The Purple Power Smoothie – Healthy & Helpful Tips with Melissa
Last but not least our Purple powder smoothie which has a punch of flavor and is my ultimate flavor. Don’t miss out and and make this smoothie for your kids too!
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What to Know About Bio-Curcumin-5-Loxin- InVite Health Podcast, Episode 578
Amanda Williams MD, MPH goes into depth about one of our most tried and true formulations offered at InVite Health and the benefits it offers.
Digestive Health Part 8: Diverticulosis Vs Diverticulitis
Written by Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND diverticulosis
For further questions or concerns email me at carcidiacono@invitehealth.com†
Last week we talked about Irritable Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Today we’ll be covering the difference between Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis, which involves the formation of small, bulging pouches called diverticula in the intestines. These pouches are usually in the lower part of the intestines in the colon.
While both diverticulosis and diverticulitis are essentially a condition of “pockets” the one major difference between the two conditions are whether or not the pouches are infected or inflamed. Diverticulitis is where the pockets are infected and can be thought of as a more severe form of diverticulosis. However, the presence of an active infection in diverticulitis makes the treatments of the two conditions very different. (2)
It is important to see a doctor to determine if it is an issue. A doctor will often order a CT scan or a lower GI series, which are x-rays taken after consuming barium sulfate, the drink they give you to examine your digestive system. Due to the presence of bacteria and inflammation in diverticulitis, blood work may also be done. An elevated C-Reactive Protein (C-RP) as well as an elevated White Blood Cell (WBC) count are what your doctor will look for. They may recommend a colonoscopy, however, if the doctor suspects diverticulitis, they will avoid doing a colonoscopy or using a barium enema due to possible side effects. (5)
ICYMI: DIGESTIVE HEALTH PART 7: IBD VS. IBS >> Read Now!
Diverticulosis
While an exact cause for diverticulosis is unknown, there are risk factors. The most well documented risk factor is constipation. In addition, having a low fiber diet, a cause of constipation or a diet heavy in meat consumption are risk factors. Extreme weight loss, advanced age and a genetic predisposition with 40% of people inheriting it are also risk factors. An example of a genetic condition that increases risk is Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (6).
Diverticulosis can cause cramps, gas, bloating, a change in bowel movements and blood in the stool. In fact, diverticular disease is one of the most common causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Unfortunately, diverticular disease is also associated with a higher risk of colon cancer.(3) In addition to these symptoms, diverticulitis can also cause severe pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting as well as systemic symptoms such as chills and fever. It can also lead to a loss of appetite, resulting in weight loss.(4) It’s important to have a high fiber diet to avoid constipation, since a low fiber diet and constipation are two of the risk factors.
While some supplement suggestions may be the same for both conditions, the goals are not. For diverticulosis, the goal is to prevent constipation and lower the risk of gut inflammation. Demulcent herbs have been found to be helpful by lowering inflammation in the digestive tract and reducing the incidence of opportunistic infection. Invite’s DGL, Aloe Vera, Slippery Elm and Marshmallow root are some of the herbs that can benefit diverticulosis. (10) Invite’s GI Maintain and Min Acid are also a couple of other options to help lower inflammation.
Diverticulitis
Infection of the pouches or diverticulitis occurs for unknown reasons however there are known additional risks along with the risk factors for diverticulosis. Additional risk factors include obesity, lack of exercise, smoking and use of NSAIDS.
Diet plays a huge role in diverticulitis. Small foods such as nuts and seeds can get “stuck” in the pouches leading to an overgrowth of bacteria. Avoid nuts, seeds and “small foods” that can get stuck in pockets. Eliminating these from the diet decreases a potential risk for complications.(9) Holistically, we know that food allergies/sensitivities can lead to inflammation in the gut. (7) Pathogens can also cause inflammation in the digestive tract.
One of the most dangerous complications is one of the inflamed diverticulum rupturing. This rupture can cause bacteria to spread to the abdomen, causing a very dangerous infection, peritonitis. Side effects can include bowel obstruction, abscess and fistulas, an abnormal connection between organs. (8)
For a flare up of diverticulitis, you want to calm down inflammation and treat the infection. In most cases, treating diverticulitis requires an antibiotic, however there are natural supplements that can work with prescribed medications.
Eat a low fiber diet; it’s important to give the colon a “rest.”(13) Castor oil packs have been found to reduce inflammation and cramps.(14) Colostrum has been found to reduce inflammation in the colon.(15) Invite’s Colostrum and GI Immune, Demulcents, Probiotics, and L-Glutamine are helpful in reducing inflammation present in the colon.
Probiotics are shown in studies to be a promising treatment option for lowering inflammation in the gut and helping both diverticulosis and diverticulitis (11). Invite’s Probiotic Hx, Core Probiotic and Probiotic Weight are supplements that can lower inflammation. L-Glutamine has been found in studies to promote healing in the digestive tract. (12) Invite’s GI Maintain and L-Glutamine promote improved digestive health.
IS PREBIOTIC AND PROBIOTICS THE SAME THING? – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 563 >> Listen Now!
Sources
- surgicalconsultantsaurora.com/what-we-do/colon-surgery/diverticulosis-and-diverticulitis
- https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/diverticular-disease-and-diet
- Stefánsson T, Ekbom A, Sparèn P, Påhlman L (August 2004). “Association between sigmoid diverticulitis and left-sided colon cancer: a nested, population-based, case control study”. Scand J Gastroenterol. 39(8): 743–7. doi:1080/00365520410003272. PMID 15513359. S2CID 21100705.
- “Diverticular Disease”. www.niddk.nih.gov. September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
- Pemberton, John H (16 June 2016). “Colonic diverticulosis and diverticular disease: Epidemiology, risk factors, and pathogenesis”. UpToDate. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- “Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis”. American College of Gastroenterology.
- Templeton, AW; Strate, LL (August 2013). “Updates in diverticular disease”. Current Gastroenterology Reports. 15 (8): 339. doi:1007/s11894-013-0339-z. PMC 3832741. PMID 24010157.
- “Diverticular Disease”. www.niddk.nih.gov. September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016
- Aldoori, WH; Giovannucci, EL; Rimm, EB; Wing, AL; et al. (1994). “A prospective study of diet and the risk of symptomatic diverticular disease in men”. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 60(5): 757–64. doi:1093/ajcn/60.5.757. PMID 7942584.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6065514/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27741164/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4369670/
- Spirt, Mitchell (2010). “Complicated Intra-abdominal Infections: A Focus on Appendicitis and Diverticulitis”. Postgraduate Medicine. 122 (1): 39–51. doi:3810/pgm.2010.01.2098. PMID 20107288. S2CID 46716128.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/castor-oil-pack#uses
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8228205/#:~:text=Bovine%20colostrum%20has%20shown%20some,43%2C44%2C45%5D.
Dry Eye: Supplements That Can Help- InVite Health Podcast, Episode 577
Join Jerry Hickey, Ph., as he dives into studies about dry eye syndrome and talks about the supplements that can help
The Blueberry Blues Smoothie – Healthy & Helpful Tips with Melissa
Let us give you another amazing smoothie called the “Blueberry Blues” smoothie. This one is packed with antioxidants so try it out!
The Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba- InVite Health Podcast, Episode 576
Ginkgo Biloba
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Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode.
The Benefits of Ginkgo Biloba- InVite Health Podcast, Episode 576
Hosted by Amanda Williams MD, MPH
*Intro music*
InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro: Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our degreed healthcare 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!†
*Intro music*
Amanda Williams MD, MPH: [00:00:40] Did you know that one of the oldest trees in the world also provides us one of the most powerful medicinal benefits, and that is ginkgo biloba? I want to talk about Gingko today and why Gingko has been touted as being the one of the most supportive nutrients that someone can include in for brain health as well as cardiovascular health. So I’m going to get into some of the science on ginkgo biloba today.† [00:01:08]
[00:01:08] I am Dr. Amanda Williams, scientific director here at InVite Health. And ginkgo has been shown through, you know, ancient times all the way through to today, to modern day medicine, just how powerful it is as an antioxidant and has these really unique properties to it in terms of vasoactive. Meaning it’s incredibly supportive for our vascular system, which is key for our cognitive function, because if we can have good, proper blood flow to the brain, then this will help with the energy production and the oxygenation within the brain which can definitely help us when it comes to memory and mood.† [00:01:50]
[00:01:51] And this is why the scientific world has really kind of grabbed a hold of looking at all of the many ways to which ginkgo biloba really potentiates these powerful health benefits for us as humans when we’re taking it as a supplement. And we have ginkgo biloba in our Cognition Hx formulation as well as in the Mind Synergy. So as you can see, it’s in those two formulations that are really geared towards supporting brain health. We also have the ginkgo biloba in the Men’s Edge because we also know that it’s very beneficial. When it comes to vasodilation and allowing for good, proper blood flow, which is key for men who have concerns with erectile dysfunction, for example.† [00:02:35]
[00:02:36] But across the many years of research, they have been able to kind of zero in on how ginkgo biloba has been used in a variety of different circulatory disorders for respiratory issues such as asthma, for ringing in the ears or tinnitus in balance, issues such as vertigo, for example. As well as a whole slew of different cognitive issues, including things such as depression and anxiety, along with helping with focus and attention. So we know that Gingko itself really does have this powerful means to really enhance the way that our body functions. And this is why the the leaf extract that we utilize in our different formulations that I mentioned, the Cognition Hx, the Mind Synergy as well as the Men’s Edge, really help to allow the body to have better performance.† [00:03:38]
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[00:03:40] Whether we’re looking at sexual performance with the Men’s Edge formulation or if we’re looking at cognitive and cardiovascular performance with the Cognition Hx and the Mind Synergy. So extensively research, I would say that ginkgo biloba is probably one of the most widely studied extracts out there. And the mechanism of action of how it is that ginkgo biloba is actually working is really very interesting. We know that not only is it helping when it comes to the structural integrity of the vessels themselves, but it’s also through its action as a powerful antioxidant in the powerful flavonoids that are contained in this. The flavonoids, the glycosides that are contained in the ginkgo biloba, are very potent antioxidants. And this is another reason as to why it’s so beneficial when it comes to brain health, because when we think about the neurotransmitters, for example, which help to regulate our mood, our sense of calm, our sense of happy. We can see how the glycosides in the ginkgo biloba can really be beneficial to the proper action of the release of those neurotransmitters.† [00:04:57]
[00:04:59] So through many of the different studies throughout the years, they have predominantly kind of focused in on how ginkgo biloba can help to improve cognition. There was a study that was done over 20 years ago that showed that when they gave ginkgo biloba to folks who were dealing with mental fatigue and low levels of depression and after giving them ginkgo biloba daily for one month, they had this significant improvement. Well, right around that time, they had done another study that was very similar in nature. But they took people who were actually very healthy and had no underlying health issues. And they, too, found that when they gave them ginkgo biloba, they had this overall sense of improvement in terms of quality of life.† [00:05:48]
[00:05:48] So we know that the mood impact that ginkgo biloba can yield us is very, very powerful. On top of the fact that where you know, that it can help to enhance our circulation. And this isn’t just circulation going to the brain or for the heart. We can even look at this in the setting of eye health. And they have studied the use of ginkgo biloba, even in diabetic retinopathy. So when I am asked about gingko by folks, it’s usually like, well, is this the right formulation for me? Because maybe I don’t really have a concern about memory or maybe I don’t have cardiovascular concerns. But I always kind of default back to this is one of the most widely studied and clinically researched nutrients out there. And it’s storied history from thousands of years ago all the way to today. We can see how it helps to promote our overall systemic health, which is why I feel it is a really wonderful addition to anyone’s, you know, daily supplementation routine.† [00:06:55]
[00:06:56] Even if it comes down to G.I. Support, the powerful flavonoids once again contained within the ginkgo biloba have been shown to be very effective at enhancing the way that our intestines are responding and reacting to periods of stress. And it actually helps to even stabilize our other endogenous antioxidants, things like superoxide dismutase, for example. We have seen studies that have even broadened out. To look at how ginkgo biloba can be very beneficial when it comes to targeting inflammation.† [00:07:28]
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[00:07:29] So even in the setting of arthritis, those who used ginkgo biloba were actually seeing increased improvement in their symptoms just through the addition of ginkgo. So maybe they’re using the ginkgo for brain health but they started to see the benefit when it came to their joint health. So as an anti-aging supplement, I definitely categorize ginkgo into that same kind of wing that we put things like resveratrol into. Because of the multiple functions to which Ginkos actions are actually yielding.† [00:08:05]
[00:08:06] And there was a really interesting journal kind of review on ginkgo biloba that was published in the evidence based, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Journal back in 2013. Kind of going through and zeroing in on all of the different ways to which ginkgo biloba has been shown to be highly effective across different randomized Placebo Controlled trials for things such as ADHD, autism, for anxiety disorders, looking at other mood disorders such as depression, clearly in the setting of, you know, mild cognitive impairment and dementia. But then also seeing how effective it can be when it comes to regulation of inflammation in the body. It really is a wonderful, wonderful nutrient to consider in part of your daily routine. So check out the Cognition Hx Formulation, the Mind Synergy or the Men’s Edge if you want to get that wonderful exposure to Ginkgo biloba.† [00:09:08]
[00:09:09] And 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. Now do 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.† [00:09:09]
*Exit Music*
