by Frederick Cheng, R.Ph., and Christine Cheng, R.Ph.
Beauty is not skin deep. Neither is aging. Beauty, literally, comes from within; we need to provide the body with the necessary nutrients and building blocks to ensure the body stays resilient throughout our lives. The secret to longevity is to have preventative measures in place at an early age, and be aware of your changing body in order to address wear-and-tear issues, and disease states at early stages of the symptoms. Addressing the issues of stress and mental health can also have fundamental benefits.
Nutrition is such a tremendous pillar to healthy living that we mention it virtually in all of our articles. Start by adhering to a diet of adequate protein and high fiber, while keeping your intake of sugars and fats to a minimum. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as an “essential carbohydrate”, so your body can survive without dietary sugars. This type of dietary lifestyle will keep your hormones (such as insulin for sugar balance) functioning at optimal levels and also help maintain a low-inflammatory state.
The majority of us will experience osteoarthritis at some point in our lives. Prevention is key. Start early, even before you get the perpetual joint creakiness and achiness. The easiest and most effective supplement to ensure adequate daily nourishment would be Recovery Extra Strength, by BC’s own Purica. Effective adjunct treatments include fish-oils and essential fatty-acids, liposomal curcumins, antioxidants, collagen, and mineral blends. Many of these have numerous therapeutic uses as well. Chat with a knowledgeable licensed professional such as your integrative pharmacist or physician to discuss which supplements are safe to use together and/or in conjunction with your current medications, and the importance of using reputable, trusted brands such as CanPrev, Metagenics, CytoMatrix, Thorne, etc. Mental health should also be addressed with these professionals at an individual level.
Cosmeceuticals have come a long way in utilizing natural ingredients to keep us looking and feeling youthful. All-natural companies such as Richmond’s Viva Health Skincare has an effective line of topical serums, creams and lotions, developed and made locally in small batches for the past 20 years, to cover your whole stay-young routine, from cleansing, moisturizing, to skin-damage reversal; check out their Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Firming Eye Cream, Collagen and Kojic Acid Radiant Cream, and the phenomenal Amaze Cream. Similarly, Vancouver’s Riversol Skincare takes advantage of an ingredient from our abundant Pacific Red Cedar trees, beta-Thujaplicin, to form the basis of an effective line of topical products, such as their Daily Moisturizing Cream and Lotion, Anti-Aging Reparative Serum, SPF 30, and Firming Eye Cream. Di Morelli Skin Care, also based in Vancouver, has a comprehensive line that focuses on the use of natural ingredients; of note is their Vitamin C Serum, and Retinol Advanced Anti-Aging Serum. Unique oral supplements that include various blends of antioxidants and hyaluronic acid are also available, such as those by AOR and New Roots Herbal.
Aging gracefully does take some work, and, physiologically, “age” is not just a number. Fortunately, with the vast number of available oral supplements and topical solutions, integrative pharmacists such as those at Cloverdale Pharmasave and Pharmasave Steveston Village can help you prevent, delay, as well as treat symptoms and conditions associated with aging, so you can build resilience throughout your life, and maintain longevity.
Congratulations to Shop Cloverdale Magazine for 25 years of dedicated, passionate work, and becoming a resilient staple in our lovely community.
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Find them on Instagram and Facebook! Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore.
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