Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Summary on Respiratory Health Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I hope that this blog series on respiratory health has been both fun and informative! I have tried to review some of the most common respiratory concerns that come up here at Invite health. Additionally I …
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 you? For this blog I will be reviewing 3 of the most popular Invite Health probiotics. These are the Probiotic Hx, Probiotic Weight and Probiotic Women.
Probiotic Hx is a well-rounded every day probiotic. In my experience taking the Probiotic Hx is like taking a good multivitamin, it’s good for our overall health. But what does that really mean? Well to start probiotics can help restore the balance of good bacteria in our gut. (1) Sometimes due to situations such as illness, certain medications and even stress bad bacteria and even yeast can begin to grow in our digestive system. They can begin to outnumber the good guys and this can result in digestive concerns, allergies, and even contribute to obesity. (2) A good probiotic can also help with diarrhea. (3) One bacteria that is well known for causing diarrhea is C Diff and in studies probiotics have been found to reduce the risk of C Diff by 60%. (4) Studies have also found that probiotics can decrease the risk of travelers’ diarrhea. (5) In addition to helping with diarrhea a good probiotic has been found to help with Ulcerative colitis (6) and even IBS. (7) Probiotics do more than just help our gut. Studies have found that they can help with general health, depression, anxiety and even stress. (8) Probiotics have also been found in studies to help with inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein. (9) Certain probiotics can even breakdown bile helping with our cholesterol levels. (10) As you can see a good everyday probiotic is great for so many things. But what if you have a specific health concern? Well that is where the Probiotic Weight and Probiotic for Women come into play. They take all the benefits of a regular probiotic and have added nutrients for specific health concerns. They are easy to take in addition to our daily probiotic.
Probiotic Weight contains a particular strain of probiotic that was found to lower weight and BMI after just 12 weeks of use. Additionally both waist and hip circumference were reduced after the 12 weeks of use. (11) Bergamot has been found in studies to help with visceral adipose tissue. (12) It has also been found to reduce liver fat content in those with liver steatosis. (13) Artichoke has been found to help with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and obesity. (14) I do want to point out that the Probiotic Weight is a powerful formula. To avoid stomach distress I recommend taking it with a full meal. While research shows these herbs can be helpful in general people can have different reactions to herbs so it is important to monitor how you feel when you start a new herbal supplement.
Probiotic Women is a combination of garlic, thyme and a probiotic blend. Garlic has been found to be antimicrobial. (15) Thyme has also been found to be antimicrobial. (16) Lastly probiotics have been found to help with a UTI. (17)
But how does one choose? And how does this entire blog relate to immune health? Well when it comes to immune health a good overall probiotic such as Probiotic Hx is always a win. In fact probiotics have been found to help with an upper respiratory infection! (18)That is why for those looking for general immune health and for overall a good daily probiotic I recommend the Probiotic Hx. For those looking for additional help with weight or women’s health they can take Probiotic Hx and then add on the specific probiotic that will help with the specific concern they are experiencing. For more information or help choosing what is right for you please reach out to an Invite nutritionist!
As we approach the end of this topic I hope it has been helpful and somewhat fun! Our next topic will be Pneumonia.
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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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