Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
From a Naturopathic Point of View Part 4 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND The importance of western and holistic medicine working together! One of the key pathways to helping people become healthy is learning how to balance both western and holistic medicine. These 2 ways …
Krill Oil vs Fish Oil Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One of the most confusing topic’s in the vitamin world is the difference between krill oil and fish oil. I get asked pretty much all the time what exactly is the difference between the 2. …
ORGANIC, GMO/NON-GMO, CONVENTIONAL~ UNDERSTANDING THESE DIETARY TERMS
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
There are so many different terms when deciding what to eat that it can be confusing. There are also many different opinions on what is good for you and what to avoid, depending on who you ask. Let’s go over the most common terms and get an understanding of what exactly they are, that way you can make the best choice for you and your wellness goals.
ORGANIC is probably one of the most widely known and sometimes misunderstood wellness terms. You will usually find organic is also non-GMO, however it’s often not noting as both on a label. There are many ways for something to be considered organic, as well as different classifications of organic. These classifications include 100% organic, organic, made with organic and organic ingredients. To be certified organic, there is a specific process that is involved. Farmers keep detailed records and must adhere to strict guidelines to have an organic certification, as the product should be easily traced “from farm to table”. Some of these guidelines include, but are not limited to, quality of soil, water and feed (for livestock), living space (for livestock), appropriate vaccines and the absence of antibiotics, hormones and pesticides.
NON-GMO is a food or product that has not been genetically modified. These foods or products are as in a pure form as they are intended to be in nature. They are free of being genetically altered which may have negative effects on our health and well-being. Invite Health products are NON-GMO and they ALL go through a high standard of quality control testing and are cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) certified.
CONVENTIONAL is also often referred to as GMO (genetically modified) foods. Some of the most common foods and ingredients on the market that are genetically modified include corn, canola oil and soybeans. Conventional foods or products often are contaminated with such things as pesticides which can be a contributing factor to some diseases. GMOs may be a contributing factor in increasing ones risk of such health related issues like allergies and cancer.
Green Tea Tx is a concentrated green tea. It is both organically sourced, non-GMO and decaffeinated. Green tea is a powerful antioxidant that can be beneficial for a wide variety of health concerns. It has been shown to help lower risk of heart disease, is helpful for diabetics and supports weight loss. Green tea is also good for healthy skin as it has anti-inflammatory benefits. I like to add 2-4 droppers to a glass of water each day.
Organic Greens Plus Hx is a powder that can be added to water for easy consumption each day. It supplies organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, fiber and even a probiotic blend. It provides nourishment and digestive support for optimal wellness. I like to recommend a scoop in water in the afternoon as a “pick-me-up” treat.
I hope this has cleared up some of these terms as to what they actually mean and how they may effect ones health. In my experience, I choose non-GMO (first) and organic (second) when it’s available. However, it’s not a perfect system. I do always recommend whole, real foods as opposed to processed. For example, I’d rather someone use conventional fresh vegetables instead of organic canned vegetables. One’s personal budget is to be considered as well. For instance, using conventional ingredients for meals would be better than the organic and/or non-GMO processed foods. While fresh non-GMO and/or organic is best, I always recommend conventional, even if it’s GMO, fresh fruit over the organic cookies. This is a great example of where “just because it’s organic, doesn’t mean it’s better or even healthy”. How will you incorporate these terms into your daily wellness plan?
www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/organic-basics
www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/organic-food/art-20043880
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324576#summary
www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/food-genetically-modified
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019963/
www.worldfoodinformation.com/organic-vs-conventional-deep-dive/
www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-green-tea
From A Naturopaths Point of View Part 3 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Self-diagnosis? One of the most integral parts of a consult with an Invite nutritionist t is knowing exactly what is going on in your body. In other words it’s important to see …
Alcar with ALA Capsules Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One of the most popular products here at Invite Health has always been our Alcar with ALA formula. If you have been using Invite’s Alcar with ALA you may notice some changes to it! Now the …
From a Naturopaths Point of View Part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Third Party Consultations
One of the things we almost always mention is how you can call Invite for a consultation with a qualified nutritionist. You can even go to the website and schedule a consult for a time that’s best for you. However, there is one part of consultations that can be confusing. And that is the concept of third party consultations. To start with what exactly does the term third party consultation mean? Well it’s basically a consultation that is between a nutritionist and an induvial regarding someone else. In simple terms it’s when someone calls and asks questions about someone else’s health. Sometimes this is appropriate. However in many cases’ this is not appropriate and not something that is encouraged. Why exactly is it not appropriate? And just when is it ok? Well these are things that I’ll be addressing in this blog!
To start with when is it appropriate to do a third party consultation? For a minor child it is absolutely appropriate and even expected for a parent or legal guardian to call for them. Legal guardians are those who have both custody of the child and the authority to make decisions about the child’s health. (1) Very often grandparents will call with questions about what their grandchild should take. Unfortunately, since they are often not the legal guardian it is not appropriate for an Invite nutritionist to give medical advice regarding the child in question.
The next situation where a third party consult is appropriate is in the case of power of attorney where an induvial has been given the right to make medical decisions regarding another person. (2) One example would be if you’re the parent of an adult who is special needs. Another common example is a child whose parents are suffering from dementia. I know what you’re thinking, but Dr. Claire what if I need a translator because English isn’t my 1st language? Having a translator is fine as long as the person who needs the consult is involved in the conversation.
But why is it inappropriate and to be blunt dangerous to do third party consultations? To start with there is the concern that any supplements may interact with medications. In some case’s supplements can increase a medications effects. For example fish oil and blood thinners. In other case’s supplements can decrease the effects of certain medications, for example Vitamin K and Coumadin. And in some case’s supplements may have harmful or dangerous interactions with medications. As you can see this can be very dangerous. Remember just because someone is a close friend or even family it doesn’t mean you know all the medications they are on. On a similar note you may not know every single aspect of a friend’s medical history. In some cases depending on someone’s past medical history certain supplements may be inappropriate. For example for anyone with a history of seizures certain brain stimulating supplements would not only be inappropriate but in fact dangerous. Allergies are another concern that can lead to dangerous complications. It can be dangerous to assume you now everything a person is allergic to.
Lastly there is also HIPPA. Everyone is entitled to privacy. (4) Overall as you can see third party consultations, except in certain situations are both inappropriate and possibly dangerous. If you know someone who needs a consult feel to pass along Invite’s contact information!
Now for your pleasure – here’s some fun ways to use supplements!
Let’s talk about Alcar with Ala – the new capsule form!
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