Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
INTRODUCING PROBIOTIC HX IMMUNE~GUT AND IMMUNE SUPPORT By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT We all know about the benefits of a probiotic. Whether you know about it through a healthcare or wellness provider or from commercials and advertisements, it’s rather familiar to us all. …
HERPES VS COLD SORES~ IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Herpes…the word always seems make people cringe and curl their face in disbelief. It is associated with sores along the nether regions of the body. Many people are plagued with …
HEPATITIS~ THE TYPES, THE SUPPORT AND CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
Hepatitis is a disease that we’ve all heard about and it also triggers fear for many when it’s discussed. It is often associated with hypodermic needle drug users, giving it a really bad reputation. However, more often it is in the news due to an outbreak at a restaurant, or talked about in the gossip pages when some of our iconic celebrities are mentioned. While this makes us aware of hepatitis, what do we really know about it? Let’s explore the more common types and how we can protect ourselves.
What exactly is hepatitis? While there are many types, the three most common are types A, B and C, and simply put, hepatitis is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be an acute (temporary or short term) or chronic (ongoing or long term) condition. Common symptoms can include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain and even a fever, mimicking a stomach flu or food poisoning. In more severe cases, one may experience dark urine, itchy skin, jaundice (yellowed skin and/or eyes) or even become disoriented.
Hepatitis A is a virus that typically isn’t harmful but is highly contagious and can take anywhere from a couple weeks to multiple months to recover from. While it can be transmitted by direct contact with someone who’s infected (sexual contact, shared needles, etc.), it is commonly transmitted through contaminated food and/or drinks. This happens by being exposed to soil, water or poor hygiene as the contamination is usually through feces. This is normally acute and clears up without long-term effects on the liver.
Hepatitis B can be acute and/or asymptomatic for many years, causing it to unknowingly be spread to others. Healthy diet, hydration, and continued monitoring with your doctor can help manage acute Hep B. Chronic Hep B can be more serious and as the liver inflammation may also be accompanied with scarring, or cirrhosis, particularly if ones immune system is weakened. The CDC and Mayo Clinic recommend managing this with your doctor and wellness team can help you live a healthy life as the goal would be to avoid liver failure and possible transplant. Those at risk may have a compromised immune system (i.e.: HIV+), hypodermic needle users (when sharing) and sharing bodily fluids (sexual activity). It can also be transmitted during the birthing process. These are just some of the common risks for this liver disease.
Hepatitis C is the most serious of these three types of hepatitis. The same people that are at risk for Hep B are also at risk for contracting Hep C. It is usually contracted through blood. Complications can include cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. It is imperative for those diagnosed with Hep C to follow doctor’s recommendations and lead a safe and healthy lifestyle.
Green Tea, the powerful go-to antioxidant for so many health related issues. Studies have shown that consuming green tea on a regular basis may help reduce the risk of liver disease, including hepatitis.
Milk Thistle is an herb that is associated with liver health. It is often recommended for those diagnosed with hepatitis as a way to manage inflammation in the liver.
NAC, or N-Acetyl-Cysteine, it commonly used to support healthy liver function. It has been shown in studies to help lower the mortality rate in those suffering from hepatitis induced from alcoholism, particularly when combined with traditional treatment.
Hepatox Hx can be a complimentary formula as it contains milk thistle, dandelion and phyllanthus amarus. In addition to the benefits of milk thistle, dandelion and phyllanthus amarus have been shown to lower the mortality rate for those with liver failure and also helping to suppress the effects of hepatitis.
As you can see, hepatitis comes in many forms and numerous ways it can be contracted. Those that have been infected with one type can be at higher risk for other types. For instance, if someone has had acute Hep A, they are at higher risk for Hep B or Hep C if they are ever exposed. Practicing good hygiene, a healthy lifestyle and taking care of the liver can be a key factor in avoiding or managing hepatitis. Honest communication and appropriate protection with any new partners you choose to be with is also important to help stop the spread of hepatitis. There are also vaccines available for further protection….ask your doctor for more information and if this is right for you. There is so much research and studies being done, and I included informative articles here for more information (see below).
www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/abc/index.htm
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hepatitis
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8072198/
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-a/symptoms-causes/syc-20367007
www.webmd.com/hepatitis/digestive-diseases-hepatitis-a
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20366821
www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms-causes/syc-20354278
www.webmd.com/hepatitis/digestive-diseases-hepatitis-c
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4538013/
www.hepb.org/blog/milk-thistle/
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1101214
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8063808/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9395786/
PINK EYE~ IT’S NOT JUST A CHILDHOOD INFECTION By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, is often associated with childhood infections, as we have all probably had a classmate or even ourselves that contracted this during our school years. However, it’s …
Invite Health Gummies Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to take the time to talk about the new products Invite has recently released. You may have noticed something about them! They are in a gummy form. Now I know what you’re thinking – But …
SHILAJIT~WHAT IS IT AND WHY DO YOU NEED IT?
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
Shilajit, pronounced she-lah-jeet, is one of the most versatile nutraceuticals available. However, it is not commonly discussed and is beginning to gain traction within the wellness community. But just what is it? Let’s discuss this further and learn how it may be beneficial to you to add to your current wellness regimen.
Shilajit come from the Himalayans and has been a staple in Ayurveda Medicine for centuries. As certain plants go through the decomposition process with microorganisms (living things only seen under a microscope), it creates a powerhouse nutraceutical known as shilajit…talk about a “circle of life”. It is believed to be a safe nutraceutical for most people to use. The article ‘Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Precognitive Activity’ from The National Library of Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information, shilajit is a highly absorbable antioxidant making it ideal for promoting healthy cells and anti-aging.
Given the benefits of such a super antioxidant, Shilajit can be helpful for so many other areas of wellness. Men, particularly those over the age of 45, who are looking to increase DHEA, testosterone and/or free testosterone may want to consider shilajit, as it has been shown in studies to raise these levels when compared to those given a placebo. The abstract ‘Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia, has shown that shilajit has also been effective in studies when looking at male fertility. It was shown effective in increasing sperm count as well as sperm mobility, thereby increasing fertility.
Shilajit has been studied for its antiviral properties. It has shown to be helpful as an anti-inflammatory, for brain health and to support a healthy immune system. It’s been particularly effective when studied for such viruses as herpes simplex 1 and 2 and human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This is showing excellent signs of being a go-to immunity booster to aid in fighting certain types of viruses.
Brain health is a big concern for so many people. Shilajit has been shown to be a safe and effective for supporting healthy brain function. It has traditionally been used for enhance cognitive function and memory, including lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by slowing the aging of the brain cells. It can also be effective for those with epilepsy and reducing anorexia. While more clinical trials are being done to further prove these uses, the preliminary studies show a lot of promise.
Heart disease is one of the leading health issue affect us today. Shilajit has been considered to be helpful in reducing triglycerides and cholesterol levels when compared to using a placebo. Thus, helping to lower risk of heart attack and stroke. It has also shown effective in relieving some of the symptoms for those suffering from heart palpitations and abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias. This has the potential to be a game changer for those with a history of heart disease.
So what makes shilajit so effective for such a wide variety of health and wellness issues? It is the fulvic acid that makes up a large part of shilajit. The fulvic acid comes from matter like soil, water sources and even peat. It forms in these types of natural matter when many types of plants breakdown and go through the natural process of decomposition, leaving fulvic acid. As you can see by the chart below, the list of benefits of shilajit, its minerals and furvic acid.
Fig. 1 Components of Shilajit (67)
As you can see, Shilajit can be helpful for a wide variety of health and wellness issues. As always, speak to one of our qualified nutritionists to find out the best way to incorporate this into your daily routine. I encourage you to try this versatile nutraceutical and let us know how you like this new addition to our amazing product line.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296184/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26395129/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20078516/
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320318#use
iris.unito.it/retrieve/handle/2318/1521394/38005/Paper%20post%20print.pdf
www.medicinenet.com/what_does_shilajit_do_for_the_body/article.htm
www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1320/fulvic-acid
Figure Ref: <a href=”https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Components-of-Shilajit-67_fig1_354861320″><img src=”https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354861320/figure/fig1/AS:1072656392654849@1632752621939/Components-of-Shilajit-67.ppm” alt=”Components of Shilajit (67)”/></a>
