Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET~ THE FOOD AND SUPPLEMENTS By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT The Mediterranean Diet is often thought of as one of the best ways of eating. This is a great example of how a well-balanced diet, combined with complimentary supplements, can set …
Invite Health Powders Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Invite Health has an amazing line of superfood powders that can easily be incorporated into your vision heath protocol. These powders include Reds Hx, Purples Hx and both Greens Hx and Organic Greens. These powders easily complement …
THE KETO DIET~ IS IT OR ISN’T IT GOOD FOR EVERYONE?
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
The Keto Diet…we’ve all heard about it, we all have opinions on it, but what do we really know about this diet theory. It seems as though many people have a love/hate relationship with Keto as there’s not a lot of middle ground when considering this plan. However, what do we really know about it and is it the right choice.
So what exactly is a Keto diet? Simply put, it’s a diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat…I sometimes refer to it as “The New Atkins”. However, this is not the okay to load up on such indulgences as bacon and cheese. The key is to have lean proteins and healthy fats, while eliminating processed foods, carbs and sugar.
Keto is widely used as a weight loss diet. This is likely how most people know this diet as it’s heavily discussed on social media, on television and online. Studies have shown that this diet can be effective for short-term weight loss or even as a good kick start to healthier eating habits. While initially keto has shown to improve cardiovascular health, the long terms effect are still unknown. Many people have shown to have problems when transitioning away from keto. These may include, but are not limited to, weight gain, digestive problems or increases in blood sugar.
Studies recommend, as do I, a Keto Diet as a therapeutic diet. It has been shown to be beneficial for those with such cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Autism, mental health issues and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is due to the proportions of high fat to low carbohydrate to normal protein, as well as the balancing of bacterial microbes within the gut.
The high fat, healthy fats, component of this diet has been studied for its effects on the brain. We know that incorporating healthy fats are needed for help nourish and promote brain function. Some good fats to add to a keto friendly diet include oily fish like salmon, olive oil, some nuts and avocado.
To get an idea of what a day in the life of The Keto Diet looks like, here is a sample:
BREAKFAST:
2 eggs cooked in 1 Tablespoon organic butter or ghee with a side of ½ sliced avocado
LUNCH:
Spinach salad with cucumber, ½ diced avocado, grilled salmon and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and the juice of ½ lemon
SNACK:
1 oz. Brazil nuts
DINNER:
4-6 oz. lean beef cooked in 1 Tablespoon organic butter or ghee, 1 smashed clove of garlic and a sprig of rosemary, with a side of steamed asparagus
Digestive Hx can be helpful for many of those that adopt a Keto diet. This is often due to the high amounts of protein, fats and dairy that many consume on a daily basis. The combination of enzymes help the digestive system to breakdown and absorb the meals eaten with ease and less gas buildup.
Fish Oil is a common go-to for omega-3. Fish, and therefore fish oil, has been shown to increase cognitive ability. Due to the EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which are beneficial for heart and brain health.
Multi Energy Powder is a complete multi vitamin, mineral and antioxidant formula in an easy to take powder. Starting the day with a good foundation of a complete multivitamin can get your day started off right.
Probiotic Maintain is a perfect complement to the Digestive Hx. Using a probiotic formula daily is a good habit to follow, particularly when eating a strict diet like Keto. Taking care of the digestive tract and maintaining a well-balance of healthy bacteria can help set you up for a healthy transition through this diet plan. My pro-tip is to use the Probiotic Hx Immune if using Keto for kids…and speak to a health professional regarding dosage.
As you can see while a Keto Diet may be good for weight loss, it’s a great go-to therapeutic option for anyone concerned with or experiencing issues regarding any brain conditions. Now that you have a better overview of The Keto Diet, do you think it is right for you and your goals?
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8322232/
www.webmd.com/diet/keto-diet-for-beginners
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7480775/
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10431618/
www.everydayhealth.com/ketogenic-diet/diet/best-worst-fats-eat-on-keto-diet/
ketogenic.com/benefits-of-ghee-on-the-ketogenic-diet/
health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-smoothly-transition-off-the-keto-diet
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326204#summary
www.webmd.com/diet/features/what-to-know-about-omega-3s-and-fish
INTRODUCING PROBIOTIC HX IMMUNE~GUT AND IMMUNE SUPPORT By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT We all know about the benefits of a probiotic. Whether you know about it through a healthcare or wellness provider or from commercials and advertisements, it’s rather familiar to us all. …
Diabetic Retinopathy
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease that is associated with diabetes. Diabetes as you can guess is a huge health concern. In fact in the United States in 2021 diabetes was found to be the 8th leading cause of death. In fact in 2021 38.4 million Americans or 11.6% of the population had diabetes. (1) Anyone who has diabetes of any type is at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. However the less controlled your blood sugar is the higher your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. (2) For more information on diabetes please check out my blog series on this important topic.
What is diabetic retinopathy? Well it might surprise you to learn but there is actually 2 types of diabetic retinopathy. To start with let’s just do a general overall of diabetic retinopathy first. Basically when you have diabetic retinopathy there is too much sugar in your blood and this high sugar occurs over a longer period of time. This high concentration of sugar in your blood can affect your blood vessels by either blocking them or causing them to dilate and become damaged. In some cases to try and compensate for the reduction in blood flow caused by the blockages the eyes will start to grow new blood vessels. However these new blood vessels, or the dilated blood vessels are “leaky” and can ooze fluid and blood into the retina. Now as I said that’s a basic definition. Remember how I said that there are 2 types of diabetic retinopathy? Let’s talk more about that, shall we? The most common type is early diabetic retinopathy, which is called nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). It is important to note that this form can change over time to advanced diabetic retinopathy, which is called proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Now I bet your thinking but what the heck is the difference? Basically in NPDR the walls of the blood vessels bulge or dilate due to the sugar taking up space in the vessels. This causes them to weaken and become as I’ve said “leaky” and fluids leak into the retina causing damage. As the blockage becomes worse the eyes begin to compensate by growing new but leaky blood vessels. This is where PDR comes into play. As you can guess in PDR the blood vessels are blocked and new blood vessels form which leak which can lead to scar tissue formation and that scar formation can cause damage to the retina. The leaked fluids can also build up which can increase glaucoma risk. (2) But what does this all look like? Please see the attached picture. (3)
What are the risk factors for developing diabetic retinopathy? Well I bet you can guess the first one! If you said having diabetes you would be correct! In fact studies estimate that in those with type 2 diabetes between 29.5-40.3% have diabetic retinopathy. (4) The longer you have diabetes the higher your risk becomes. Having poor control of your blood sugar also increases your risk. Having a history of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even tobacco use can all increase your risk. Lastly being pregnant and being of certain ethnic backgrounds can all increase your risk. For example being of African American, Hispanic or Native American background can all place you in a high risk category for diabetic retinopathy. (2)
Like many diseases that affect our eyes diabetic retinopathy may not present with symptoms in the early stages. As the disease gets worse you may have floaters as well as dark or empty spots in your vision. You may have blurry vision. Over time you may experience vision loss. (2)
What are the most common complications? Diabetic macular edema occurs in about half of those who have diabetic retinopathy. Another possible complication is vitreous hemorrhage. Diabetic retinopathy increases the risk of both glaucoma and retinal detachment. (5) Over time diabetic retinopathy can lead to complete vision loss. (2)
What can you do to help reduce your risk of diabetic retinopathy? Well let’s review a few things, shall we?
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