Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
RESVERATROL: THE ANTI-AGING POWERHOUSE By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Anti-aging means something different to everyone. Some of us associate anti-aging with skin care and physically looking younger than we are, while others think of maintaining a healthy heart and healthy brain function with …
Heart Health Anatomy Made Easy! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND The heart has been called the organ that never sleeps. Every day it beats on and on, keeping blood flowing throughout our body. Now I know when people think of heart health, the first …
Getting to know NAC (N-Acetyl L-Cysteine)
Dr. Claire Arcidiancono
During this time of year I often get asked “what can I do to help boost my immune system?” What can I do to help my lung health/ function? And perhaps the most common question at this time of year is what can I do about mucus and post nasal drip?? While there are many products that can help with these topics I wanted to highlight one of my personal favorites which is NAC. Let’s start simple. What exactly is NAC? NAC is an antioxidant that is made from an amino acid called cysteine. (1)
NAC is an amazing supplement for the immune system and the lungs. Studies show that NAC can help promote our immune system and can even protect our lungs from disorders such as pulmonary fibrosis which is seen in disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or as it is more commonly referred to COPD. (2) Studies also show that NAC can help improve many of the other symptoms seen in COPD such as lung function decline (in other words it helps keep our lungs working!). (3) NAC has also been found to help our lungs by reducing signs of bronchitis. (4) NAC has also been found to help with chronic lung conditions such as cystic fibrosis. NAC helps with other lung disorders such as nasal/ sinus congestion and even asthma. (5) In my clinical experience I have found NAC to be one of the most important supplements for anyone with asthma to use.
NAC also helps to promote our immune system and lung health by helping our body to make glutathione. This powerful antioxidant is very important in so many different aspects of health. One of its many jobs is to help our immune system do its job. (6)
One of the reason I like to recommend NAC is that in addition to boosting our immune system it also helps to kill pathogens or “bad guys” such as virus. Studies show that NAC is particularly good for respiratory health as it can decrease the incidence of pneumonia. New studies are finding that NAC helps improve disease outlook in those with COVID-19. (7) Other studies show that NAC helps to improve inflammatory markers and that leads to overall improved lung function! (8)
Now I know what you are thinking – that’s a lot of studies but what does it all mean on a practical note? It basically means that NAC helps to boost our overall immune system, it helps to kill any pathogens or “bad guys” and it is very important to overall lung health/ helping our lungs to work their best!
In addition to these benefits NAC is also very useful for breaking apart mucus. Having tons of mucus can lead to a post nasal drip which can then lead to a chronic cough. In this situation it is very important to breakdown the mucus so it can easily be eliminated by the body. Studies show that mucus clearance is improved with NAC. (9) The Mayo clinic even says that NAC thins and dissolves mucus! (10) In my clinical experience I find NAC to be very helpful for anyone with congestion or mucus or even a post nasal drip.
NAC does much more than just promote our immune system and lung health! It is also very good for our organs of detox. In other words NAC is beneficial for our liver and kidneys the 2 organs that are important in the detox process. NAC is also important for our eye health and our vision. Newer studies are coming out showing how NAC is great for improving our memory. Interestingly NAC has also been found to help with heart health. (11)
In summary NAC is one of the first supplements that I recommend to anyone who wants to boost their immune system, is suffering from a preexisting lung condition or just has seasonal allergies! I always like to recommend supplements that help promote overall health and given how many benefits NAC has it definitely fits the bill.
Immune Part Two: Dr. Claire Arcidiancono In our last blog we went over the innate immune system and how it works. In this blog we will be reviewing the adaptive immune system as well as inflammation. Lastly I will be doing a walk through …
Written by: Dr.Claire Arcidiacono, ND For further questions or concerns email me at carcidiacono@invitehealth.com† Chronic infections are a topic I find particularly important because they are related to so many different chronic and acute health concerns. When we speak of chronic infections it is important to understand …
ANTI-AGING AWARENESS: MY GO-TO RECIPES
by: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
September is Anti-Aging Awareness month, so I thought this would be a great time to discuss this topic. So many things fall under anti-aging, such as eye health, brain health, heart health and healthy skin. To start off, I wanted to share some of my favorite recipes and how I incorporate supplementation in to the process.
I SPEYE JUICE
3 large Organic Carrots
1 cup Organic Spinach
2 capsules Bilberry Extract
1 capsule Lutein Plus Hx
Juice or blend the carrots and spinach together. Add the contents of the Bilberry and Lutein Plus capsules into the juice and mix together. Drink and enjoy!
REMEMBER THE SMOOTHIE
1 cup Organic Milk alternative (kefir, oat, almond, etc.)
1 cup Organic Strawberries
1 cup Ice
2 scoops Collagen Hx
1 ½ scoops Cocoa Hx
1 scoop Cerebral Care
Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Poor into glass, drink and enjoy!
FOR THE LOVE OF BREAKFAST
½ cup Organic Milk alternative (kefir, oat, almond, etc.)
¾ cup Water
A pinch on Sea Salt
¼ cup Steel-Cut Oatmeal
1 scoop Reds Hx
Add milk, water and sea salt to a pan and bring to a boil. Add steel-cut oatmeal and stir. Reduce to a simmer. Stir occasionally until oats have absorbed all the liquid. Transfer to a bowl, top with Reds Hx and enjoy!
I HEART SALMON
1 3-4oz Salmon Filet
1T + 1t Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice of ½ Lemon
1 scoop Greens Hx
2 Fish Oil soft gels
Fresh cracked pepper and sea salt to taste
Pre-heat over to 375′. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and brush the center with 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Set salmon filet in center of sheet and season with fresh pepper and sea salt. Bake for 15-20. While salmon bakes, mix together 2 tablespoons of olive oil, juice of ½ lemon, the contents of 2 Fish Oil soft gels and 1 scoop of Greens Hx until combined. Once salmon is done, top with greens dressing and serve with your favorite vegetables (steamed or grilled).
THE BLEAUTYFUL AND BOUNTIFUL DRINK
½ cup water
½ cup Organic Milk alternative (kefir, oat, almond, etc.)
½ cup Organic plain Greek Yogurt
1 cup ice
1 cup Organic Blueberries
2 scoops Collagen Hx
2 droppers White Tea Tx
Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy!
As you can see, adding supplements into delicious recipes to enhance our well-being can be fun, easy and healthy. I hope you enjoy trying these and I challenge you to create some of your own with your favorite go-to supplements.