Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
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 …
Iron Plus
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
One vitamin that seems to come up in conversation quite frequently is Iron Plus. People often ask questions such as I’m tired all the time, do I need to take Iron? Or I’m a vegan I must need to take iron! And last but not least I have frequently heard I am a woman does that mean I need iron? While yes in some of these situations iron is appropriate it is more complicated than that. Taking iron is more complex than just taking it because you’re tired. As I always say iron is something you take if you need it not just because you have read it on the internet that it is good for you. Why do I say this? Because iron isn’t something everyone should take. Let’s explore this in depth, shall we?
As I said iron isn’t just a vitamin you take to stay healthy. Iron can build up in our body over time. If you have a deficiency that means that over time taking iron will fill in or correct that deficiency. However this means that if you don’t need iron but take it any way you can end up with it becoming abnormally high in your body. This is called hemochromatosis.
What can happen if you have too much iron in your body? Well it can build up in vital organs and cause damage. These organs include the liver, heart and endocrine glands. If the iron concentrates in the liver it can trigger complications such as cirrhosis. Complications due to having an excess of iron can also include cardiomyopathy, diabetes and even hypothyroidism. Also iron overload can weaken our immune health leaving us at an increased risk of infection. (1)
All that being said how do you know if you need iron? According to the American Society of Hematology anemia is diagnosed when a blood test shows a hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gm/dl in a man or 12.0 gm/dl in a female. (2) Basically if your doctor suspects you’re anemic they will recommend a complete blood count or CBC. This test looks at the number of Red blood cells (RBC) or hematocrit and the level of hemoglobin. The doctor can also check the color, size and shape of the RBC. (3)
Now I bet your thinking but Dr. Claire what is the plus in the iron plus? Well the plus refers to nutrients that are basically the cofactors that make iron work better. Vitamin C has been found to increase the absorption of iron. It works better if you take the iron and the vitamin c at the same time. (4) Taurine is an amino acid that helps the body to use iron better thus it can help correct a deficiency more effectively. (5) Both vitamins B12 and folic acid can help us to produce healthy RBC. (6) Overall the nutrients in Iron Plus all work to improve iron absorption, utilization and even RBC health.
Now I know that I said not to take iron unless you know you need to. So what are some signs that you should talk to your doctor about iron? Well some signs can include pale skin that is cold especially on the hands and feet. You will also notice extreme fatigue and weakness. You may experience shortness of breath and chest pain. There may be inflammation on your tongue and your nails may be brittle. Symptoms can also include headache, dizziness, and even changes in appetite. Lastly you may find yourself craving things such as ice. (7)
Iron Plus is an amazing non-constipating form of iron. To find out if it’s right for you feel free to contact a qualified Invite Health nutritionist.
Our next topic is changes to our Hair and Skin that can occur after cancer treatments.
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Cancer Related Fatigue Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to talk about cancer related fatigue because it’s so common in those who have cancer. It can also be difficult to work with because there can be a number of reasons why a person feels …
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 cases cancer cells can release hormones that alter the sensation of hunger. This clearly leads to weight loss because if you’re not hungry you usually cut down what you eat leading to less calories being consumed and thus weight loss. Cancer cells may also “take up space in the GI tract or abdominal cavity” thus causing you to feel full after only a small amount of food. Additionally those who have cancer often experience extreme pain which can decrease appetite. Cancer can also increase inflammation. This increase in inflammation decrease’s the hormones that stimulate appetite while also increasing metabolism. Lastly a diagnosis of cancer can lead to depression and anxiety. Both of these can cause a general loss of appetite thus leading to weight loss. (1)
Constipation can occur as a result of both cancer itself and different cancer treatments. It can cause you to feel full fast. It can also reduce your appetite. Constipation can also cause nausea and vomiting. This can, as anyone who has ever been nauseous can attest to lead to a decrease in appetite. It also leads to a decrease in our ability to absorb nutrients. (1)
Cancer treatments of different types can affect our weight. This can occur for a number of reasons. To start with the different treatments can decrease our overall appetite. Different treatments can decrease our sense of taste. On the same note different cancer treatments can change our perception of different flavors. What this means is you may find foods to be unappealing. You may even find that you dislike some of your favorite foods. (1)
Another way that different cancer treatments lead to weight loss is by causing nausea and vomiting. As I said previously in this blog having nausea and vomiting can lead to weight loss by decreasing appetite as well as by decreasing your overall nutritional intake. (1)
Diarrhea is another cause of weight loss in those undergoing different cancer treatments. This is partly due to the loss of good bacteria which can allow the growth of pathogenic organisms that can trigger diarrhea to occur. Additionally certain treatments affect our GI tract in a way that can trigger diarrhea. (1)
Cancer treatments can also lead to mucositis, or mouth and throat sores that occur when healthy cells are damaged by cancer therapies. Cancer therapies are made to eliminate cancer cells, these are typically fast growing cells. However sometimes healthy cells that have a high turnover or fast growth rate can be targeted as well. These cells often include the cells in the mouth, throat and GI tract. When you have mucositis it can be painful to eat thus reducing food intake and leading to weight loss. (1)
What can you do if you have weight loss while undergoing cancer treatments?
HAPPY GUT SMOOTHIE† (this recipe is from BREAST CANCER AWARENESS~ HEALTHY RECIPE GUIDE)
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
2 scoops InVite Vanilla Whey Protein
1 scoop G.I. Maintain
1 Probiotic Hx
1 cup water or non-dairy milk
1 cup ice cubes
1 banana
1 Tablespoons nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)
Empty the contents of the Probiotic Hx and combine with the other ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth, drink and enjoy! For more ideas please check out the original blog!
Our Product highlight will be Invite Protein Powders!
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