Pharmacy affects just about every aspect of your life. Whether you’re behind or in front of the pharmacy counter, pharmacy plays an important role various aspects of your life. 

That’s where your fitness comes in. Whether you’re wanting protein supplements or over-the-counter remedies, your independent pharmacy is there to help. 

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We’ve talked quite a bit about your health journey. No matter who you are, you have your own set of potholes, roadblocks, and traffic jams. Your fitness journey, on the other hand, smooths out some of those rough patches. 

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Marathon runners and treadmill walkers gather around — here’s how your health and fitness journey and your pharmacy experience compliment each other. 

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Workout Supplements

As you already know, your independent pharmacy is full of beneficial products, whether they be behind or over the counter. When it comes to your fitness journey, they likely provide a decent helping of vitamins and supplements. 

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Let’s start with the basics: protein powder. Protein powder is a go to for gymgoers who want to increase their muscle mass or at least maintain their frame without losing muscle. Either way, they are a gymgoing staple. 

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Most bottles of protein powder contain recommended serving sizes, but feel free to ask a pharmacist if they have other suggestions (talking to a doctor wouldn’t hurt either).

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Your pharmacy may contain an even wider range of fitness vitamins and supplements. Creatine is a commonly used pre-workout supplement that can increase your energy and strength, especially for more intense workouts. 

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All in all, your independent pharmacy has all the materials — and powder — you need to take your fitness journey to the next level. 

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Healthy Diet

They say good health is 20% exercise and 80% diet. Even the most disciplined workout regimens are no match for a bad diet. A healthy diet replenishes your body after a strenuous workout. Beyond that, it simply primes your body for a better bill of health. 

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A healthy diet provides a cleaner and more enjoyable lifestyle. A happy helping of fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins will give you more energy to take on the day ahead.

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Though the benefits of a healthy diet are self-explanatory, the CDC documents the following perks: 

• Longer life
• Healthier skin, teeth, and eyes
• Boosted immunity
• Stronger bones 
• Lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers 

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If it sounds deceptively simple, don’t worry: it really is that simple. A healthy diet makes your health and fitness journey smoother and easier to navigate. 

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Though it requires discipline and turning the other cheek with burgers and red meat, the long-term benefits greatly outweigh the short-term pleasures. 

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Visit our blog, The Good, Bad, and the Truth About Superfoods, to learn more about how some diet trends actually work.  

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Stay Properly Hydrated

Much of the link between pharmacy and fitness are self explanatory. However, within those basics are ways to truly excel in the name of good health. 

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Take hydration for example. Whether you’re running through the grueling summer heat or just basking in the sunlight, staying hydrated is an absolute must. 

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In virtually all cases, you can get by with standard bottled water (this writer prefers ice-cold water while running). However, your hydration doesn’t have to depend on a flimsy plastic bottle. 

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Per Family Doctor, you can stay hydrated with the help of several fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon, tomatoes, and lettuce. Soup broths, fruit and vegetable juices, and herbal teas are also a great source of hydration (though you might want to stay away from the steaming hot broth during the summer months). 

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Hydration is a key part of your health and fitness journey. Staying properly hydrated ensures your health levels are accurately represented. It’s easy to mistake thirst for hunger, which results in overeating. 

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Proper hydration also gives your primary care physician an accurate readout of your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, lowering any possibility of a misdiagnosis. 

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Staying hydrated is a simple but effective way to stay healthy. Proper hydration gives you and healthcare professionals a proper layout of your health and fitness journey. All it takes is a few (but big) gulps of good ol’ H20. 

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Mind Your Medications 

Many aspects of your life determine your health and fitness journey. The medications you take — and how you take them — can affect your overall fitness. 

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Prescription medications have their fair share of side effects. For example, a medrol dose pack, otherwise known as methylprednisolone, can cause unexplained weight loss or dry mouth, according to Mayo Clinic

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And that’s methylprednisolone on its own. Add drug interactions to the mix and your health and fitness journey suddenly becomes more difficult to navigate. Adverse drug interactions can change your health’s trajectory, and never for the better.

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This makes going to the same primary care physician and independent pharmacy extremely important. Staying with one establishment gives that doctor or pharmacist a clearer picture of your health and fitness journey. 

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They can better gauge how a certain medication works for a particular ailment. They will also know what medications to not prescribe based on your patient profile. 

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Though medications set you up for a smooth health journey, they can cause some preventable roadblocks if not treated properly. 

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Check out our blog, Look Out for These Drug Interactions, to learn more about some common — and not-so-common — drug interactions.

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Conclusion 

The relationship between your health and fitness journey with your pharmacy experience is a vital one. Though that seems obvious, it’s the inner workings of this relationship that becomes endlessly complex. 

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There are myriad ways that your fitness and pharmacy complement each other: the food you eat, how you stay hydrated, the medications you take, and so much more dictate your health and fitness journey. 

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Stay in close contact with your pharmacist and primary care physician. Start a dialogue with them, pick their brains, and raise any concerns you have about your health. No question is too big or too small. A concern is a concern, regardless of size. 

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Jumpstart your health and fitness journey with the help of your local healthcare professionals. 

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