Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Cristian Newman on Unsplash Anti-aging is one of the most common buzzwords in the health and nutrition world. This is because almost everyone is looking for that miracle product or food or treatment that can help them to look younger than they are. …
Bacteria is commonly thought of as negative. There are plenty of harmful bacteria that can lead to a number of risks when it comes to the bacteria inside of your body. But with harmful bacteria comes beneficial bacteria called Probiotics. Research suggests that choosing a …
A study performed by the University of Eastern Finland has found a link between higher serum Vitamin D levels and lower plasma cholesterol levels in primary school children.
Vitamin D, commonly called the ‘sunshine vitamin, is an essential nutrient that plays a major role in many of the body’s functions, including in the skin, hair and bones. Vitamin D has been shown to promote calcium absorption, support healthy cell growth and healthy immune function. Sources of vitamin D include the sun, some foods like fatty-fish and cheese (though small amounts), and supplementation.
Could a Vitamin Deficiency be to Blame for Your Hair Loss?
It has been estimated that approximately 70% of North Americans have Vitamin D deficiencies. This is due to a combination of factors: low levels of sunlight for most of the year, obesity, sun avoidance, and low consumption of foods high in Vitamin D such as fatty fish (salmon, tuna, sardines). Inadequate Vitamin D in the body often leads to conditions such as rickets and osteomalacia, which bring on symptoms like bone and muscle pain, enlarged joints, and easily fractured bones. Given the high prevalence of Vitamin D deficiency, this could be the most essential of all the conditionally essential vitamins.
Essential for bone health, recent studies have also shown low levels of vitamin D to be linked with higher rates of respiratory tract infections, auto-immune diseases and cardiovascular diseases.
Part of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study, a lifestyle intervention study in the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Eastern Finland, a total of 512 children ages 6 to 8 years old participated in the baseline measurements from 2007 – 2009. The PANIC study produces scientifically valuable information on children’s lifestyles, health and well-being.
Children whose 25-hydroxyvvitamin D levels exceeded 80 nmol/l had lower plasma total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels than children whos serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were below 50 nmol/l, which is often regarded as a threshold value for vitamin D sufficiency. 25-hydroxyvitamin D is the major circulating form of Vitamin D. These finding were reported in one of the leading journals of endocrinology, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
Photo by Rawpixel on Unsplash By Mariesette Zeyl, ND Did you know that we absorb up to 60 percent of what we apply on our skin? Yes, it is true! Anything you are putting on your skin is being absorbed into your body and into …
Photo by Rita Morais on Unsplash Hormones are the chemical messengers in your body that carry messages between your cells and organs, and control most of your bodily functions, from basic needs like hunger to complex systems like reproduction. They are created in the endocrine …
Summer is upon us, and that means we’re heading outside! This season can be great for the body (especially those Vitamin D levels) but there are some products that can help us stay healthy this summer – from your skin to your energy levels. Amanda Williams, MPH, Director of Nutrition for InVite® Health brings you the products you need this season.
For many, the summer brings oily, sensitive skin, especially on your face. The heat during the day can also dehydrate the skin and cause sun spots if you’re spending a long time out in the sun. And your sweat (especially if you love to wear hats) can lead to breakouts.
“Vitamin C, when paired with Marine Collagen, promotes Collagen production and targets sun-damaged skin to enhance your skin’s youthful appearance and firmness. Antioxidants like Alpha-hydroxy acid, Aloe Vera, and natural plant glycerin help to provide moisture and hydration for the skin. Red Wine Fruit extracts help target dead skin cells and functions as a barrier to impede future damage.”
Stay clear of parabens, petroleum, colorants, fragrances, sulfates and benzoic acid that can clog your pores and cause damage to your skin.
It is officially the season for shorts, sundresses, and bathing suits! And for many, that means keeping your legs smooth and free of hair. But shaving can cause irritation and damage to the skin, along with ingrown hairs, razor burn and bumps.
You’ll want a product that contains ingredients that tone, nourish and soften the skin, while protecting it from results of a close shave. Amanda reports, “Ingredients like Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Grape Seed, Witch Hazel and antioxidants like Lemon, Orange and Vitamin E oils should be in your go-to shaving product.”
You may also want to stay clear of foaming creams and gels. These are filed with air and can act as a barrier between the razor and your skin. Amanda explains, “A rich, dense balm or cream allows the razor to get as close to the skin as possible.”
Summer days means sweaty days. But not every deodorant on the market works efficiently and many actually contain harsh and dangerous chemicals, like aluminum.
“The best deodorants keep you smelling fresh with natural ingredients and actually kill bacteria that forms when you sweat. A deodorant using Rice Flour instead of the heavy metal aluminum is safe and will keep your dry all day long. Essential oils like Jasmine and Lavender will keep you smelling fresh and Witch Hazel helps to keep your underarms clean and free of bacteria that can grow in moist climates.”
Healthcare professionals have been advising the public to eat a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. But for many, getting the 5-9 servings a day can be difficult. While there is no replacement for eating fruits and vegetables, by including black-hued superfoods, you can support your body with antioxidants powerful enough to make a difference.
“Black-hued superfoods are high in fruit-antioxidants,” explains Amanda, “including mushrooms and cumin extracts, to help keep skin cells healthy. They also support energy and wellness that the body especially needs to keep up during those long, hot summer days. There is certainly something very special about black-hued superfoods.”
For many, drinking hot tea in the summer can seem difficult. Who likes to feel hot both on the inside and the outside? But the benefits that green tea provides are just too good to remove from your diet completly. The good news is that Green Tea is available in both capsule and tincture forms, where you can take one a day or add a few drops into your water bottle for the same benefits the original hot tea would provide.
“Green tea extact has been used as a tonic in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for superior health and longevity for centuries. This is due to its high concentrations of polyphenols and categchins, which tout numerous antioxidants benefits, especially because of ECGC,” explains Amanda.
EGCG has been shown in numerous clinical studies to inhibit the absorption of fat into cells, help burn fat, protect the digestive tract, rejuvenate skin cells and help fend off UV-damage from the sun.†
There are many factors that make the cells and tissues work properly throughout our bodies, but one of the most important are our pH levels – potential of hydrogen. This is a measurement of hydrogen ions in a particular solution; the more ions, the more acidic.
When you eat too many acid-forming foods (as many Americans do), the kidneys can’t always keep up with the acid waste and it can eventually accumulate in our tissues. Consuming those 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, can help the body maintain alkalinity. But, for many and as previously mentioned, that serving size is difficult to achieve.
“A blend of specialized nutrients like Magnesium, Potassium and Beta-Alanine can help rebalance the acid-alkaline ratio in your body to reinstate important minerals needed for your muscles, cells and bones. During the summer, Alkalizers are important to rehydrate your body from sweat loss.”