Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Hepatox Hx Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Invite Health has quite a selection of nutrients that are good for both our liver and kidneys. One such item is called Hepatox. It has a funny name I know but this particular supplement is a combination of …
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~HEALTH By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT HEALTH seems like a no brainer when discussing wellness and lifestyle. However, what does it really mean? Let’s break this down and I’ll go over what this means to me as it …
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 while I agree it is important I understand that the practicality of “healthy diet and proper rest” can be confusing. Let’s start with sleep, shall we?
Why is sleep so important to our overall health? Well inadequate sleep has been found to affect our overall heart health. Those who don’t get enough sleep have a higher risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and even obesity. Studies have also found that not getting enough sleep can affect our metabolism and even hormones such as insulin, ghrelin and leptin. Additionally those who aren’t getting enough sleep are more likely to get colds and other infections. Lastly memory and brain health can be affected. (1) These are just the most common reasons that sleep is important for our overall health.
How do you know if you’re getting enough sleep? How do you know if you are getting good quality sleep? Remember it’s not just how much sleep that matters but the quality of sleep also matters. In my clinical experience I have found that the following questions can help determine if you’re getting enough, good quality sleep. To start do you have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep? Do you wake up feeling energized or do you feel like you “need more sleep” to fee refreshed? I have found that the answers to these questions can help determine if your sleep is both adequate in quantity and quality. Please see the attached source to help determine how many hours of sleep are best for your age, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep/how-much-sleep ! (2) For more information on sleep please check out Allie Might’s blog Are you getting enough sleep part 1.
The other part of the health equation is nutrition. This is where it can get tricky. A healthy diet can look different for everyone. For some people it can be the well-known Mediterranean diet. For others it means a vegetarian diet fits their goals better. As a Naturopath I will say that while there is no “one diet” there are some things that are important to incorporate into any healthy eating plan. These of course include vegetables, some fruit, protein and healthy fats. A healthy diet will also limit processed foods as well as added sugar. I always say the closer your food is to its original form the less processed it tends to be. What are some signs that your current eating plain is working well for you? When you are eating nutritious foods you will sleep well and have good energy. You will also find that your digestive system is working well. For example you will not have any constipation, gas, diarrhea or even bloating. You will also be less likely to get sick. If you’re eating plan is working well you will find it relatively easy to maintain a healthy weight. Your mood and even focus will be improved. Lastly, if your eating plan is working for you it will show in your annual blood tests. (3)
What are some ways to help improve sleep and nutrition?
I hope you enjoyed this Naturopathic view of different health topics. Our next topic will be focused on an important topic, our liver and kidney health.
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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 …
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 …
From a Naturopaths Point of View Part 2
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Third Party Consultations
One of the things we almost always mention is how you can call Invite for a consultation with a qualified nutritionist. You can even go to the website and schedule a consult for a time that’s best for you. However, there is one part of consultations that can be confusing. And that is the concept of third party consultations. To start with what exactly does the term third party consultation mean? Well it’s basically a consultation that is between a nutritionist and an induvial regarding someone else. In simple terms it’s when someone calls and asks questions about someone else’s health. Sometimes this is appropriate. However in many cases’ this is not appropriate and not something that is encouraged. Why exactly is it not appropriate? And just when is it ok? Well these are things that I’ll be addressing in this blog!
To start with when is it appropriate to do a third party consultation? For a minor child it is absolutely appropriate and even expected for a parent or legal guardian to call for them. Legal guardians are those who have both custody of the child and the authority to make decisions about the child’s health. (1) Very often grandparents will call with questions about what their grandchild should take. Unfortunately, since they are often not the legal guardian it is not appropriate for an Invite nutritionist to give medical advice regarding the child in question.
The next situation where a third party consult is appropriate is in the case of power of attorney where an induvial has been given the right to make medical decisions regarding another person. (2) One example would be if you’re the parent of an adult who is special needs. Another common example is a child whose parents are suffering from dementia. I know what you’re thinking, but Dr. Claire what if I need a translator because English isn’t my 1st language? Having a translator is fine as long as the person who needs the consult is involved in the conversation.
But why is it inappropriate and to be blunt dangerous to do third party consultations? To start with there is the concern that any supplements may interact with medications. In some case’s supplements can increase a medications effects. For example fish oil and blood thinners. In other case’s supplements can decrease the effects of certain medications, for example Vitamin K and Coumadin. And in some case’s supplements may have harmful or dangerous interactions with medications. As you can see this can be very dangerous. Remember just because someone is a close friend or even family it doesn’t mean you know all the medications they are on. On a similar note you may not know every single aspect of a friend’s medical history. In some cases depending on someone’s past medical history certain supplements may be inappropriate. For example for anyone with a history of seizures certain brain stimulating supplements would not only be inappropriate but in fact dangerous. Allergies are another concern that can lead to dangerous complications. It can be dangerous to assume you now everything a person is allergic to.
Lastly there is also HIPPA. Everyone is entitled to privacy. (4) Overall as you can see third party consultations, except in certain situations are both inappropriate and possibly dangerous. If you know someone who needs a consult feel to pass along Invite’s contact information!
Now for your pleasure – here’s some fun ways to use supplements!
Let’s talk about Alcar with Ala – the new capsule form!
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