Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Dehydration Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One topic that seems to come up frequently is dehydration. This topic is important, especially in the summer weather because a common cause of dehydration is simply sweating. As we all know, the hot, humid weather that is typical of …
Humidity and our skin! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Summertime can be a time for beach going, Barbeques and just all kinds of outdoor fun! However, summer brings more than just fun outdoor activities. It also brings humidity. While most people know how high humidity affects …
Super Focus IQ
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
If you have been on the Invite health website, you may have noticed a formula called Super Focus IQ. If the nutrients inside this formula seem to ring a bell that’s because it is the same fantastic formula known as Cerebral Care. This is a great formula! To start with it’s a powder so it is easy to use. Super Focus IQ is also made up of some amazing nutrients that help our brain and memory. However, it is for much more than just memory! The nutrients in this formula can help with mood, concentration and even help improve attention. Let us review a few of these nutrients, shall we?
Let’s start with the first item, inositol. What in the heck is inositol? Inositol has been called vitamin B8 but that is not exactly accurate. It is a type of sugar produced by the body that is important for the functioning and development of our cells. Now I know what you are thinking, but Dr. Claire, I have diabetes! Inositol is perfectly safe for you to use and may even help you to better process insulin! Inositol has many health benefits. According to the Cleveland Clinic, inositol may be helpful for metabolic syndrome, PCOS, as well as both Gestational diabetes and even preterm birth. (1) In my clinical experience having high blood sugar can affect our ability to learn and our mood. Have you ever tried to study or focus when your blood sugar is too low or too high? If you have, you know it is not an easy task. Since the studies have found inositol to help with our blood sugar, I have found it to help in situations where blood sugar is affecting our ability to learn. But what does inositol directly do for our brain? Studies have found that using inositol leads to improved outcomes in depression, anxiety, panic disorders and OCD. (2) Studies have found that inositol can help with aspects of brain health such as brain development, memory and even improve our ability to learn. (3) What this means is that this is an excellent product for helping students who feel as though they need help with their ability to focus and pay attention in school.
The next nutrient is Acetyl- L Carnitine (Alcar). Studies have found that using Alcar after a brain injury leads to better outcomes, especially in terms of memory. (4) A study in the International Journal of Neurology and Neurotherapy found Alcar can help improve memory. (5) In another study it was found that Alcar can enhance cognitive function and even decrease the rate of cognitive decline in those with certain disorders. (6) Studies have also found that Alcar can help with symptoms of chemo brain including cognitive impairment and improve both our ability to learn and our memory. (7) As we learn more about the topic of ADD and ADHD, we learn that there are different subsets of these disorders. Studies have found that Alcar can help reduce the symptoms of certain subsets of ADHD! Those who suffer from the Inattention type of ADHD were found to benefit from Alcar. So, what does this mean in the real world? Well, if you are one of the people who would like to improve their attention span Alcar may be a way to do just that!
The next nutrient is choline. Choline is an essential nutrient. This means your body needs it to work properly but is unable to make it. It must come from your diet or supplement regime. (8) Studies have found a correlation between a higher choline intake and better cognitive performance. (9) This means that when parents call and ask about their children and how to help them in school, I usually recommend choline! In my experience this is a terrific addition to any student’s protocol! Studies also have found that choline can help improve our verbal memory. (10) So often I get people who call and say that they sometimes forget words. In my clinical experience increasing choline is a fantastic way to reduce the “search for the right word” game. For example, anyone who has migraines can tell you that they will sometimes forget names. Based on feedback that I have received, Choline is extremely helpful for this!
The next item is phosphatidylserine or PS as I like to call it. Studies have found that PS can help with verbal recall as well as improve our memory. (11) As more studies are done on PS the results are finding that supplementation with PS can improve cognitive impairment by improving the brain’s storage ability, our learning ability and even memory. (12) One of the things I find most interesting about PS is its ability to reduce cortisol! (16) What is Cortisol and why does it matter? Well Cortisol is the main stress hormone, and high cortisol can impact sleep. In my experience most people who wake up in the middle of the night do so because of high cortisol. Reducing cortisol helps improve sleep! As I always tell people, you cannot have great energy and great memory or focus if you do not have enough sleep! Having high cortisol can even reduce your memory over time! And that’s not just Dr. Claire saying that! Studies have found that high cortisol long term can decrease our memory and thus affect how we learn! (17) One of the most common concerns parents have is ADHD. Studies have found that PS can help improve focus and attention in those with ADHD. (18)
The last nutrient is Astaxanthin. To start with, what in the heck is astaxanthin? It’s a red pigment from algae that is a strong antioxidant. (13) Studies have found that it can help to improve our cognitive function. (14)
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GERD and ACID REFLUX Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Next to constipation and diarrhea, one of the most common concerns that people have is stomach acid. This includes GERD or gastroesophageal re-flux disease. Other common concerns that relate to stomach acid include Peptic ulcers, gastritis, and …
Digestive Health Overview Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Digestive health does not just mean diarrhea or constipation. In fact, while diarrhea or constipation can be a concern by themselves, they are often symptoms of other disorders such as SIBO, IBS, IBD and even diverticulitis. The digestive tract is one …
Hemorrhoids and Veins Hx
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Many people call telling me they have hemorrhoids and/or anal polyps. I always ask people to be specific as to exactly what is going on in their digestive tract. While to most people, hemorrhoids might seem to be the same as polyps, they are not actually the same thing. Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the lower part of the rectum and anus. Polyps are a growth of cells in a clump. While both hemorrhoids and colon polyps can cause rectal bleeding, hemorrhoids are the Number 1 cause. Hemorrhoids can be either internal or external. Symptoms of hemorrhoids include blood in the stool or when you wipe, swelling, pain and itching. It is important to note that even though hemorrhoids are usually not dangerous, if bleeding continues for more than a week it is important to see a doctor. In this blog I will concentrate on hemorrhoids. I will also be concentrating on one of our best products for supporting veins, Veins Hx. My reason for highlighting this product is that in my clinical experience when working with hemorrhoids it is especially important to support our blood vessels. There is much to cover so let us get into it, shall we?
The risk factors for hemorrhoids include having an unhealthy lifestyle. Unhealthy lifestyle habits that can increase the risk of hemorrhoids include being obese, smoking, alcohol intake and low water/fiber intake as well as diet high in fat and meat consumption. Low physical activity is also a risk factor. Constipation is the most common cause of hemorrhoids. Other risk factors can include anal sex, and pregnancy. (11) Having a colonoscopy and or sigmoidoscopy to rule out hemorrhoids. (6) One of the best ways to treat a hemorrhoid is to remove it. However, there are ways to strengthen our veins if hemorrhoids are a concern for you! The best product for this is Veins Hx!
Veins Hx is a formula made of vitamins and herbal extracts that studies have found to be helpful for circulation. What exactly is in Veins Hx? Veins Hx contains Vitamin C, Citrus Bioflavonoids, Horse Chestnut, Horsetail Rush Silica, Gotu Kola and Bilberry! Herbal formulas studied and found to be helpful for hemorrhoids include, Gotu Kola, Horse chestnut and bilberry. (17) As you can see Veins Hx contains all these things!
Let’s start with Vitamin C! What does Vitamin C do for our circulation? To start with studies have found Vitamin C may help to slow down the buildup of atherosclerosis. This is important as it is a risk factor for poor circulation. Additionally, other studies have found that Vitamin C can help keep our arteries flexible, which is important for circulation. Vitamin C also appears to help protect our arteries via its anti-inflammatory properties. (18) Vitamin C has also been found to boost nitric oxide which leads to vasodilation or the “opening up” of the blood vessels. This allows the blood to flow easier through the vessels. (19)
The next item is called Citrus Bioflavonoids. What is a Citrus Bioflavonoid? These are powerful antioxidants that come from citrus foods and have specific benefits to our health. (20) Bioflavonoids are important for circulation because in studies they help to strengthen blood vessel walls. (21) Bioflavonoids are also helpful because they are anti- inflammatory! (22)
Next is Horse Chestnut. Horse Chestnuts are a very well-known therapy for poor circulation. Studies show that after using Horse Chestnut there is an improvement in circulation! (23) Lastly studies have also shown that Horse Chestnut is anti-inflammatory, which is always good for circulation and overall health. (24)
Horsetail Rush Silica, contrary to what you may be thinking, does not actually come from a horse. It comes from the leaves of the horsetail plant and is rich in silica. Recent studies have found that silica can help with circulation. Studies have also recently found that silica can help form collagen, which is a building block of skin, cartilage, blood, connective tissues and even our muscles and ligaments all of which make up our circulatory system. (26)
Gotu Kola may have you squinting for a moment since most people associate it with brain and memory. But think for a moment – why is associated with brain and memory? Because it helps with circulation! Studies have also shown gotu kola to increase overall circulation and blood flow. (27)
Lastly we have Bilberry extract. Bilberry has amazing benefits for our health. According to studies bilberry can help with cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and even reduce the risk of blood clots! Additionally, Bilberry can also help with our blood pressure. Bilberries have also been found to help circulation. And of course we can’t forget the other benefits of Bilberry including our eye health, liver health and even our overall digestive health! (28)
What else can you do to help with hemorrhoids?
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