides are essentially a “little brother” to protein. They are a type of short chain molecule and are used to bond amino acids together. Peptides can include anywhere from 2 to 50 amino acids. They are split up into several different categories depending on how many amino acids are present.

Peptides are naturally occurring in the body and contribute to the structure of cells and tissues as well as hormones, enzymes, and toxins. In some cases, peptides can be synthetic and used in the function of different receptors to help modulate cell response.

What is peptide therapy and how does it work?

Peptide therapy is a form of medicine that has been used for decades to help combat a wide variety of different maladies. Since peptides are naturally occurring within the body and have a direct role in cell signaling, they can be used to help restore receptor response for different ailments.

A good example of peptide therapy is insulin use for people with diabetes. When insulin resistance occurs, the body’s cells are unable to process glucose levels properly. The synthetic form of the hormone is given to people with diabetes to help mitigate these effects, thus restoring optimal glucose levels in the blood.

Are peptides natural?

As previously mentioned, peptides are found naturally within the body, but they can also be synthetically created. Natural peptides work to build muscle and tissue, whereas synthetic forms of peptides are injected to elicit specific responses when they bind to receptors.

Synthetic peptides are the form used in peptide therapy, and can be effective at treating a wide variety of different illnesses because they have specific characteristics that make them more attractive in treatment. Those characteristics include high bioavailability, low toxicity, and high specificity.

Peptides vs Steroids

Although peptides and steroids can both be considered hormones, their respective roles in the body and its processes differ significantly. Steroids are able to diffuse across plasma membranes of cells where peptides cannot. Steroids also bind to cells differently than peptides. Where peptides need to bind through receptors on the surface, steroids will go deep into the cell to target the nucleus, binding directly to DNA.

Peptides are used in a process called signal transduction, which is the activation of certain cellular activities whereas steroids act as transcription participant in gene expression. The two are both required for the body to function, but they don’t complete the same process, and thus are two completely vital but separate components of overall health. Some research has shown that they may have more of a connection, though, in the way that their signaling mechanisms operate similarly.

Vital RX’s peptide therapy subscription box 

Steroidal treatments were used as early as the 1930s in the form of testosterone to enhance male performance, but peptide therapy is a relatively new thing outside of insulin use. The research surrounding the use of a plethora of different peptides has shown that it can help many different health issues, restoring optimal levels of health for many Americans.

Vital RX’s peptide therapy subscription boxes take specific, high-quality peptides that have been proven to enhance physical health and overall wellness. Each box contains its own specific peptide that can offer health benefits such as fat loss, increased energy, detoxification, and immune health. Click here for more information on Vital RX’s peptide therapy subscription boxes.

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Flu season has begun, and with the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to ward off seasonal sickness is more important than ever. The current viral spread and possible grave repercussions of contracting coronavirus also has many people exploring preventive medicine options, as opposed to focusing on recovery if they do fall ill.

Since viruses are not treated with antibiotics due to increased risk of complications, this leaves the bulk of the recovery up to your immune system if you happen to catch COVID-19 or even the seasonal flu. But what can you do if your immunity isn’t functioning as it should? The solution to this modern 2020 problem could be as simple as a monthly immune health subscription box. People use them for all sorts of products from dog toys to clothing, but this year, a monthly investment in health is becoming all the rage.

What causes a weakened immune system?

The immune system can falter for a variety of reasons. Poor diet, lack of physical exercise, chronic disease, and even long bouts of emotional or physical stress can lead to weakened immune function. This is not good for those wishing to beat the winter illness that affects millions of Americans each year. But the upside to having a less-than-adequate immune system is that with the right lifestyle changes, it’s not likely permanent.

The most effective way to boost immunity is by getting a vaccine. This helps immune cells to identify specific pathogens as they enter the body, while also equipping them with the memory they need to fight them off. But when a vaccine hasn’t been created, as is the case with COVID-19, there’s still hope in the battle of combating the virus.

How to boost your immunity

Exercise is great for overall health, but it can also lead to a better response in the innate and adaptive immune systems, which increases one’s ability to fight off viral infection if it does happen to infiltrate the body. Antiviral foods are also a huge assistant when staying healthy all the way through flu season.

The foods that are hailed best in show when it comes to viral protection include:

• Fermented foods
• Probiotics
• Olive oil
• Fish
• Nuts and seeds
• Herbs including oregano, sage, basil, garlic, echinacea, and ginger
• Amino acids and peptides

Vitamins that have been shown to help support healthy immune function include vitamins A and D. Research found that these can lead to a better immune response because of their ability to help modulate the immune system response and increase the production of lymphocytes, the antibody isotypes.

What is an immune support subscription box?

The concept of the immune support subscription box is the same as any other monthly or quarterly subscription. Customers can sign up and continue to receive regular products so that they always have access to what they need, when they need it.

Health subscription boxes are rising in popularity this year. The pandemic has shed a light on unhealthy lifestyles and how important it is to maintain overall wellness at all times. Specifically, the immune health subscription box has popped up everywhere because of the aforementioned inability to fight off viral infections without a healthy immune response.

Vital RX Immunity Health Box

The Vital RX Immunity Health Box has been carefully curated with ingredients proven to assist in the overall healthy function of the immune system. The box features a variety of different products to be used in conjunction with one another to boost immunity throughout flu season, while the risk of transmission of COVID-19 is still high, and all year round.

To help assist with immune health, the box contains products with powerful antioxidants, peptides, and a daily multivitamin to help achieve year-long overall health. CJC is an amino acid peptide hormone that encourages protein synthesis by improving sleep quality and increasing energy. The Multicomplete 360 balances everything you need in a day and packs it into one, while the addition of vitamin D3 gives the body what it needs to properly absorb essential nutrients. The box also includes thymosin alpha.

What is thymosin alpha and what does it do?

This synthetic amino acid peptide activates certain cells within the immune system to help people with weakened or impaired immune responses build their ability to fight off infection. The peptide’s ability to modulate certain responses within the body gives it its potent antiviral properties, and it has been used to treat various ailments such as chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases.

Other uses of thymosin alpha include:

• Improving chronic fatigue
• Protecting against oxidative damage
• Suppressing the growth of tumors
• The detoxification of unhealthy cells within the body

Thymosin alpha has also shown to improve the efficacy of vaccines, so for those who do intend to get the flu shot, it can help increase how well the shot works as a supplemental form of protection.

Immune health is more important than ever

In the current state of the world, having something to help you maintain optimal health is imperative. With the ups and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic, having a subscription box for immune health can guarantee that you will always have access to the products you need to keep your T-cells fighting as they should.

For more information on Vital RX’s Immune Health Subscription Box, click here or contact us today.

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The human body is a marvel of chemical processes. Every organ has a specific job, and when they’re all functioning optimally, overall health is at its best. The liver, specifically, is used to help rid the body of toxins that can accumulate over time. If the build-up is too much, it can lead to chronic illness and other health complications.

Proper functioning of the liver is vital to the natural detoxification process, but sometimes, it can’t manage against the overabundance of heavy metals and bio-accumulated pollutants. This is where detox support supplements can come in to play to help restore the liver to its full capacity. Below we’ll take a look at some supplements that are great for detoxing.

What is detoxing?

The increased numbers of bio-pollutants and the use of heavy metals in everyday life have led to an increased risk of toxicity within the body. Detoxing is the process by which those harmful substances are neutralized and eliminated. Generally speaking, detoxification is a natural process that manages itself, but when the liver isn’t functioning at its best, it could use a little help.

This is where other forms of encouraged detoxification come from. From changing a diet to help reduce the amount of toxins being ingested, to participating in detoxification methods such as chelation therapy and sauna therapy, there are many ways one can encourage their body to reach optimal health through detoxification.

What is heavy metal poisoning?

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that the body can use in trace amounts for a variety of functions. These heavy metals, such as zinc, iron, and copper, need to be present for bodily functions to perform as they should. But when the soft tissues in the body accumulate too much of these heavy metals – or others that the body does not need, including mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic – it can cause a wide variety of health repercussions.

Symptoms will vary depending on the level of toxicity as well as the type of metal ingested, but often include:

• Gastrointestinal distress such as nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
• Shortness of breath
• Chills
• Weakness and fatigue
• Tingling in the hands and feet

Although this is not an exhaustive list, these are the general symptoms that accompany many types of heavy metal poisoning.

What are bio-accumulated pollutants?

Pollutants can be found everywhere: in the air, in the food you eat, and in water sources. Examples of harmful pollutants that can build up within the body and cause chronic health issues include:

• Nitrate
• Fluoride
• Organic chemicals such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and solvents
• Radionuclides such as uranium
• Asbestos
• Second-hand smoke
• Aerosols
• Carbon dioxide
• Carbon monoxide
• Fossil fuels
• Fertilizers

Different bio-accumulated pollutants will have varied effects on health. For example, when too much fluoride is ingested, it can lead to neurotoxicity.

Supplements that are great for detoxing

Milk thistle

Milk thistle is used as a detox supplement because of its positive effect on liver function. It’s a common component in the treatment of liver disease damage because it can help to restore the natural detoxification effects of the organ.

Spirulina

One study found that spirulina has protective benefits for those who suffer from chronic liver disease. It was found that spirulina acted as an antioxidant, helped rid the body of free radicals, encouraged the chelation process, and prevented further damage to the liver.

Chlorella

Chlorella can be found in detox supplements for extra support of liver function because of its ability to bind to heavy metals within the body.

Barley grass

To help improve liver function, barley grass reduces inflammation that can often be induced by alcohol consumption.

Probiotics

Gut bacteria have an effect on all bodily processes, including liver function. Having optimal microbiota health can improve harmful interactions in people with hepatic disease.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is widely known as an immune-boosting supplement, but it earns its spot on the list of best supplements for a detox diet because of its ability to protect the liver against hepatoxic substances.

Activated charcoal

Most notably used in to help treat poisoning and overdoses, activated charcoal gets its liver-boosting properties from its ability to bind to drugs and toxins in the body and eliminate them.

Zeolite

Zeolite has been used in a variety of ways, including medicine, cosmetics, manufacturing, and ecology. It aids in the detoxification process by binding to harmful substances in the gastrointestinal tract and removing them from the system.

Glutathione

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that occurs naturally within the body. It aids in the prevention of oxidative stress by promoting balance between free radicals and antioxidants. It has also been shown to help improve cell function in those who have fatty liver disease.

Calcium-D glucarate

The binding of calcium and d-glucaric acid give this particular supplement its liver-protecting benefits. Research has shown that it does this by encouraging the liver’s natural processes, as well as protecting against toxin build-up and excess levels of steroidal hormones.

Licorice root

Studies suggest that licorice root can support detoxification at the same time as limiting early liver cell death.

If the liver is functioning as it should, the use of supplements for detox isn’t generally necessary. Also, certain supplements may work better or worse depending on the level of health of the liver overall. But in those with liver disease, supplements to help improve symptoms and decrease the progression of the illness are best, whereas in those with a one-off build-up of toxins can benefit from supplements that bind to heavy metals and pollutants. This way, the liver will be able to flush out toxins on its own and return you to optimal health.

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With winter on the way, energy levels are bound to decrease. Less time outside in the sunshine and warm weather can make even the healthiest person feel as though they need an afternoon nap. But even if your energy levels take a hit because of seasonal changes, there are ways to improve them.

The body relies heavily on different processes to stay balanced. Everything from the immune system to organ function can have detrimental effects on energy levels. The energy metabolism is one of those systems that needs a constant flow of the right things to operate at its best. Getting the proper amount of restful sleep, exercise, hydration, vitamins and nutrients can all make a huge difference when battling dips in energy this winter – and so can supplements that boost energy levels.

What is the energy metabolism?

When the food you consume is digested, the body breaks it down to single out certain nutrients. It sends these where they need to go and converts them into energy. The chemical reactions that are undergone to transform food to energy exist in a cycle, which needs to be steady to be ideal.

What is the best vitamin to take in winter?

The body goes through many changes with the seasons. For example, for people in areas where the weather grows cold, their brain signals their body to begin storing more fat for the winter as an evolutionary response to having less food. This circannual rhythm can lead to increased levels of metabolic syndrome, leaving people with lower levels of energy and feelings of chronic fatigue. 

To battle the effects of seasonal changes, supplements can help. The best vitamins to take in the winter to help keep energy levels up include:

Vitamin D

Since there is less sun and it can be harder to spend time outdoors, many people suffer from lowered levels of vitamin D during the winter months. This seemingly unavoidable deficiency can be managed with a higher intake of the vitamin.

Vitamin C

Flu season often begins in the fall and goes well into winter. When the risk of coming down with the illness increases, energy levels could be compromised when the immune system is working harder to keep you healthy. Vitamin C can assist immunity, thus helping to keep energy levels where they should be.

Iron

Both iron and energy metabolism are directly related to respiratory health. Iron is needed to help transport oxygen throughout the body. If oxygen levels are depleted because of low levels of iron, fatigue will take over.

Supplements that boost energy levels

Battling chronic fatigue can be difficult, especially in the winter months. But there are quite a few supplements that can be taken regularly to help keep up energy levels when they feel depleted. These include:

Ashwagandha

Considered a medicinal herb in Ayurveda medicine, ashwagandha has been shown to solidify resilience throughout the body when under bouts of great mental or physical stress. The stress caused by seasonal changes can be curbed with the use of this supplement, thus increasing energy levels.

Coenzyme Q10

The body uses CoQ10 to protect against oxidative damage. If there isn’t enough of this nutrient available, energy levels will suffer due to lessened availability of much-needed oxygen.

Vitamin B12

Although seasonal changes may not contribute to lower levels of B12, not having enough can often lead to worsened symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD can lead to fatigue, so supplementation with B12 could combat this.

Creatine

Creatine has a direct effect on the body’s energy levels because it gives phosphate to the adenosine triphosphate molecule. The ADP provides energy to cells, so if it is without the necessary phosphate, energy levels can suffer.

Vital RX Energy Box

Vital RX has created a number of different subscription boxes with supplements designed to keep you healthy all year round. The Immune Subscription Box is full of immune-boosting ingredients to help battle seasonal flu and cold, while the Energy Box can help keep your stamina up even on the coldest, darkest days. Here are some of the supplements contained in these boxes:

MIC Combo Blend

Generally used in fat loss, lipotropic injections can help promote overall fat loss in the body when used in conjunction with diet and exercise. The use of this supplement in the Energy Box is to help people get to a healthy weight, which improves energy levels.

Synapsin

Synapsin are proteins. They are in their highest amounts within the nervous system and have a direct effect on cell metabolism regulation. Synapsin work with the ATP to help keep energy levels where they’re supposed to be.

DHEA

The sex hormone DHEA is commonly known as the “youth hormone”. It boosts bone strength and can help increase memory function and bone health.

MK677

To help support bone density, lean body mass, and increased muscle mass, the peptide MK677 is included in the Energy Box. It has shown to be effective in reducing overall body weight, which can lead to better energy expenditure.

The aforementioned supplements can assist in keeping everything running as it should so that you can stay energized through the winter months. Vitamins for fatigue tend to contribute to a variety of other processes within the body, so it’s often a win-win to add these into your routine.

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With the soaring costs of health care and the current pandemic crisis, many Americans are looking at new ways to approach health. Spending thousands on insurance (or not being able to afford insurance in the first place) has put a strain on many people, and that extra stress does more harm than good when it comes to operating at optimal health on a day-to-day basis.

The rise of more specific forms of testing to more accurately pinpoint ailments that could likely pop up in the future has led to an increased demand for health supplement subscription boxes. When people are aware of their genetic predisposition, what vitamins and nutrients they’re lacking, and what they can do to boost their health, they are empowered with more health care options than ever.

Do health supplements actually work?

The body needs certain vitamins and nutrients to thrive. Since it is symbiotic in nature, every system needs to be in proper functioning order for the others to do their respective jobs. If one part of the body begins to suffer and break down, others are sure to follow shortly after. Nowadays, though, things like poor diet, high levels of pollutants in the air, and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to the worsening of the health of Americans as a whole.

Health supplementation is a way to help avoid the breakdown of bodily processes before they happen. Taking a daily vitamin has been a popular way to get all the nutrients needed to sustain healthy living. Taking the proper supplements not only works, but can be a driver in overall health if done so methodically. This means knowing when to take supplements, how much, and for how long.

Genetic and environmental factors

In the past, it was difficult to predict certain diseases if you weren’t already participating in risk factor behavior. Smokers, for example, knew they were more susceptible to heart disease and lung cancer – but that doesn’t account for the genetic aspect of disease development. Today, there are many test from infancy through to adulthood that can determine whether a person is more likely to develop a disease later on in life.

Another factor that hasn’t been utilized in the past prevention of disease is nutrient density. Holistic medicine focuses largely on nutrition and natural treatments for disease. Understanding that the food you consume is a big contributor to how your body functions is not a new idea, but it has been garnering more attention due to the rise in the healthy lifestyle movement. 

How do health supplement subscription boxes work?

Subscription boxes of all kinds are unique, often personalized shopping experiences. They tend to come with at least one questionnaire regarding personal selection and taste so that the products a customers receives are tailored to them. The same model has been used for health supplement subscription boxes.

During the initial sign-up, you will likely be asked to provide details into your health and medical history so that the company can have a better idea of what will help your ailments. Some companies have even gone the extra mile to provide consumers with the opportunity to personalize using DNA and blood type for a more effective health box.

How to use supplement subscription boxes

Some studies have found that the use of multivitamins isn’t helpful in the long run, but many health care professionals see the positive effects of specific dietary supplements in patients who suffer from chronic disease. For example, a person suffering from Lyme disease may be low in many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D and magnesium. Therefore, supplementation of these necessary nutrients is vital in recovery.

In the case of those who do not have a chronic disease, vitamin deficiencies are still possible and even common. This is where the best supplement subscription boxes for health come into play. They are strategically designed to address specific health ailments and deficiencies so that people can regain control of their health. 

How much do supplement subscription boxes cost?

The cost for a supplement subscription box will likely range widely across different brands, types, quality of ingredients used, and length and frequency of the subscription. Vital RX uses high-quality ingredients curated by a team of health care professionals to deliver the products and nutritional supplements most likely to make a change towards optimal health.

Vital RX’s available boxes vary depending on need. The immune health box has been popular because of the approaching winter months, as well as the need for stronger immune systems to battle a potential COVID-19 infection, whereas the detox box helps the body in its natural detoxification process so that if pollutants do happen to build up, they can be eliminated with ease. Each Vital RX box comes with a price tag of $595.00.

The trend is likely here to stay

Preventive medicine is making its way into traditional health care, and with it comes more demand for ways to prevent disease and chronic illness as opposed to solely seeking cures. When it comes to preventive medicine, health supplement subscription boxes could be a helpful tool to keep up with one’s health and prevent deficiency, disease, or a drop in quality of physical or mental health.

With the rise in popularity of all types of subscription boxes, it’s likely that those dedicated directly to health will continue gaining steam in the coming years. After all, it’s better to avoid getting sick than it is to be nursed back to health.

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Modern medicine has come a long way to help people treat a variety of different conditions. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that a human-made antibiotic was even discovered to help treat something as common as a bacterial infection. Since then, medications have been widely available to treat everything from a typical headache all the way through to a serious case of cancer.

For centuries, though, people have incorporated different methods of treatment, like holistic therapies or Chinese medicine, into health care. With the rise of chronic diseases, preventive medicine is now being more commonly used by medical professionals to focus on staving off future illnesses as opposed to simply treating existing ones.

The history of preventive medicine

The history of preventive medicine goes as far back as the 5^th century BC, although many societies largely ignored the efforts to adapt to a preventive type of lifestyle. Through the centuries, many principles of preventive medicine were passed aside for more modern solutions. It wasn’t until the 1300s that officials started to take the movement seriously, and in 1388 a sanitary act was passed in England.

In the centuries that followed, other orders were made for quarantine-type preventions during the first plague, and the study of epidemiology was begun in the 1700s. These initial instances of preventive medicine paved the way for societies to devise methods of avoiding illness rather than just treating it.

Why is preventive medicine so important?

Preventive medicine is a vital contribution to an overall healthy society because many chronic illnesses are entirely preventable. Instead of waiting for an illness to take hold, the main goal of preventive care is to limit or abolish the risk of getting sick in the first place. Its importance lies in its ability to really change the way populations live and take care of their own wellbeing.

In the health care system, preventive medicine has been put into second-tier care, which can be a reverse way of looking at how to achieve a good level of health. Things like eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and knowing what your genetic dispositions are for certain chronic illnesses can all be great ways to avoid developing serious and chronic disease in the future.

What does a preventive medicine doctor do?

Instead of focusing on an already developed illness, a preventive medicine doctor will play the role of avoidance specialist. This means they spend the majority of their time developing new ways to prevent injury and illness as opposed to coming up with new medications and/or treatment plans.

Preventive medicine doctors divide their specialties among communities, individuals, and specific populations to help improve the health of an area. They do this by teaching new medical staff how to prevent the spread of disease, developing health programs, and finding causes for diseases based on new research and symptoms. These medical professionals work largely in government agency settings to help with disease surveillance and preventive programs.

What is an example of preventive medicine?

Many things could be considered preventive medicine. The first and foremost preventive medicine is diet. For example: cardiovascular disease affects 18.2 million American adults. The role of diet in preventing heart disease is a big one, because dietary changes can help to lower the risk factors that lead to development of the chronic illness.

Other forms of preventive medicine include primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Vaccines and other forms of immunizations fall under the umbrella of primary preventive medicine, while screening tests for things such as breast and ovarian cancer will fall into the secondary category. Tertiary prevention is designed to help those with already existing chronic disease improve their quality of life by way of rehabilitation and treatment plans.

Other examples of preventive medicine include lifestyle modifications such as early detection of disease, the implementation of supplements or exercise routines, and new health legislation to help communities as a whole battle endemic-type health crises.

The future of preventive medicine

As more medical professionals and associations begin to realize the benefits of preventive medicine for society and the health care system, it will garner more recognition as the first line of defense against unhealthy populations. The change in how people are cared for – and how they care for themselves – is much needed to bring the rampant numbers of chronic illness down for Americans.

With the rise of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and mental illness, there has never been a more crucial time to adapt to a new system of health care and disease prevention. Research has shown that providing people with educational programs and access to services that could help them lead a healthier lifestyle is the first step in making preventive medicine well utilized.

The only way towards a thorough preventive care system is by the conscious collaboration between populations, the food industry, the health sector, and the environmental sector. 

Subscription boxes

Vital RX has created a line of subscription boxes that can be used as part of your preventive medicine program. Boxes are curated to deliver real results for people suffering from low immune health, obesity, low energy, toxification, and low levels of fitness. 

These boxes are not meant to replace medical treatment, and when starting a new supplement regime, you should always consult with your doctor first to see if it’s right for you and your current state of health.

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Your immune system is your first line of defense against pathogens and other threats to your health. During fetal development, the immune system starts to mature, with B series lymphocytes being present in the liver by nine weeks. Following birth, both the innate (against non-self-pathogens) and adaptive (immunity that develops over time) immune systems need time to progress to the full level of protection. By the time a person reaches eight or nine years old, they will have a good indication of how well it works to battle illness.  

Having a functional immune system is vital to staying healthy throughout one’s life, but it can be compromised by certain factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise, inadequate sleep, and the contraction of certain diseases. When one catches an illness, that’s where natural immunity comes into play. Knowing how to support your immune system naturally is a great step on the road to a healthier you.

What is natural immunity?

The process of natural immunity can only occur once a person has contracted a certain pathogen. The immune system targets a threat and creates antibodies to battle against the specific disease cells in an attempt to rid the body of them, and to be ready if it happens to show up again in the future. The specialized antibodies will then be present with only one job to do: recognize and protect against the specific illness they were created for.

For example, a chicken pox infection relies heavily on natural immunity. That is why it’s unlikely for a person to develop the disease twice, even if the virus infiltrates the body more than once. The antibodies are in wait to ensure that it doesn’t make you sick a second time.

How can I increase my immunity naturally?

There are many ways to help increase the function of the immune system to help protect against certain diseases and illnesses. Although immune systems develop based on exposure to pathogens, natural immunity protection, and the environment in which they were developed, they are not always stuck functioning at the same level throughout one’s life.  

Sleep

Adequate sleep is important for all aspects of life. Giving the brain time to rest, reset, and process activities is important to cognitive function, memory, and the clearing out of toxins that may have built up over the previous day. It’s not just the brain that requires sleep – studies have shown that every process and part of the body relies on shutting down for the night to help reinvigorate it so it can run properly the following day. Being without adequate quality sleep can lead to cognitive decline, increased risk of heart disease, and high blood pressure.

When it comes to the immune system, sleep plays a direct role in the production and function of T-cells and cytokines. One study has suggested that during sleep, the body extravasates immune cells throughout the body to help give the immune function a better chance at responding to pathogens. It can also help with immunological memory, which gives antibodies the ability to recall certain threats and fight them accordingly. 

Meditation

The act of mentally training your body to respond to certain experiences can lead to a decreased level of anxiety, but some studies suggest that it can also help with immunity. It has been found that meditation can lend a helping hand when it comes to lessening inflammation that may be detrimental to immune function; slowing the process of aging, which affects how the immune system functions; and activating T-cells.

Nutrition and hydration

Nutrition and hydration are both key elements when it comes to healthy living. Giving the body the proper amount of nutrients, vitamins, and water is a vital component in ensuring that all systems are running at their best.

When it comes to immunity, nutrition and hydration can have a huge impact. Many foods can help boost the process of fighting against pathogens because they improve the activation of pathogen-fighting cells. No one nutrient can lead to the improved function of the immune system, but a varied diet full of vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iron, amino acids and protein can help prepare cells for battle and curb inflammation that may make it harder for your immune system to respond to a threat.

Exercise

Regular exercise is an important part of immunity because it can help improve cardiovascular function and increase circulation throughout the body. When circulation is improved, cells are able to travel freely at a much higher rate. This, in turn, leads to their advanced ability to be where they need to be when fighting off infection and disease.

There have been many studies on the effects of exercise and the immune system. One in particular found that acute and regular exercise could have a direct impact on the body’s immunosurveillance response, along with its ability to improve the microbiota, which in turn positively impacts the body’s immune response.

Social interaction

It might not appear to have a huge impact on health, but studies have shown that social interaction can lead to improved levels of mental wellbeing. Not only that, but spending time with loved ones can also improve the immune system by reducing stress levels within the body, thus helping to regulate immune response.

Supplements and peptide therapy

It can be difficult to get all the required vitamins and minerals through diet alone, and that’s where supplements come in. Since immunity relies on what a person feeds their body, supplementation is required for those who do not get enough on a daily basis. Peptide therapy can also be a good assistant for immunity because it can encourage the development of T-cells.

Vital RX has developed an immune-boosting subscription box that contains an assorted group of peptides and supplements to help keep your immune system running optimally all winter long. The Vitamin D3 promotes the absorption of vital nutrients calcium and phosphorous, and the gluten-free multivitamin acts as your everyday vitamin.

The box also has CJC, a powerful amino acid peptide designed to assist the body in protein synthesis by improving sleep, lessening injury recovery time, and boosting energy levels. Also included is the immune modulator peptide Thymosin Alpha, which leads to a heightened immune function, less overall fatigue, and protection against oxidative damage.

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A new era of health care may be upon us, and that means that the old traditional ways of chemical medications and treatments could become secondary acts on the road to optimal health. Healthy eating and lifestyles are on the rise, especially in younger generations, because many Americans have realized that fast food and sedentary living aren’t working in their favor.

Studies have shown that just the simple act of making better choices when it comes to your health can extend life expectancy by as much as 14 years. This fact alone has led to the more widespread adoption of the practices involved in what are called “lifestyle medicines”.

What are lifestyle medicines?

Lifestyle medicines are categorized as ways of living that can dramatically improve one’s overall level of health, adding years to their life and improving their quality of life.

To actively engage in lifestyle medicines, a person has to practice specific habits. They include:

• Exercising regularly to promote physical and mental fitness.
• Making good food choices and eating a diet rich in wholefoods, vitamins, and minerals.
• Reaching and sustaining a healthy body weight.
• The complete avoidance of smoking.
• Limiting alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day.
• Avoiding or limiting overall stress.
• Getting adequate and regular sleep.
• Participating in relationships that are good for one’s mental and physical health.

Lifestyle medicines operate under the level of preventive medical care. The above factors should be adhered to at all times to help keep balance within the body, ultimately avoiding unnecessary disease and health issues later in life.

This type of daily routine is also a form of biohacking, which is a hot-button topic when it comes to lifestyle medicines. The concept is designed to give the power back to you when handling and controlling your health. It does so by allowing you to gain the health knowledge you need to essentially “hack” your system via trial and error with nutrition, exercise, and other health regimes.

How do lifestyle medicines work?

“Lifestyle medicine” may sound like a new-age term, but there is plenty of evidence to support its popularity in recent years. For example, in terms of the diet portion of this type of care, research has found a direct link between what we eat and how likely we are to develop chronic disease later in life. Some studies have even suggested that certain foods can eliminate or cure certain health ailments altogether, especially when it comes to mental health.

Mental health isn’t the only thing affected by lifestyle medicine, though. Weight loss, autoimmune disorders, fitness levels, sexual performance, cardiovascular health, and the onset of new chronic diseases can all be greatly impacted by different levels of healthy living. The process behind lifestyle medicine is simple: if you take care of your body before you become ill, it will take care of you.

Types of lifestyle medicines used today

Different lifestyle therapies can help enhance one’s overall health. For example, nutrition involves the consumption of foods that fuel the body with vitamins and minerals. However, sometimes nutrition is inadequate. This is where supplementation comes in. Many supplements offer to help balance out deficiencies that could lead to chronic disease if left unchecked.

Intravenous therapy is also used to help balance out deficiencies or increase the body’s overall level of hydration. It is used to efficiently get what the body needs directly to the source, as opposed to oral applications that could take longer and have to go through the digestion process, essentially limiting their absorption.

What is peptide therapy?

Peptide therapy is a broad term used to describe the number of therapies involved in different peptide usage. The body creates peptides naturally, and the small chain amino acids have different jobs. Some slow aging, while others can help increase muscle mass.

Research suggests that people undergoing peptide therapy receive supplementation of a lack of natural peptides, thus balancing out hormone levels within the body. The most notable form of peptide used in therapy is insulin.

Does peptide therapy work?

Peptides have been used since the early 1900s as a health remedy, and research has shown that they have the ability to work similarly to natural pathways.

Certain peptides that have been included in the treatment of various diseases include:

• Insulin to treat diabetes.
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone for seizure control.
• Calcitonin to treat osteoporosis.
• Oxytocin (synthetic) to manage pain.
• Vasopressin (synthetic) to treat dehydration caused by loss of water through urination.
• Octreotide (synthetic version of somatostatin) to help treat cancer.
• Leuprorelin (synthetic version of gonadorelin) to help treat prostate cancer.

These peptide therapies have been known to work in correlation with other forms of treatment in the past, or on their own depending on the condition.

What does the future of lifestyle medicines hold?

Lifestyle medicine continues to evolve as more and more people look to develop healthy habits as opposed to, or in addition to, receiving better treatment. Research has been hyper-focused on identifying different disease markers and risks that could be associated with the onset of new and chronic conditions.

Specific areas of study and interest in the future of lifestyle medicines include:

• Diet.
• Physical activity levels.
• Behaviors.
• Body weight.
• Adhering to treatment plans.
• Stress management.
• Coping mechanisms.
• Mind-body correlation and exercises.
• Substance abuse (including tobacco).

Along with medical advancement and new knowledge in the area, lifestyle medicine could eventually become a cornerstone in health care. With over 63% of world deaths being attributed to avoidable diseases, the time for lifestyle medicines is now.

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The human body is a symbiotic system. All its functions rely heavily on one another to run properly, and when one part breaks, the others are bound to suffer the consequences. For example, at first glance, one might not think that the brain and the gut have much in common. But research has shown that it’s quite the opposite, and that the bacteria in our gut has a direct effect on our mental wellbeing.

The mind-gut connection isn’t the only known integration when it comes to the health of the human body. The cardiovascular system works in conjunction with the lymphatic system and urinary tract to keep balance over the body’s levels of water, and the respiratory, muscular, and cardiovascular systems all play a role when it comes to regulating temperature. This commingling of organs and systems is what keeps you healthy.

The same can be said for fitness levels and the diet you consume. They may appear only tangentially related, but they can in fact have a huge impact on one another.

What’s the connection between fitness and food?

Fitness is sometimes considered to be synonymous with overall healthy body weight. This is due to the assumption that an obese person is less likely to be physically fit, and that they aren’t generally eating foods that fuel their body well enough (or they’re eating far too much of them). However, there’s more to the story when it comes to weight and fitness levels – and when considering physical fitness, so many more factors need to be taken into consideration.

Research out of the University of Texas at Austin found that there was a direct link between exercising regularly and healthier eating habits. When participants were more active, they made better food choices. The study came to the conclusion that moderate exercise could reduce cravings for high-fat foods by encouraging changes in dopamine levels in the brain.

What systems are most affected by exercise?

It’s been long known that the efficiency of the cardiovascular system is directly related to how much cardio exercise one gets (it’s right there in the name, after all!). Research has suggested that people who exercise more regularly are less likely to develop heart disease in the future because of stronger hearts, lowered cholesterol, and better circulation.

The respiratory system also benefits greatly from exercise. When you work out, your lungs bring much-needed oxygen into the body while releasing carbon dioxide. The two systems – the lungs and the heart – work together to bring in oxygen, release carbon dioxide, and then send oxygen to the muscles being used. This extra boost of oxygen to your muscles is what gives them the energy to keep moving.

The immune system also benefits from regular exercise. It does this by encouraging the proper processes of disease-fighting cells, as well as slowing down negative changes caused by ageing that could lead to a weakened immune function. It has also been proven that participating in physical activity can boost mental health by increasing blood flow to the brain and encouraging communication between several areas involved in mood regulation.

How can you improve your eating habits to improve your fitness levels?

Nutrition is said to be the most important part of fitness for one specific reason: weight loss. It’s no secret that eating well and losing weight go hand in hand. But being at an ideal weight isn’t the only reason to eat well when it comes to being physically fit.

Proper nutrition plays a huge role in optimal levels of health. Foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals give the body and its processes the energy needed to perform mentally and physically. Having these essential systems running smoothly will allow the body to perform better, thus enhancing your overall level of fitness.

Eating a wholefood diet with adequate levels of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins and minerals will also encourage apt performance when it comes to digestion, oxidation, and energy levels. This will allow you to put more energy into your exercise.

What should I eat if I work out every day?

There are many health claims that contradict one another when it comes to what to eat before or after working out to optimize fitness levels. Some people will swear by the keto diet, which is high-fat and low-carb, while others subscribe to plant-based diets, eliminating animal products. While there may be some truth to the benefits of both diets, it’s not that cut and dry.

There are, however, many things that a person should be eating if they want to build, maintain, or improve upon their level of fitness. For example, peptides are a type of hormone that get released during exercise to encourage proper levels of muscle energy and higher endurance. Taking a peptide supplement has been shown to increase stamina and lead to a more effective workout.

Other examples of vitamins and minerals that could help if taken every day are:

• Iron. Having sustained amounts of iron helps to increase oxygen circulation and keep the heart rate at healthy levels.
• Protein. This is responsible for the building and repairing of muscles.
• Antioxidants (Vitamin C, E). Vigorous exercise can often lead to oxidative stress. When this happens, the body is thrown off balance. Ensuring your body is getting enough antioxidants will help limit this lesser-known side effect of intense exercise.

What is the best food for fitness?

There is no one best food for fitness, but there are plenty of foods that should be eaten to have a well-rounded diet and a system that functions well enough to become more physically fit.

These foods include:

• Wholegrains
• Bananas
• Chicken or lean fish or turkey
• Olive oil
• Beans (black, kidney, pinto, white, red)
• Berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
• Hummus
• Greek yogurt
• Carrots
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Nuts (peanuts, almonds, cashews)
• Green tea
• Eggs
• Sweet potatoes
• Spinach
• Broccoli

This list is not exhaustive; however, it can help you begin your journey to fitness through diet.

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The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the state of the United States health care system into hyper-focus. The virus has made the most impact on older Americans and those suffering from preexisting health conditions, such as diabetes; however, it has also made waves throughout communities of all ages and with varying degrees of health status. This pandemic has changed the way many people, politicians included, look at the health care system.

The latest mainstream efforts in the overall health of the population include a lot of preventive medicine. Although this specific type of health care has been around for over a century, it has usually been operated as a secondary approach. In the book The Healthcare Imperative: Lowering Costs and Improving Outcomes, the authors stated that medical intervention prior to the onset of disease is the best way to prevent chronic illness, lower costs associated with treatment, and increase quality of life for all Americans.

What is preventive medicine?

Prior to advancements in the biomedical space, doctors of yesteryear attempted to prevent disease. When preventive medicine was first practiced, medical professionals devised three different ways to help lower the risk of developing disease.

They are:

• Increased dietary intervention and hygienic practices.
• Isolation of diseased persons.
• The use of the increased understanding of widespread disease for prevention advantage.

This type of preventive medicine used the avoidance of health issues and disease as a starting point as opposed to the treatment that follows. During that time, cures and medications were harder to come by, and so prevention was the best way to decrease illness. The same cannot be said for health care today, because as advancements in biomedical science have been made, the focus has shifted to a treatment-based system.

Now, preventative medicine is used to not only stop the onset of chronic illness, but also to manage and slow the progression in people currently suffering from diseases that are out of their control. There are three specific forms of preventive medicine practiced today:

• Primary: The complete avoidance of disease or illness through knowledge on best health practices and reduction of risk.
• Secondary: This form addresses risk-based factors including genetics and medical history to help prevent the worsening of a disease or the onset of new illness.
• Tertiary: The final form of preventive medicine puts its focus on lessening the overall health impact of a disease that is already established within a patient. It is designed to help people with illnesses live a better-quality life.

How does preventive medicine work?

Western medicine has done a great job of treating illness. According to one study, traditional types of medicine have led to the reduction of death by heart disease and stroke by 60 and 70 percent, respectively, since the 1970s. Other diseases such as HIV and cancer have also benefited from the advancement of western medicine. The way that preventive medicine works, however, is not by lowering the grave health risks associated with these types of diseases, but by avoiding their onset altogether.

There are several different types of preventive medicine. In terms of public health, physicians aim to work within communities to have a larger-scale positive effect. This is chiefly done through the use of nutrition as medicine; the spread of information on practices to avoid for optimal health (i.e. smoking, the overconsumption of alcohol etc.); and the rallying for new legislation regarding access to preventive health care measures for all.

Other ways preventive medicine works is by encouraging people to:

• Exercise regularly.
• Limit stress on both the body and mind.
• Vaccinate early.
• Utilize available screening programs.
• Practice prophylactic and antiseptic processes.

Is preventive medicine better than western medicine?

Conventional medicine aims to reduce health risk and increase quality of life for those suffering from chronic illness. Medical advancements have focused on upgrading the ways diseases are treated. Preventive medicine, on the other hand, is not designed to overhaul the current health care system, but to lessen the widespread need for treatment.

According to some research, eating a poor diet is a leading risk factor for the development of illness, disability, and death across the globe. Western medicine has the ability to tackle illnesses that are caused by poor diet; however, preventive medicine has the power to encourage and implement healthier food choices, which in the long run could prevent diseases entirely in a large portion of the population.

What is considered preventive medicine?

There are many types of medicine that could be considered preventative. As mentioned, diet, exercise, and the avoidance of tobacco and alcohol are all natural ways to lessen the risk of developing disease. Other methods used widely today as forms of prevention include:

• Screenings (cancer, mental illness etc.).
• Medication and supplementation usage (e.g. aspirin for cardiovascular disease).
• Immunizations.

Not all forms of preventive medicine are used as traditionally, though. Biohacking, for example, isn’t as widely pushed by medical professionals as a form of treatment or prevention, but it can go a long way towards the avoidance of new disease.

Biohacking is done by changing diet and lifestyle factors in small increments to improve health in the long run. There are two different forms of biohacking used in preventive medicine:

• Nutrigenomics: This type focuses on a personalized approach to diet and nutrition.
• DIY biology: Experts provide the knowledge needed to conduct certain ‘experiments’ on oneself to encourage health outside of a clinical setting.

Recent research has suggested that nutrigenomics can have a great impact on health, and can even slow the progression of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Due to nutrient-dependent processes in the body, eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals allows all organs and systems to function properly, thus limiting the progression and onset of disease.   

The bottom line

Although more research needs to be done on the economic stability and implementation of widespread preventive therapy, many studies have come to the conclusion that prevention of disease is just as important as the treatment of chronic illness after the fact – if not more so.

Having a healthier population can lead to decreased health care costs, longer lifespans and quality of life for the American population, and relief for the health care system as a whole. 

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