Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Falling Into Fall written by: Noreen Kodula, Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP) As the children return to school our exposure to seasonal crud increases. We traded summer sunshine for crowded indoor spaces and recycled air. Then comes the holidays laden with sugary treats; candy, pies, …
Heart Health As We Age (part 1) Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Keeping our hearts healthy as we age is an important part of healthy aging. However heart health is a huge topic that can take forever to go over! For the sake of this blog …
What is Healthy Aging?
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Healthy aging is one of those new trendy buzz words that tends to pop up all over social media. Due to this popularity I wanted to do a new series on this topic. But what even is healthy aging? Before we can really dive into this topic it is a great idea to start at the beginning by talking about what we even mean by healthy aging. Let us get into it, shall we?
Everyone gets older. We go from being infants to toddlers, children to teens and before you know it middle age approaches and then bam you qualify for a senior discount! But not everyone ages the same way. There are 5 pillars of healthy aging. One goal of these pillars is to maintain your overall wellbeing. Another goal of these 5 pillars is to maintain productivity and activity level. Another of the goals of these 5 pillars is to promote being able to maintain your independence. Lastly these 5 pillars of healthy aging also work towards the more obvious goal of maintaining a strong, healthy body and reducing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease. And of course, we can’t forget how healthy aging involves our overall mental health as well as our physical health.
All that being said, what are the 5 pillars of healthy aging? The first pillar is nutrition! A nutritious eating plan affects all aspects of our health both physically and mentally. The more nutritious your diet is the easier it is for your body to handle age-related illnesses.
The second pillar of healthy aging is physical activity. Physical activity can help maintain a strong body. Exercise can also help with mental health as you age. As we also know, exercise can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease.
Social engagement is the 3rd pillar of healthy aging and is considered an important aspect of overall health. In fact, studies have shown how seniors who have a healthy active social life are less likely to have chronic illnesses. They are less likely to develop physical disabilities and even mental illness.
The 4th pillar of healthy aging is mental stimulation. In fact research has shown that seniors that engage in activities that provide mental stimulation can reduce the progression of Alzheimer’s disease by up to 65%! Remember healthy brains are important for healthy aging.
Lastly, the 5th pillar of healthy aging is to maintain meaningful activities and relationships. Studies have found that maintaining healthy connections can improve overall health and well-being. (1) Throughout this series on aging we will review the most common aspect of aging and how you can age in health. Here are some fun ways to incorporate different Invite nutrients into your diet to stay healthy! And as I always say don’t be afraid to experiment. Have fun!
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Staying Hydrated in the Summertime Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One of the downfalls of summer’s warm weather is dehydration. Being dehydrated is more than just feeling a little thirsty. When you are dehydrated you have used or lost more fluid than you take in. This …
Lyme Disease Part 4 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I think by now it is clear to see that Lyme disease is more complex than just a virus that causes a rash. Threw out this series on Lyme I have talked about the complications that can …
Lyme Disease part 3
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I hope you have been enjoying this conversation on Lyme disease. I want to start today’s blog by talking about something that in my opinion doesn’t get enough attention, chronic Lyme disease. I am also going to talk about the supplements you should consider when you have Lyme disease. In this part I will be focusing on what you can do to help support your body while you are taking the powerful antibiotics that are typically used to eliminate Lyme disease. Did you know that there are certain nutrients that have been found in studies to help the antibiotics do their jobs better? Well do not worry, I will be talking all about it! It is a lot to talk about so let us get into it, shall we?
Let us start with some definitions. Post Treatment Lyme Disease symptoms (PTLDS) are different from Chronic Lyme disease. PTLDS is defined as having symptoms even though the infection has been treated and eliminated. Doctors are unsure why symptoms persist when you have PTLDS. The diagnosis of Chronic Lyme indicates there may be a persistent infection, immune dysregulation, or even untreated Co- Infections. (1, 2) While you may have heard of PTLDS you may not have heard of Chronic Lyme. Part of the reason for this is because many doctors do not acknowledge Chronic Lyme as a diagnosis. In my experience as a Naturopath Chronic Lyme is a real concern for many people and deserves to be acknowledged.
Symptoms of PTLDS and Chronic Lyme can include fatigue, body aches and difficulty thinking. You may have a feeling that something is wrong and “you just don’t feel right.” You may feel as though your brain is full of fog. You may become sensitive to light and sound. You may experience mood changes. This can include feelings of depression and anxiety. This can include social isolation, inability to work and even loss of identity. You may notice that your immune system is persistently active. These symptoms occur after being treated for Lyme disease. I do want to mention that the earlier your Lyme disease is treated the less likely you are to experience chronic symptoms. (1, 2, 3)
How can you determine if your symptoms are caused by Chronic Lyme disease or PTLDS? In my experience the only way to really know what is going on is to work with a professional. For example, a Lyme specialist or a holistic doctor such as a Naturopath.
What can you do to reduce Lyme disease risk? What supplements do I usually recommend for those with Lyme disease?
Our last blog will be part 4. In this part I will focus on more of the complications that can happen because of Lyme disease. These complications can occur due to Chronic Lyme or PTLDS. The supplements I will be reviewing w. e helpful no matter what stage of Lyme disease treatment you are in.
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