Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
On today’s episode, Amanda Williams, MPH discusses the appropriate blood tests that provide an accurate indication of how well your thyroid is functioning and the specific nutrients that can help optimize it.
With so many keto products on the market, how do you know that the InVite® Keto Carb Blocker can work best for you? Here is the evidence behind the ingredients that make up a product that is the perfect addition to your keto lifestyle.
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On today’s episode, I will be discussing the thyroid gland. This is very complex – there are a lot of things that happen within the gland that regulate so many aspect of our health. Many individuals are oftentimes unaware about just how critical it is. So, I’m going to break all of this down for you and give you some tips as to what you can be doing when it comes to nutrients and blood testing in its regulation.
Defining Healthy Thyroid Function
The thyroid gland is responsible for much more than what most of us give it credit for. Many times we just think of it as a hormone-secreting gland that somehow regulates our metabolism. And, therefore, has something to do with regulating and controlling our weight.
Now, we certainly know that that is one aspect. But you also have to recognize that the thyroid impacts every single cell in the body, including temperature regulation, how our cells receive nutrients, the ability to detoxify our cells, and more! We also know that the thyroid has a major impact on heart health and your skeletal muscles.
“More doctors in this country are writing out more prescriptions for the thyroid than any other prescription in the United States.”
– Amanda Williams, MPH
Thyroid Dysfunction
Thyroid dysfunction is really prevalent in the United States; it is estimated that a good 20 million Americans are dealing with it. But we also know that, within this condition (commonly called hypothyroid) when you look at the most commonly prescribed medications year after year across the country, Levothyroxine (or Synthroid™) is consistently is at the top, as the most prescribed medication. This means that more doctors in this country are writing out more prescriptions for the thyroid than any others in the United States. But still, many are unsure as to what it is they should be doing to follow a healthy lifestyle while living with this condition.
The function of this gland is to produce hormones into the blood stream. It is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the base of the neck. If you are lacking the proper release of hormones from the thyroid gland, you can have start to display numerous symptoms, including:
Roughly five out of every 100 Americans have this condition. So how do you know if you have an issue with your thyroid? Tune in to our next episode for more information.
We’re in the middle of winter and people are concerned about the flu going around (and rightfully so). In this episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. discusses evidence on how Nucleotides can support healthy immunity.
In today’s episode, Jerry Hickey, Ph. discusses the importance of fish oils in your diet, specifically krill oil in the support of heart health.
We’re right in the middle of cold and flu season. Be sure you have the tool you need to protect your body and avoid getting sick this winter. Here’s what you need, according to Chief Scientific Officer and Pharmacist, Jerry Hickey, Ph.
Usually, the flu virus is spread through droplet infection – sneezing and coughing. Breathing in droplets expelled into the air by an infected person’s cough is the most common route. These droplets can land in your eyes or become inhaled into your nose. In addition, if they land on your face and you then touch your mouth, eyes, or nose, you may become infected with the flu virus.
Here are some tips to avoid contracting the flu virus:
The flu virus can last long enough on objects outside of the human body to contribute to spreading infection. Studies have shown that flu viruses generally can survive on surfaces (such as phone receivers and doorknobs) between 2 to 8 hours, depending on the environment. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water will help protect you from contracting the flu this way. Alcohol wipes and hand sanitizers can help disinfect hands as well as surfaces if they’ve been touched by someone infected with the flu virus.
Once the flu virus is introduced into your system, the virus multiplies quietly in your body until symptoms of the disease begin to show. This takes about two to five days and is referred to as the incubation period. The flu is most contagious at the peak of the infection, when symptoms like sneezing and coughing are the most active.
Usually the flu virus is contagious for five to seven days in adults. Young children can be contagious for as long as ten days to two weeks. According to the CDC, people with compromised (lowered) immune systems – such as people with AIDS or people taking drugs to prevent transplant rejection – can spread the flu virus for weeks or months after infection.
Numerous clinical studies show that NAC and Green Tea may decrease the risk of developing upper respiratory tract infections, including the flu (NAC and Green Tea) and cold viruses (Green Tea).†
NAC is a stable form of the amino acid Cysteine. It is used by the body to make glutathione, a very important antioxidant. Studies show that people with illnesses associated with a breakdown of the immune system are often deficient in glutathione. Taking NAC throughout flu and cold season has been shown to decrease the risk of contracting the flu in both college-aged and elderly subjects. NAC is mucolytic; meaning it has the added benefit of helping to break up mucous.†
Click here for Independent Research Studies on NAC
Green Tea contains organic compounds with antiviral properties that can help to battle influenza strains. Green tea supplements in capsule form may prevent some cold and flu symptoms, and green tea in liquid form can help to relieve nasal congestion.†
Medicinal Mushrooms such as Maitake mushroom, Shiitake mushroom, and Reishi mushroom can help strengthen the immune system by activating or modulating T-cell function, NK cells, macrophages, T-lymphocytes, and cytokines supporting your ability to resist infection.†
Astragalus Herb is a legume that enhances immune function by increasing the activity of certain white blood cells which, in turn, leads to greater production of antibodies. It also increases the production of interferon, an anti-viral agent naturally produced by the body. In addition to enhancing immunity, Astragalus has antibacterial, adaptogenic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. It owes most of its immune-enhancing effects to polysaccharides, a group of complex sugars responsible for initiating the immune response. For best results, take astragalus prior to infection if you’ve come in contact with an infected person.†
Nucleotides are found in abundance in each of the body’s trillion-plus cells. Nucleotides are tiny building blocks of RNA and DNA. RNA and DNA serve as the blueprints for every cell in the body. Nucleotides provide the raw material to dramatically increase white blood cell production. The immune system can then deploy its army of white blood cells to readily take down any invaders. Research shows that nucleotides can significantly diminish the symptoms and duration of the common cold. In research trials, nearly all patients on a therapeutic course of nucleotides reported significantly less discomfort associated with cold symptoms, and a substantially accelerated recovery. Research also shows that nucleotides balance immune function, by increasing the ability to fight infection. In terms of the flu, nucleotides work best to improve recovery from the virus.†
Olive Leaf contains a biologically active compound called Oleuropein, which has strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. Specifically, it disrupts the growth of bacteria and viruses and also benefits the activity of important cells. Olive leaf extract has been shown to be effective against virtually all of the viruses and bacteria on which it has been tested. Laboratory studies suggest that olive leaf extract interferes with the establishment and spread of viral infection, either by rendering viruses incapable of infecting cells or by preventing them from reproducing.†
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Assisting Scientific Director and Pharmacist Jerry Hickey is a team of nutritional professionals – a group of hand chosen, dedicated experts, available at each and every InVite® Health retail location – there to provide you with a FREE, personalized, and professional nutritional consultation. Visit an InVite® Health retail location near you for assistance in selecting the correct nutrients to address your health concerns.
You can also e-mail an InVite® Nutritionist or call us directly with any of your nutritional questions. The InVite® Health team is always available to assist you.