From Bones to Osteopenia: The Benefits of Calcium- InVite Health Podcast, Episode 584
Allie Might, INHC, AADP, ATT goes into the benefits of calcium and how it supports broken bones, osteopenia and osteoporosis
Tag: fish oil
Dry Eye: Supplements That Can Help- InVite Health Podcast, Episode 577
Join Jerry Hickey, Ph., as he dives into studies about dry eye syndrome and talks about the supplements that can help
Digestive Health, Part 5: Constipation
Written by Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Constipation
For further questions or concerns email me at [email protected]†
Every week I get calls asking about how to deal with constipation. Clinically speaking, constipation refers to less than 3 bowel movements a week. From a more holistic viewpoint, an optimum digestive tract will lead to a daily bowel movement. There is a common misconception going around that it is necessary to have a bowel movement after every meal. This is not true and is actually a symptom of rapid transit time!†
Symptoms of Constipation
The symptoms include having a few bowel movements a week. Having a bowel movement every other day is considered mild constipation. Whereas, straining to have a bowel movement is constipation. Even if you do have a bowel movement every day, if the stool is hard/small or you feel as though there is stool left behind, you’re experiencing constipation. It can cause gas, bloating, anal itching, hemorrhoids, bloody stool, stomach pain as well as nausea or even vomiting.†
When it comes to working with this, it’s important to understand what is causing it. Oftentimes, it’s a symptom of different underlying systemic conditions. For example, thyroid disorders and pregnancy can affect bowel movements. Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis can have it as a symptom. Medications often cause constipation as a side effect. For example, overusing laxatives, even herbal laxatives such as Senna. On a very serious note, it can be a sign of colon cancer. Just like many different medical concerns, constipation can be caused by or exacerbated by stress. Before addressing the symptoms, it is important to address these underling concerns. In addition to underlying medical concerns, dietary concerns such as lack of water, fiber and even too much dairy can be a cause. A lack of movement is also a common issue. In children resisting the urge to have a bowel movement can also lead to constipation.† (1)
An overgrowth of pathogens such as Candida Albicans can also be a cause; as pathogens can cause diarrhea and constipation. (2) Disorders of the GI tract such as IBS, Diverticular Disease and Lazy Bowel Syndrome or structural defects such as fistulas, Intussusception, malforatation, colonic rotation and outlet dysfunction can also have it as a symptom. (4) While there can also be other causes of constipation, these are the most common.†
How to Handle Constipation
When addressing constipation it is very important to rule out any systemic concerns such as hypothyroidism. Underlying medical concerns need to be addressed first. Clearing up the underlying issue will often resolve the constipation. Follow up or schedule a visit to a Gastroenterologist. A stool analysis will be performed. It’s a great way to determine the presence of any pathogens.†
ICYMI: DIGESTIVE HEALTH, PART 4 ON STOOL TESTS >> Read Now!
The following suggestions are things that have been found to be helpful in combating constipation. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have information on hand when you call regarding constipation. Recent lab work, and a diet diary are important resources to have on hand when you call InViteⓇ Health. This way a protocol can be personalized.†
Address any underlying medical concerns and eliminate any food sensitivities or allergies. Increase water to half your body weight in ounces. If you weigh 200 pounds you need to be drinking 100 ounces (12.5 cups) of water. Every 8 ounces of water is 1 cup.†
Add fiber to your diet! Fiber is naturally found in fruits and vegetables. These are a great jump start for your digestive tract. Maltodextrin has been found to help combat constipation (4) Psyllium seed husk has also been found to help constipation. (5) For relief of temporary constipation, InViteⓇ Health Colon HxⓇ and soluble fiber can help. A great every day fiber is InViteⓇ Health’s Organic Flaxseed Powder. It’s better to use the powder rather than the seeds since the powder is broken down. That way, the fiber is more easily used by the body.† (6)
Supplements That Can Help
Caprylic acid has been found in studies to help eliminate H. Pylori, Candida and other types of pathogens.† (7) InViteⓇ Health’s Nutristatin 144 is a great item.†
Garlic has been found in studies to help eliminate bacteria and fungus such as Candida. (8) See InviteⓇ Health’s Aged Garlic.†
Olive Leaf Extract has been found to help eliminate microbes such as yeast in the body. (9) See InViteⓇ Health’s Olive Leaf Extract and our Renalaid formula.†
Probiotics help to kill bad bacteria and help colonize new healthy bacteria.† (10)
Herbs have been found to help eliminate constipation. Now it is important to stay away from herbs considered laxatives. While these can be a temporary relief, long term they can cause damage to the digestive tract. Triphala fruit complex has been found to help promote bowel movements. (11) See InViteⓇ Health’s Colon HxⓇ, Marshmallow Root and Slippery Elm have also been found to help when taken in tea. (12) InViteⓇ Health’s GI Maintain has both of these and can easily be mixed into a warm cup of chamomile tea.†
THE POWER OF ADAPTOGENIC HERBS – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 447 >> Listen Now!
Magnesium Citrate is one of the best supplements to help. It is a natural, non-habit forming stool softener. (13) See InViteⓇ Health’s Magnesium Citrate, Bioavail Magnesium Complex and Bone Powder. Castor oil packs are incredibly powerful tools in helping with concerns. (14) Omega 3s such as Fish Oil and Krill Oil have also been found to help lubricate the stool. (15) See InViteⓇ Health’s Fish Oil and Krill Oil Advanced.†
Next week we’ll cover the topic of Diarrhea.†
Sources
- https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/digestive-diseases-constipation
- https://www.humnutrition.com/blog/candida-overgrowth/
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4059-constipation
- https://greatist.com/health/maltodextrin-dangers#:~:text=It%20improves%20digestion,fiber%20supplements%20Metamucil%20and%20Citrucel.
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/psyllium#:~:text=Many%20well%2Ddesigned%20studies%20have,%2C%20Europe%2C%20and%20North%20America.
- https://www.healthline.com/health/flaxseed-for-constipation
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21830350/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458355/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5490280/#:~:text=The%20present%20study%20focused%20on,infections%20such%20as%20oral%20thrush.
- https://www.omnibioticlife.com/candida-and-probiotics/#:~:text=Certain%20probiotic%20strains%2C%20such%20as,good%20bacteria%20in%20your%20intestine.
- https://www.ndtv.com/food/triphala-for-constipation-how-to-use-this-ayurveda-wonder-to-manage-digestive-issues-1912465
- https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/herbal-remedies-for-constipation
- https://www.wellandgood.com/natural-remedies-for-constipation/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/castor-oil-pack#uses
- https://omega3innovations.com/blog/fish-oil-and-fiber-how-to-be-number-one-at-number-two/
Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids Really An Important Supplement?
There are always buzz words but how do we know if we should follow them? Learn more about Omega-3 to see the benefits and why this buzz word is worth following.
Why Omega-3s Are Important? – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 569
This supplement is extremely important in overall health but specifically heart, brain, and eye health. Listen now to Allie Mights Podcast on omega-3.
Summer The Mediterranean Way For Healthy Skin – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 552
Summer
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Please see below for a complete transcript of this episode.
The Mediterranean Way For Healthy Skin In The Summer – InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode 552
Hosted by Amanda Williams, MD, 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, MD, MPH. : [00:00:40] The heat of the summer is right around the corner, and for many folks, this means this is your time that you get outdoors and you are staying more active. And I have some tips for you as to how you can make sure that you’re staying hydrated and keeping your skin protected from the sun.†[00:00:55]
[00:00:56] I am Amanda Williams, MD, PMH. Scientific Director at InViteⓇ Health and I absolutely love the summer. They’ve done polling and it varies sometimes Americans as a whole really like spring, other times it’s the fall. But summer is always really consistent throughout the country. People really just enjoy that warmer weather and having more sunshine, especially if you’ve been in an area where you’re you’ve dealt with a long harsh winter. As soon as that sun comes out in the spring and the summer, you just want to get out there and you want to enjoy it. But I want to make sure that you are doing the right things to make sure that your body isn’t taking a beating in the process. And this is really important because at the end of the day if we are exposing ourselves to greater amount of U.V. radiation. We certainly don’t want to accelerate any type of photo aging or making the skin itself age quicker because of sun damage.† [00:01:58]
[00:01:58] So what should you do? Well, most of the time, people think, well, let me just lather on a bunch of SPF. Well, keep in mind that SPF, which is the most common way that people try to protect their skin from the sun, that can create a couple of problems. One, it can actually block your natural absorption of vitamin D, which can be problematic because we certainly understand that vitamin D is critical to so many functions in the human body. It’s actually a hormone so we have to make sure that we always maintain good, healthy, stable levels of vitamin D. The other thing that we know about SPF is all of the chemicals that we are then putting onto our bodies largest organ, which is our skin. So as soon as that SPF and all those chemicals start absorbing in, now your poor liver has to deal with this. So while I’m not saying don’t use SPF, I am trying to encourage you to try to find much cleaner ways to keep your skin safe and protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Because I know you want to get out there and you want to enjoy it, but you want to do it in a very healthy way.†[00:03:04]
[00:03:05] So one thing that we definitely know is that the foods that we can actually provide a natural barrier of U.V. protection. So maybe we don’t even need to run out to our local drugstore and get an SPF that’s loaded down with chemicals. Maybe if we are doing the right things when it comes to the foods that we are eating. Let me just give you an example. There was an interesting study that was published over a decade ago in the Nutritional Review Journal looking at how nutrition can actually yield sun protection. The way that they were addressing this study is analyzing areas in the world where high levels of solar radiation or UV exposure is very high. But then also correlating that to low rates of skin cancers. And in the Mediterranean region in particular, they found this to be very prevalent they found that people in the Mediterranean areas had much higher rates of exposure to UV light, but yet much lower rates of skin cancers. So melanomas, when you think about squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and so what they drew that back to was their dietary intake of antioxidants and vitamins and minerals and all of these powerful phytochemicals, in addition to omega three fatty acids.† [00:04:31]
[00:04:32] Now, certainly, there have been multiple clinical trials that have shown the importance of staying hydrated from the inside out. So with the use of things like vitamin E and Omega three fatty acids, we know that this can help create this barrier of protection for our skin. We know that UV radiation has really deleterious effects on our skin, and the more we can start to increase our omega three intake the better we do when it comes to offsetting the harmful effect of the sun’s rays. Quite interesting, right? Well, there was a study that was published in the Experimental Dermatology Journal also about a decade ago that looked specifically at this looked at omega three fatty acid intake. So when we think about fish oil or krill oil or maybe you prefer a vegetarian options such as flaxseed, we know that when people have higher intake of those very powerful and essential omega three fatty acids, this actually led to skin protection. So it made the skin less impacted by acute and chronic U.V. exposure. They’ve even done studies showing how dietary fish oil supplementation could actually eliminate or greatly reduce the likelihood of getting sunburns. Which is very interesting. We know that our foods matter. We certainly understand that if we have a strong adherence to a Mediterranean style diet, this is beneficial for every single system in the body, including your skin.† [00:06:10]
[00:06:10] So as we trend into the hotter months where your likelihood of having greater exposure to the sun’s rays, we want to make sure that our diet is also following this pattern of healthiness. So we have to make sure that we include in fresh fruits and vegetables, those green leafy vegetables, those, bright colored berries, all those powerful anthocyanins are certainly very beneficial. When you look at the individual vitamins, vitamin E and vitamin C, we know that that combination of vitamin E and. C certainly leads to a protection against that skin damage that UV rays can actually produce. So this is why we want to have that high intake of those fruits and vegetables. Dietary antioxidant intake is essential when it comes to having this photo protective ability within our skin.† [00:07:05]
[00:07:06] And of course, we. Always have to make sure that we stay hydrated. So hydration is really quite essential. I always turn to our alkalizer powder, which is a wonderful combination of magnesium, potassium along with the amino acid beta alanine, which is incredibly nourishing to muscles that get kind of fatigued when they’re overworked. Well many times in the warmer months maybe you’re out there and you’re pushing yourself a little harder than you normally would riding your bike or running and you get home at night and you think, Oh gosh, I have muscle cramps. Well, if we start to incorporate in that alkalizer powder during those hot summer months, this many times can minimize that potential of stripping the electrolytes out of your muscles. And this is always key. So hydration has to come down to being cognizant of the fact that we have to have a good intake of water from the minute we wake up to the minute we go to bed. This is very important because during the hot, humid months we have more of a tendency to lose a lot more fluid than we actually recognize. I’m not talking about just pure out sweating. We lose a lot of that hydration and many times people aren’t quite aware of that and you can get yourself to a point where you are slightly dehydrated or worse than that fully dehydrated.† [00:08:28]
[00:08:29] And this can really lead to significant problems of electrolyte imbalances. So water, water, water, this is important. Not drinking sugary beverages so put away the sodas, the sugary juices. Those are not going to be your friend, certainly during the hot, humid months. So you can always look, as people oftentimes say, I don’t like to drink water, I don’t like the taste of water. And I always say, well, water is not supposed to have a taste, but if you are a flavor type of a person and you want to have that punch of taste, then I would certainly look at incorporating in things like the Oranges HxⓇ, or the Purples HxⓇ, which are loaded down with powerful anthocyanins coming from fruit and vegetable extracts. So we’re going to be powering up all of those vitamins and minerals, those powerful phytochemicals and antioxidants, to give our skin that protection once again from that UV damage. We know that the power of carotenoids is really essential when it comes to being able to fend off all of that harmful light. This is also true when we think about our eyes this is why things like lutein and zeaxanthin are so essential to protect our eyeballs from the blue light damage that comes off of your computer screen or from your cell phone.† [00:09:47]
PURPLES HXⓇ FOR HEALTHY SUMMER SKIN – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 361 >> Listen Now!
[00:09:47] Well, we also want to make sure that we include foods. That are high in those carotenoids, those are your orange colored fruits and vegetables. So power up on all those green leafy vegetables, your berries, of course the orange pigmented fruits and vegetables during the summer. And stay hydrated. This is all very important to make sure that we don’t increase our chances of photo aging. We don’t want to accelerate the aging of our skin just because we want to spend some more time out in the sun.† [00:10:19]
[00:10:20] So that’s all. That I have for you for today. I want to thank you so much for tuning. In to 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 a review. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at InViteⓇ Health and we will see you next time. For another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.† [00:10:20]
*Exist Music*
