Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
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, …
Complete Eye Support with Macula Advanced! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND When someone calls and asks about a product for eye health one of the first things I recommend is our Macula Advanced. Personally in my opinion Macula Advanced really hits all the marks. Not …
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 Dr. Claire I thought you always said gummies aren’t very good for you? What makes Invite Health gummies different? Well that is exactly what I’m going to be blogging about today!
Let’s start with the colors in the gummies. Invite Health doesn’t use any artificial colors. So what do we use instead? In our gummies you will find Beta carotene and Black carrot extract used as colors. But does this point really matter? Well according to the Cleveland Clinic artificial colors such as red dye 40 can have side effects such as hyperactivity, irritably and can even trigger depression. There can also be allergic reactions such as skin irritation, hives and even asthma. Artificial colors can also trigger migraines. (1)
Invite gummies do not contain any artificial sweeteners. Studies have found many side effects to artificial sweeteners. So many that I couldn’t possibly begin to list them all! The most common side effects are to the digestive system, neurological system and even our heart health. (2) Now you may notice a small amount of sugar in the gummies. Why not use stevia? Well it’s simple. While stevia is a great choice for our powders when they tried them in a gummy form the extensive testing Invite does on all its products found that the results were not consistent with the type of product that is in keeping with Invite Health standards.
What else sets Invite gummies apart from other brands of gummies? There are no artificial flavorings used. So what does Invite use instead? We use natural flavors from sources such as orange, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and even peach. Once again I’ll bet your asking why this is important. Studies have found that artificial flavors can have side effects. (3)
Another ingredient that is often found in gummies is palm oil. There is no palm oil in our gummies. Palm oil contains quite a bit of saturated fats. (4) This is that fat that is associated with an increase in blood LDL or “bad cholesterol” and this can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. (5) For more information please check out Allie Might’s blog on the different types of fats, it is entitled “Fats – The skinny you need to know.”
Now what about the doses. Aren’t all gummies so low dose as to be just fancy candy? Absolutely not! In the suggested dose of the new digestive probiotic gummy you will see it provides 5 Billion CFUs. That is exactly the same amount of CFUs as some of our other probiotics such as Probiotic Maintain. While at a glance the new collagen may seem low in how much collagen it has but it important to remember that it is a Marine based collagen and the peptides are smaller than a Bovine source would be. Thus the amount is a very reasonable amount. (6)
Lastly Invite gummies are free of both gelatin and gluten. These make them a great option for anyone who is looking for a gelatin or gluten free option. And before you ask – yes they are both KOSHER and HALAL! But HOW DO THEY TASTE? I mean they look great on the surface but a gummy that tastes bad is just plain sad. Well I have tried them and can say that they get the Dr. Claire yummy award. They taste great and have a great texture.
Invite knows that sometimes you might get tired of taking so many pills. Or you may be going on a trip where it would be impossible to take powders. Invite’s new gummies are easy to add in to any supplement protocol or even just stand alone. As always feel free to contact an Invite nutritionist with any questions.
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SHILAJIT~WHAT IS IT AND WHY DO YOU NEED IT? By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Shilajit, pronounced she-lah-jeet, is one of the most versatile nutraceuticals available. However, it is not commonly discussed and is beginning to gain traction within the wellness community. But just …
Summary on Respiratory Health Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND I hope that this blog series on respiratory health has been both fun and informative! I have tried to review some of the most common respiratory concerns that come up here at Invite health. Additionally I …
Understanding Probiotics
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
If there’s one topic that is sure to confuse people it’s the topic of probiotics. Invite health has a powerful line up of probiotics. But how are they different? How do you know which one is right for you? For this blog I will be reviewing 3 of the most popular Invite Health probiotics. These are the Probiotic Hx, Probiotic Weight and Probiotic Women.
Probiotic Hx is a well-rounded every day probiotic. In my experience taking the Probiotic Hx is like taking a good multivitamin, it’s good for our overall health. But what does that really mean? Well to start probiotics can help restore the balance of good bacteria in our gut. (1) Sometimes due to situations such as illness, certain medications and even stress bad bacteria and even yeast can begin to grow in our digestive system. They can begin to outnumber the good guys and this can result in digestive concerns, allergies, and even contribute to obesity. (2) A good probiotic can also help with diarrhea. (3) One bacteria that is well known for causing diarrhea is C Diff and in studies probiotics have been found to reduce the risk of C Diff by 60%. (4) Studies have also found that probiotics can decrease the risk of travelers’ diarrhea. (5) In addition to helping with diarrhea a good probiotic has been found to help with Ulcerative colitis (6) and even IBS. (7) Probiotics do more than just help our gut. Studies have found that they can help with general health, depression, anxiety and even stress. (8) Probiotics have also been found in studies to help with inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein. (9) Certain probiotics can even breakdown bile helping with our cholesterol levels. (10) As you can see a good everyday probiotic is great for so many things. But what if you have a specific health concern? Well that is where the Probiotic Weight and Probiotic for Women come into play. They take all the benefits of a regular probiotic and have added nutrients for specific health concerns. They are easy to take in addition to our daily probiotic.
Probiotic Weight contains a particular strain of probiotic that was found to lower weight and BMI after just 12 weeks of use. Additionally both waist and hip circumference were reduced after the 12 weeks of use. (11) Bergamot has been found in studies to help with visceral adipose tissue. (12) It has also been found to reduce liver fat content in those with liver steatosis. (13) Artichoke has been found to help with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and obesity. (14) I do want to point out that the Probiotic Weight is a powerful formula. To avoid stomach distress I recommend taking it with a full meal. While research shows these herbs can be helpful in general people can have different reactions to herbs so it is important to monitor how you feel when you start a new herbal supplement.
Probiotic Women is a combination of garlic, thyme and a probiotic blend. Garlic has been found to be antimicrobial. (15) Thyme has also been found to be antimicrobial. (16) Lastly probiotics have been found to help with a UTI. (17)
But how does one choose? And how does this entire blog relate to immune health? Well when it comes to immune health a good overall probiotic such as Probiotic Hx is always a win. In fact probiotics have been found to help with an upper respiratory infection! (18)That is why for those looking for general immune health and for overall a good daily probiotic I recommend the Probiotic Hx. For those looking for additional help with weight or women’s health they can take Probiotic Hx and then add on the specific probiotic that will help with the specific concern they are experiencing. For more information or help choosing what is right for you please reach out to an Invite nutritionist!
As we approach the end of this topic I hope it has been helpful and somewhat fun! Our next topic will be Pneumonia.
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