Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
All About Detox Part 1 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Liver health is important for our overall health for so many reasons. One of the most well-known functions of the liver is to detox our bodies. Doing a detox, or cleanse is one of the topics …
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~JOY by: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT “The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: ‘Does this spark joy?’ If it does, keep it. …
What exactly is Liver Cirrhosis? Part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
This is part 2 of our discussion on cirrhosis. If you haven’t read the first part I suggest you do that first since it will contain important background information. In this blog I will be reviewing complications of cirrhosis as well as things that can help with our overall liver health. Let’s get into it, shall we?
Cirrhosis can have very serious complications. To start with cirrhosis is a huge risk factor for liver cancer. It can also lead to multi-organ failure, including bone disease and even memory changes. Cirrhosis can also increase blood pressure and this can lead to varices (enlarged veins). This in turn can lead to increased risk of bleeding. Cirrhosis can also reduce your body’s ability to fight infections. Malnutrition can also occur. Cirrhosis can also affect the spleen. Lastly as I’ve stated cirrhosis can increase swelling in the legs and abdomen and even lead to jaundice. (1)
Unfortunately there is no way to reduce the scarring of the liver. It is therefore critical to reduce the risk factors for scaring and to work on the overall health of our liver.
Our next topic will be Hepatox Hx
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PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~HEALTH By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT HEALTH seems like a no brainer when discussing wellness and lifestyle. However, what does it really mean? Let’s break this down and I’ll go over what this means to me as it …
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~SOCIAL LIFE By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Many people don’t think of having a social life as being part of a healthy lifestyle. I didn’t either for a long time. However, like many of us, my mind was …
From a Naturopath Point of View Part 5
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
You may have heard the saying that sleep and a good healthy diet are both the base of the pyramid of health. As a Naturopath I agree with this concept 100%! But while I agree it is important I understand that the practicality of “healthy diet and proper rest” can be confusing. Let’s start with sleep, shall we?
Why is sleep so important to our overall health? Well inadequate sleep has been found to affect our overall heart health. Those who don’t get enough sleep have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and even obesity. Studies have also found that not getting enough sleep can affect our metabolism and even hormones such as insulin, ghrelin and leptin. Additionally those who aren’t getting enough sleep are more likely to get colds and other infections. Lastly memory and brain health can be affected. (1) These are just the most common reasons that sleep is important for our overall health.
How do you know if you’re getting enough sleep? How do you know if you are getting good quality sleep? Remember it’s not just how much sleep that matters but the quality of sleep also matters. In my clinical experience I have found that the following questions can help determine if you’re getting enough, good quality sleep. To start do you have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep? Do you wake up feeling energized or do you feel like you “need more sleep” to fee refreshed? I have found that the answers to these questions can help determine if your sleep is both adequate in quantity and quality. Please see the attached source to help determine how many hours of sleep are best for your age, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/how-much-sleep ! (2) For more information on sleep please check out Allie Might’s blog Are you getting enough sleep part 1.
The other part of the health equation is nutrition. This is where it can get tricky. A healthy diet can look different for everyone. For some people it can be the well-known Mediterranean diet. For others it means a vegetarian diet fits their goals better. As a Naturopath I will say that while there is no “one diet” there are some things that are important to incorporate into any healthy eating plan. These of course include vegetables, some fruit, protein and healthy fats. A healthy diet will also limit processed foods as well as added sugar. I always say the closer your food is to its original form the less processed it tends to be. What are some signs that your current eating plain is working well for you? When you are eating nutritious foods you will sleep well and have good energy. You will also find that your digestive system is working well. For example you will not have any constipation, gas, diarrhea or even bloating. You will also be less likely to get sick. If you’re eating plan is working well you will find it relatively easy to maintain a healthy weight. Your mood and even focus will be improved. Lastly, if your eating plan is working for you it will show in your annual blood tests. (3)
What are some ways to help improve sleep and nutrition?
I hope you enjoyed this Naturopathic view of different health topics. Our next topic will be focused on an important topic, our liver and kidney health.
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