(NaturalNews) Prescription drug abuse is currently on the rise among all age groups, but particularly among the aging "baby boomer" generation born between 1946 and 1964. Millions of people from this generation who are now in their 50s and 60s are beginning to suffer the health consequences of their "party years," for which they are increasingly turning to drugs and other addictive substances and behaviors that, in many cases, are only making the problem worse.
A 2011 report issued by the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration explains that, between 2002 and 2010, rates of illicit and prescription drug abuse among individuals aged 50 to 59 has more than doubled. And by 2020, the availability of treatment services to deal with this growing addiction epidemic will also have to double just to keep up with this disastrous trend.
During a recent episode of 89.3 KPCC's
AirTalk, Dr. Westley Clark, M.D., Director of the
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics, explained to David Lazarus from the
Los Angeles Times that more than half of adults aged 57 to 85 now rely on a combination of
at least five or more prescription drugs just to make it through each day. And as most
NaturalNews readers now know, many of these drugs perpetuate even more health problems.
So what can you do to personally avoid the pitfalls of chronic health problems and drug addiction? If you fall into the baby boomer age category, your best bet is to
detoxify the toxins, poisons, and other chemicals that have built up in your system over time, and immediately
adopt a healthy lifestyle pattern that involves detoxifying on a regular basis, eating healthy meals, and exercising consistently.
Cleanse the toxins of your past, and start taking care of your body now
For many older people today, years of heavy alcohol consumption and drug use back in their 20s is now catching up with them in the form of chronic pain, digestive problems, cognitive decline, and various other persistent ailments. This is why detoxifying is so important, as built-up toxins tend to continue wreaking havoc on the body until they are forcibly eliminated.
A conventional diet combined with prescription drug use (or abuse), which is the route most people take, will never cure these ailments. But following a strict detoxification protocol such as the Lemon Detox or the Master Cleanse can make all the difference, and may even add a few extra healthy years onto your life. (
http://www.naturalnews.com/035854_lemons_detox_recipe.html)
As far as heavy metals and environmental toxins are concerned, these tend to build up in your body over time regardless of whether or not you were a party person in your younger years. Various bodily organs such as the liver and colon can also become overburdened by perpetual exposure to bio-accumulation of these and other toxins. More specific cleanses like the ones formulated by Dr. Richard Schulze have helped many people to recover from resultant chronic illnesses that they thought they would have to live with forever. (
https://www.herbdoc.com/)
Though still largely taboo, marijuana is also a powerful cleansing and healing food that promotes healthy neurological function. Juicing marijuana leaves, which are not psychoactive, is a powerful way to fight chronic inflammation, cleanse your cells, and even prevent and cure cancer and other chronic illnesses. (
http://www.naturalnews.com/035759_cannabis_juicing_health.html)
Some other specific foods and herbs that you can begin incorporating right now into your diet for regular health maintenance and cleansing purposes include cilantro, spirulina, chlorella, ginger, turmeric, parsley, silica, and coconut oil. You can learn more about how to detoxify your body by visiting the
NaturalNews detox reference page: (
http://www.naturalnews.com/detox.html)
Commit to living a life that cultivates longevity
Vibrant health is not achieved merely through detoxing, though, as you will need to commit to living a healthy lifestyle that includes not only regular detoxification, but also healthy eating, exercise, and even emotional cleansing and renewal. (
http://www.naturalnews.com/036850_toxic_thoughts_people_cleansing.html)
Particularly for aging individuals, fresh juicing every day with cleansing foods like celery, broccoli, carrots, apples, and spices, is important for health maintenance. Avoiding "clogging" and damaging foods like conventional meat and dairy, wheat products, refined and artificial sweeteners, genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), fluoridated water, and chemical additives is also important, as these substances will only exacerbate chronic health problems.
A healthy lifestyle also includes getting plenty of rest and relaxation, drinking plenty of clean water -- water is probably the most powerful
cleansing "food" you can consume -- participating in physical activities that keep your body moving, and cultivating relationships that enrich your spirit and help you effectively deal with the stresses of daily life.
Sources for this article include:http://www.scpr.org
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