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By Nora Apothecary Health Care, Supplements

Do Pharmacists Make Good Health Coaches?

According to a study published in the International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, pharmacists are well suited to serve as health coaches due to their extensive knowledge and understanding of medications, clinical experience, and patient-centered approach. This expertise can be used to help patients make healthy lifestyle changes, manage chronic illnesses, identify and reduce medication risks, and improve overall health outcomes. 

As health coaches, pharmacists can provide personalized care that is tailored specifically to an individual’s needs. For example, they can offer tailored advice on nutrition and diet, exercise habits and activity levels, stress management techniques, smoking cessation programs, and other lifestyle modifications that could lead to better health outcomes. Furthermore, the pharmacist’s direct interaction with patients allows them to address common questions about medications or specific treatments.

The role of a pharmacist as a health coach does not end with providing advice; pharmacists have the opportunity to build strong relationships with their patients through regular follow-up calls or in-person visits. These interactions often become more meaningful than simply discussing medical issues; instead they focus on creating a bond between the patient and the healthcare provider. This kind of relationship strengthens over time as communication improves between both parties; such long-term relationships are difficult to establish when dealing with traditional healthcare professionals who often take a more transactional approach when dealing with their patients. 

In addition to providing personalized care for individuals seeking better overall wellbeing through healthy lifestyle choices or managing chronic conditions through medication regimens, pharmacists also facilitate preventive care services such screenings for high blood pressure or diabetes. Pharmacists have a unique advantage over other healthcare providers in this regard because they are usually more accessible than physicians or nurses due to extended hours worked at pharmacies compared to traditional healthcare practices – hence allowing them better opportunities for preventative care services delivery as well as improved access for those who need it most urgently. 

Pharmacists also have the opportunity to provide much needed education about disease prevention and help manage certain ailments like hypertension, diabetes, etc., all while making sure that people stay on track with any medications prescribed by their doctors. 

In conclusion, pharmacists possess many qualities that make them ideal candidates for health coaching roles across various practice settings including providing personalized counseling services addressing topics such as nutrition, stress management, sleep and other health-related topics in order to help individuals achieve better overall wellbeing. In addition, their extensive knowledge of medications combined with direct interactions with their clients allow them to forge meaningful long-term relationships which further enhance patient engagement within the healthcare field resulting in improved health outcomes overall.

By Nora Apothecary Health Care, Supplements

What Kind of Nutrition Do I Need After a Workout?

When it comes to recovering after a tough workout, proper nutrition can be just as important and beneficial as the physical exercise itself. Eating the right foods can help your body recover more quickly, reduce fatigue and soreness, refuel your energy stores, and even help you build muscle mass faster. Health coaches and fitness professionals often recommend certain types of food in order to maximize recovery time and performance.

Carbohydrates are one of the most important macronutrients when it comes to post-workout recovery. Complex carbohydrates such as brown rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes and whole-wheat bread provide sustained energy for your entire body. Other healthy carbohydrates can also be beneficial for replenishing glycogen stores in your muscles after strenuous exercise. These sources of carbohydrates are typically found in fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, berries or sweet potatoes.

Eating a balanced meal that contains protein is also key for proper post-workout recovery. Protein can help build muscle tissue and stimulate muscle growth while providing essential amino acids required for tissue repair. Sources of lean protein such as lean meats, fish, skinless poultry or eggs should be included in any post-workout meal plan along with complex carbs and healthy fats such as avocados or nuts.

Healthy fats are an important part of any post-workout meal plan because they provide essential fatty acids that the body needs to properly metabolize fuel sources. These types of fats can also help reduce inflammation caused by intense exercise which helps speed up the recovery process. Healthy fat sources include olive oil, salmon, avocados and nuts such as almonds or walnuts.

In addition to eating a balanced post-workout meal that includes all three macronutrients (carbs, proteins and fats), health coaches may recommend supplements like electrolytes tablets or powders to aid with hydration after exercising intensely for long periods of time. Electrolytes replace lost minerals from sweat during exercise which helps improve athletic performance by keeping the body well hydrated over extended periods of activity or competition.

It’s also important to refuel within 30 minutes after completing a workout in order to maximize gains made during exercise sessions while helping your body recover faster than normal between workouts sessions; this is known as nutrient timing among health coaches and fitness professionals alike who want their clients to reach peak performance levels on a consistent basis. Lastly – but certainly not least – don’t forget about getting plenty of restful sleep each night! This helps restore strength by allowing muscles to rebuild themselves while providing stress relief from both physical and mental exhaustion related to intense training regimens.

To sum up: Proper nutrition plays an integral role when it comes to recovering from tough workouts along with getting adequate rest and hydration throughout each day’s activities. A balanced diet consisting of complex carbs, lean proteins and healthy fats; combined with proper supplementation (electrolyte tabs/powders) and nutrient timing will help individuals achieve peak performance levels almost instantly; however – nothing replaces good old fashioned rest when it comes down to maximizing gains made during vigorous workout sessions.

By Nora Apothecary Compounding Pharmacy

How Does a Concierge Pharmacy Differ from a Traditional One?

A concierge pharmacy is an exciting new health care option for those looking for an alternative to traditional pharmacy care. A concierge pharmacy is a service-oriented model of pharmacy that places the patient and their health at the heart of what they do. These pharmacies provide personalized, in-depth care that focuses on the individual and their unique needs when it comes to health and medication.

Concierge pharmacies are tailored to the individual and understand that each patient requires a different level of support. Working closely with the patient, the pharmacy team takes the time to get to know them, their needs, lifestyle and any medical issues. The pharmacists work with the patient’s doctor to provide a tailored approach to healthcare. 

At a concierge pharmacy, the emphasis is on providing personalized care to patients. They focus on improving the health outcomes of patients and providing access to medication and healthcare products in a more accessible and personalized way. Through the concierge pharmacy model, pharmacists are able to provide individualized consultation and care, which can involve coordinating with other healthcare providers, and developing personalized plans to address each patient’s unique needs.

This type of pharmacy service provides a higher level of care than a traditional pharmacy. This can include enhanced communication, personalized medication management, and greater access to resources. Patients of a concierge pharmacy can expect to have an advocate on their side that understands their situation and takes the time to provide personalized support and advice. 

Concierge pharmacies offer an array of services that enhance patient health. These services can include comprehensive medication review and reconciliation, access to specialty medications and complex compounding services, coordination with health care providers for medication management, adherence interventions, and patient education, among other services. With these services, concierge pharmacists can help patients better understand their diagnosis, health plan, medications, reduce the risk for adverse drug interactions, and increase the chance that patients will stay adherent to their medical regimens.

The concierge pharmacy model is an innovative way to provide care and medication that is tailored to the individual needs of each patient. By offering personalized service and care, concierge pharmacists can play an important role in improving patient health and outcomes.

Concierge pharmacies are a great way to get personalized care and the attention you need to make sure you are taking your medications correctly and getting the most out of them. The goal of a concierge pharmacy is to provide their patients with an extraordinary healthcare experience. By focusing on the individual, offering enhanced communication and personalized services, these pharmacies help ensure patients receive the best care possible, which leads to better health outcomes. 

By Nora Apothecary Nora 360 Health

What is Health Coaching?

Health coaching is an increasingly popular form of personalized health and wellbeing support. It is designed to help people reach their health, nutrition and lifestyle goals. A health coach offers professional guidance, support and accountability towards those goals. It is a collaborative approach to wellbeing that focuses on making lifestyle changes to enhance overall health. This can include things like improving nutrition and physical activity habits, losing weight, or reducing stress.

Health coaching takes into account your individual needs and lifestyle. A health coach will work with you to identify which changes will work best for you and your lifestyle, as opposed to one-size-fits-all advice. Your coach will discuss your goals, assess your current lifestyle and discuss practical strategies to help you move forward. This could include dietary changes, physical activity recommendations or ideas to help you manage stress. Health coaches provide personalized guidance and support to help clients identify their goals and create an action plan to reach them.

From a nutrition perspective, a health coach will help you to create a nutritional plan tailored to your individual needs. This might involve setting simple and achievable goals, exploring food preferences, discussing portion sizes and making any necessary adjustments to ensure that you feel comfortable and can stick to the plan. Ultimately, a health coach will help you to choose the right nutrition and lifestyle choices to best reach your goals. For instance, a health coach may help clients make dietary changes that support their health. This may involve learning how to read nutrition labels, understanding food portion sizes, and modifying their diet to reduce carbs, fats, and sugars. For those looking to lose weight, a health coach may provide advice on how to create a calorie deficit while still getting enough nourishment, and suggest the right balance of physical activities such as walking, running, and weight training.

As you can see, health coaching provides personalized guidance and support and is a great way to get the encouragement, advice and accountability you need to help you reach your health and wellbeing goals. With an experienced health coach to guide you, you’ll find yourself making healthier choices with confidence and feeling better than ever. At Nora Apothecary, we are licensed healthcare providers who offer a more in-depth take on traditional health coaching. We review your medications and supplements, labwork, symptoms, and stressors, among other things, and make recommendations, whether it is for a specific condition or diagnosis, or helping you find the cause of your symptoms. We’re here to be your partner in your health.

By Nora Apothecary Nora 360 Health

Gut Health and Immunity

You’ve probably been hearing more lately about the connection between your gut and your immune system. In fact, 70% of your immune system lives in your gut, which is why what we put in it is so important. 

And if you’re part of the 77% of adults (according to KRC Research) looking for particular foods and products to support your immune system, we’re here to help. 

Let’s start with what is your gut and what does it consist of. It’s home to thousands of different species of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes. We call this your gut microbiome. Some bacteria are beneficial and others are associated with poorer health outcomes.

When your gut microbiome is healthy it includes a wide range of different beneficial bacteria and helps regulate your immune system so it can respond to injury or infection, but doesn’t attack healthy body tissue.

The link between nutrition and immune system response was recently illustrated with a ZOE COVID Symptom Study that discovered that people who consumed a gut-friendly diet, including lots of plants, were 40% less likely to have severe symptoms or require hospital treatment. 

Besides your immune response, the health of your gut can also affect certain types of inflammation; acute inflammation – which is a healthy defense response, and chronic inflammation – an unhealthy attack on your body, which occurs over time and causes chronic diseases. 

A bruise or a cut after an injury with redness, swelling and heat are signs that cells in that area are sending signals to specialized immune cells to fight infection and repair damage. This is known as acute inflammation.

There’s also chronic inflammation which is caused by a number of factors including long-term stress, poor diet consisting of too many processed foods and refined sugars, and lack of exercise, among others. Improving gut health helps to decrease chronic inflammation. Left untreated, chronic inflammation can negatively impact your health including by increasing the risk of serious conditions like obesity, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

Based on research being done at MD Anderson, patients who harbor certain good gut bacteria have better responses to immunotherapy that’s used to treat cancer. In fact, scientists believe that giving patients a fiber-rich diet of fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts and whole grains to nourish the microbiome might improve the odds that the cancer treatment is effective. In another study, patients were given daily meals that included as much as 50 grams of daily fiber, about twice the recommended amount, and findings showed that every five-gram increase was associated with a 30% lower risk of death or cancer progression.

So what foods should you eat? Start by increasing your fiber intake. Plants are a great source of prebiotics (plant fiber) that feed your beneficial gut bacteria. Fiber found in plants is insoluble, and adds bulk to the stool which can help food pass more quickly through the stomach and intestines.  Soluble fiber is found in oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables. It is also found in psyllium, a common fiber supplement. Soluble fiber attracts water and slows digestion, helping bacteria to ferment and make very important short-chain fatty acids that promote the growth of healthy bacteria. 

Increasing your fiber intake can alter and improve the type of microorganisms in your gut in just a few weeks. Some good high natural sources of fiber include: 

  • Asparagus
  • Beans 
  • Berries
  • Broccoli
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Legumes (like peas, green beans, chickpeas, and lentils)
  • Whole grains

Probiotics (live bacteria and yeasts) are also beneficial and can be found in fermented foods including: 

  • Yogurt
  • Kefir
  • Kimchi
  • Fermented sauerkraut 
  • Cottage cheese with live cultures

With yogurt, it’s important to read the label as all probiotic touted foods are not created equal. Many yogurts have added sugar and additives which should be avoided. To make sure the product you pick is filled with gut-healing benefits, look for the words “live active cultures” and “lactobacillus” (a gut-healthy bacteria). Since it also produces the enzyme lactase, yogurts with this ingredient may be easier for people with dairy intolerance to digest. Studies suggest probiotics may also reduce irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, like pain and bloating, and reduce the itchiness and pain associated with eczema.

Here are some yogurt brands to consider:

  • Chobani (non fat plain)
  • Stonyfield Farm Organic (plain whole milk)
  • Fage Total (2% milkfat plain)
  • Brown Cow (whole milk plain)
  • Nancy’s Organic (low fat plain)
  • Maple Hill Creamery (whole milk plain)
  • Wallaby Organic (whole milk plain)
By Nora Apothecary Compounding Pharmacy

When Might I Need a Custom Compounding Pharmacy?

Let’s start with what a compounding pharmacy is and does. A compounding pharmacy is a pharmacy that prepares customized medications for patients. This may include medications that are not available in standard formulations, or medications that require dosage adjustments based on the patient’s individual needs. Some patients may need a medication that is not commercially available, while others may need a medication that is available, but requires a dosage that is not available in big box pharmacies. Additionally, some patients may find that they have sensitivities or allergies to certain ingredients in traditional medications. Compounding pharmacies also prepare custom medications for use in veterinary medicine.

How Does It Work?

When you visit a compounding pharmacy, the pharmacist will take your information and create a medication specifically for you. This process involves taking into account your medical history, any allergies you have, and the results of any recent lab tests. The pharmacist will talk with your doctor and determine the appropriate medication dosage to create a medication for your individual needs.

The compounding pharmacist then selects the appropriate drug ingredients and combines these ingredients in the correct dosages to create the desired medication. The finished product is then dispensed in either pill, capsule, liquid, cream, or other form, whichever is most convenient for you. The custom medication can also have flavoring added as needed, which is especially helpful for children or pets.

Compounded medications can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including:

  • Pain management
  • Menstrual cramps
  • Migraines
  • Allergies
  • Skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis
  • Gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation and diarrhea
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Dental issues
  • Dermatological conditions
  • And many others!
By Nora Apothecary Compounding Pharmacy

What is the Difference Between a Compounding Pharmacy and a Regular One?

If you haven’t needed custom medications before, you may not even be aware that compounding pharmacies exist that specialize in helping you by creating prescription medications to your specifications.

While the two types of pharmacies are similar, the process by which they dispense your medication is very different. A compounding pharmacy creates custom medications from base ingredients for their patients (and their pets) as needed.

Unlike a big box pharmacy that dispenses a pre-mixed formulation, a compounding pharmacist begins with base drugs, combining and preparing them to create a medication to fit the individual patient’s needs.

Because the compounding pharmacist works with base ingredients, the dosage can be adjusted in very small ratios, rather than simply going with the closest commercially available option.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing, in contrast, makes drugs using pre-set formulas and dosages on a huge scale equaling millions of doses and formulas each year. There’s not much room for custom healthcare with that. Many drugs are also formulated for average body weights or primarily tested on one sex or the other, so they are more of a “one size fits all” approach.

Before the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was created, compounding was the only way medications were created and pharmacies were referred to as apothecaries. The pharmacist would assess the patient and take recommendations from the doctor before returning to the apothecary to hand-create a precise formula for the patient. Today, pharmacists at compounding pharmacies still work with patients and their doctors to create custom medications. If you break down the ingredients you’ll find that they are virtually identical from a chemical perspective; but they have been customized to remove an inactive ingredient that a patient might be sensitive to, or changed to another form like pill to liquid. Prescriptions are still required, as with a retail chain pharmacy.

However, there are three big differences between a traditional and compounding pharmacy.

  1. Dosage

A compounding pharmacy can create a custom dosage for you. If a pill you need only comes in 50mg and you need 100mg and don’t want to take two pills, a compounding pharmacy could make it in the proper dosage for you. They can also take into account your height, weight, gender, and age.

  1. Form

A compounding pharmacy can remake your medication into a more convenient form for you. That could include liquid, powder, capsule, cream, or ointment. Making your medication easier to take helps ensure you’ll take it which improves your health outcomes.

  1. Customizing

A compounding pharmacist can create a custom medication that can be added to a food or drink, or have a pleasant flavor added to make it easier to take, which is especially helpful for pets and children.

Here are some of the most common areas that compounding pharmacists help with in developing custom healthcare for patients.

  • Dermatology
  • Hormone therapy
  • Pain management
  • Pediatrics
  • Dentistry
  • Integrative Medicine
  • Ophthalmology
  • Animal/Veterinary Medicine
By Nora Apothecary Compounding Pharmacy

Who Benefits from Custom Medication?

Prescription drugs and related medications are an essential part of healthcare for many of us. In fact, it’s estimated that about 60% of the U.S. population takes one or more medications. And among those who do, data suggests that 25% take four or more.

While commercially available medication treats many conditions for millions of people, it’s a one-size-fits-all approach. In contrast, when you get your medication compounded, it’s made from scratch, specifically for you, without additives, fillers, preservatives found in many other medications, and in a specific dose that works best for you; not too much and not too little. With compounding, your medications can be customized even further into a dosage form of your liking, like a liquid or a cream.

At Nora Apothecary, our pharmacists can compound a generic drug or can combine different drugs for a patient’s specific custom medication needs. We can remove an allergic ingredient or convert the drug into a custom topical form. With custom compounded medication, we stay more aware of your response to a drug. From there, a custom medication is then created that’s safer and more effective for you. And if it’s easier to take, it’s more likely to be taken at the recommended frequency, which improves health outcomes.

Here are some of the people who can benefit from custom medication:

  • Patients with allergies
  • Children or adults who are averse to certain tastes
  • Patients who can’t swallow pills
  • Patients who need a medication that is on backorder at the chain pharmacies
  • Patients who need a drug that is in short supply
  • Patients who need a different strength for a medication than what is traditionally offered
  • Men and women who want custom and/or combined versions of hormone replacement therapy
  • Patients on hospice or palliative care who have issues that need to be addressed with a different form of medication
  • Patients with a feeding tube that need pills changed to liquid
  • Patients with pets who want an easier or tastier form of the pet’s medication
  • Patients who desire custom acne or skin condition medication
  • Patients with unique conditions, such as those who need eye medications
  • Patients who need dental compounding for a wide range of issues

 

As you can see, a compounding pharmacy offers many options. Let Nora Apothecary create a custom medication that helps optimize your health.

 

By Nora Apothecary Compounding Pharmacy

What is a Compounding Pharmacy?

A compounding pharmacy is a pharmacy that creates customized medications for their patients. This means that the pharmacy can create medications specifically for an individual’s personalized needs, rather than using a standardized medication. Compounded medications can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions, and can also be used to adjust the dosage form of your current medication regimen.

One of the benefits of using a compounding pharmacy is that it allows you to have greater control over your medication. This is because compounded medications can be tailored to meet each patient’s specific needs. For example, if you have difficulty swallowing pills, we can create a liquid form of the medication. Does your child have the same issue or are they sensitive to the dyes and preservatives in commercially available medication? We can change the dosage form and also compound medications without all the additives that chain pharmacy medications have in them. Or if you’re experiencing side effects from your current medication, we can create a purer formulation that removes the fillers, additives, and preservatives that may be causing some side effects. We can also change the form and flavor of medications for pets.

Compounded medications can also be useful if you’re dealing with a unique medical condition. For example, there are some medications that are only available in powder form, and compounding pharmacies can convert these powders into oral suspensions or capsules to make them easier to take.

There are a number of reasons why you might choose to use a compounding pharmacy. Some people prefer compounded medications because they are personalized to them and treat their individual needs. They can also reduce side effects from the conventional one-size-fits-all medications of big box pharmacies. Others like the convenience of having custom-made prescriptions in a form they prefer, such as tablet, liquid, or cream.

Why would I need compounded medications?

Here are some additional situations where a compounded medication would be better for you (or your pet). They include:

  • Changing a formulation to eliminate an inactive ingredient to which you have an allergy or sensitivity
  • Creating a medication that’s unavailable or on backorder
  • Custom creating your medication to a different strength or form

 

veterinary compounding pharmacy
By Nora Apothecary Veterinary Compounding ,

Tips for Choosing a Veterinary Compounding Pharmacist for Your Pet

As the weather changes seasons, many of us experiences allergy symptoms that can be agonizing without being able to alleviate them with medications. What you may not realize is that your pets can suffer from seasonal allergies and other allergies as well, and they might have intolerance to traditional medications. In these cases, you’ll need a veterinary compounding pharmacist for your pet in order to help to determine the best remedy for them.

Why Choose a Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy at All?

Medications for pets are different than medications for people, but there are some similarities in the additives. They might include things like wheat, eggs, dairy, or soy that contribute to allergies. A veterinary compounding pharmacy can customize medications for your pet, without the unnecessary additives, so that you can be sure the treatments used to treat your pet won’t exacerbate any conditions or allergies they might have.

Research Carefully

You wouldn’t go to a doctor without doing a little research first and you shouldn’t choose a veterinary pharmacist without checking them out either. Choosing a veterinary compounding pharmacist requires a little effort, but is worth it to ensure the health of your pet. Ask how long they have been creating custom pet medications, if they have only done a few or if they have a lot of experience creating them, and read or ask for patient testimonials.

If your pet is showing symptoms of allergies, have them seen by a veterinarian, and ask if a custom compounded medication that is free of additives and unnecessary ingredients would be a good option. Then speak with a knowledgeable veterinary compounding pharmacist to learn more about what options are available.

Don’t Try this At Home

As you research about natural treatments for your pet, you may be tempted to try and treat your pet on your own at home, but this may not be safe. While there are some natural ways to help your pet, only a licensed pharmacist knows how to safely and effectively create medications tailored to your pet’s specific needs. Nora Apothecary is one such veterinary compounding pharmacy with the experience and knowledge you need to get the superior service your pet deserves. Call to find out more today.