Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Aged Garlic Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Garlic is a nutrient that as a supplement or even spicy food enhancer can be found everywhere. The benefits of using garlic as either a supplement or even just as a spice to add to our food are numerous. …
Dental Abscess and Cavities Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Everyone has heard of cavities. What you may not have heard of is a dental abscess. What is a dental abscess? How is dental abscess related to a cavity? And what can you do if you are …
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~LEARNING: A NUTRITIONIST’S PERSPECTIVE
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
Learning can be a valuable tool but often not thought about when putting together a wellness plan. We often think of learning as our education, whether its formal education throughout the K-12 school years or furthering education post-high school. However, it can be so much more than that, and an intricate part of our wellness plan. Let me share my experiences with this important topic.
I have always said that learning something new each day is a sign to me that my day was a success. When I am in an environment where I am no longer learning, I have found that I feel tired and “down in the dumps.” This has often been a signal to me to re-evaluate things and look to move on to a more challenging environment.
The first way I like to incorporate learning is to read about subjects that interest me or watch documentaries on my favorite topics. Often, I even enjoy learning about opposite views of my own. This is through reading and personal conversations to help me get a better understanding of different viewpoints and “expand my mind” while building relationships.
Next, I find that taking a class to hone a hobby has also been effective for me. I love to cook and spend time in the kitchen creating amazing meals and desserts, and I also enjoy gardening. I found that I had so many delicious vegetables from the garden that I was having a tough time using everything, especially in new and creative ways. So, I decided to take a class on canning and pickling. Learning this new skill has sparked creativity in me that I never knew I possessed. Since learning this new kitchen skill, I have made so many delicious goodies like jams, spreads, sauces and even veggies. This had even inspired me to become an accomplished bread maker. Now that I can make these myself, I have the power to control the type of ingredients that I use to make them, instead of being at the mercy of prepackaged options. This has made me feel fulfilled, confident and it is a source of relaxation for me.
Lastly, I wanted to share what I like to call “fun learning.” This is just what it sounds like…. learning and experiencing growth while having fun. You can accomplish this through such things as travel or activities. Inspired through my travels to recreate meals I have experienced from other cultures and even try to put a healthy spin on things to make this more creative and indulgent. Allowing myself to try new activities, whether it is something adventurous in the water or just incorporating new forms of exercise, always surprises me. This is because I find that learning these new activities boosts my self-confidence and truly energizes me. Taking the time for fun and playing always inspires me to learn about new foods, cultures, and activities. How do you have fun learning?
As you can see, learning can be something as simple as reading an article on a topic that interests you, or more complex like signing up for a class. Whatever it is, I have found that learning energizes me, helps me thrive and builds my confidence. How will you add learning into your wellness plan in the new year?
When I am learning something new, staying energized and having a healthy memory is something I make a priority. Supporting energy and memory though proper supplementation can be a key ingredient in maximizing learning efforts.
UBIQUINOL w/NADH is a combination of CoQ10 and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide with Hydrogen helps to increase brain function and memory, as well as increasing energy production.
MULTI ENERGY POWDER is an effective way to start a foundation for good health with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Adding a scoop to a bottle of water each day to sip on is also an effective way to maintain balanced energy and cognitive health throughout the day.
PHOSPHATIDYLSERINE is a nutrient that is helpful for many areas of wellness including fatigue, inflammation and even helpful for those with ADHD. However, it has been shown to be effective for brain health and increased memory function.
www.nmi.health/coenzyme-q10-a-review-of-clinical-use-and-efficacy/
neurolaunch.com/coq10-brain-benefits/
www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1016/nadh
newhealthjournal.org/news/energy-vitamins-new-research-review/
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7019700/
www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-804/rna-and-dna
www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-phosphatidylserine
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24992464/
Bromelain- The Power of Pineapple Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Bromelain is an enzyme that has been written about many times in the past. In fact, there are even a few blogs on the Invite website itself! Yet, despite this, people still have a few unanswered …
Sinus Infections or Sinusitis Part 2 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In my last blog on sinusitis I started with a description of what the sinuses are, where they are and even what they do. I then talked about what the symptoms of sinusitis are. (1,2,3) …
Sinus Infections or Sinusitis Part 1
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I wanted to talk about sinus infections for several reasons. Obviously, the location of the sinus cavities plays a role in the decision to talk about them during a review of dental health. In addition to location, the symptoms of a sinus infection can mimic other dental concerns. So, I thought a review on sinus infections was a great idea! Let us get into it, shall we?
What ARE sinuses? The paranasal sinuses are caves in the bones of our face that produce mucus. These caves are normally filled with air. Paranasal sinuses are arranged in pairs, 1 on the left and one on the right side of our face. I have attached a picture so you can see what this looks like. (1)
As I have said sinuses produce mucus. Now you might not expect me to say this, but mucus does a lot more than just making you blow your nose! Mucus can help fight infections. It also adds moisture and heat to the air you breathe. It is like a natural humidifier! In addition to making mucus the paranasal sinuses do quite a few other things! Since these cavities or caves are hollow, they also reduce the weight of your skull. The sinuses can also serve as “crash zones” that can absorb some of the force during head trauma which can help protect crucial structures such as the brain. Lastly the sinuses can influence how your voice sounds! (1)
Now that I have reviewed what and where the paranasal sinuses are let us get into the bulk of this blog. That is sinus infections. Now I have been using the term sinus infection but that is really a generic term that is applied to any form of sinusitis. Both acute and chronic sinusitis occur when there is inflammation or swelling in the tissues that line the sinuses. This inflammation can cause them to become blocked and filled with fluid. This is what causes the pressure and pain and other sinusitis symptoms. Please see the attached picture for what this looks like. (2)
As I alluded to there are 2 forms of sinusitis. These are acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis. Simply put, acute sinusitis is typically caused by viruses and lasts less than 4 weeks. Chronic sinusitis is usually caused by bacteria and lasts more than 12 weeks. Sinusitis lasting between 4 to 12 weeks is usually called subacute sinusitis. If you have acute sinusitis symptoms that come back 4 or more times in 1 year and last less than 14 days (about 2 weeks) each time it is usually called recurrent acute sinusitis. (2)
Sinusitis is usually caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and allergens. Something interesting about sinusitis is that while it is not contagious the viruses, bacteria and fungi that lead to sinusitis are all contagious! What are some factors that increase the risk of sinusitis? Having allergies, asthma and nasal polyps all increase the risk of sinusitis. Having a deviated septum is also a risk factor. Smoking or having a weakened immune system can also increase the risk of sinusitis. (2)
What are the symptoms of sinusitis? First, you may feel pressure or pain in your teeth, ears, and face. You may have a stuffy nose, runny nose, and postnasal drip. You may have a cough, headache, fever and feel fatigued. Lastly you may notice bad breath. (2) Now sinusitis can mimic a number of dental issues. In my next blog I will be reviewing how sinusitis is diagnosed. I will also be reviewing how to tell you the difference between a concern with your dental health and with your sinus. Interestingly enough sinusitis can also mimic a cold so I’ll be including a brief description on how to distinguish between the 2 conditions. Lastly, I’ll be reviewing supplements such as Olive Leaf Extract, Green Tea, Black Seed and even my old favorite, NAC!
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