Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Purples Hx and the Heart! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to take the time to talk about one of the most under rated products at Invite health. What product is this you ask? Why its Purples Hx! Purples Hx is an amazing combination …
Mitral Valve Prolapse Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Our next topic is one that will draw heavily upon the anatomy blog that I wrote a while ago. This topic is mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Do you recall how the heart was divided into left and …
COCOA HX: THE DELICIOUS SUPERFOOD
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
When it comes to enjoying something indulgent and decadent, the first thing that comes to mind for most people is CHOCOLATE. It’s comforting as it takes us back to our childhood and brings back all kinds of warm and happy memories. It can also make us feel rich and fancy as it pairs well with so many things, whether it’s in a dessert or as a drink. However, it’s also believed to be healthy and good for us too. How is this possible? Let’s explore everyone’s favorite superfood and find out.
Chocolate, or cocoa, has been around and used by many cultures for centuries. Cocoa is grown in warm climates, typically close to the equator. The beans are extracted from the pods and go through a drying process before they are ready to be ground down into the more familiar form we all know and love. From here, we can nibble on the bitter nibs which have the texture of coffee beans, or can be ground to a powder to be scooped into a drink or recipe or made into the all familiar chocolate bar.
Navigating which cocoa can offer health benefits can be tricky as there are so many types of chocolate varieties available. We see unsweetened, milk, dark, extra dark, and often with the percentage of cocoa on the label….like 72% cocoa. Some may provide health benefits, while others are strictly for taste.
NIBS: These are ground, dried cocoa beans that are extremely bitter. They can be adding to smoothies are you can nobble on them, but the bitterness makes them not very tasty. They thought to be the purest form to consume and believed to be rich in antioxidants and may even have some anti-inflammatory properties.
DARK CHOCOLATE: This is chocolate that usually contains 50%-90%, sometimes even a little higher, of cocoa. This has minimal added sugar while still tasting good. According to the Cleveland Clinic, this type of cocoa can have a wide range of health benefits. It’s shown to be helpful for a healthy heart, blood pressure, protects the skin and is a good source of fiber.
MILK CHOCOLATE/CHOCOLATE MILK: This is most common in commercial bars or in the popular chocolate milk drink. While this still contains cocoa, it is also high in milk/dairy and sugar. This can aggravate those with certain health issues, such as lactose intolerance. According to a study titled “Chocolate Milk Consequences: A Pilot Study Evaluating the Consequences of Banning Chocolate Milk in School Cafeterias” from The National Library of Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information, the high sugar content can also be a contributing factor to obesity, especially in school aged children. My Advice: avoid this type of overly processed cocoa at all costs.
COCOA HX is an easy, delicious and nutritious way to incorporate cocoa into a healthy daily diet. This supplies 4000mg of cocoa bean powder with natural sweeteners such as stevia and fruit extracts. It can easily be added to water, smoothies, recipes, plain yogurt or even almond milk for a healthy daily treat. What an indulgent way to get this centuries old superfood and get all the health benefits it offers without feeling guilty!
www.masterclass.com/articles/cacao-guide#KmmtqrcT5NyfUe47T3Hf4
www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cacao-nibs
www.health.clevelandclinic.org/dark-chocolate-health-benefits
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8470865/
www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/nutrition/is-chocolate-milk-a-healthy-drink/
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3989166/
The Benefits of Beets Hx Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Everyone has heard about beets. Beet powder, beet chews and even beet juice! It’s everywhere you look! But what really are the benefits of using beet supplements? Why is the tart cherry in the Beets …
ALLIE’S TOP 10 TIPS AND TRICKS FOR A HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT The holiday season effects just about everyone, as there are so many things going on at the end of the year. Whether it be holiday parties, over …
Sterols Plus Hx: InVite’s Comprehensive Cholesterol Targeting Formula!
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Our product spotlight is one that that I think is an amazing formula for cholesterol. What is this wonderful formula you ask? Sterols Plus Hx! Sterols plus is a combination of things that helps with our cholesterol. To start with what exactly is in sterols plus? There is Beta Glucan, Red yeast rice, phytosterols and cranberry.
Beta glucan is a very well known supplement for cholesterol. Studies have found that Beta Glucan can help with high cholesterol and even metabolic syndrome. If you recall my series on blood sugar you will recall metabolic syndrome includes high cholesterol among other things. Studies have also found that Beta glucan can help with obesity and even insulin resistance. Beta Glucans are an important part of lowering cholesterol in that studies have found that they are able to significantly reduce LDL and total cholesterol. In addition to helping with high cholesterol Beta glucan has shown promise in decreasing overall cardiovascular risk. In other words studies show it’s an excellent supplement to use to decrease the risk of a problem before it develops. Beta Glucan is also good for other parts of our body including our immune system. For this series however I’ll be concentrating on heart health and how the parts of Sterols plus helps our heart.
The next item in the Sterols plus formula is one that almost everyone has heard of. It is the famous Red Yeast Rice! Studies have found Red Yeast Rice to be one of the most effective cholesterol lowering supplements available. Additionally studies have found that Red Yeast Rice lowers both total cholesterol and LDL levels approximately 15-25% within 6-8 weeks. Additionally according to the Mayo clinic studies find that it helps to lower triglycerides. Another study found it helps to increase HDL. Red yeast rice is considered safe but, I would like to point out that it can interfere with certain medications. If you are taking any medications, it is important to reach out to an Invite nutritionist. Remember that is what we are here for.
Phytosterols or sterols are most likely my favorite things to use for cholesterol. I know everyone wants to hear about studies but, everyone also has clinical experience that can be just as interesting to hear about as studies. My clinical experience shows that sterols are amazing for lowering the total cholesterol and LDL. But it’s not just me saying how great sterols are, the Cleveland clinic also says that sterols can help lower cholesterol levels. The Cleveland clinic recommends using sterols to help lower risk of cholesterol for those with a family history of high cholesterol or for those with a family history or a personal history of heart disease and atherosclerosis. Now I know what some people are thinking and that is – what do the studies show? Studies have found that sterols lower LDL. By lowering LDL, you also lower the total cholesterol since the total includes LDL levels. In studies sterols were found to lower LDL by 6-12%.
Lastly, we have Cranberry Extract. Now I know what you’re going to say, cranberry extract is for a UTI! And yes it is amazing for that use but, it has other uses as well. Studies have found that cranberry is much more than just a supplement for our urinary tract. Studies have found it can significantly lower LDL and total cholesterol after 12 weeks. Additionally, studies have found that cranberry helps to lower the risk of atherosclerosis as well as lower LDL and total cholesterol.
Now there is 1 item in Sterols Plus Hx that I didn’t mention when I talked about the about the active ingredients. This was a surprise ingredient! What is it you ask? Stevia! Now I know people think that Stevia is just a sweetener. But studies show it is good at lowering LDL and increasing HDL!
Overall Sterols Plus Hx is a fantastic product that both studies and my clinical experience shows works well.
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Our next topic will be a more sensitive topic – Heart attack.
