Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Osteoporosis is often called “the silent disease” because people cannot feel changes in their bone density. This is why it is so important to make sure you are getting nutrients that can support your overall bone health.
Researchers have indicated parts of the brain that are necessary for maintaining memory functions as we age. These studies have also looked at nutrients that can help to support and promote the brain as we grow older.
depression
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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One of the more alarming impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic was the rate in which antidepressants were prescribed. Factors such as COVID restrictions and social isolation caused mood health for many Americans to take a big hit. The exponential rate at which antidepressants and anxiolytics were prescribed in this country was incredibly alarming. This is very indicative of our collective state of mind and shows that our mood health is something that we should be looking at.†
A recent study published in the Molecular Psychiatry Journal talked about how omega-3 fatty acids can help to combat depression. Researchers were looking at the ability of omega-3 fatty acids from things such as fish oil to help protect the cells within the brain from programmed cell death. Fish oil is rich in EPA and DHA, which were shown to be beneficial.†
In 2015, there was a review in the Journal of Integrative Medicine Research that looked at all of the scientific evidence that was correlating the use of omega-3 fatty acids to supporting people with major depressive disorders, including those other psychiatric disorders. Researchers have shown that when they give omega-3 fatty acids to people who are depressed, the patients experienced significant shifts in their overall mood and behavior.†
The pandemic and the sense of insecurity attached to it led to greater levels of low mood, depression and anxiety. But why is everyone turning to antidepressants as opposed to looking at supplements like fish oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids? This is likely because people don’t talk about these nutrients enough.†
The consumption of omega-3 fatty acids in the Standard American Diet is next to none. This is significant because omega-3 fatty acids play a critical role in maintaining the structural integrity of the neurons in the brain and throughout the entire body. They can also help to ease inflammation and fend off oxidative stress.†
We know that omega-3 fatty acids are essential for existence and important metabolism within the body, so how can we ensure that we are getting more of these nutrients? We could try switching to the Mediterranean Diet. This diet is rich in fatty fish, which is a powerful source of omega-3 fatty acids. We can also supplement on a regular, daily basis with a supplement such as fish oil that provides the powerful fatty acids, DHA and EPA.†
In this episode, Amanda Williams, MPH discusses the increase in cases of depression during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. She details how omega-3 fatty acids can help support someone experiencing these issues and offers recommendations for how to include these nutrients in your diet and daily routine.†
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Thank you for tuning in to the InViteⓇ Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at InViteⓇ Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the InViteⓇ Health Podcast.
Everyone experiences memory loss, but could yours be caused by mild cognitive impairment? Learn about what this means, what causes it and what can help from Jerry Hickey, Ph.
The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is on the rise due to poor dietary intake and lack of exercise. This disease puts people at risk of developing additional medical issues and also severely impacts the body’s primary detoxifying organ.
heart failure
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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In part 1 of this podcast, I discussed the symptoms of heart failure and factors that can increase your risk of heart failure. Today, I want to cover supplements. Let’s roll up our sleeves and really go into nutrition for heart failure.
Heart Failure Is Scary But It Can Be Helped, Part 1 – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 319. Listen Now >>
A report from the Federal University of Pernambuco down in Brazil has to do with Vitamin D. It’s published in the journal ESC Heart Failure. We know that Vitamin D is important for strength and muscle function. Well, your heart is a super high-function muscle, so if Vitamin D is needed for your other muscles, obviously it’s needed for your heart muscle. According to this study, the risk of heart failure was more than 12 times higher in older people who lack Vitamin D. But here’s the thing: their base level for lacking Vitamin D was higher than the accepted level. Typically, Vitamin D deficiency is 20 ng/ml or below. In this study, it was 30 ng/ml or below. Lacking Vitamin D is bad for all muscles and your heart is a muscle that is pumping once over 100,000 times a day. It requires Vitamin D.†
It doesn’t hurt to take a Vitamin D supplement. You’re never going to get enough Vitamin D from your food. It’s not happening. Even when they fortify dairy, you get about 100 units of Vitamin D. Young people with healthy skin can make plenty of Vitamin D in about 15 or 20 minutes. If they get 15 to 20 minutes of sun every day, they’ll make sufficient Vitamin D. However, if you have darker skin, it becomes harder. If you’re wearing sunscreen or wearing a lot of clothing, it is also harder. Also, if you have older skin, it’s not that successful in creating Vitamin D anymore. It becomes less efficient.†
Learn more about how the body creates Vitamin D by tuning into the full podcast episode.
According to a meta-analysis, fish oils may help reduce the risk of developing heart failure by 15%. This is from the journal Clinical Nutrition and it was done by Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. They looked at seven prospective studies with data on 176,000+ people, of which 5,500 developed heart failure. People with the highest level of EPA and DHA in their blood had a 14% lower risk of heart failure compared to people with the lowest levels. It’s important to distinguish that they looked at the amount of EPA and DHA in their blood instead of asking how much fish patients eat. This is more powerful evidence because it shows the exact levels of fish oils that can be beneficial.†
Consider Taking These Nutrients As You Age, Part 1 – InVite Health Podcast, Episode 315. Listen Now >>
When you eat fish or take fish oils, there are other oils that can be in there, but the two they look at are EPA and DHA. These oils are very important for your muscles and your heart is a muscle. There are a number of studies that show that older people with sufficient levels of fish oils in their blood tend to lose less muscle with age. They tend to lose less strength and can hold onto their muscles. Your heart is a very important muscle. Fish oils are known to lower inflammation in the heart, but they also seem to help lower the risk of heart failure. They’re very good for the heart.†
For additional details on nutrients that can help with heart failure, listen to the full podcast episode.
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
