Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
From a Naturopath Point of View Part 5 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND You may have heard the saying that sleep and a good healthy diet are both the base of the pyramid of health. As a Naturopath I agree with this concept 100%! But …
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~AN INTRODUCTION TO A NEW WELLNESS SERIES By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Primary foods are an essential part of our health and wellness plan that is often overlooked and even misunderstood. While the topic of self-care in important, …
Flex Hx
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Recently I was doing a consult with someone regarding a sprained ankle. When I recommended Flex Hx we soon realized that there’s no blog on the benefits of Flex Hx! So here it is! All about the amazing Flex Hx! Let’s get into it, shall we?
To start with what is Flex Hx? Well simply put it’s a powder that contains nutrients that can help our tendons and ligaments. Chondroitin, one of the nutrients found in Flex Hx has been found to have quite a few benefits. Studies have found it can help with damage to the meniscus, as well as ligament damage. It has also been found to help stimulate collagen synthesis. (1) In one study after 6 month of use chondroitin was found to reduce pain and increase mobility in those with hand osteoarthritis. (2) Studies have also found that using chondroitin can help improve healing torn tendons when they are torn. (3) So what does all this mean? Basically to sum things up chondroitin can promote collagen synthesis which is important in helping with arthritis as well as healing ligaments and tendons.
Bromelain is another nutrient that is found in Flex Hx. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme found in pineapple. Basically when you think of a proteolytic enzyme you can think of it as an enzyme that “eats” or breaks up inflammation. (4) According to Mount Sinai bromelain is effective at reducing inflammation. It can also be helpful in reducing pain, swelling, bruising and even reduce healing time. For example, Mount Sinai stated it may be helpful in healing tendinitis, sprains and strains. (5)
The next nutrient that is found in Flex Hx are the collagen peptides. Anyone who knows me will tell you that collagen is one of my favorite supplements for so many things! In fact I wrote a whole blog on using collagen not just for the expected joint health but for our heart health. Feel free to check it out! Studies have found that collagen can help improve joint function and reduce joint pain when the joint is damaged. (6)
The last 2 nutrients found in Flex Hx are copper and manganese. These are 2 minerals that help to build up collagen and connective tissues. According to the Cleveland Clinic, copper and manganese are important in building our connective tissue. (7)
I know what you’re thinking, but Dr. Claire what does all this science stuff actually mean? Well it all comes together to mean that Flex Hx is an amazing formula for our connective tissue. In practice this means it is good for tendons, ligaments, cartilage and even for a torn meniscus. Now Flex Hx is a powder. I bet you’re wondering if it can be mixed into a smoothie. It can! It can also be mixed into applesauce or yogurt. It can also be used in place of collagen in any recipes that call for collagen. For example you can make overnight oats. Simply take ¼ cup oats, add ¼ cup milk of choice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, sweetener of choice. Add ½ cup yogurt of choice. Mix and add 1 scoop of Flex Hx. Top with frozen berries of choice. I like frozen but fresh works too!
Our next topic is why it’s important to address Sleep and Nutrition!
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VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN~ THE SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES, BENEFITS AND TROUBLE By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Vegan and vegetarian diets….or as many people commonly referred to them as, plant-based diets. I am often told “I eat well, I’m vegetarian” or “My diet is so good, …
From a Naturopathic Point of View Part 4 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND The importance of western and holistic medicine working together! One of the key pathways to helping people become healthy is learning how to balance both western and holistic medicine. These 2 ways …
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. How does one pick which one they should use? Well these are all important questions that I’ll be reviewing in this blog. So let’s get into it, shall we?
Before I get into this topic too deeply I want to emphasize that I’ll be strictly talking about Invite’s Krill Oil and Fish Oil. For example some krill oil brands may have fish oil added which would alter some of its properties. Other brands of fish oil may contain different types of fish when compared to Invite. This is neither good nor bad but just different. So to start with just what are krill oil and fish oil? Well both krill oil and fish oil are natural sources of EPA and DHA, or omega 3 fatty acids. Krill oil is an oil derived from tiny shell fish called krill. Invite Fish Oil is derived from Anchovy! Now before you go any further if you are allergic to shell fish it’s not advisable to use krill oil since it is extracted from a shell fish.
As I said fish oil and krill oil are both omega 3s. Krill oil omega 3s are attached to a phospholipid whereas fish oil is attached to a Triacylglycerol. This change in attached molecule can affect how well the omega 3s are absorbed. (1) Studies have found that in some cases krill may be easier to absorb. (2) Another difference is that krill oil is a natural source of Astaxanthin, which studies have shown is good for the heart. (3)
Fish oil has the benefit of being more easily assessable. It has also been studied more since it is older than krill oil. This means we have more information on how it works and any potential side effects or drug interactions. Another benefit to using fish oil over krill oil is that it tends to be higher in omega 3s at a lower cost. (4)
So when to use fish and when do you use krill? And then there is perhaps another of the most frequently asked questions, can I use both fish and krill at the same time? The simple answer is you absolutely can! Using either fish or krill oil is something that can involve several questions to help decide. First off are you allergic to shell fish? Well then you shouldn’t use krill but rather should use fish oil. Are you allergic to Anchovy? Well then you should use krill rather than fish. What is your budget like? Depending on our budget you may find it more convenient to choose one over the other or it may not matter. The next question is what are you goals in taking krill oil or fish oil? In my clinical experience as a Naturopathic I have found that krill oil use is associated with reports from customers as being better at improving memory and overall brain health. That is why when it comes to memory and brain health I usually recommend krill. Now when it comes to heart health and inflammation I find that customer feedback favors fish oil as being more helpful. So basically to sum things up in my clinical experience based on customer feedback I use krill oil for memory/ brain health and fish oil for heart/ general inflammation.
Now I know I mentioned allergies however I also want to mention that due to the fact that krill oil is attached to a phospholipid whereas fish oil is attached to a Triacylglycerol this means that krill is less likely to cause “fish burps” in anyone who is sensitive. Additionally krill oil capsules are smaller than fish oil so if you have trouble swallowing pills you may want to choose krill. Lastly if you do not eat shellfish due to religious reasons you may want to choose fish oil.
Now if you’re still feeling confused feel free to email me at [email protected]!
Next up will be a Naturopathic viewpoint on the importance of Western and Holistic medicine working together to meet your health goas!
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