Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Mushroom Hx Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Omelets, risotto and even salads are all places you might find mushrooms. But did you know mushrooms are also an amazing supplement for our immune system? There are so many different types of mushrooms that sometimes it can …
VEGETABLES~GREENS AND BEYOND By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Vegetables and greens always seem to be the most difficult for people to eat enough of on a daily basis. As I’ve talked to people over the years on this subject, I’ve noticed a few …
FRUITS~NATURE’S TREAT
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
Fruit is one of those groups that we all know and love. In my experience, it’s always that food that most people don’t seem to have problems getting into their daily diet. However, let’s explore this delicious group further.
What exactly is a fruit? Britannica defines it as ‘a fruit is the fleshy or dry ripened ovary of a flowering plant, enclosing the seed or seeds’. While we are familiar with the traditional types of fruits such as apples, bananas, oranges and strawberries this definition broadens this association. Such foods like tomatoes, zucchini, squash and eggplant also fall under this definition.
The amount and type of fruit may change depending on one’s wellness goals and health issues. However, on average, it is recommended by the USDA (Unites States Department of Agriculture) that adults should consume 1.5-2 servings of fruits per day. The general rule is that a serving is a cup of fresh fruit or juice or 1/2 cup of dried fruit. Keep in mind that this may slightly differ depending on what fruit you are eating.
So, why is fruit so important? Fruits contain essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and C, potassium and calcium. They are also a source of fiber and help to support a healthy immune system as well as our digestion and heart. It is also easy to consume as fruit is incredibly versatile. It can be eaten raw, in a salad, cooked (some of them), added to a smoothie or even used in a concentrated powder form.
REDS Hx: This is made up of a wide variety of fruits and berries. Due to this having a low sugar content, it can be safe for those watching their blood sugar. It is perfect to add to water, plain yogurt, smoothies or plain oatmeal.
PURPLES Hx: This is similar to Reds Hx, but mainly consists of dark produce such as black cheery, blueberries, blackberries and elderberry. It can be used the same way as the Reds Hx and is the perfect complement to combine together.
ORANGES Hx: This is a great option for someone that may not like citrus or sweet, pale tropical fruits. These fruits tend to be have more of an acidic taste and can sometimes be harder for people to eat. This powder delicious and sweet in flavor, all while supplying essential nutrients like vitamins A, C and riboflavin. Try adding a scoop of this daily to water or plain Greek yogurt for a yummy and nutritious treat.
GUILT FREE FRO-YO
1 cup plain Greek Yogurt
1 scoop Purples Hx
1 scoop Reds Hx
1 teaspoon raw honey
Mix all ingredients together until well combined. Freeze for 6-8 hours, or overnight. Transfer to a bowl and garnish with fresh berries. Eat as a snack or dessert and enjoy!
CREAMSICLE FRO-YO
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 scoop Oranges Hx
1/2 Tablespoon unsweetened coconut flakes
1 teaspoon raw honey
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Mix all ingredients together until well combined. Freeze for 6-8 hours, or overnight. Transfer to a bowl and garnish with fresh berries. Eat as a snack or dessert and enjoy!
www.britannica.com/science/fruit-plant-reproductive-body
www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/fruits
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324431
Understanding the Complexity of Asthma Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND As I mentioned in my prior blog today I will be talking about a well-known respiratory condition. That condition is Asthma. Let’s take the time to go over just how common it is, shall we? …
Heart Health: The Complete Summary Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I hope this series on heart health has been both informative and interesting! While I took the time in this series to review some rather severe heart conditions I also wanted to do a quick …
Reds Hx… for our heart!
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I wanted to talk about Reds Hx next because it’s really the perfect partner to Greens Hx. Since Reds Hx is so full of heart healthy nutrients I am going to jump right into things with our very first nutrient. The very first heart healthy nutrient is in fact the first nutrient listed! And that is carrot. Studies have found a number of benefits regarding carrot supplements on heart health. These include improving blood pressure and even decreasing aortic root lesions. Carrots have also been found to help with atherosclerosis. Studies also indicate that carrots may help with lipid or in other words our cholesterol profiles. (1) According to WebMD the potassium in carrots may help to regulate our blood pressure. (2) As you can see carrots are good for much more than just being a snack for bunnies.
Moving on down the list the next item we will be talking about is cranberry. Now as I always say cranberry isn’t just for our urinary tract! Studies have found that cranberry has benefits for our blood vessels and can keep them healthy. (3) Other studies have found that cranberry can help to reduce blood clot risk, improve circulation and even lower the risks for heart disease. (4) Lastly studies have found that cranberry extract can help moderate cholesterol levels. (5)
The next item is sour cherry and it may sound familiar. This is because sour cherry is simply another name for tart cherry which is a component in our beets formula that I wrote about. Studies have found a number of benefits to using cherry for our heart. These benefits include a decrease in both LDL and total cholesterol. Additionally cherry has been found to help lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. (6)
The next item, blueberry was also a nutrient found in Greens Hx. As I mentioned previously blueberry has been found to help total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides. Blueberries have also been found to help with lowering our blood pressure. (7)
Pomegranate is another powerful nutrient for heart health. In fact studies have found that pomegranate is much stronger than other antioxidants when it comes to protecting cholesterol from oxidation. As a result pomegranate is one of the best antioxidants for slowing atherosclerosis. Studies have also found that pomegranate is amazing at helping lower blood pressure. (8)
Flax seed is another nutrient that is found in both Reds and Greens. As I talked about in my prior blog on Greens flax is good for our blood pressure and even cholesterol levels. (9) Grape seed has also been mentioned numerous times for heart health. And it deserves to be! Studies have found that Grape seed has numerous benefits for our heart including helping our blood pressure. (10) Other studies have found that grape seed is helpful for lowering both total cholesterol as well as LDL. (11)
Japanese Knotweed is a natural source of Resveratrol. Resveratrol is one of my favorite nutrients when it comes to helping with heart health. I couldn’t possibly review all of the benefits that Resveratrol has for heart health in this humble blog. However I can review the most well studied. Studies have found that Resveratrol can help alleviate many of the symptoms of heart failure. Resveratrol has been found in studies to help with blood pressure. Additionally, resveratrol has been found to help with lowering the risk of atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and even help to lower our cholesterol! (12)
Rather than address each antioxidant in Reds Hx separately I’ll be doing an overall review on how they help our heart heath. What are examples of antioxidants? For example 2 well known antioxidants are lutein, and lycopene which comes from sources such as tomatoes, watermelon and even plum! Other examples of antioxidants in Reds include ingredients such as raspberry, green tea, orange, blackberry and even quercetin. In fact Reds Hx is chock full of antioxidants! Studies have found that antioxidants can help slow the development of atherosclerosis as well as help to lower cholesterol. Overall studies have found that antioxidants can help to lower the overall risk of developing cardiovascular disease. (13)
Recent studies on probiotics have found that they may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease by helping with certain risk factors such as obesity and even diabetes. Probiotics may also help to regulate cholesterol. Kefir, a powerful source of probiotic has been found to help lower blood pressure. (14)
Overall Reds Hx is an amazing formula. Before we leave heart health I will be doing a summary of all the things that you can do to help maximize your heart health.
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