Category Archives: Supplements

Back To School Health: Our Herbal Response Team

Immune System Spotlight: “C”onsidering Vitamin C?

Amidst the current virus focused climate, some are focusing heavily on enhancing and supporting the immune system rather than sitting idle and praying for a pharmaceutical intervention.  Taking it deeper than rattling off general immune support, the more we learn about our viral target, the more we can form a potentially situational specific combat crew to increase the likelihood of health, happiness and longevity.

Vitamin C has been at the top of the list of nutritional strategies and utilized to varying degrees, with varying levels of success around the world.  Let’s take a deeper dive and get to know Vitamin C a little better.

Form Matters:

How Vitamin C Works:

BIG PICTURE HEALTH: Enhancing Vitamin C & Thus Immune Health via Lifestyle:

Get well.  Stay well.  “C” you around.

Immune System Spotlight: The “D”ata exists, “D”on’t be “D”eficient

The plethora of benefits from this fat soluble “vitamin,” which is commonly referred to as a hormone due to the way it behaves & interacts within the body, are wide spread.  The ideal (and free) way to boost and maintain optimal levels is through intelligent, skin-type specific, dosage of UVB sun exposure, but for those who can’t (or won’t) utilize the sun as a driver for Vitamin D and so much more, there always exists the next best option.

In today’s somewhat surreal climate, we want to boost our immune system and confidence by implementing various strategies (diet, lifestyle, supplemental, or otherwise), that are not only relevant to enhancing the resilience of the entire interconnected and interdependent body, but also have studied and observed mechanisms behind them that may make them increasingly beneficial when focusing on the pathogenic immune target (viral or otherwise) of the day.

Stay smart.

Supplement smart.

Live smart.

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VIRUS SPECIFIC IMMUNE SUPPORT Don't be "D"eficient .. As we all watch & listen to the unique situation unfolding before us, there comes the potential for panic due to a lack of loss of control… … (which never really exists in the first place, but that's another #mindfulnesspractice based topic for another day…but OOOHH how important #consciousness & #consciousliving is all the time; especially amidst the uncertainty… .. well, that became the start of a #rabbithole quite rapidly. Reeling it back in…) .. In times like this we often react & respond in an attempt at mitigating the perceived lack of control; take back some control of you will… … While there is no way to gain total control & certainly no guarantees that our well intentioned actions will generate (or prevent #preventativemedicine ) a particular outcome, we still try. .. And there's nothing wrong with that. It gives us a sense of #optimism ; of #hope perpetuating increased proximity to a #peaceofmind state. And the #stateofmind can be just as influencial in potentiating & maintaining #health as any of the other things we have been discussing. #powerofthemind #mindbodysoul #mindbody .. Do what you can do. Do what makes sense to you. Continue to #livestrong through prioritizing #sleep #nutrition #movementculture #stress & things like #vitaminD and such. .. Then…#letgo #beopen to the inevitable change & unpredictability that is the world around us. Stop wastefully worrying & energize enjoyment…(I ♥️ alliteration)

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Potentially SARS CoV2 specific?  You be the judge.  If it makes sense, implement the strategy.  If not, move on and keep searching for those that resonate with you.

IMMUNE SYSTEM SPOTLIGHT: The What & Why Behind “PROBIOTICS”

Probiotics get a massive amount of mention these days and for good reason.  The evidence behind the microbiome and its connection and influence on the rest of the body is mounting by the day.

But rather than just follow the trends, let’s illuminate why this aspect of your body’s ecosystem is important for a plethora of reasons; ESPECIALLY when it comes to arming yourself with a balanced, appropriate immune response to whatever pathogen (virus or otherwise) you will inevitably encounter.

TYPES OF “Probiotics:”

The “Classic” (Lacto/Bifido Blend):

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PROBIOTICS: MAXIMIZING BENEFIT .. . A few points here when it comes to #probiotics Amidst all of varying opinions expressed as to best #immuneboost during this time of concern, fortunately use of a #probiotic seems to be agreed upon. .. . This is no doubt a step in the right direction as for years now many #gut experts, gastroenterologist alike, have been poo-pooing (bad #guthealth joke) the efficacy of using these #nutritional #supplements , commonly citing a lack of evidence & research. .. . This can prove quite unfortunate as it leads to many trusting individuals missing out on potential help, due the oft dissmisive, close minded & at this point ignorant state of the so called authority figure. .. . Simply implenting dietary adjustments concurrent to a thoughtful, up to date, comprehensive probiotic regimen, using independent, 3rd party tested & verified formulations has been nothing less than a game changer for many of our patients, family & friends. .. . But this confident proclamation is not being made solely on the back of antecdotal evidence.  There are actually over 500 & counting published research papers backing a plethora of benefits behind probiotic supplementation; specifically of the #lactobacillus & #bifidobacterium variety; no doubt the most researched & supplemented genus of #gutbacteria .. . Benefits have been shown to include #guthealth #skinhealth #immunehealth #brainhealth improved #mood & beyond. .. . With a million & one brands on the market, & the inevitability of unethical, immoral practices transpiring for the love of the dollar over all else; it is imperative to find a reputable, transparent brand that does indeed subject their product to independent, 3rd party testing. .. . We strive to use only these brands; coupled with the cleanest labels both personally & clinically.  Starting your journey off with a strong probiotic (12-14 different strains; 25-100 billion CFUs) is no doubt a legitimate place to start when it comes to optimizing your #microbiome & establishing a foundation to build all other aspects of health. .. . But we can do better than that. And we will… . .. Stay tuned…

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The Mycobiome.  The Friendly Fungi & Saccharomyces Boulardii

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POTENTIATING PROBIOTIC POWER THE WHOLE STORY . .. The 2nd essential #probiotic player (in addition to the “traditional” #lactobacillus & #bifido blends) is actually not technically in the #probiotics family of #gutbacteria at all. .. . Our 2nd #health propogating character in this comprehensive cast of #immunesystem enhancers is known as #saccharomyces #boulardii & is a non-pathogenic #yeast … making it an MVP of our #mycobiome (rather than the #microbiome ) which is comprised of the essential & beneficial yeast &  #fungal friends. .. . This increasingly acknowledged & studied aspect of our internal ecosystem has been shown to not only boost its own #healthylife perpetuating perks, but also work synergystically with our other 2 classes of “probiotics” to complete the latest understanding of best available #guthealth & beyond. .. . Specifically, #sboulardii has been shown to increase bowel transit time (#constipation ), counter the common fungal #infection : #candida or #calbicans , & improve glucose #metabolism .. . Perhaps most relevant to the current #corona climate is the observation that S.Boulardii has been shown to increase the production of sIgA, our first line of defense against #pathogenic #bacteria #parasites #yeast & the focus of the day: #viruses .. . All of this plus more makes saccharomyces boulardii a logical addition to your up to date, best available probiotic regimen.

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The “Up & Comer” to complete the Comprehensive Microbiome Makeover: Soil Based

 

Rethinking Inflammation: When You Need It & How to Make it Work For You

Inflammation has long been recognized as a common denominator among the mass majority of unfavorable conditions. However, NOT ALL INFLAMMATION is bad. In fact, sometimes it is necessary; particularly when dealing with a musculoskeletal injury or perceived discomfort post exercise, workout or training.
In these cases, inflammation is actually an imperative component of the healing process. If we narrow mindedly block this due to applying a somewhat ignorant, across the board damnation of all inflammation, in an effort to avoid temporary discomfort, we actually delay and could outright block the healing process and our ability to fully recover.
Follow us now on the oft ignored explanation and mechanism behind this, and what you can do intelligently facilitate a healthy immune response, which includes that optimal healing and recovery we all want to achieve.
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