Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Understanding Probiotics Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND If there’s one topic that is sure to confuse people it’s the topic of probiotics. Invite health has a powerful line up of probiotics. But how are they different? How do you know which one is right for …
URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI) ~ EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW, BUT HAVE NEVER ASKED By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Urinary Tract Infections, or UTIs as they are commonly referred to as, can affect people of all ages for various reasons. However, women seem …
The Flu
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Flu season, the dreaded time of the year when it seems like everyone has the flu. Flu season or the time of the year when the flus is at its peak usually occurs from October – May in the United States. But what really is the flu? The official name of the everyday common flu is Influenza and it is caused by a virus. (1)
Let’s do a quick review of the common symptoms of the flu. At first the flu may just feel like a cold with symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and a sore throat. However the symptoms are usually worse with the flu than you would expect. The flu often involves a fever and chills as well as the sweats. There is often muscle aches as well. There may also be eye pain, headache as well as fatigue. In addition to a cough you may have shortness of breath. Children are more likely to experience vomiting and diarrhea than adults.
While anyone can get the flu there are certain risk factors that increase your chance of getting sick. The first risk for more severe illness is age. In children under 12 months or in adults over 65 there is a higher risk of severe illness. Those who work or live in locations with residents such as nursing homes or hospitals are at an increased risk of getting the flu. Those with chronic illness and a weakened immune system are also at risk of the flu. Pregnant people are also at a higher risk of developing the flu. Those who have a BMI of 40 or more are at risk for more severe illness and even complications from the flu. While most people recover quickly from the flu there are some possible complications that can occur. What are these possible complications you ask? In those under 20 years old who use long term aspirin therapy there is a risk of developing Reyes syndrome if they contract the flu. Other complications can include pneumonia, bronchitis, ARDS as well as asthma flare ups. The flu can increase the risk of ear infections. Lastly the flu can affect our hear t and trigger heart problems. (2)
How is the flu transmitted? Well it’s a virus so it travels on airborne droplets just like any other viral infection. Just like with the other viral infections we have covered if Bob coughs either on you or on a surface that you then touch and then you touch your eyes, mouth or nose you can catch the flu. As you may have noticed touching a contaminated surface and then touching our eyes, mouth or nose is a very common way to get sick. So don’t touch your face and wash your hands folks! (3) Just a heads up when you have the flu you are contagious from 1 day before your symptoms start and up to 7 days after you start to feel sick. (1)
What can you do to slow the spread of the flu? Well as I’ve said before wash your hands, clean frequently touched surfaces and don’t touch your face! Be considerate and cover your coughs and sneezes. Lastly talk to your doctor to determine if the flu vaccine is right for you. In addition it’s important to support your immune system. How can we do that? Well there’s plenty of ways to help our overall immune health.
Our next topic will be the confusing world of probiotics!
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Renalaid for Going Beyond Bladder Health
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Today’s product highlight probably seems out of place in a conversation mostly about respiratory health. However the health of our respiratory tract is inherently linked to another system. That is our immune system. Keeping our immune system strong is an important part of fighting off bad guys that can affect our respiratory tract. Renalaid is an amazing formula for our overall immune system. Let’s review just what makes Renalaid so great, shall we?
Well to start with it is a powder. Why is being a powder form so helpful? Well it’s very easy to consume and easy to mix into smoothies, liquids and even foods such as applesauce and yogurt. It is more convenient if you want to ingest a large serving. It can also be easier to adjust how much you are taking of a certain nutrient. And lastly like a liquid powders are absorbed and go to work very fast, oftentimes within a few minutes. (1) As a person who has trouble swallowing pills I appreciate the ease of powdered supplements.
D Mannose and cranberry juice are the first 2 ingredients in Renalaid. D Mannose is interesting because it has been found in studies to be very effective in treating a UTI. In fact studies suggest that D Mannose may be as effective in eliminating bacteria as antibiotics. (2) Cranberry, which is a natural source of D Mannose as well as other nutrients also has benefits for our immune health. In fact cranberry consumption has been found in studies to help boost our WBC as well as help to decrease the symptoms of viral infections such as colds and flus. (3) Studies have also found that cranberry can help with biofilm formation. (4) But what’s a biofilm you’re asking? Well it’s basically a group of bacteria that are stuck tougher and produce a slimy “ coat “ that helps to protect them from our immune system and even antibiotics. (5) In addition to helping fight off pathogens cranberry has been found to help with the symptoms of certain autoimmune disorders such as RA.(6) Overall both D Mannose and cranberry can help with bacteria, increase our WBC, help with autoimmune disorders and even help with the symptoms of viral infections!
Moving on the next item listed, which I must say is one of my favorite immune (and heart) supplements is olive leaf. Studies have found that olive leaf has antiviral activity. For example olive leaf has been found in studies to help with herpes. (7) Additionally studies have found that olive leaf is antifungal, antiviral as well as antibacterial. (8) In addition to helping kill of pathogens olive leaf has been found to help boost our immune system, which in the long run helps fight off bad guys. (9) Research has also found that olive leaf may help decrease histamine release and even inhibit the enzymes that produce it. (10) Histamine, as you recall is important when it comes to allergies. Of course olive leaf is also good for heart health and so many different aspects of our health. (8)
Last but not least is the probiotic blend. When people hear the word probiotic they usually think ooh it’s for my gut health! But a good probiotic does much more than just promote digestion. We have all heard the phrase “the immune system is in our gut”. And studies support this. In fact studies have found that probiotics can improve our immune system and how well it functions. In fact studies have found that probiotics can help with a number of disorders. (11)
Overall Renalaid is an amazing formula. Feel free to mix it in any liquids you like. It can even be mixed into foods such as applesauce, yogurt or even cooked oatmeal!
Our next topic will be COPD!
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