Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
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 …
HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS~ WHAT EXACTLY IS HPV? By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Human Papillomavirus, or HPV as it’s commonly referred to as, has been discussed quite often lately. However, do we really know what it is and how it’s spread? Having a good understanding …
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 have reviewed some of my personal favorite and in my opinion best products to use for both respiratory health as well as our immune system.
What are the best ways to naturally protect our respiratory system? Hands down the best way to protect ourselves from respiratory illness is by washing our hands!! And it is also vital to AVOID touching your face. If I could only mention 2 things to do to help protect ourselves from illness it would be to wash your hands and avoid touching your face. That is how important these things are to our overall health. The next tip is to clean regularly touched surfaces. Avoid sharing things that go into your mouth. Now I know you’re probably scratching your head saying wait – what does that even mean? Well by things that go into your mouth I mean eating utensils and obviously tooth brushes. If you are ill please be considerate and stay home if possible. Also always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Overall good hygiene is the key to success when it comes to keeping healthy. (1)
Next and probably just as important as hygiene is life style. Studies have found that a Mediterranean diet can benefit our respiratory health. (2) Another life style that is important for respiratory health is to stop smoking. (3)
Over this blog series I have reviewed a number of products that I feel are the best nutrients from Invite to help with both overall immunity and respiratory health. One such nutrient is Immunity Hx. This is a combination of 3 nutrients, vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc. Studies have found that these are critical for “the growth and function of the immune cells”. (4) Please see my blog for more information on this fantastic formula. Another nutrient that has come up frequently during this series is Olive Leaf. Studies have found numerous benefits to using olive leaf. These include anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory benefits. (5) NAC is another favorite nutrient of mine! Once again studies have found many benefits for NAC including helping with thinning mucus and relieving the symptoms of conditions such as COPD and even bronchitis. (6) Black Seed is another personal favorite that has also come up quite frequently. However I’ll direct you to my product highlight for more information on this.
But how can you add these products to your daily life? For powders it is simple to mix them into smoothies or even juice or water. Pills can be swallowed or even opened and mixed into those same smoothies. If you aren’t fond of smoothies you can always mix these things into yogurt, applesauce or even into cooked oatmeal. Here are some yummy ideas to help you! Remember there aren’t any misstates in the kitchen, just an opportunity to learn!
Sources:
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/
