Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
RSV-Respiratory Syncytial Virus Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Cold and flu season may be a common topic of conversation however there is another virus that is a hot topic at this time of year. That is RSV. What even is RSV? Why is it important to …
Cold and Flu Season is Here Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND If you have noticed that it seems like everyone around you, you are coughing or sneezing it’s not just your imagination! Cold and flu season has arrived. What can you do to boost your immunity? …
Blood Sugar 101
By: Noreen Kodula, Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP)
Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the amount of simple sugar moving through your body at any given time. The main form of energy that your body uses is glucose. Everything that you eat will break down into glucose for your body to utilize. Other forms of glucose are fructose, lactose, sucrose, and starch. Fats and proteins can also be broken down to glucose, via gluconeogenesis. This is the body’s way of breaking down whatever you eat into an energy source it can use.
Our bodies need a continuous supply of glucose in our blood to carry out basic functions. Too little glucose (hypoglycemia) or too much glucose (hyperglycemia) can cause issues in the body. Once inside your body, your blood delivers glucose to all your tissues and stores the excess as glycogen/fat in the liver and muscle tissue. A specific range of glucose needs to always be in your blood for your body to function normally.
The pancreas releases two hormones, glucagon and insulin, to help to balance the blood sugar in your body.
The normal range for fasting blood sugar (when you have not eaten) is between 70mg/dL and 100mg/dL. One is considered pre-diabetic if your fasting blood sugar is between 100mg/dL and 125mg/dL. When your fasting blood sugar is above 126mg/dL on two or more separate tests, you will be likely be classified as diabetic.
Too much or too little glucose in your blood can cause issues. Hypoglycemia can be caused by not eating enough, drinking alcohol on an empty stomach, taking certain medications, or being more active than usual. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are dizziness, sweating, confusion, and fainting.
Hyperglycemia can be caused by overeating carbohydrates or sugars, dehydration, being sedentary, certain medications, illness, and stress. It is more common in conditions that affect insulin regulation like diabetes. Symptoms of hyperglycemia are excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurred vision.
The two primary forms of diabetes are classified according to how they impact blood sugar regulation.
Maintaining blood sugar in the normal range helps prevent complications associated with diabetes and other health conditions. Eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular physical activity, and taking supplements that may help reduce blood sugar levels and other complications linked to diabetes. Please refer to the list of supplements below for blood sugar support:
Our Gluco Hx is a combination formula, containing many of the above nutrients. Our C-Betics also has ingredients that studies show help with blood sugar regulation. Other tips include:
Overall, you can control your blood sugar through regular monitoring, diet, exercise and supplements to help prevent complications and promote overall well-being.
References:
Blood Sugar Level Chart: What’s Normal, Low, and High?
Blood Sugar: What It Is and How It Works
Manage Blood Sugar | Diabetes | CDC
Diabetes: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Types
A scientific review: the role of chromium in insulin resistance – PubMed
Noreen Kodula, Certified Natural Health Professional (CNHP) 
Part 2 of Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In our last blog we started by doing an overview of just what constitutes autoimmune thyroid disorders. Just like with any autoimmune disorder it is important to work on our overall health, including our digestive …
Thyroid Autoimmune Disorders! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Let us talk about Autoimmune and how it relates to the thyroid. This is important to talk about because thyroid health is much more complex than just under or overactive thyroid. It can be such a complex issue …
Thyroid and Women’s Health
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Thyroid health is important for our overall wellbeing. But did you know that it can also affect women’s health concerns? In general women are more likely to be diagnosed with thyroid issues. In fact, up to 1 in 8 women will be affected by thyroid disorders. Let us get into it, shall we?
One of the ways that the thyroid can impact women’s health is by affecting our monthly cycles. Thyroid dysfunction can delay or speed up both puberty and menopause. It can also cause menstrual cycles to become irregular or even stop all together. Thyroid dysfunction can also cause the cycles to become heavier or lighter than normal. Studies show ovulation can be inhibited by thyroid disorders leading to problems with fertility. Women with thyroid disorders may notice that their periods are heavier than they expect or even contain larger than usual clots. This can lead to an increase in blood loss which can make you anemic. Something else that you may not realize is that if you are anemic, you will have heavier/ more clots during your period. This will leave you more anemic and thus more likely to have heavier periods! This is a feedback loop that can begin with heavier periods caused by thyroid disorder. (1)
Every woman knows that post menopause, bone health is a very real concern. This is especially true for those with thyroid disorders. This is because any changes in thyroid hormones can affect the balance of bone dissolution and replacement; because thyroid hormones control bone metabolism. Studies show that in people with hypothyroidism, bone formation is slowed by up to 50%! Hyperthyroidism can cause rapid bone loss and decrease the quality of any new bone formed. (4) They go on to show that Levothyroxine in post-menopausal women with hypothyroidism have a decrease in bone density. (5) What does this mean? Since the thyroid controls the balance of bone production and absorption, it is important for post-menopausal women to be proactive with their bone health.
Having too much or too little thyroid hormone can cause hair loss. The thyroid hormones T3/T4 affect hair development. Unlike other causes of hair loss, thyroid disorders cause hair loss all over the scalp rather than in discrete areas. It is important to note, people with a thyroid disorder due to auto immune issues, are often prone to other autoimmune disorders such as Alopecia aerate. However, in the case of Alopecia, the hair loss that results is discrete and often circular areas of hair. (7) This is important because postmenopausal women tend to have hair loss. Because estrogen and progesterone are decreased, it leads to an increase in androgens. This causes hair to grow slowly and the hair follicles to shrink; causing the existing hair to fall out. (8) Working with the underlying thyroid condition can help the hair loss long term.
Other concerns for women include mood swings and depression. It is well documented that menopausal women experience depression and anxiety. Thyroid disorders often have symptoms of depression and anxiety as well. (12)
So, what can you do if you experience these symptoms?
SOURCES
