Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
The Common Cold! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Today we will be talking about something everyone knows about and that topic is the common cold! Having a cold is probably one thing that both children and adults understand. But what cause’s a cold? Well when …
GRAINS~MORE THAN CARBS By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Who doesn’t love the grain group? Its most commonly associated with carbohydrates (carbs). However, are they really that bad for us and are they truly necessary? Let’s explore this simple, delicious, versatile and often scary …
Boost your Immune Health with Beta Immunity
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
Today I want to talk about a supplement that is great for those times when you’re fighting off a cold or other upper respiratory infection. That supplement is Beta Immunity! Beta Immunity is a combination of Beta 1, 3 Glucan and Black Elderberry. Now don’t get Beta Immunity confused with a different product with a similar name, Immunity Hx! For more information on Immunity Hx please check out my blog on that particular product! But let’s go back to Beta Immunity!
Let’s start with Beta 1, 3 Glucan or Beta Glucan for short. If you look at the supplement facts on Beta Immunity you will notice the name BetaVia™ which is a powerful clinically studied algae extract. This is the source of the Beta Glucan. But what is Beta Glucan? Beta glucans are a type of fiber that comes from places such as the cell wall of bacteria, fungi, yeast and algae. While I want to focus on the immune benefits I also want to remind everyone that Beta glucans have been found in studies to help with heart disease and heart health. (1) Studies have suggested that Beta glucan can increase immunity and result in fewer upper respiratory tract infections in children and teens. (2) Studies have found that Beta Glucans can help to strengthen the immune system by affecting several of the different types of immune cells. (3) Additional studies have found that Beta Glucan is also antimicrobial and can help fight off pathogens. (4) Overall studies agree that Beta Glucan is an amazing supplement for helping to boost our immune system when we are sick or have been exposed to a pathogen or “bad guy”. (5)
Let’s move on to elderberry! I know what you are thinking, elderberry sounds like a yummy berry. Let me go out and pick some to put in my smoothie! But wait – STOP! Raw elderberry can cause nausea, vomiting and even diarrhea! So it’s best to stick with prepared forms such as jams and supplements. (6) Studies have found that those suffering from upper respiratory infections such as a cold would find the cold to be shortened on average by 2 days when using elderberry. Elderberry has also been found in studies to help decrease the severity of symptoms experienced. (7) Further studies have found that elderberry is a safe option for helping with upper respiratory infections such as colds or the flu. Studies have also found that elderberry is very helpful when you have an upper respiratory infection such as a cold, however the studies are inconclusive as to how helpful it is in using it to prevent an infection. (8) In my clinical experience elderberry is a great tool when you feel as though you might be getting sick. Other studies have found that elderberry helps stop a virus form replicating as well as helps our immune system fight the virus. (9)One fun fact if you will is that while elderly can and does boost our immune system it does not appear to produce an overproduction of cytokines or “cytokine storm” which creates a situation where the body starts attacking itself. (8)
As I’ve said Beta Immunity is a great product as is my other favorite Immunity Hx. But when to use which product? How do you know which one to use? In my clinical experience I find that Immunity Hx is what you want to use to help ward off an infection. It can be used long term to help keep our immune system ready. Elderberry, in my experience is very helpful once you become sick and need help fighting off those pathogens or bad guys. It is also very helpful if you are exposed to a pathogen. So for example, you go to a party and find out that oh no Bob has a cold and he sneezed on you! Well that’s the time to add Beta Immunity in the mix. If you are still not sure which one is best for you remember that Invite Nutritionist are always there for you!
Our next blog will be about the common cold!
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DAIRY~THE OPTIONS AND BENEFITS By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Dairy is that food group that seems to be one of the easiest to consume and the most indulgent. This group is commonly associated with calcium and strong bones. It has a wide variety …
Seasonal Allergies! Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND Achoo! Achoo! Is it a cold? It is just dusty? Nope! Its allergy season! And along with allergy season is all the symptoms of allergies. Having symptoms of allergies tend to come during what is known as allergy …
VEGETABLES~GREENS AND BEYOND
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
Vegetables and greens always seem to be the most difficult for people to eat enough of on a daily basis. As I’ve talked to people over the years on this subject, I’ve noticed a few common reasons seem to come up. Let’s take some time together to get to know our vegetables and greens, as well as address some common reasons why many aren’t getting their daily recommendation.
Let’s start at the beginning….just how much vegetables and greens do we really need in a day? According to the guidelines from the USDA, an adult should consume 2 1/2-4 cups a day. This varies slightly, as greens usually need 2 cups to actually count as the 1 cup serving size. For instance, a salad consisting of 2 cups of kale, 1 carrot, 1/2 cup tomatoes and 1/2 cup of mushrooms would give you 2 1/2 servings for the day. I’ve heard many people count this as 4 servings because there’s 4 types of vegetables represented in the salad. This is definitely one way that causing some confusion and keeps some people from getting the correct daily recommendation.
Another misconception seems to involve cooking styles. We know that certain ways of cooking vegetables can be good, such as steaming, roasting or lightly sautéing. This helps to drastically cut down the fat from oils. According to an article from Harvard Medical School titled ‘How Much Will Fried Foods Harm Your Heart? We see that this way of food preparation may be a cause of increased inflammation in the body. This increased inflammation can be a contributing factor in heart disease, increasing the chances for such issues as heart attack or stroke. Keep in mind, even though it is a vegetable, once it gets battered or coated and fried it is more of an indulgent treat then a nutritious vegetable.
Vegetables are so important because of the nutrients they supply. MedicalNewsToday highlights some of these that include, but are not limited to, vitamins and minerals such as A, some B’s, C and K, folate, potassium, manganese and magnesium. Vegetables and leafy greens are also a good source of fiber.
I’m often asked which vegetables are the best. I always say there are no bad vegetables or leafy greens out there to avoid. Try focusing of the ones you already like and can tolerate well. I also like to recommend trying a new vegetable each week. For example, try traditional vegetable like tomatoes, zucchini and carrots with greens like kale and spinach. Maybe experiment with a cruciferous vegetable such as Brussel sprouts or cabbage (green or red). Remember, you can’t “overdose” on vegetables and greens so once you are consistently getting in your recommended serving outlined by the USDA, try to challenge yourself to get 5-9 cups a day. I find that this bulks up my meals in a healthy way without feeling “stuffed”.
GREENS HX: In order to help increase vegetable intake each day, adding a greens powder to make a healthy green drink is a good option. This contains a wide variety of vegetables, green and herbs allowing for an earthy taste with a dash of oregano. It even has some probiotics in the formula so this is great not only for nutrients, but to help with detoxification, healthy immunity and maybe even offer some increased energy…which is always a good thing.
BEETS HX: While beets are delicious, sometimes they can be difficult to cook. In order to get all the benefits to the circulatory system that beets offer, a good alternative is to incorporate this in a powder form. It can be added to water, smoothies or plain yogurt.
HAPPY GUT GREEN SMOOTHIE
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 cup Ice
1/2 cup Raw Organic Coconut Water
1 teaspoon Raw Honey
1 scoop Greens Hx
1 capsule Probiotic Hx
Add all ingredients to a blender, along with the contents of the Probiotic Hx (discard the empty capsule). Blend together, pour into a glass and enjoy!
PRO TIP: In my experience, if you find that you experience digestive distress when eating vegetables or greens, try cooking them and avoid raw. This can help cut down on gas developing in the gut, particularly for those that are exploring new produce or are increasing their daily intake.
www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/vegetables
www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2023/11/raw-vs-cooked-vegetables
www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/how-much-will-fried-foods-harm-your-heart
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323319#summary
