Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Skin Irritants of Summer part 2 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND In our last blog we went over the most common invaders of your yard and garden that can trigger a rash and inflamed skin. (1-5) In this blog we will be getting into the details …
Bug Bites and other Outdoor Irritants to the Skin Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Camping is a popular and fun summer activity! But camping and other outdoor activities can put you at an increased risk of skin concerns such as mosquito bites and poison Ivy! There …
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.
Sources:
Invite Health Gummies Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I wanted to take the time to talk about the new products Invite has recently released. You may have noticed something about them! They are in a gummy form. Now I know what you’re thinking – But …
Smoothie week is also for college students, join us in making the yellow magic smoothie with Collagen Hx. It tastes like a burst of summer in your mouth.
Written By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
For further questions or concerns email me at carcidiacono@invitehealth.com
Everyone’s heard of collagen. It’s typically associated with cosmetic fillers and beauty products. However, collagen is also an essential nutrient as it is vital to every part of the body. This is due to the benefits collagen has for the connective tissues.†
Well, collagen is a protein that helps to make up the body and is sourced from bovine (cow), fish and chicken to make the supplements we use. The most common types are type 1, 2 and 3 as they have specific functions. Types 1 and 3 are helpful for hair, skin, nails, bones and the muscular system. Type 2 is most commonly used to help the cartilage within the joints.†
When it comes to healthy hair, skin and nails, collagen always seems to be the first nutrient looked at, for good reason. It is needed to help strengthen the nails, which helps them grow and keep any breaks and splitting to a minimum. It also helps to nourish the hair follicle to allow for hair growth and strengthens the hair to avoid brittle strands. Many skin care products contain marine collagen, useful to maintain a youthful appearance. It is needed to help smooth (or avoid as much as possible) fine lines and wrinkles, heal scarring and even adds elasticity to the skin. Collagen also can aid in the hydration of the skin to help combat dry, flaky skin. Establishing a good skincare routine that includes collagen can set up a lifetime of healthy skin.†
SUMMER THE MEDITERRANEAN WAY FOR HEALTHY SKIN – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 552 >> Listen now!
Whether it’s through the normal aging process, an injury or even a surgical procedure, the muscular system (which includes muscles, tendons and ligaments) can really experience a lot of trauma. While collagen is needed to help maintain the strength and flexibility of these tissues, it can also help in recovery. Studies have shown that adding collagen a couple days after surgery can be effective in the healing process. Collagen can help to heal the wound, as well as strengthen the tissues.†
Collagen is an important part of the bones. It is the foundation of the bone matrix, allowing the calcium to “stick” and form bone. Approximately 40% of our bones are made up of water and matrix, with 90% of the matrix to be collagen. The collagen is quite strong and aids in the formation of bone and cartilage. This is important for healing from breaks and fractures, as well as to strengthen the bones due to osteopenia and osteoporosis. These issues can arise through the normal aging process, causing lower bone density and brittle bones, making collagen a perfect companion to calcium and magnesium.†
BONE HEALTH BASICS – INVITE HEALTH PODCAST, EPISODE 405 >> Listen now!
Collagen is needed by every part of the body for varying reasons. It is effective supplement for aging and healing damaged tissues. Incorporating skincare products with natural ingredients and collagen, as well as adding our powdered Collagen HxⓇ (my go-to option) into water, plain yogurt or even a nutritious smoothie can put anyone on the path to a strong, healthy body.†
https://www.getthedose.com/blog/bovine-collagen-vs-marine-collagen
https://www.drugwatch.com/health/collagen/types/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/collagen-vs-biotin#best-for-hair
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/marine-collagen
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3602539/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2790195/
https://www.healthline.com/health/osteoarthritis/osteopenia-vs-osteoporosis
