Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Extreme Heat and Joint Pain Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND While the warm, balmy weather of summer may help to reduce the joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis and even TMJ for some people for other people summer can leave them in MORE pain than the frigid …
LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~MOVEMENT AND EXERCISE by: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Movement and exercise, or physical activity, is a healthy lifestyle component that we all know about and are often not consistent with in our day-to-day life. We all hear about it, read …
Flex Hx
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Recently I was doing a consult with someone regarding a sprained ankle. When I recommended Flex Hx we soon realized that there’s no blog on the benefits of Flex Hx! So here it is! All about the amazing Flex Hx! Let’s get into it, shall we?
To start with what is Flex Hx? Well simply put it’s a powder that contains nutrients that can help our tendons and ligaments. Chondroitin, one of the nutrients found in Flex Hx has been found to have quite a few benefits. Studies have found it can help with damage to the meniscus, as well as ligament damage. It has also been found to help stimulate collagen synthesis. (1) In one study after 6 month of use chondroitin was found to reduce pain and increase mobility in those with hand osteoarthritis. (2) Studies have also found that using chondroitin can help improve healing torn tendons when they are torn. (3) So what does all this mean? Basically to sum things up chondroitin can promote collagen synthesis which is important in helping with arthritis as well as healing ligaments and tendons.
Bromelain is another nutrient that is found in Flex Hx. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme found in pineapple. Basically when you think of a proteolytic enzyme you can think of it as an enzyme that “eats” or breaks up inflammation. (4) According to Mount Sinai bromelain is effective at reducing inflammation. It can also be helpful in reducing pain, swelling, bruising and even reduce healing time. For example, Mount Sinai stated it may be helpful in healing tendinitis, sprains and strains. (5)
The next nutrient that is found in Flex Hx are the collagen peptides. Anyone who knows me will tell you that collagen is one of my favorite supplements for so many things! In fact I wrote a whole blog on using collagen not just for the expected joint health but for our heart health. Feel free to check it out! Studies have found that collagen can help improve joint function and reduce joint pain when the joint is damaged. (6)
The last 2 nutrients found in Flex Hx are copper and manganese. These are 2 minerals that help to build up collagen and connective tissues. According to the Cleveland Clinic, copper and manganese are important in building our connective tissue. (7)
I know what you’re thinking, but Dr. Claire what does all this science stuff actually mean? Well it all comes together to mean that Flex Hx is an amazing formula for our connective tissue. In practice this means it is good for tendons, ligaments, cartilage and even for a torn meniscus. Now Flex Hx is a powder. I bet you’re wondering if it can be mixed into a smoothie. It can! It can also be mixed into applesauce or yogurt. It can also be used in place of collagen in any recipes that call for collagen. For example you can make overnight oats. Simply take ¼ cup oats, add ¼ cup milk of choice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, sweetener of choice. Add ½ cup yogurt of choice. Mix and add 1 scoop of Flex Hx. Top with frozen berries of choice. I like frozen but fresh works too!
Our next topic is why it’s important to address Sleep and Nutrition!
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PROTEIN (POWDER): THE IMPORTANT NUTRIENT WE ALL KNOW By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Protein is that nutrient that everyone knows and everyone loves. But how well do we know all the proteins available? Let’s navigate through one of our favorite foods and discuss …
Boosting Energy and Supporting Heart Health all with Ribose Complex Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One of my favorite products for heart health is called Ribose Complex. This is an amazing and complete formula for keeping our heart healthy. Ribose Complex contains D-Ribose, Alcar, Malic Acid, …
chromium
InViteⓇ Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH
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When we think of the human body, we know that we are composed of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and friendly bacteria that help make up the human body. It is through those nutrients that we maintain certain signaling pathways that are used for different enzymes, hormones and neurotransmitters being released. But there is one particular element in the body that oftentimes is very misunderstood. Sometimes people will hear about the dangers of chromium. I want to highlight what chromium is, why there is that misinformation when it comes to this element, and why taking this nutrient as a supplement would be beneficial to optimize your overall health and wellness.†
When we look at chromium, this is a trace element or mineral that comes in two different forms. We have the trivalent form and the hexavalent form. When we take something into our body that is not the proper structural form, the body can go haywire. This is what we see in the hexavalent form of chromium. This is the form that is used in the automobile industry and it can be toxic if you inhale it.†
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When we are taking chromium as a dietary supplement, this is always in the trivalent form. Trivalent chromium is an essential micronutrient. When we look at what this element is actually doing in the human body, most of its abilities comes into play when we look at its role in glucose and fat metabolism.†
When we’re supplementing with chromium, this can have an effect in terms of helping to support healthy blood glucose or blood sugar levels. When people have elevated blood sugar and they take chromium, oftentimes we see this really nice balance that is produced. It helps to push that high glucose level down. This can also create a dual effect by helping to support fat metabolism. This is why many people have looked at chromium as a wonderful supplement for working out and losing weight.†
When it comes to dietary exposure to this mineral, oftentimes we are not yielding enough. Potential chromium deficiencies can occur because of that lack of dietary exposure. Certain foods such as mushrooms have a trace amount of this element, but that’s only if they’re grown in soil that contains a high amount of chromium.†
Researchers have found that when you partner this mineral with magnesium, this is that one-two punch for helping to support healthy blood glucose response. They found that when they gave this combination to people who had insulin resistance, they started to see a significant lowering of their fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin levels, as well as improvements in markers for insulin resistance.†
In this episode, Amanda Williams, MPH discusses the important element chromium. She addresses misconceptions about this nutrient and also examines why it is so important for supportive overall wellness.†
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