Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
COCOA HX: THE DELICIOUS SUPERFOOD By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT When it comes to enjoying something indulgent and decadent, the first thing that comes to mind for most people is CHOCOLATE. It’s comforting as it takes us back to our childhood and brings …
The Benefits of Beets Hx Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Everyone has heard about beets. Beet powder, beet chews and even beet juice! It’s everywhere you look! But what really are the benefits of using beet supplements? Why is the tart cherry in the Beets …
IMMUNITY MULTI: THE MUST HAVE WINTER MULTIVITAMIN
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
As kids growing up, most of us took a daily multi, probably chewable. We looked forward to taking these every morning before heading off to school, many of us picking our favorite cartoon character multi for that day. It was like that important multi choice each day gave us strength, power, confidence and energy to get through the school day. However, somewhere along the way, as we grew up, that daily multi routine became less of a fun morning ritual and more of a chore, causing many of us to give up the multivitamin all together. Now, as we are in adulthood and getting more focused on our health we start revisiting the world of multivitamins. But now, there are so many multivitamins available and it can get confusing as to which is best or are they necessary. How do we choose?
I always like to say that a good multivitamin is the foundation of not only a healthy lifestyle, but also as the core building block of a solid supplement regimen. A good multivitamin offers a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help support the body. I often even recommend changing up ones multivitamin throughout the year as our needs can change. Right now, I’m particularly excited about the InVite Immunity Multivitamin, as it’s not only a great base multi, but also has additional ingredients to help further support a healthy immune system. This can be particularly beneficial during the winter months and holiday season.
So, what are these additional powerhouse ingredients? They are Ribonucleotide Complex and European Elder Fruit Extract. Let’s explore these a little further.
Simply, a Ribonucleotide is defined as “a nucleotide that is the structural unit of nucleic acids and ribose forms the sugar component in that”. They are a basic part of our Ribonucleic Acid (RNA), which along with Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), is part of the building blocks of the body. In a study from the National Library of Medicine titled “Ribonucleotides in DNA: Origins, Repairs and Consequences”, we learn that these nucleotides act as a primer and may aid in the repair of cellular damage. Basically, they help keep our cells happy and healthy on a genetic level, as they work with the RNA and DNA.
Many of us may not know what European Elder Fruit is, but you probably know it by its more common name…Elderberry. Yes, the elderberry that so many people turn to during cold and flu season. But what is it and what does it do? Elderberry is a plant that we use the fruit, or berry, to make into a syrup (most commonly used) or as a powder to put into a capsule, as in the Immunity Multivitamin. Elderberry is often used to boost the immune system, particularly during cold and flu season, as it has long believed to be high in Vitamin C. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the theory that Elderberry can be helpful for not only the immune system during cold and flu season, but also for healthy respiratory function is supported by research on this fruit and the plant.
As you can see, incorporating the Immunity Multivitamin into your winter supplement routine can positively impact your health and make cold and flu season a little easier to navigate.
www.biologybard.com/ribonucleotide-definition-types-and-examples/
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4065383/
www.webmd.com/diet/elderberry-health-benefits
Congestive Heart Failure Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Our next topic is something that may seem uncommon but is actually more common than you would think. This is congestive heart failure. When people refer to having a “weak heart” they are referring to congestive heart …
Boosting Energy and Supporting Heart Health all with Ribose Complex Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One of my favorite products for heart health is called Ribose Complex. This is an amazing and complete formula for keeping our heart healthy. Ribose Complex contains D-Ribose, Alcar, Malic Acid, …
What is a Myocardial infarction or Heart Attack?
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
What exactly is a myocardial infarction or MI? Well in layman’s terms, it is what is known as a heart attack. But what exactly happens during a heart attack? Basically during a heart attack blood flow to the heart decreases or even stops. This leads to death of the heart muscle. What causes this decrease in blood flow? Most heart attacks are associated with what is known as coronary disease (CAD) or simply heart disease. In CAD there is a buildup of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries of the heart. This plaque grows and grows until it ruptures and this rupture in the blood vessel causes the body to form a thrombus which can cause a block in the blood vessels of the heart. While this is the most common cause of an MI there are other causes. Coronary artery spasms, which can be caused by cocaine or even extreme cold can also decrease circulation to the heart leading to an MI.
Before I move on to risk factors for a MI, I wanted to take a moment to tell you the main differences between an MI and angina or chest pain. While both an MI and angina feature reduced circulation to the heart, there is 1 major difference between them. In an MI unlike angina there is literally cell death which can be measured by troponin, a protein that is released when the cells of the heart die. I would also like to point out that cardiac arrest is different from an MI in that in cardiac arrest the heart is not contracting properly which affects circulation to the organs.
Now what are the risk factors for an MI? To start with being male and being older places you at a higher risk. In fact no matter the age men have a higher risk of MI when compared to women. Life style risk factors include smoking, alcohol use, lack of exercise and stress. Having a family or personal history of high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and poor diet all increase risk. Being obese is also a risk factor. A family history of MI also increases risk. Certain medications such as oral contraceptives, NSAIDS, and cocaine. Having endometriosis is a risk factor for women. Certain infectious diseases such as chlamydia, influenza, H pylori and gingivitis all increase the risk of an MI. Lastly certain chronic conditions such as hyperthyroidism can increase your risk of an MI.
Now men and women do have some of the same symptoms when it comes to a MI. However there are some that are different. To start with what are the classic signs of MI? Chest pain with pain that radiates to the left arm, lower jaw, neck, right arm, back or upper abdomen. There may be pain that radiates to the right shoulder. There may also be a sense of tightness, pressure or squeezing in the chest. Other people describe the sensation as a tightness, knife like or tearing or even burning feeling. There may also be a feeling of unexplained anxiety. There may also be swearing, nausea/vomiting, or fainting. I would like to point out that women are much more likely to experience atypical signs of a MI. These include shortness of breath, weakness, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, and back pain. Women are less likely to have chest pain than men. Additionally, women tend to have more indigestion, dizziness, and loss of appetite. In some women shortness of breath is the only symptom.
Keeping our heart healthy is very important! While the following supplements are very helpful for our heart, it is important to speak to an Invite nutritionist to find out what is best for you.
Our product spotlight will be Ribose Complex which is a personal favorite!
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