Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
General Heart Health as We Age Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I have talked about how we can keep both our cholesterol levels and blood pressure healthy as we age. But what if your heart is already healthy? How do you keep your heart healthy as …
Heart Health As We Age (part 1) Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Keeping our hearts healthy as we age is an important part of healthy aging. However heart health is a huge topic that can take forever to go over! For the sake of this blog …
Energy in the Body
written by: Noreen Kodula, Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP)
Energy is essential for all body functions. Involuntary processes like breathing and circulation, and voluntary actions like movement and thinking all rely on energy. Most people think of energy in terms of how you feel each day; why you feel sluggish, whether you need a boost or how refreshed you feel after a good night’s sleep.
The human body derives energy from the food we eat. Macronutrients from the food is converted into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the universal energy currency that powers all cellular activities. Cellular energy is how well your cells produce and use energy (ATP) to power the systems that keep you functioning. The body continuously regenerates ATP to ensure it has a constant supply of energy.
Macronutrients are nutrients your body needs in substantial amounts, to function optimally. They provide the body with energy and the components needed to maintain its structure and functions. The body obtains energy from three primary macronutrients:
If we eat more than what is needed for cellular energy, the remainder is stored as body fat. If a person needs more energy than they consume, like when exercising, the body will draw from its fat stores. In this way exercise can be helpful in losing fat.
Having too little energy regularly can interfere with your ability to be present, living your life. This in turn can interfere with your daily routine. This constant lack of energy can be due to many factors like stress, lack of sleep, an unbalanced diet, an overworked immune system and more. Instead of reaching for a cup of coffee, a sugary snack or an energy drink, reach for high-quality sustainable energy support: reach for research-backed, energy-boosting supplements:
Energy production is not just about eating enough; it involves a balanced diet with an adequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals, adequate hydration, sufficient sleep, regular physical activity and proper supplementation. This will help support energy levels and metabolic functions in the body.
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Noreen Kodula, Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP)
Blood Sugar 101 By: Noreen Kodula, Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP) Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the amount of simple sugar moving through your body at any given time. The main form of energy that your body uses is glucose. Everything that …
Bug Bites and other Outdoor Irritants to the Skin Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Camping is a popular and fun summer activity! But camping and other outdoor activities can put you at an increased risk of skin concerns such as mosquito bites and poison Ivy! There …
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 our hair, did you know that high humidity can also negatively affect our skin? How does it affect our skin and just what can you do when summer brings humidity to town? Let us get into it, shall we?
Before I get in too deep talking about high humidity, I want to mention that low humidity can also cause its own problems for our skin. But that is a conversation for another time. For now, let us just focus on too much humidity. One of the ways that humidity affects our skin is by affecting the way the skin regulates moisture. Studies have found that excess humidity leads to excess moisture in the skin. This excess moisture can mix with sweat and dead skin cells. This mixture can lead to clogged pores which is unpleasant as we all know! Studies have found that this excess moisture can also lead to oily skin and even acne! Even fungal infections can be made worse by high humidity. In those with sensitive skin, high humidity can increase redness, itching, and there may even be a feeling of stickiness/clamminess. (1) High humidity can also change the look of our skin, making it look rough, old, and even dull. (2)
Even certain chronic skin conditions can be worse when there is high humidity. For example, eczema, rosacea, dermatitis, folliculitis and even heat rash are all affected by humidity. (1, 2)
Another side effect of high humidity is how much you sweat. If you have thought that you sweat more when there is a high humidity day you would be correct! Not only do you sweat more, but the sweat also tends to stay on your skin longer. This can leave your skin feeling irritated, clammy, and even prone to infections caused by both bacteria and fungi. (3)
What are some of the signs you can look out for to determine if high humidity is a problem for you? Well to start with, have you noticed any skin changes? Have you noticed that these skin changes are worse when the weather reports indicate that there is a higher humidity day? As I stated earlier, you may notice redness, itchiness, acne, an increase in infections caused by bacteria/fungus as well as a worsening of any pre-existing skin disorders. While studies on humidity and skin health seem to be focused on eczema and even heat rash in my clinical experience, all skin conditions can be more severe when there is a high humidity day.
So, what can you do to help your skin heal?
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