Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Protein Powders Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Invite health has a number of different type of protein powders. These include a whey based protein, a plant based protein and even a weight management powder that can help improve our overall nutrition. That being said why is …
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 cold sores at one time or another. Some may even experience chronic breakouts. Herpes, cold sores…they look similar, but what are they and are they related?
Cold sores are something many people are familiar with, whether they’ve personally experienced them or just heard of them from television, articles or in conversations. What many don’t realize is that the technical name for a cold sore is herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1)…yes, those pesky, common cold sores are part of the herpes virus. This is recognized as sores that can eventually scab on the lips or mouth, but can also show up on the tongue, roof of the mouth, inside of the cheeks or gums. HSV1 is often transmitted through saliva by sharing food, drinks, and utensils or by kissing.
When most people hear the word HERPES they usually think of the same thing….genital herpes or herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV2).
This type of herpes looks very similar to HSV1, but it’s found on and/or near the genitals and anus. According to the Cleveland Clinic, these sores can have a burning sensation and be rather itchy. Genital herpes commonly will be transmitted from person to person through skin-to-skin contact or bodily fluids. This occurs during normal sexual activity by touch, rubbing and/or intercourse.
One thing to consider is “can herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 be transmitted between themselves?” For example, if one person has genital herpes can it be transmitted to someone else mouth and vice versa. The simple answer is YES they can. This has been shown to happen through oral sex, both giving and receiving and both men and women. HSV1 can be transmitted to the genitals and HSV2 can be transmitted to the mouth during oral sex. If one is experiencing any symptoms or an outbreak, its best to refrain from this type of activity until the outbreak is completely gone.
So, can herpes be prevented? Depending on the outbreak there are precautions that can be taken. While doctors can offer treatments, there are things that one can do themselves. In addition to supplements to help support a strong and healthy immune system, using appropriate protection (condoms) during sexual activity can help lower the risk of transmission. Choosing to abstain during an outbreak is also a sure-fire way to limit passing HSV1 and/or HSV2 to others.
Vitamin C Toning Serum is typically used as an all over face serum. The vitamin C and vitamin E in this formula, it can be very good to use topically for the herpes virus. I like to recommend dabbing a little on the affected area, but remember, a little goes a long way. Jut dab and cover the sore. However, just use this on sores near or around the mouth. It should not be taken orally or put on other parts of the body.
Probiotic Hx Immune helps support the immune system and keep it functioning smoothly. This has four different probiotic strains, a prebiotic, zinc and vitamin D. This is a perfect formula to start building the immune system to aid in fighting viruses. I always say “a strong and healthy immune system should be your first line of defense”.
L-Theanine is something that may help control breakouts from happening. We know that during times of increased stress and/or anxiety, the likelihood of a breakout increases. Therefore, managing stress and anxiety to help keep it to a minimum can help reduce breakouts of the herpes virus.
L-Lysine is often used by those with a history of herpes outbreaks, both simplex 1 and 2. It is believed that it blocks the absorption of arginine in the gut, as the herpes virus needs continuous arginine to copy and thrive in the body.
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22855-herpes-simplex
www.cdc.gov/herpes/about/index.html
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus
www.news-medical.net/news/20210212/Study-sheds-light-on-the-recurrence-of-herpes-simplex-virus.aspx
www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/cold-sores-at-home-care
www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/cold-sores-treatment
www.healthline.com/health/lysine-for-cold-sore#dosage
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 …
The Greatness of Green Tea!!!
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Green tea is everywhere these days! Green tea is found in everything from tea bags to lattes and even ice cream! But as we all know these forms are chock full of sugar and additives that aren’t exactly very good for us. So what forms of green tea do we recommend? Green tea is available in tea form, tincture form and even in capsules. Personally I recommend choosing either a tincture or capsule form since they tend to be more concentrated in that form.
Green tea has been studied and been found to have many health benefits. Green tea has been found to help strengthen the immune system. Green tea has also been found to inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori. Additionally green tea has been found to be effective when used to treat influenza, Herpes and adenovirus. Green tea has also been found to be effective in treating diarrhea. (1) In addition to helping against different viral infections green tea has also been found to be antifungal and is effective against Candida albicans. (2)
One topic that people frequently call with questions is regarding the topic of how to increase their White blood cell count or their immune system. Studies have found that when green tea is used for 14 or more days it can increase the white blood cell count. In one study they were particularly looking at leukocytes and found that they increased after 14 days of green tea use. (3) Other studies have found that green tea can help to increase natural killer cells and macrophages both of which are important parts of the immune system. (4)
Green tea does much more than just help our immune system fight infections – in fact studies have found that the EGCG that is found in green tea can inhibit the release of both histamine and leukotrienes. Both of these are important when it comes to both allergies and asthma. Studies have found that green tea is able to help with inflammation and can help to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines. (5)
In addition to being antibacterial studies have also found that green tea can enhance the activity of certain antibiotics thus making them more affective. For example studies have found that green tea can enhance the effects of tetracycline in its use against staphylococci. (6)
Green tea does even more than help us fight against pathogens or bad guys! A 2017 study found that green tea may help improve overall brain health, memory and even improve our mood. (7) A more recent study from 2020 found that those who used green tea had a 64% lower chance of cognitive impairment. (8)
Green tea has also been found to help metabolism and to help with our cholesterol. (9) In fact a 2022 study found that green tea use was associated with a 44% lower chance of abdominal obesity. (10) An interesting study from 2021 found that those who use green tea had a 62% lower risk of death. (11)
Overall green tea has many benefits. But how do you know which one to take? Invite has 2 forms of green tea, tincture or concentrated liquid form and capsules. To help decide which one is best for you there are some questions that can be helpful. The first question is do you prefer liquids or capsules? Are you sensitive to caffeine? What are your overall goals? Are you on any medications? Invite green tea tincture is a liquid and decaffeinated. That makes it a great choice for anyone who prefers liquids or who would prefer to eliminate caffeine. For anyone who is still confused I just want you to remind you that you can always talk to an Invite nutritionist to help find the right products to reach your goals!
Our next topic will be Bronchitis!
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