Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
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 …
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 what is it? Let’s discuss this further and learn how it may be beneficial to you to add to your current wellness regimen.
Shilajit come from the Himalayans and has been a staple in Ayurveda Medicine for centuries. As certain plants go through the decomposition process with microorganisms (living things only seen under a microscope), it creates a powerhouse nutraceutical known as shilajit…talk about a “circle of life”. It is believed to be a safe nutraceutical for most people to use. The article ‘Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Precognitive Activity’ from The National Library of Medicine National Center for Biotechnology Information, shilajit is a highly absorbable antioxidant making it ideal for promoting healthy cells and anti-aging.
Given the benefits of such a super antioxidant, Shilajit can be helpful for so many other areas of wellness. Men, particularly those over the age of 45, who are looking to increase DHEA, testosterone and/or free testosterone may want to consider shilajit, as it has been shown in studies to raise these levels when compared to those given a placebo. The abstract ‘Clinical evaluation of spermatogenic activity of processed Shilajit in oligospermia, has shown that shilajit has also been effective in studies when looking at male fertility. It was shown effective in increasing sperm count as well as sperm mobility, thereby increasing fertility.
Shilajit has been studied for its antiviral properties. It has shown to be helpful as an anti-inflammatory, for brain health and to support a healthy immune system. It’s been particularly effective when studied for such viruses as herpes simplex 1 and 2 and human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This is showing excellent signs of being a go-to immunity booster to aid in fighting certain types of viruses.
Brain health is a big concern for so many people. Shilajit has been shown to be a safe and effective for supporting healthy brain function. It has traditionally been used for enhance cognitive function and memory, including lowering the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by slowing the aging of the brain cells. It can also be effective for those with epilepsy and reducing anorexia. While more clinical trials are being done to further prove these uses, the preliminary studies show a lot of promise.
Heart disease is one of the leading health issue affect us today. Shilajit has been considered to be helpful in reducing triglycerides and cholesterol levels when compared to using a placebo. Thus, helping to lower risk of heart attack and stroke. It has also shown effective in relieving some of the symptoms for those suffering from heart palpitations and abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmias. This has the potential to be a game changer for those with a history of heart disease.
So what makes shilajit so effective for such a wide variety of health and wellness issues? It is the fulvic acid that makes up a large part of shilajit. The fulvic acid comes from matter like soil, water sources and even peat. It forms in these types of natural matter when many types of plants breakdown and go through the natural process of decomposition, leaving fulvic acid. As you can see by the chart below, the list of benefits of shilajit, its minerals and furvic acid.
Fig. 1 Components of Shilajit (67)
As you can see, Shilajit can be helpful for a wide variety of health and wellness issues. As always, speak to one of our qualified nutritionists to find out the best way to incorporate this into your daily routine. I encourage you to try this versatile nutraceutical and let us know how you like this new addition to our amazing product line.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296184/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26395129/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20078516/
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320318#use
iris.unito.it/retrieve/handle/2318/1521394/38005/Paper%20post%20print.pdf
www.medicinenet.com/what_does_shilajit_do_for_the_body/article.htm
www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1320/fulvic-acid
Figure Ref: <a href=”https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Components-of-Shilajit-67_fig1_354861320″><img src=”https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354861320/figure/fig1/AS:1072656392654849@1632752621939/Components-of-Shilajit-67.ppm” alt=”Components of Shilajit (67)”/></a>
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 …
URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI) ~ EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW, BUT HAVE NEVER ASKED
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
Urinary Tract Infections, or UTIs as they are commonly referred to as, can affect people of all ages for various reasons. However, women seem to be much more at risk for UTIs than men. In this article we’ll discuss what UTIs are, how they are commonly contracted, how to lower our risk and how to get rid of one once diagnosed.
What exactly is a urinary tract infection (UTI)? According to the Cleveland Clinic, a UTI is an infection that affects the urethra, kidneys and/or bladder. It occurs when bacteria enters the urethra and causes the infection. This can happen in a number of ways, however there are a few common causes that should raise our awareness. These common causes can be a history of developing UTIs in childhood, hygiene, a suppressed immune system, menopause, certain medications such as birth control and sexual activity.
Let’s break these down and discuss if there’s anything we can do to lower the risk of developing a UTI. According to the article ‘Risk Factors and Predisposing Conditions for Urinary Tract Infections’ from The National Library of Medicine : National Center for Biotechnology Information, having a history of UTIs (in childhood or adulthood) naturally increases ones risk factor of recurrence. Menopause can also be a factor as when we get to this stage in life, there is a reduction of estrogen and Lactobacilli, causing the vaginal pH to decrease.
While personal or family history can increase risk, so can having a suppressed immune system. This can be due to such issues like having diabetes or heart disease. Those that experience any health related issue that may require a catheter also increases the risk of UTIs.
When using some medications or birth control devices such as a diaphragm, can also increase risk. Women experiencing menses also have a higher risk for UTIs. This is because there can be addition bacteria and/or blood that can enter the urethra and therefore causing the UTI. It is important to remember to practice good hygiene all the time, with extra attention when using birth control devises and during menses. Try using a good antibacterial soap or vaginal wipes. Another thing to remember is to make sure you wipe front to back after urination to help keep the area as clean and bacteria-free as possible.
Lastly, the risk of UTIs from being sexually active. This can happen when you start seeing a new partner or frequent activity. This can sometimes throw off your pH while increasing normal bacteria in the region. This is normal, as bacteria can be transferred from hands, mouths and genitals. It is a good idea to wash hands and brush teeth/rinse with antibacterial mouthwash, along with daily showers, before sexual activity. Urinating after intercourse can also lower risk of UTI.
According to The Mayo Clinic, if you experience symptoms of UTI, such as but not limited to, painful urination, pelvic or lower back pain, suddenly have pink, red, brown or cloudy urine, have strong urine odor, nausea and/or vomiting and even a fever, contact your doctor. If your doctor does diagnose you with UTI it is often that you will be prescribed an antibiotic. Please, I cannot stress this enough, take the antibiotic if it is recommended and take as prescribed. If the infection goes untreated, there can be elevated problems that arise including sepsis. Once you can completed your doctor’s recommendation and the infection has been deemed cleared up, I like to recommend a daily probiotic, like Probiotic Hx or Probiotic Maintain, to help the good gut bacteria.
RENALAID: I love a scoop of this in a glass of water everyday instead of traditional cranberry juice that so many of us tend to gravitate to for urinary tract support. Using Renalaid eliminates the sugar and has the added benefits of D-Mannose, Olive Leaf and a Probiotic Blend.
CRANBERRY FRUIT EXTRACT: We’ve all heard to drink cranberry juice to help maintain a healthy urinary tract. However, juices can have a tendency of being sweet and sugary, processed and a little too diluted. Using a Cranberry Fruit Extract in a capsule form can help you incorporate the benefits of cranberry without the added sugar, processing and calories.
PROBIOTIC HX WOMEN: This Probiotic is formulated to support the needs of women’s health. It is made up of Garlic Bulb, Thyme and a blend of different strains of Lactobacillus. I like to recommend this as a “therapeutic” probiotic, in addition to a general everyday probiotic like Probiotic Hx, for women that are very prone to such issues like Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and/or Yeast Infections.
CRANBERRY SMOOTHIE
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 cup ice
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup fresh cranberries (optional)
1 teaspoon raw honey
1 scoop Renalaid
2 capsules Cranberry Fruit Extract
1 capsule Probiotic Hx Women
Add ingredients to a blender along with the contents of the Cranberry Fruit Extract and Probiotic Hx Women. Blend everything together until smooth. Pour into a glass, drink and enjoy!
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9135-urinary-tract-infections
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353453
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6502981/
www.webmd.com/women/your-guide-urinary-tract-infections
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9427198/
www.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36874013/