What Is Lupus? – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 522
Lupus is an autoimmune condition that is closely related to inflammation and low levels of Vitamin D. Learn more about this issue and what you can do to help from Amanda Williams, MD, MPH.
Tag: diabetes
Getting to Know Zinc – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 516
Zinc is the second most abundant mineral in your body, but many people don’t have enough of it. This nutrient is essential for immune health, brain function, heart health and more.
HbA1C: Why It Matters to Healthy Aging – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 515
HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C HbA1C
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Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode.
HbA1C: Why It Matters to Healthy Aging – InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode 515
Hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
*Intro music*
InViteⓇ Health Podcast Intro: Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our degreed healthcare professionals are excited to offer you the most important health and wellness information you need to make informed choices about your health. You can learn more about the products discussed in each of these episodes and all that InViteⓇ Health has to offer at www.invitehealth.com/podcast. First time customers can use promo code PODCAST at checkout for an additional 15% off your first purchase. Let’s get started!
*Intro music*
Amanda Williams, MPH:
[00:00:40] Why you should test your Hemoglobin A1C level on an annual basis is really important. Oftentimes, when we think about HbA1c, we think in the setting of diabetes. And of course, this is the key indicator for the measuring and monitoring of diabetics. But it’s also very important that we know if we are prediabetic or if our Hemoglobin A1C level is in a good and healthy range. So today I want to talk about what exactly HbA1c is and some different nutrients that can be very beneficial when it comes to targeting glycation.† [00:01:10]
[00:01:11] I’m Amanda Williams, MD, MPH and Hemoglobin A1C is a marker that we assess when it comes to the management of your blood sugar and Hemoglobin A1C is basically measuring the amount of blood sugar that’s attached to hemoglobin. And when we think about glycation, I’ve mentioned this on many different shows and podcasts before, why glycation and advanced glycation end products are so detrimental. So we know that every time that we eat, we are going to get a rise in blood sugar, blood glucose. And this is irrelevant if someone’s a diabetic or not a diabetic, your blood sugar is going to go up. What happens is that if we get this rise in advanced glycation end products, this can do significant damage. So when you understand that these glycation products actually hook on to things such as proteins, and we’re thinking hemoglobin, which is a protein, and this is an indication that damage is being done at the level of our red blood cell. We’re thinking about Hemoglobin A1C. What we know about advanced glycation end products is that they deactivate enzymes, they disrupt cell signaling pathways. They certainly can damage our cellular DNA. They can drive up inflammation and oxidative stress, all of things that are incredibly problematic for our body.† [00:02:37]
CHRONIC INFLAMMATION, PART 1 – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 498. Listen Now>>
[00:02:38] So we think about Hemoglobin A1C. What we’re actually looking for is the rate of glycation, those advanced glycation end products that are actually attaching to your red blood cell. Now, understanding that red blood cells have a lifespan of 120 days. So when you assess Hemoglobin A1C, this is exactly what we’re looking at. We’re looking at the rate of glycation that occurs over the course of that three months, which is why it’s a much better test to run than, say, if you were to just test your fasting glucose. Fasting glucose is a snapshot in time, it’s telling you what’s happening right now, but it doesn’t give us a clear indication of how much of that elevated glucose is actually going to convert into those advanced glycation end products and wreak havoc when it comes to our hemoglobin. So when assessing for prediabetes and diabetes, Hemoglobin A1C is always the go to. If that level is high, that indicates that there is a high level of glycation that is occurring. And this is problematic not just because it shows that we’ve got significant insulin resistance and the body is having a hard time managing glucose. But we know that this is going to impact every other organ system in the body. So when you think about your heart, when you think about your kidneys, when you think about the nervous system, we know that those AGEs, as they are known, will create a lot of bad things for us.† [00:04:02]
[00:04:03] Now, when you look at the rates or the levels, I should say, what those actually mean. So say you go in and you have a Hemoglobin A1C test done. What you’re looking for, ideally according to most labs, is a Hemoglobin A1C level at 5.7 or below. I look at that to be even lower. I think it should be 5.5 or lower. You’re considered a prediabetic when your hemoglobin A1C level is coming back at 5.7 To 6.4. Now, once you reach a Hemoglobin A1C level that is above a 6.5, now you are categorized or diagnosed as being a diabetic. Now I have seen Hemoglobin A1C levels in the teens, 15, 16 20, and that is incredibly alarming if you see a level that high because you now recognize that that glycation has gone well outside of just your hemoglobin and this is now likely to be hitting up your nervous system in a significant manner. You know, really creating havoc within your vascular system. So the evaluation of Hemoglobin A1C in terms of long term blood sugar control is one of the most important things that we can assess, not only in the setting of just blood glucose regulation, but when we think about our aging process. And I always say we want to age gracefully if we’re walking around with high levels of advanced glycation end products that are damaging certain areas of the body, we need to be aware of this so we can make corrections to our lifestyle when it comes to diet, when it comes to exercise and obviously when it comes to the nutrients that you are taking in.† [00:05:39]
[00:05:39] So Hemoglobin A1C, commonly tested in diabetics, we know that, you know, if you go in to your doctor, they’re not just going to generally run a Hemoglobin A1C unless they have a suspicion that you are a diabetic. The problem is, is that we know there are so many prediabetics in this country. At the last estimate, it was around 80 million people who are actually prediabetic, meaning that that Hemoglobin A1C level is testing back at 5.7 to 6.4. That’s a problem because if you, say you’re wavering at 5.6, you need to be making those corrections. You don’t want to wait until the level of glycation damage is such that you are now technically a prediabetic or a full blown diabetic. So it’s very important. This is why when doctors assess Hemoglobin A1C, they always say this gives us an look at how well your average blood sugar levels have been running over the course of the past two to three months. Because remember, what we’re looking at is that life span of a red blood cell. So in general, that’s kind of the way that it is looked at. Remember, hemoglobin is a protein, and we know that those advanced glycation end products love to attach to proteins. So this is why this is a very accurate test to do.† [00:06:52]
[00:06:53] So say, for example, your hemoglobin A1C is not technically putting you at a prediabetic or a diabetic, but it’s still higher than you would like to see. So maybe you’re at 5.6, then what should you be doing? Or let’s just say you’re in that prediabetic range or even the diabetic range? What should you be doing? Well, we want to make sure that we’re taking nutrients that we know are very geared towards targeting advanced glycation end products with the regulation of blood glucose and enhancing the insulin sensitivity. So this is where Nerve HxⓇ becomes your new best friend because this is a fat-soluble form of Vitamin B1. And what’s really unique about this fat-soluble B1? So remember, all of our B-vitamins are water-soluble, so this is very unique in and of itself that it is of a fat-soluble variety. But we know that it does something really important, which is the activation of an enzyme called transketolase. Now, transketolase helps our body convert these toxic glucose metabolites into harmless or neutral compounds so that the body can then manage them so they’re not converting into these AGEs or advanced glycation end products. So this is why Nerve HxⓇ containing the benfotiamine is certainly one of the little weapons in your arsenal.† [00:08:10]
CHRONIC INFLAMMATION, PART 1 – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 498. Listen Now>>
[00:08:11] But I would also look towards other nutrients that we know are incredibly beneficial when it comes to targeting AGEs or glycation in the body. And that would include things such as Alcar with ALA. We certainly understand the important multimodal functions of alpha lipoic acid in the body, and when it comes to the way that alpha lipoic acid can help the body with that regulation of those glycation and products. So Nerve HxⓇ is a first and foremost, then we also want to look at Alcar with ALA. We want to make sure that we are changing our diet, that we are not creating these major spikes in blood sugar. So adherence to a Mediterranean diet is certainly important. Getting adequate exercise, even if it’s, you know, 20, 30 minutes a day of just light walking can make an impact on how your body is managing your blood glucose. So this is also key.† [00:09:05]
[00:09:05] And then we can look at formulations such as the Gluco HxⓇ, which you would take about 15 minutes prior to meals. This is a combination of key minerals, trace minerals such as chromium and vanadium that help to wake up your insulin, along with extracts such as bitter melon, which have been shown in human clinical trials to be incredibly powerful at promoting the wakefulness of our insulin. And this is always important. We want to make sure that insulin can respond to those big increases in glucose, so it helps to push that down, so we are less likely to allow our body to make those advanced glycation end products. So Hemoglobin A1C certainly is a test that would be advantageous to request your doctor to to run, even if you don’t have those concerns of being a diabetic or prediabetic. It certainly can give you a lot of insight as to how while your body is managing those advanced glycation and products and it gives you that open door to be able to make those modifications based off of where that level is. So definitely next time you go in and you have your blood work done, check out Hemoglobin A1C, make sure that you test that. If you have issues, you know the nutrients that you can turn to to give you some additional support.† [00:10:17]
[00:10:18] I want to thank you so much for tuning in to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. Remember, you can listen to all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts, make sure that you subscribe and leave us a review. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We will see you next time for another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.† [00:10:18]
*Exit music*
Gabapentin Used for Nerve Pain Depletes Important Nutrients – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 495
Gabapentin is a drug that is commonly prescribed for nerve pain, but this medication may cause you to lose important nutrients that are necessary for the health of your brain, heart and more.
Metformin Used for Diabetes Depletes These Important Nutrients – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 481
Metformin is often the first treatment option given to type 2 diabetics. While it has many advantages, this prescription medication can also deplete several nutrients that are essential to proper functions within the body.
Getting the Maximum Out of Resveratrol – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 479
resveratrol
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Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode.
Getting the Maximum Out of Resveratrol – InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode 479
Hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
*Intro music*
InVite Health Podcast Intro: Welcome to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast, where our degreed healthcare professionals are excited to offer you the most important health and wellness information you need to make informed choices about your health. You can learn more about the products discussed in each of these episodes and all that InVite Health has to offer at www.invitehealth.com/podcast. First time customers can use promo code PODCAST at checkout for an additional 15% off your first purchase. Let’s get started!
*Intro music*
Amanda Williams, MPH: Today I want to talk about the many different benefits that go along with resveratrol. I am Amanda Williams, MD, MPH and let’s get right to it.†
Resveratrol has always been kind of touted as that anti-aging supplement and rightfully so. I mean, don’t get me wrong. We know that resveratrol does this really great job of the activation of sirtuin and sirtuin 1 in particular. It’s through that that allows for cellular longevity, so this we know. We definitely can see why resveratrol has been touted as kind of this, in a sense, this miracle supplement.†
But it’s coming from nature and it has all of these great benefits. We know it’s a very powerful antioxidant and we certainly can see how it’s been studied across the spectrum when it comes to cardiovascular health, when it comes to cognitive health and so much of the way in which resveratrol is working is when we think about inflammaging. It’s that chronic inflammation that leads to that accelerated aging. We know that because resveratrol can actually activate and promote that sirtuin activity… remember that sirtuin is helping with that cellular longevity, sirtuin 1 in particular. So we know that the more we can activate SIRT1, the more that we can promote the repair and longevity of our cells.†
Inflammation itself is promoting this cellular proliferation and angiogenesis. This is why we find that resveratrol can actually inhibit the activity of many different inflammatory enzymes, including things like NF-kappa beta. If we can downregulate that, we know at the same time, we’re going to be bolstering up our immune system. This is where you, once again, have to be able to draw that connection.†
Now, initially, outside of the anti-aging of resveratrol and the studies that focused on that, much of the research was done on the cardiovascular benefits and being able to see just how it was that the resveratrol, that trans-resveratrol, can actually help to support the cardiovascular system by targeting inflammation and the viscosity of the blood, supporting the endothelial cells, so it’s very, very impressive.†
When it comes to blood pressure, I’ve talked about this study that they did where they actually used resveratrol soaked… so they take cardiac stents, so someone has to go in to have a vessel opened up because it’s clogged up and they put a stent in. They did a study in Louisiana where they actually soaked the stents in resveratrol and then they put the stent into the cardiac patient and they found that they did much better in terms of healing post-surgery and those markers for inflammation were coming down much more rapidly. We know that resveratrol packs a punch when it comes to targeting that inflammation.†
Now, this is the key takeaway: trans-resveratrol is what is yielding all of that benefit. When we look at the components coming from grape, for example, and resveratrol is called a stilbenoid. This is a compound that’s produced by these different plants, so we can look at Japanese knotweed, we can look at grapes, and we know that the resveratrol is predominately found in the skin of those grapes and blueberries, raspberries. That’s where we’re predominately being able to source the resveratrol. But it is a specific type. It is the trans-resveratrol that is what is yielding that benefit.†
Now, the initial studies done with resveratrol were showing that when someone took in roughly 20mg of trans-resveratrol, that it was this amount that would start to potentiate that benefit when we think of sirtuin activation, so for that cellular longevity. But then when we get deeper into the science and we look at the cardiovascular benefits, then we see that the trans-resveratrol amount needs to be much higher. So, we recognize 100mg is probably where we need to be.
Well let me tell you about the Resveratrol Max. This has over 200mg of trans-resveratrol in it. That’s a huge amount of trans-resveratrol. And understanding the science of the trans-resveratrol and how this is the biologically active form of that powerful compound that is derived from those fruits, that this is what is yielding all of that benefit. And this is why the research really took off, because they said, “If we use a higher amount of this trans-resveratrol…” We know that 20mg is what’s beneficial just to support basic cellular health, but if we increase that amount, now we’re looking at improvements to memory. We’re looking at improvements to insulin sensitivity in diabetics, better glucose control. We’re looking at how that trans-resveratrol is really optimizing the health of cardiac patients. And study after study continues to show this.†
When I look at much of the science behind the resveratrol, it is really very broad. When we think about the immune system, this is where that trans-resveratrol, to me, is oftentimes overlooked because we know that the resveratrol has this finite ability to do so much when it comes to, once again, fending off oxidative stress. The more we can fend off oxidative stress, the more we’re supporting the immune system. We also have now recognized that the trans-resveratrol, that particular compound, has a unique ability to target specific viruses and bacteria. And so, a lot of scientific research right now is highly focused on that uniqueness of resveratrol when it comes to the way that the immune system can utilize it for its benefit. So the antiviral properties that go along with resveratrol have been shown and we are seeing more and more of these studies coming out.†
In the Biochemical Translational Journal, they looked at how resveratrol has been shown over the course of many years now, and this was probably over a decade ago that this study came out… We know that it has this capacity to target and prevent many different conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancers, they mention. But they also recognize that it has this unique ability to control fungal, bacterial and viral infections. This is why you continue to see different studies.†
I mean, there’s even been studies in this current situation with COVID-19 where they have been studying resveratrol to see if resveratrol had any capacity to inhibit that SARS-CoV-2 replication. Remember, with viruses, that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to stop that replication because viruses are very tough things to actually eliminate or eradicate, so we’re always trying to stop the replication. That is the goal. And so, seeing how resveratrol can actually be incredibly targeted to specified viruses… I mean, we’re talking different herpes viruses, so in that herpes simplex virus family… looking at Epstein-Barr. There’s a lot of different ways in which resveratrol has shown to exhibit these inhibitory properties against a whole wide range of different viruses. And in the Nature journal they talked about this and one of the ways that they were looking at it was through the deactivation of one component of these particular viruses.†
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This is why, once again, I wanted to talk about resveratrol in this setting because many times we think, “Resveratrol, anti-aging,” or “Resveratrol, cardiovascular health.” But we now see that resveratrol plays a really profound role when it comes to brain health. And once again, they’ve done really interesting studies with functional MRIs and seen the difference when they gave individuals trans-resveratrol. Then they looked at the brain and they said, “Wow, look at the difference in this.” And part of that was the ability to target glycation, oxidative stress, helping to support better blood flow, once again, into the brain. And that was in the Journal of Neurosciences back in 2014, where they talked about this. They took a group of diabetics, which they knew already had a diminished cardiovascular circulatory system and had a greater risk of damage or atrophy in the brain because of excessive glycation. Then they found that the resveratrol actually improved their memory and helped to enhance insulin sensitivity and regulate that glycation from doing further damage.†
We have different resveratrols available at InViteⓇ Health, but the Resveratrol Max, this is the power punch of all resveratrols. You will be definitely hard-pressed to try and find another resveratrol on the market that can stand up to the Resveratrol Max. This is by far one of the most potent forms of trans-resveratrol that you can get your hands on. And remember, we’ve got a lot of pharmaceutical companies out there that are really doing their darnedest to try and figure out how to create a synthetic version of resveratrol for their own benefits because they realize just how powerful trans-resveratrol is and all of the many ways in which trans-resveratrol can make an impact on human health. So we’re talking immune health, cardiovascular health, neuronal health, so many different utilizations. No wonder why they are trying to manipulate or make this in a lab synthetic setting. But luckily for you, you can get the real deal. You can get the actual trans-resveratrol in the highest amount by utilizing the Resveratrol Max formulation.†
So, I want to thank you so much for tuning into the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. Remember, you can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting invitehealth.com/podcast. Now, do make sure that you subscribe and you leave us a review. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @invitehealth and we will see you next time for another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.†
*Exit music*