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Sweet but not Sugar?

Sweet but not Sugar?

Written by: Claire Arcidiacono, ND For further questions or concerns email me at carcidiacono@invitehealth.com† In our modern world we have many alternatives to sugar. These alternatives include artificial sweeteners and those that are considered natural sweeteners. In this blog I will be going over sugar substitute’s 

Lowering the risk of Cardiac Arrest, Part 1, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 612.

Lowering the risk of Cardiac Arrest, Part 1, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 612.

Subscribe Today!   Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode. LOWERING THE RISK OF CARDIAC ARREST, PART 1- INVITEⓇ HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 612 Hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph. *Intro Music* InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro: [00:00:04] Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast where 

New Year Detox Tips, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 611

New Year Detox Tips, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 611

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Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode.

NEW YEAR DETOX TIPS, INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 611

Hosted by Amanda Williams, MD, MPH.

*Intro Music*

InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro [00:00:04] Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our degreed health care professionals are excited to offer you the most important health and wellness information you need to make informed choices about your health. You can learn more about the products discussed in each of these episodes and all that Invite health has to offer at www.invitehealth.com/podcast. First time customers can use promo code podcast at checkout for an additional 15% off your first purchase. Let’s get started.† [00:00:34]

*Intro Music*

Amanda Williams MD, MPH: [00:00:40] With the holidays behind us, many people like to focus in on their New Year’s resolutions. Besides losing weight, I would say one of the biggest resolutions that people oftentimes will try to focus in on is trying to be less toxic. And this can be in all areas of your life. But in particular, we talk about detoxification. And this can come from cleaner eating as well as through different supplements that people are often inquiring about as we enter into a new year. So I want to talk today about some ways that we can promote healthy detoxification as we move forward into the new year. So I am Dr. Amanda Williams, scientific director at Invite Health, and every single day, our bodies go through different phases of detoxification. It’s actually called metabolic detoxification, which is really quite complex, but it’s very fascinating at the same time because our body is using these wonderful built in mechanisms to eliminate all of these harmful compounds that we come across, whether it’s from the air we breathe, from the foods that we’re eating, and even toxins that build up internally. So we always want to make sure that we’re doing the right thing to give ourselves that extra helping hand. And we can use different strategies when it comes to our diet exercise, as well as supplementation to really kind of give the body the ability to go through those different phases of detoxification in the most successful way possible.† [00:02:20]

[00:02:21] So there’s three different phases. I’m not going to get into the heavy details on that. I’ve done podcasts on metabolic detoxification, so you can definitely look that one up. But when it comes to, you know, minimizing our exposure to toxins, I talk about this often, about trying to avoid those fragrances that you may be are fascinated by when it comes to lotions and shampoos. These are just added things as far as chemicals that we are introducing into our system. So we know that we can make wiser choices as we enter into the new year. The utilization of the InVite Health shampoo and conditioner, body moisturizer, face wash, these are all going to be very positive ways to avoid that chemical exposure, so that’s one area. We also know that we can be trying to select organic fruits and vegetables. This is always key, but even if you can’t get your hands on organic, you know, really trying to be cognizant of making sure that we are cleaning and washing our fruits and vegetables before we consume them. And then we want to, of course, include in the key nutrients that the body requires when it comes to daily detoxification. So we’re talking basic vitamins and minerals, folks. So even taking the Core multivitamin or the multi energy powder is an excellent way to kind of kick all of this off. We know that the more that we incorporate in powerful flavonoids into our diet, we are going to be on that right path. So there are many different ways that we can do this. We can look at things such as mushrooms and onions and peppers that we know really help to support the body’s natural detoxification. Add in some cilantro, some parsley, these are really easy ways for us to make sure that the body has the ability to properly detoxify, and we can certainly zero in on certain foods that really help to enhance liver detoxification, cruciferous vegetables. We know that that is going to benefit us for a couple of different reasons. In particular, even when we think about the way hormone metabolites can build up in the body and sometimes our liver can struggle with that. So when it comes to the indole-3-carbinol and the sulfuraphanes, that are contained within cruciferous vegetables, this is always a very beneficial way for us to make sure that the liver has what it needs to go through those different phases of daily detoxification looking at our green leafy vegetables and certainly also another area that we know can provide us a significant amount of support.† [00:05:05]

ICYMI: DETOX THE BODY WITH THE HELP OF GREEN TEA, INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 602>>LISTEN NOW!

[00:05:05] Pretty much any of the berries, you know, those deep purple and red berries are going to pack an awful lot of punch when it comes to cellular detoxification citrus fruits. With that added, you know, natural source of vitamin C and the other minerals can also be very beneficial as well. So we look at the changes in the diet and we think, well, this can be fairly easy, right? We can just start to incorporate in a more Mediterranean style way of eating and we’re really kind of hitting that mark with supporting daily detoxification. But I understand for some folks, you know, maybe they feel limited, they feel like they, you know, don’t really want to to make these major dietary modifications. They’re going to try and do this and, you know, slow steps, and I certainly understand that. I always encourage people, the more that you eat a mediterranean style way of, you know, your diet each and every single day, the more that you’re going to feel better and you’re going to feel more energetic. And this, of course, is going to, you know, be cross system benefit. So it’s beneficial for the brain, for the heart, you name it. Mediterranean style is the way to go.† [00:06:21]

[00:06:21] But let’s just say that you’re kind of easing your way in, you said, all right, you know, I’m in this year, I’m going to start to eat, you know, more mushrooms or more onions in my food, more garlic, whatever, be the case. But you’re you’re still maybe not doing all the right things, then we want to be zeroing in on those key nutrients I had mentioned. Taking a daily multivitamin is always advantageous. We can also look at other nutrients that we know are very supportive when it comes to the way that our liver is managing the toxic sludge, as I like to describe it. But all the toxins that we just build up, whether they are endogenously made, meaning they’re coming from inside the body or if we are looking at extrinsic sources, which we know there are many of those. And this is where I always default to the Dr. Pressman daily detox powder, because this is just incredibly comprehensive when it comes to supporting the liver’s ability to filter through all of that sludge that can build up. And we certainly recognize that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or metabolic liver disease is on the rise in this country. So we want to do what we can as far as dietary changes, as well as giving that extra nutrient to the liver each and every single day. So the daily detox powder contains key nutrients, things such as milk thistle, it has ellagic acid, which is coming from pomegranate, it has green tea extract, it has nutrients to support proper fluid balance such as dandelion extract and watercress. So it’s incredibly comprehensive. It contains the amino acid, methionine, which helps to support those different phases of metabolic detoxification. So the Dr. Pressman daily detox powder is always the first thing when I think about cellular detoxification to include, as I mentioned, we can look at many other nutrients that we know have been studied and shown to be highly effective. You know, green tea, clearly any of the the power antioxidants, resveratrol, for example, apple cider vinegar, we can look at alpha lipoic acid, a lot of different things that we know can help to facilitate this. You know, straight milk thistle itself is also an option, but if we want to be incredibly comprehensive, I think that the daily detox powder is really the way to go. And at the end of the day, we all want to be doing better when it comes to the choices that we make as far as our diet, exercise and of course what supplements are going to best support our specific needs.† [00:09:07]

TOXIC TOXINS: YOU HAVE TO DETOXIFY ALL CHEMICALS- INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 586>>LISTEN NOW!

[00:09:07] And the way that I look at it is there’s no such thing as like a crash detox because they’re not really effective. It’s kind of like a crash diet, also not very effective. It’s they’re not sustainable over time. But what we do know is that if we eat a healthy diet every day for adhering to a mediterranean style way of eating, and we are also recognizing that every day our body is having to contend with different chemicals and exposures that we have, so incorporating in a supplement that’s going to support everyday cellular detoxification such as the daily detox powder, this is really the avenue that we want to be focused or zeroed in on so that we get that comprehensive daily support. So we want to do first with our foods, let food be thy medicine. And secondly, we have to say, well, we know that we go through these different phases and we know that these different phases are heavily reliant on the vitamins and minerals and antioxidants. So if we can add in a powerful multivitamin, such as the Core multivitamin or the multi energy powder, and then we enhance that even more by adding in that daily detox powder, we’re really setting ourselves up to have a more successful path when it comes to keeping our body free of all of that sludge. So I thought this was a fitting time to talk about detox, because a lot of folks after the holidays do feel like this is the time that they not only want to shed some extra pounds, but they also want to zero in and focus in on liver health and just overall body detox.† [00:10:49]

[00:10:50] So that is all that I have for you for today. I want to thank you so much for tuning in to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. Remember, you can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting invitehealth.com/podcast. Do you make sure that you subscribe and you leave us a review. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at InVite Health and we will see you next time for another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.†[00:10:50]

*Exit Music*

 

New Data, Vitamin D & the Immune System. Invite Health Podcast, Episode 610

New Data, Vitamin D & the Immune System. Invite Health Podcast, Episode 610

Subscribe Today! Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode. NEW DATA, VITAMIN D & THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, INVITEⓇ HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 610 Hosted by Jerry Hickey, Ph. *Intro Music* InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro:[00:00:04] Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast where our degreed 

Zinc is key to more than Immune Health, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 609

Zinc is key to more than Immune Health, Invite Health Podcast, Episode 609

Subscribe Today! Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode.  ZINC IS KEY TO MORE THAN IMMUNE HEALTH, INVITEⓇ HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 609 Hosted by Amanda Williams, MD, MPH *Intro Music* InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro:[00:00:04] Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our 

ALL ABOUT SUGAR

ALL ABOUT SUGAR

Written by: Dr.Claire Arcidiacono, ND

What exactly is sugar? Sugar is what we call sweet- tasting water soluble carbohydrates. Sugar comes in two forms, monosaccharides or “simple sugars” which include glucose, fructose and galactose. Disaccharides or “compound sugars” are made of 2 bonded monosaccharides. For example sucrose or table sugar is a combination of glucose + fructose. Lactose which is the sugar found in dairy is a combination of glucose and galactose. Maltose which is a sugar syrup obtained from grain consists of 2 molecules of glucose. While starch may consist of chains of monosaccharides since these chains of monosaccharides are greater than 2 molecules it is not regarded as sugar. Additionally while other molecules such as sugar alcohols may taste sweet they are not actually sugar because they have a different chemical structure.

Where do we get sugar (other than the grocery store lol)? Sucrose is found in sugarcane and sugar beets which is why they are the main sources for refined sugar. Honey and fruit are natural sources of simple sugars. Corn syrup is a man-made sugar where corn starch is converted in the lab to sugars such as maltose, fructose and glucose. As you can see most forms of sugar come from plants. Lactose however is found in any milk product including human breast milk. (1)

While sugar addiction is controversial we do know that sugar affects dopamine. This is the same chemical pathway that is released when a person intakes an addictive substance. Dopamine is basically what allows us to feel pleasure and happiness. When we intake sugar our body is programmed to release dopamine. One theory for why this occurs goes back to humanity’s early days as cave men. The theory is that in order to survive humans were drawn to high calorie foods and typically those with a higher sugar content provide that. Therefore by perceiving high sugar foods as “good” by giving the reward of dopamine the body is actively encouraging us to eat them. Unfortunately unlike in cave people time when these foods were not readily accessible modern technology has made them easy to access. And so while our brains want us to seek these foods it is very easy to overdo it. (2) An example is an apple. In cave man times you might be able to find apples for a few days. So you would likely ration them to last. In today’s society you can have 10 apples a day if you want. See the difference?

ICYMI: BLOOD SUGAR AND KIDNEY SUPPORT – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 519>>LISTEN NOW!

While this series has focused on the risks of developing high blood sugar and diabetes and its complications I would like to point out that a high sugar diet can increase the risk of other health concerns as well. High sugar intake can increase the risk of heart disease. It can also cause fat to build up in the organs and lead to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. High sugar intake can also increase the risk of kidney disease. It can of course lead to cavities and is associated with acne. Interestingly high sugar intake is also associated with increased uric acid, increasing the risk of gout. In my prior blog I mentioned the increasing risk of cognitive decline. High sugar diets have been found to lead to an overall decrease in energy. Additionally the damage to telomeres leads to an increase in cellular aging. High sugar has also been found to increase the risk of depression and anxiety. Studies show that increasing sugar can increase the risk of cancer both by increasing weight and increasing the risk of obesity and by increasing inflammation. Lastly a high sugar diet can make us literally look older than we are by damaging collagen and elastin thus increasing skin aging. (3)

How much sugar should we be consuming every day? According to the American heart association women should consume no more than 24 grams or 6 teaspoons a day. Men should have no more than 36 grams or 9 teaspoons a day. Now when we look at nutrition labels, the amount of sugar is already in grams. It is very important to add the amount of sugar you consume just by adding up the grams. You can convert the number to teaspoons however in general, most people find it easier to just add up the grams. (4)

Sugar goes by many names. Some examples are:

  • corn sweetener
  • corn syrup
  • fruit juice concentrates
  • high-fructose corn syrup
  • honey
  • invert sugar
  • malt sugar
  • molasses (4)
  • brown sugar

If you see the prefix “ose” at the end of a word you don’t recognize most likely it is a form of sugar. https://www.virtahealth.com/blog/names-for-sugar is a link for many different names of sugar.

LAST 4 TYPES OF HIGH BLOOD SUGAR>>READ NOW!

Now I’m not going to lie sugar is tasty. I’ll confess I do like to indulge in a sweet treat. It’s all about a healthy balance. Next week we well talk about natural and synthetic alternatives to sugar. But I thought I’d leave you some yummy ideas in the meantime. Feel free to experiment!

HEALTHY TREATS!

  • Fill me up chocolate oatmeal
    • I start by cooking my oatmeal and setting it aside. This can be any oatmeal you like. Take Greek yogurt (unsweetened) and add 1 scoop of Invite whey protein, 1 scoop Cocoa Hx and mix. After mixing gently fold into your oatmeal. You can top with some sunflower seeds if you want a little crunch!
  • Blender muffins of health (lol)
    • With this recipe it’s not exact feel free to have fun! I usually take 2 eggs, 2 scoops of Invite Whey protein, 1 scoop Cocoa Hx, and 1 cup raw oats. As I blend I add enough water so that it is a muffin like consistency. Generally between 1/8 cup to 1/4 cup. Scoop into a muffin pan and cook at 350 for 20 min checking to see if they are done. Variations to this include using almond milk instead of water. As I said it is not exact and you can have fun changing things up!
  • Cranberry goodness
    • I’m going to be honest here. This came about because I wanted to make cranberry sauce and forgot to buy sweetener. What resulted was so good my family requested I make it that way every time! Take 1 average size package of cranberries and cook them in water that has 2 scoops Reds Hx and 1 scoop Ribose complex mixed in. (Basically mix the powders in water and use that water to cook the cranberries.). If it is not as sweet as you like you can add more Ribose complex. When it is done cooking as per the directions on the package blend or pulse to your desired consistency. If you want an added texture feel free to add a scoop or 2 of Organic flax seed powder.
  • Yogurt goodness! Don’t forget, any of our powders can be mixed into yogurt or avocado for a yummy treat!

REFERENCES

  1.  “OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2020–2029” (PDF). FAO. 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  2. https://wellnessretreatrecovery.com/sugar-and-dopamine-link-sweets-addiction/
  3. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/liquid-sugar-calories#bottom-line
  4. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar
  5. https://www.virtahealth.com/blog/names-for-sugar