Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Protein Powders Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Invite health has a number of different type of protein powders. These include a whey based protein, a plant based protein and even a weight management powder that can help improve our overall nutrition. That being said why is …
Cancer and Weight Loss Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Weight loss is a common side effect experienced by those with cancer. This weight loss can occur for a number of reasons. To start with, having cancer can lead to weight loss. This is because in some …
Methyl-B
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Most people have heard that it can improve your health if you take a B complex. You may even have heard the term “methylation”. But do you know what that term means? Why does it even matter? This blog will answer those questions and more! Basically when you methylate a vitamin you are either adding or taking off a methyl group. When this process is done to the B vitamins it “activates” them. When you take a methylated B complex it is already activated, however when you take an unmethylated B complex the body must perform the methylation process itself. (1) To sum things up Methyl- B complex is an activated or turned on complex whereas an unmethylated B complex is a form that has to be “turned on” by the body.
Now I bet your thinking but why does this even matter? One reason why it matters is that it affects the speed at which the B complex goes to work. A methylated B complex will go to work immediately. This is because it’s already turned on. When you take unmethylated B complex you have to turn them on if you will. This takes time hence increasing the amount of time it takes to see affects. There is also a part of the population who have a gene variation called MTHFR. (1) This variation can make it difficult to activate or methylate our vitamins. For example having MTHFR can make methylation of folic acid and B12 difficult if not impossible. (2, 3) Thus for anyone with the MTHFR it is important to take the methyl form of B vitamins. However, even those without the mutation benefit from a methyl B since as I have said it works right away because it is already in the active form.
Now if you compare the vitamins in our Methyl- B you will notice some say methyl and some don’t. That is because some need to be methylated while the others don’t need to be but are included because they are important in the methylation process. (4) This is also why you may notice that there are some B vitamins in the B 100 complex that aren’t in the Methyl- B. The B 100 complex has all the B vitamins whereas the Methyl- B formula concentrates on those that must be activated or are important in the methylation process. Another difference you may notice is the amount of each B vitamin. Because the Methyl- B vitamins are easier for the body to use you often get the benefits at a lower dose. (1) So to answer your question no you don’t need to take multiple pills to get any benefit! If you’re confused which B complex is right for you I suggest speaking to an Invite nutritionist?
What exactly are B vitamins helpful for? Well B vitamins are important for our red blood cells, energy, and nerve and muscle health (including our heart). B vitamins are also important for our vision and eye health. Our brain also requires B vitamins to work optimally. B vitamins also impact both our appetite and digestion. Lastly B vitamins play a role in our hormones and even cholesterol health. For those that are pregnant or nursing B vitamins are important for the baby’s brain development as well as reduce the risk of certain birth defects. B vitamins can also help maintain energy, reduce nausea and even decrease the risk of preeclampsia in those who are pregnant. (5)
As you can see the B vitamins can help with many aspects of our health. Feel free to talk to an Invite nutritionist for more information. Our next topic will be dealing with weight loss during cancer treatments.
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Combat Chemo Brain Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One topic that comes up a lot is what to do about the side effects that can occur as a result of the different cancer treatments. The first side effect I will be talking about is called …
Invite Health Powders Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Invite Health has an amazing line of superfood powders that can easily be incorporated into your vision heath protocol. These powders include Reds Hx, Purples Hx and both Greens Hx and Organic Greens. These powders easily complement …
THE KETO DIET~ IS IT OR ISN’T IT GOOD FOR EVERYONE?
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
The Keto Diet…we’ve all heard about it, we all have opinions on it, but what do we really know about this diet theory. It seems as though many people have a love/hate relationship with Keto as there’s not a lot of middle ground when considering this plan. However, what do we really know about it and is it the right choice.
So what exactly is a Keto diet? Simply put, it’s a diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat…I sometimes refer to it as “The New Atkins”. However, this is not the okay to load up on such indulgences as bacon and cheese. The key is to have lean proteins and healthy fats, while eliminating processed foods, carbs and sugar.
Keto is widely used as a weight loss diet. This is likely how most people know this diet as it’s heavily discussed on social media, on television and online. Studies have shown that this diet can be effective for short-term weight loss or even as a good kick start to healthier eating habits. While initially keto has shown to improve cardiovascular health, the long terms effect are still unknown. Many people have shown to have problems when transitioning away from keto. These may include, but are not limited to, weight gain, digestive problems or increases in blood sugar.
Studies recommend, as do I, a Keto Diet as a therapeutic diet. It has been shown to be beneficial for those with such cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, mental health issues and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is due to the proportions of high fat to low carbohydrate to normal protein, as well as the balancing of bacterial microbes within the gut.
The high fat, healthy fats, component of this diet has been studied for its effects on the brain. We know that incorporating healthy fats are needed for help nourish and promote brain function. Some good fats to add to a keto friendly diet include oily fish like salmon, olive oil, some nuts and avocado.
To get an idea of what a day in the life of The Keto Diet looks like, here is a sample:
BREAKFAST:
2 eggs cooked in 1 Tablespoon organic butter or ghee with a side of ½ sliced avocado
LUNCH:
Spinach salad with cucumber, ½ diced avocado, grilled salmon and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and the juice of ½ lemon
SNACK:
1 oz. Brazil nuts
DINNER:
4-6 oz. lean beef cooked in 1 Tablespoon organic butter or ghee, 1 smashed clove of garlic and a sprig of rosemary, with a side of steamed asparagus
Digestive Hx can be helpful for many of those that adopt a Keto diet. This is often due to the high amounts of protein, fats and dairy that many consume on a daily basis. The combination of enzymes help the digestive system to breakdown and absorb the meals eaten with ease and less gas buildup.
Fish Oil is a common go-to for omega-3. Fish, and therefore fish oil, has been shown to increase cognitive ability. Due to the EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are beneficial for heart and brain health.
Multi Energy Powder is a complete multi vitamin, mineral and antioxidant formula in an easy to take powder. Starting the day with a good foundation of a complete multivitamin can get your day started off right.
Probiotic Maintain is a perfect complement to the Digestive Hx. Using a probiotic formula daily is a good habit to follow, particularly when eating a strict diet like Keto. Taking care of the digestive tract and maintaining a well-balance of healthy bacteria can help set you up for a healthy transition through this diet plan. My pro-tip is to use the Probiotic Hx Immune if using Keto for kids…and speak to a health professional regarding dosage.
As you can see while a Keto Diet may be good for weight loss, it’s a great go-to therapeutic option for anyone concerned with or experiencing issues regarding any brain conditions. Now that you have a better overview of The Keto Diet, do you think it is right for you and your goals?
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8322232/
www.webmd.com/diet/keto-diet-for-beginners
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7480775/
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10431618/
www.everydayhealth.com/ketogenic-diet/diet/best-worst-fats-eat-on-keto-diet/
ketogenic.com/benefits-of-ghee-on-the-ketogenic-diet/
health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-smoothly-transition-off-the-keto-diet
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326204#summary
www.webmd.com/diet/features/what-to-know-about-omega-3s-and-fish
