Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Strontium Citrate for Bone Health Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to talk about Strontium citrate because most people have either not heard of it or have some very interesting ideas about it. In fact I recently had a conversation with someone who wasn’t sure …
Dental Bone Loss Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Bone loss is a topic that every woman has heard of once they reach a certain age. However, men must also be concerned with bone loss! Typically, when most people think of bone loss they usually think of …
Understanding Vitamin C
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In my experience everyone has heard that Vitamin C is good for our health. In fact, it’s everywhere you look these days! But while you may have heard that using vitamin C is “good for the health of the body” do you really know why it is so important or even all the ways it works to keep you healthy? Let us get into it, shall we?
Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient, considered to be an essential nutrient. The reason it is essential is because it is a vital nutrient for certain bodily processes and yet our body is unable to produce it. An interesting fun fact about Vitamin C is that while most animals are able to produce their own Vitamin C humans, and our friend’s guinea pigs are not able to make it. Thus, we must get it in our diet. How much Vitamin C is the minimum needed to prevent Scurvy (Vitamin C deficiency)? Please see the attached link below. (1)
Now I bet I know what you are thinking! You are thinking something along the lines of Dr. Claire its 2025 nobody is low in Vitamin C anymore. That unfortunately would not be correct. In one study it was found that up to 26.7 out of every 100,000 children met the criteria for Scurvy! It was also found in the same study that up to 64% of those with scurvy had a diagnosis of autism. (2) According to the Cleveland clinic in the US 7.1% of people are at risk of developing a Vitamin C deficiency. (3)
What does Vitamin C even do for us? One of the many functions of Vitamin C is protein metabolism. It is also a required nutrient for the biosynthesis of collagen, connective tissues, L-Carnitine and even neurotransmitters. Studies have found that Vitamin C is also important because it helps to regenerate other antioxidants in the body. Vitamin C is also important because it helps improve the absorption of iron. Overall, you can think of Vitamin C as being important for the growth, development and even wound healing of the skin, bones and connective tissue. When I say connective tissue, I mean structures such as blood vessels. When it comes to our oral/ dental health Vitamin C is important for maintaining healthy teeth and gums! When I mentioned healing studies have found it can help heal burns and other wounds. (3) Studies have found that Vitamin C can help fight the inflammation that is associated with many chronic diseases. (4) One benefit of Vitamin C that you may not expect is it helps to relax the blood vessels and thus possibly help with blood pressure. (5) In fact, in 1 study Vitamin C was found to reduce systolic blood pressure by 3.8mmHg and diastolic by 1.5 mmHg on average. (6) In an analysis of 9 studies over 10 years those who took Vitamin C were found to have a 25% lower risk of heart disease. (7) In another study Vitamin C was found to significantly reduce LDL and blood triglycerides.
Vitamin C has been found to potentially help reduce uric acid build up. In fact, in 1 study over a 10-year period those who used Vitamin C had a 44% lower risk of developing gout.(8) Studies also support using Vitamin C to boost immune health. Lastly, studies have also found that Vitamin C has a protective effect on both thinking and memory.
As you can see Vitamin C is an amazing nutrient! It is much more than just that thing “you take for a cold”. You can find Vitamin C in Invite’s Buffered C 500mg and 1000mg as well as Immunity Hx and Macula Advanced!
Our next topic will be Dental Bone Loss.
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How Osteo-Lube™ Supports your Health! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to take the time to talk about a product that in my mind just does not get nearly enough attention! This product is called Osteo-Lube™. I bet you are thinking Osteo-Lube™ what the heck …
TMJ
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
No conversation about oral health would be complete without talking about TMJ disease or temporomandibular joint disorder. In simple terms, this is TMJ pain. While you may have heard people say that they have TMJ pain do you really know what that even means? We’ll let us get into it, shall we?
What is the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)? It is the joint between the lower jawbone (mandible) and the temporal bones of the skull. There is 1 of these joints on each side of your head. These joints work together to allow your jaw to move up/ down, side to side and forward/ backward. When you open your mouth to eat, talk or even just laugh you are using the temporomandibular joint or TMJ to do so. As you can guess, these joints get plenty of use. Please look at the attached picture for a better idea of just where this joint is. (1)
TMJD is more common than you might expect. In fact, it is estimated that anywhere from 10-35 million people in the US are affected by this condition at any time. This is more common in women in fact, for every one man who has TMJ nine women have the disorder! (1)
What are some of the symptoms of TMJ disorders that you may experience? TMJ disorders can cause a clicking or grating sensation when you open your mouth. There may be pain or tenderness of the jaw or even 1 or both of the TMJ joints. You may notice that there is an aching pain in or around your ear. There may be an aching pain in your face. Chewing may be difficult or even painful. In some cases, the joints may lock, making it hard to open or close your mouth. (2) In addition to symptoms in the mouth area or facial area you may notice certain systemic symptoms. There may be pain in the neck area, shoulders, and even chronic headaches. There may be vision changes, dizziness, tinnitus, and a feeling that your bite is “off.” (2) Please see the attached picture for a complete look at the symptoms that can occur. (3)
What are some of the most common risk factors for TMJ disorders? Having arthritis or certain connective tissue disorders can increase your risk. Having an injury to the jaw is also a risk factor. Anyone who grinds or clenches their teeth can damage their TMJ. (1) Certain autoimmune diseases can also trigger TMJ disease. Anything that damages the TMJ can lead to TMJ disease. For example, having an infection in the mouth can lead to joint damage. Certain dental procedures can lead to joint damage. Even having a breathing tube inserted before surgery can overextend the jaw leading to damage. Certain medications can also trigger joint damage and lead to TMJ disease. These medications can include SSRIs, antipsychotics, ADHD meds, Parkinson’s disease meds and even osteoporosis drugs. Studies have found that there may be a hormonal and genetic component to TMJ disease. (2)
So what can you do to help reduce the signs of TMJ disorder?
Our product highlight will be Osteo-Lube!
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