Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Krill Oil vs Fish Oil Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One of the most confusing topic’s in the vitamin world is the difference between krill oil and fish oil. I get asked pretty much all the time what exactly is the difference between the 2. …
From A Naturopaths Point of View Part 3 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Self-diagnosis? One of the most integral parts of a consult with an Invite nutritionist t is knowing exactly what is going on in your body. In other words it’s important to see …
Mucositis
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Cancer treatment can affect our digestion. One common side effect is called mucositis. What is mucositis you ask? Basically it is inflammation of your mouth and digestive system. (1) This occurs because cancer therapies are designed to attack any cells that rapidly divide, such as cancer cells. Unfortunately our mucous membranes which lines our entire GI tract is made up of rapidly dividing cells and thus are at risk of being attacked in the same way as cancer cells. In other words the cells of the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine are often attacked by cancer therapies and thus become inflamed and even damaged. (2)
What are the signs of mucositis? Let’s start with oral mucositis. Oral mucositis usually begins between 1-2 weeks after starting treatment. These symptoms can include a dry and sore mouth. You may have bad breath as well as a fungal mouth infection. You may also develop mouth sores. (1) You may also notice that your mouth and gums appear red, shiny and even swollen. Your saliva may become extra thick. It may be difficult to swallow, talk or even eat. As a result of the sores you may be bleeding. Lastly there may be soft white patches of pus and a white mucous coating in your mouth. (2)
What are the signs of mucositis in your gut? Well these symptoms usually begin about 2 weeks after starting cancer treatment. These symptoms can include either diarrhea or constipation. You may have sores around your bottom and even blood in your stool. You may have pain when you swallow as well as stomach cramps and bloating. (1) You may also have nausea, vomiting and even painful bowel movements. (2)
Mucositis is much more common than you may expect. There are some factors that can increase your risk of mucositis. These risk factors can include tobacco intake, alcohol intake and even dehydration. Having a protein deficiency or a low BMI also increase your risk of mucositis. Certain dental concerns such as dental implants, dentures and even gum disease increase mucositis risk. Having kidney disease, diabetes or HIV are also risk factors. (2) If you develop mucositis it is recommended to not use alcohol based mouthwashes. It is also recommended to not eat hot, spicy, acidic, rough/hard food or fizzy drinks. The reason these things are not recommended is that they can worsen the signs of mucositis. (1)
Mucositis can have serious complications. It can cause chronic diarrhea which can trigger dehydration, anemia and even weight loss. Having mucositis also places you an increased risk of developing an infection. Mucositis can make it difficult to eat and thus undernutrition is a common side effect. In fact up to 70% of those who have mucositis may require hospitalization for tube feeding. Lastly if the mucositis becomes severe it can lead to a need to reduce the frequency of the cancer treatment. This poses its own risk to our health. (2)
What can you do about mucositis?
Our next topic will be a product highlight on MinAcid
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Neuropathy Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Neuropathy is usually something that most people associate with diabetes. This is an accurate connection because one of the most common causes of neuropathy is diabetes. But did you know that neuropathy can also occur after cancer treatments? To …
Cerebral Care Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to take the time to talk about one of my favorite formulas for our memory and brain health. This formula is called Cerebral Care. But what is it about this formula that I like so much? …
The Wonders of Black Seed
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
I am very excited to start this conversation on black seed. Black Seed is an amazing nutrient for our respiratory system. Invite health has a unique formula which includes Black Seed, Cordyceps and Rosemary Extract. Each of these nutrients are helpful in promoting respiratory health. Let’s go through each component of Black Seed, shall we?
Let’s start with Black Seed. What exactly is black seed? Well black seed is also known as black cumin, Nigella or Nigella Sativa. It is a flowering plant that can be used for its medicinal properties. (1) Black Seed has been found to contain antioxidant qualities. (2) In 2011 a study found that using Black Seed for approximately 2 weeks reduced nasal symptoms such as nasal congestion, itchy nose, runny nose and even sneezing. (3) A more recent study in 2018 found that Black Seed can even help to reduce the symptoms of sinusitis. This study found that Black Seed can help to reduce histamine (the bad guy when it comes to a lot of allergy symptoms). Black Seed has also been found to be antimicrobial which means it can also help protect our respiratory tract form pathogens or bad guys). (4) Studies have also found that Black Seed may be helpful in lowering inflammation and can help increase asthma control. (5) Studies have found that the anti-inflammatory and anti- allergic effects of Black Seed can help reduce the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. (6) Other studies have found Black Seed to be an effective treatment for allergic rhinitis. (7) Black Seed has also been found to help with lung function in those with COPD. (8) Studies have found that Black Seed can help with allergies, obstructive lung disease and other types of respiratory disease. (9)
Moving on from black seed the next item is Rosemary. Rosemary is much more than just a yummy spice to put on chicken. Studies have found that Rosemary can help to protect against lung fibrosis. (10) Studies have also found that Rosemary can help with treatment resistant asthma. (11) Studies have found that Rosemary has potential to be protective against viral infections such as COVID-19. (12) Rosemary has also been found to help reduce the symptoms of COPD. (13) According to WEBMD Rosemary has been found to be very powerfully antibacterial, antiviral and even antifungal. Thus Rosemary is able to help our body to fight off infections. (14) Overall Rosemary is an amazing part of Invite’s Black Seed formula.
The last nutrient that is in the Black Seed formula is Cordyceps. If you are wondering what exactly is Cordyceps don’t worry! I’ll be getting into that right now. Cordyceps are a type of medicinal fungus or in other words it is a type of mushroom. It grows on worms rather than on trees which is what you might have been expecting! (15) Studies have found that Cordyceps can help with our overall lung health and can even help with conditions such as lung fibrosis. (16) Other studies have found that using Cordyceps can also help with reducing the symptoms of COPD. (17) Studies have found that Cordyceps can help with fighting pathogens since it has been found to be antiviral and can even help boost our immune system. (18)
Overall Invite health really has a winner with its Black Seed formula. The nutrients found in Black Seed have all been found to help with so many different aspects of the respiratory tract. In addition to helping with our respiratory tract the ingredients in Black Seed have been studies to help with other aspects of our health. Now I know a lot of people are probably thinking but why can’t I just eat mushrooms or sprinkle some Rosemary on my food? It’s all about the therapeutic dose. While it’s fine to have a few mushrooms sautéed and added to our food unfortunately it’s not enough to get the full benefits of them. The same is true for the Black Seed and Rosemary. Adding in Invite’s Black Seed with Rosemary and Cordyceps formula is an amazing way to ensure you get a therapeutic dose and truly benefit from these nutrients.
Our next blog will be something that will be approaching us soon! And that is Seasonal allergies!
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