Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
HERPES VS COLD SORES~ IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Herpes…the word always seems make people cringe and curl their face in disbelief. It is associated with sores along the nether regions of the body. Many people are plagued with …
Glaucoma part 2 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Today we will be completing our 2 part blog series on glaucoma. Let’s get right into it, shall we? The symptoms you may experience with glaucoma can vary slightly depending on the type you have. This is …
Lutein Plus for the eyes and beyond!
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
In today’s blog I will be reviewing a very popular Invite product, Lutein Plus. Lutein Plus contains lutein, zeaxanthin and DHA. Let’s start with 2 of the most well-known eye studies, AREDS and AREDS2. Both of these studies focus on a formula known as AREDS. Part of what this formula contains is 10 mg of lutein and 2 mg of zeaxanthin. And guess what? Lutein Plus contains exactly 10mg of lutein and 2mg of zeaxanthin! Now back to what the studies show. Well these studies have found that formulas with these nutrients can help to slow the progression of macular degeneration. (1)
In addition to being helpful for macular degeneration lutein has been found to have powerful anti-inflammatory benefits which may be helpful at reducing the symptoms of various chronic diseases. (2) According to studies lutein can help to reduce the risk of developing cataracts. (3) In fact one study with over 30,000 participants found a “significant reduction in cataract risk in those with the highest levels of lutein”. (4) Another study found that after just 2 years of use lutein supplementation was helpful in improving vision. (5) A 24 week study found that in those with Retinitis pigmentosa lutein supplementation significantly increased the visual field. (6) In addition to being studied for its benefits on vision lutein has been found to help with cognition or memory. In fact those with higher lutein levels have been found to have better cognitive ability scores than those with lower levels. (7) Lutein has even been studied and found to have benefits for our heart due to its ability to help with factors such reducing the concentration of inflammatory cytokines. (2) Lutein has been found to be very beneficial for our health, however I have a few other things to talk about in this blog so I’ll just do a quick summary of benefits. Studies have found benefits of lutein to include improved respiratory and lung health, improved liver function and health, improvement in bone health and even potential benefits for our skin. (2)
Moving on from lutein the next nutrient in the formula is zeaxanthin. What the heck is zeaxanthin? It is a powerful antioxidant. It actually has many of the same uses as lutein. Now as I stated earlier zeaxanthin was one of the nutrients in the AREDS study, which as I said showed its benefits for macular degeneration. What other benefits are there to zeaxanthin? Well studies have found zeaxanthin can help reduce the risk of cataracts and even help protect our eyes form damage due to UV light. As a powerful antioxidant zeaxanthin can help to protect our eyes form reactive oxygen species. In addition to our eyes zeaxanthin has been found in studies to have benefits for our liver, heart and even our skin! (8)
Lastly Lutein Plus contains DHA. I know what you’re thinking, but Doctor Claire I can’t take DHA it’s from fish and I’m a vegetarian! Well the DHA found in Lutein Plus is from Algae so there’s no worries! Studies have found that DHA can help reduce the rate of diabetic retinopathy. While more research is needed in one study it was found that DHA can help to decrease eye pressure which indicated that it may be helpful in glaucoma. Studies have found that DHA may help with dry eye especially in those with glaucoma. (9)
Overall as you can see Lutein Plus is an amazing eye formula! Our next topic will be glaucoma.
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Blog Featured Photo: Photo by Dat Tae Studio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-marigolds-growing-in-pots-at-a-plant-nursery-20154134/
Macular Degeneration part 1 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Macular Degeneration is more common than you might think. In fact according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology age related macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss in those age 50 and …
Grape Seed for our vision? Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND A simple internet search for grape seed will show you how amazing grape seed really is! In fact most people know some of the benefits of Grape Seed. But what they may not know is …
HEPATITIS~ THE TYPES, THE SUPPORT AND CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
Hepatitis is a disease that we’ve all heard about and it also triggers fear for many when it’s discussed. It is often associated with hypodermic needle drug users, giving it a really bad reputation. However, more often it is in the news due to an outbreak at a restaurant, or talked about in the gossip pages when some of our iconic celebrities are mentioned. While this makes us aware of hepatitis, what do we really know about it? Let’s explore the more common types and how we can protect ourselves.
What exactly is hepatitis? While there are many types, the three most common are types A, B and C, and simply put, hepatitis is a virus that causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis can be an acute (temporary or short term) or chronic (ongoing or long term) condition. Common symptoms can include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain and even a fever, mimicking a stomach flu or food poisoning. In more severe cases, one may experience dark urine, itchy skin, jaundice (yellowed skin and/or eyes) or even become disoriented.
Hepatitis A is a virus that typically isn’t harmful but is highly contagious and can take anywhere from a couple weeks to multiple months to recover from. While it can be transmitted by direct contact with someone who’s infected (sexual contact, shared needles, etc.), it is commonly transmitted through contaminated food and/or drinks. This happens by being exposed to soil, water or poor hygiene as the contamination is usually through feces. This is normally acute and clears up without long-term effects on the liver.
Hepatitis B can be acute and/or asymptomatic for many years, causing it to unknowingly be spread to others. Healthy diet, hydration, and continued monitoring with your doctor can help manage acute Hep B. Chronic Hep B can be more serious and as the liver inflammation may also be accompanied with scarring, or cirrhosis, particularly if ones immune system is weakened. The CDC and Mayo Clinic recommend managing this with your doctor and wellness team can help you live a healthy life as the goal would be to avoid liver failure and possible transplant. Those at risk may have a compromised immune system (i.e.: HIV+), hypodermic needle users (when sharing) and sharing bodily fluids (sexual activity). It can also be transmitted during the birthing process. These are just some of the common risks for this liver disease.
Hepatitis C is the most serious of these three types of hepatitis. The same people that are at risk for Hep B are also at risk for contracting Hep C. It is usually contracted through blood. Complications can include cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure. It is imperative for those diagnosed with Hep C to follow doctor’s recommendations and lead a safe and healthy lifestyle.
Green Tea, the powerful go-to antioxidant for so many health related issues. Studies have shown that consuming green tea on a regular basis may help reduce the risk of liver disease, including hepatitis.
Milk Thistle is an herb that is associated with liver health. It is often recommended for those diagnosed with hepatitis as a way to manage inflammation in the liver.
NAC, or N-Acetyl-Cysteine, it commonly used to support healthy liver function. It has been shown in studies to help lower the mortality rate in those suffering from hepatitis induced from alcoholism, particularly when combined with traditional treatment.
Hepatox Hx can be a complimentary formula as it contains milk thistle, dandelion and phyllanthus amarus. In addition to the benefits of milk thistle, dandelion and phyllanthus amarus have been shown to lower the mortality rate for those with liver failure and also helping to suppress the effects of hepatitis.
As you can see, hepatitis comes in many forms and numerous ways it can be contracted. Those that have been infected with one type can be at higher risk for other types. For instance, if someone has had acute Hep A, they are at higher risk for Hep B or Hep C if they are ever exposed. Practicing good hygiene, a healthy lifestyle and taking care of the liver can be a key factor in avoiding or managing hepatitis. Honest communication and appropriate protection with any new partners you choose to be with is also important to help stop the spread of hepatitis. There are also vaccines available for further protection….ask your doctor for more information and if this is right for you. There is so much research and studies being done, and I included informative articles here for more information (see below).
www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/abc/index.htm
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/hepatitis
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8072198/
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-a/symptoms-causes/syc-20367007
www.webmd.com/hepatitis/digestive-diseases-hepatitis-a
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20366821
www.cdc.gov/hepatitis-b/hcp/diagnosis-testing/index.html
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-c/symptoms-causes/syc-20354278
www.webmd.com/hepatitis/digestive-diseases-hepatitis-c
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4538013/
www.hepb.org/blog/milk-thistle/
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1101214
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8063808/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9395786/
