Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Amanda Williams, MPH. Subscribe Today! Foods matter. Nutrients matter. Vitamins matter. Minerals matter. All of these things matter, which is why, as a country, we do so poorly when it comes to looking at different biochemical indicators for our …
Amanda Williams, MPH discusses the important role of micronutrients and the immune system, and understanding how the immune system itself is working based on levels of key vitamins and minerals.
The vegan diet is one of the most popular dietary lifestyles. When done correctly, the diet has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Veganism is defined as a way of living that excludes animal products – everything from food to clothing. This includes a diet devoid of animal products like dairy (eggs and milk) and meat.
While there are different types of vegan diets (raw-food, whole-food, and more) there are some concerns. A diet based exclusively on plant foods may, in some cases, increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies. There are supplements that you may want to incorporate into your vegan diet.
Be sure to speak with a nutritionist or your doctor before starting a vitamin routine!
Vitamin B12 is produced by bacteria that have become scarce in the human body. The best source of this vitamin is through meat, as the intestinal tracts of animals still contain this bacteria, allowing carnivores to reap its benefits. For those like vegans who abstain from animal products, you may need to supplement Vitamin B12 in order to offset common nutrient deficiencies. Recent studies show that a Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, light-headedness, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, and easy bruising or bleeding.†
Vitamin D is commonly known as the sunshine vitamin but up to 70% of Americans are deficient, due to low sunlight for much of the year and insufficient consumption of food sources. Without enough Vitamin D, you may become more prone to conditions like bone and muscle pain, enlarged joints, and easily fractured bones. Vitamin D has been shown to address these issues, as it helps to fill in the nutritional gaps that vegan will not receive through meat and dairy products, including milk, eggs and beef.†
“Fish and other seafood are considered the best source of fats from the omega-3 family, which include the fatty acids EPA and DHA. Most people do not get nearly enough omega-3 fats in their diet, and as a result, miss a significant opportunity to protect their heart, brain and manage inflammation throughout the body,” according to Nicole Crane, BS, NTP of InVite Health. Vegans who avoid animal products all together are at a high risk of a nutrient deficiency in omega-3s. A deficiency can be shown in symptoms including dry skin, brittle nails, attention and concentration issues, low energy levels and joint discomfort.†
Studies have shown that vegans have up to 50% lower blood iodine levels than vegetarians. Iodine is an important element needed for the production of thyroid hormones. It is found in foods like cheese, milk, yogurt and eggs. But, for a vegan, an iodine deficiency can lead to enlargement of the thyroid, hypothyroidism and pregnancy-related problems.†
Iron is needed in the body to create red blood cells and hemoglobin. It is a mineral that is an essential component of proteins and enzymes in our body. High levels of iron can be found in beef and eggs. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in the U.S. is 2% in men and 9-12% in women. Symptoms include easy fatigue, loss of energy, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath and headache.†
Calcium is necessary for bone-building, a healthy nervous system, blood clotting and controlling muscles. There is strong evidence that shows that vegans consuming less than 525 mg of calcium tend to have an increase risk of bone fractures. Some fish like salmon and trout contain great sources of calcium and dairy has been shown to be a leading source, as well. A deficiency in calcium can lead to problems like osteoporosis over time.†
This mineral is crucial for metabolism, immune function, and repairing the body of cells. High levels of Zinc can be found in beef, lamb, and oysters to name a few. A deficiency in Zinc may lead to hair loss, diarrhea and delayed wound healing.†
Photo by Edward Cisneros on Unsplash Choosing which vitamins and supplements would be best for your body can seem more than a little overwhelming. The good news is that there are certain basic supplements that you should be taking depending on your age. Of course, …
From vitamins to jewelry, determining which product is the best for your money can be an overwhelming experience. Most customers will choose to purchase a lower priced product because it still does the job and it does not leave your wallet completely empty. But what …
“I have the simplest of tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.”
-Oscar Wilde
From jewelry to vitamins, choosing which product is the best for you can be an overwhelming experience. Most customers will choose to purchase the cheapest products because they found a generic vitamin in their supermarket that does not leave their wallet completely empty. But should you view your health as a generic expense? And isn’t what you’re putting into your body more important than the next big sale?
Let’s use an example that most people have experienced – a problem with plumbing. If a pipe in your house burst, the first thing you’ll want to do is find an experienced and trusted plumber. Let’s say that the plumber you choose comes in to inspect the damage and hits you with a $500 charge to repair the pipe with a quick fix. But he tells you that he can completely repair the pipe for $1000 and guarantees you will have no issues for five to seven years. Thinking solely of the expense, you choose to spend the $500. But two weeks later, your plumber is back to fix the re-busted pipe with another bill.
Now, think of your health. When your primary physician recommends that you should begin taking a vitamin or supplement, grabbing one from the nearest supermarket is just the same as the ‘quick-fix’ pipe repair. Even if you visit a well-known vitamin chain store, the aisles are filled with numerous brands of vitamins, all claiming to be the best. When you ask for assistance in the store, you are most likely speaking with a sales representative, not a trained healthcare expert. So, what do you do?
With thirteen retail locations throughout New York, New Jersey and Florida, chances are, the answers to your nutritional questions are closer than you think. When walking into an InVite® store, you immediately notice its sleek, modern style. Before you can ask, a trained healthcare professional – a certified nutritionist or naturopathic doctor – asks what they can help you with. You sit down with them, reviewing your tests results, recommendations by your doctor, and any other questions or concerns you may have. He or she provides you with a detailed vitamin or supplement regimen, carefully explaining the benefits of every product. InVite® Health was created to take the confusion out of the vitamin and supplement selection process. And we are here for you every step of the way.
InVite® Health is committed to producing the most innovative and effective nutritional products on the market. Each product is made with the highest-quality ingredients and most up-to-date manufacturing methods. We are proud to spend both money and time developing and formulating our products, so our customers will receive the best products possible. This is your health, after all. You take great care ensuring your families have the best food and support possible. Take the time to ensure your body is getting the most superior vitamins and supplements available.
InVite® Health’s CEO and owner, Steven Kornblatt and Scientific Director and Pharmacist, Jerry Hickey, have committed their lives to working together to make sure that the formulations they have researched and created are manufactured to maximize their benefits. It is InVite®’s pleasure to provide you with details into how our company works and how we can provide you with the best service, products and care for your body and for your overall health needs.
When we formulate our products, we source brands of raw materials used in the latest research from the most prestigious institutions and universities. Scientific Director and Pharmacist, Jerry Hickey, spends countless hours ensuring that the amount of each ingredient mirrors the scientific data so you can be sure that every product contains optimal amounts of each nutrient.
We select the best possible delivery system for each individual nutrient to ensure maximum bioavailability and absorption. Bioavailability refers to how well a supplement is absorbed and how much of it finally reaches the blood stream after first passing through the liver with all of the organ metabolizing enzymes. For instance, we use LiCaps®, Liquid-filled vegetarian capsules from Capsugel®, wherever possible for freshness and maximum absorption. InVite® has also developed an easy-to-use and easy-to-absorb liquid tincture collection, in order to make getting healthy convenient and fun for the entire family. We use state-of-the-art pharmaceutical grade equipment and technology in the manufacturing process and the highest grade binding agents and excipients in all of our tablets, without artificial coloring and dyes.
InVite®’s team of scientists and health professionals will always review the relevant research to ensure the form of each nutrient is most active and best absorbed.
You can use the best ingredients and superior technology, but if your staff is not well trained, you can still have a a poorly made supplement. All of our supplements are produced at the cGMP level – the level drugs manufactures employ to make their drugs. All of the individuals are involved in the manufacture of InVite® supplements are the best trained and most knowledgeable with a great level of expertise in how to handle the ingredients and the technology to offer you the best product. Employees, from customer service to corporate, participate in cGMP courses, as well.
A Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. This creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes – a method that does not fit InVite®s standard for safe, effective, and natural supplements. We verify that our nutritional supplement line is non-GMO. The advantages of GMO-free nutritional supplements are right in line with our commitment to only the best quality products and our dedication to your personal best health.
Pharmacist Jerry Hickey and his team of healthcare professionals review the studies on how these nutrients work together to optimize the benefits and avoid any interactions or toxicity. InVite® Health tests for purity, potency, consistency, and freshness.