Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Extreme Heat and Joint Pain Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND While the warm, balmy weather of summer may help to reduce the joint pain of rheumatoid arthritis and even TMJ for some people for other people summer can leave them in MORE pain than the frigid …
Hot Weather and the Impact on Blood Sugar? Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Everyone knows hot weather can make you feel hot and sticky and just plain old yucky! But what most people do not realize is that hot weather can also lead to fluctuations in …
Humidity and our skin!
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Summertime can be a time for beach going, Barbeques and just all kinds of outdoor fun! However, summer brings more than just fun outdoor activities. It also brings humidity. While most people know how high humidity affects our hair, did you know that high humidity can also negatively affect our skin? How does it affect our skin and just what can you do when summer brings humidity to town? Let us get into it, shall we?
Before I get in too deep talking about high humidity, I want to mention that low humidity can also cause its own problems for our skin. But that is a conversation for another time. For now, let us just focus on too much humidity. One of the ways that humidity affects our skin is by affecting the way the skin regulates moisture. Studies have found that excess humidity leads to excess moisture in the skin. This excess moisture can mix with sweat and dead skin cells. This mixture can lead to clogged pores which is unpleasant as we all know! Studies have found that this excess moisture can also lead to oily skin and even acne! Even fungal infections can be made worse by high humidity. In those with sensitive skin, high humidity can increase redness, itching, and there may even be a feeling of stickiness/clamminess. (1) High humidity can also change the look of our skin, making it look rough, old, and even dull. (2)
Even certain chronic skin conditions can be worse when there is high humidity. For example, eczema, rosacea, dermatitis, folliculitis and even heat rash are all affected by humidity. (1, 2)
Another side effect of high humidity is how much you sweat. If you have thought that you sweat more when there is a high humidity day you would be correct! Not only do you sweat more, but the sweat also tends to stay on your skin longer. This can leave your skin feeling irritated, clammy, and even prone to infections caused by both bacteria and fungi. (3)
What are some of the signs you can look out for to determine if high humidity is a problem for you? Well to start with, have you noticed any skin changes? Have you noticed that these skin changes are worse when the weather reports indicate that there is a higher humidity day? As I stated earlier, you may notice redness, itchiness, acne, an increase in infections caused by bacteria/fungus as well as a worsening of any pre-existing skin disorders. While studies on humidity and skin health seem to be focused on eczema and even heat rash in my clinical experience, all skin conditions can be more severe when there is a high humidity day.
So, what can you do to help your skin heal?
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Super Focus IQ Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND If you have been on the Invite health website, you may have noticed a formula called Super Focus IQ. If the nutrients inside this formula seem to ring a bell that’s because it is the same fantastic …
GERD and ACID REFLUX Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Next to constipation and diarrhea, one of the most common concerns that people have is stomach acid. This includes GERD or gastroesophageal re-flux disease. Other common concerns that relate to stomach acid include Peptic ulcers, gastritis, and …
Digestive Health Overview
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Digestive health does not just mean diarrhea or constipation. In fact, while diarrhea or constipation can be a concern by themselves, they are often symptoms of other disorders such as SIBO, IBS, IBD and even diverticulitis. The digestive tract is one of the most important systems in our body. Not only does it process the nutrients we need to live, but it also affects our immune system. Our digestive tract is impacted by every part of our daily life from what we eat to stress and even if we are not sleeping enough. Often when we start to feel sick, we feel it in our digestive system first. Stress also has a huge impact on the digestive system. If you’re undergoing stress, treating only the digestive symptoms won’t be helpful in the long term. The same is true if there is any systemic medical concern such as diabetes. I would also like to take the time to mention that some digestive disorders can even be “silent.’ For example, Acid reflux can present with a chronic cough rather than a burning feeling. Speaking with a nutritionist can really help address digestive concerns. When you visit Invite health it can be helpful to bring along some things. For example, feel free to bring along a food log, a list of any and all medications/ supplements that you are taking and any blood work you have. While every individual digestive issue has its own slightly different protocol, there are some things that are important in general.
CASTOR OIL
Castor oil packs are amazing for reducing inflammation and pain in the digestive tract! (1) †
Stress reduction
Herbs and L Glutamine
Healing herbs such as demulcents have been found in studies to help with inflammation, pain, and even healing the digestive tract. These demulcent herbs can include the following:
Probiotics
Probiotics are so important to our overall health! (6) Now I know what you are thinking but Dr. Claire Invite has a million different probiotic blends! Which is the best one for me? Let me do a quick overview for you.
DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
Digestive enzymes have been found to help with gas and bloating and breaking down food. In studies they help with symptoms of constipation among other concerns. (7) Invite has 2 amazing formulas! The first is a capsule called Digestive Hx. But if you do not like pills there is a chewable formula called Prozyme Digest.
If you have any questions regarding digestive health, feel free to reach out to a nutritionist!
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