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Healthy Life

Thrive Carolinas / Healthy Life (Page 6)

Late Summer: Earth Element

[caption id="attachment_11165" align="alignleft" width="232"] Dr. Scott Greenapple[/caption] In Chinese medicine, when the seasons change, the elements change. In Eastern philosophy, there are five elements, and summer has two parts: early and late summer. Late summer is the short period between summer and fall, a transitional period that prepares us for the fall season. The element is the Earth element. The two meridians associated with the Earth element are the stomach and spleen (pancreas is combined with the spleen). Earth is a stabilizing force during these times of transition. Being grounded to the earth is especially important this time of year. We need to get centered, balanced, and grounded as we start to organize and get ready for the harvest of fall. The meridians of the stomach and spleen/pancreas are...

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It’s Pumpkin Season

As fall approaches, temperatures drop, leaves start to change, and Starbucks releases its menu of fall favorites like Pumpkin spice. Pumpkins have become synonymous with fall, so it makes sense to feature them in autumn recipes and tout their many health benefits. Pumpkins are a type of squash in the Cucurbita family, which also includes other winter squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. They were discovered over 10,000 years ago in Guatemala and Mexico and were treasured for their seeds. With cultivation and agricultural changes, however, pumpkins, like many other harvests, have become sweeter, fleshier, and more like the winter squash we see in the supermarkets. Pumpkins have many health benefits, motivating you to include them in your fall recipes. Pumpkin is a starchy vegetable, but it is relatively low in...

Understanding Creatine

[caption id="attachment_12023" align="alignleft" width="225"] Dr. Amy Fletcher[/caption] Creatine is a naturally occurring compound critical in storing and releasing energy.    Creatine is found naturally in muscle cells and helps direct various physiologic functions by producing a high-energy molecule called ATP. It was first popularized in the 1980s to enhance athletic performance and strength. However, creatine is not just for bodybuilders and elite athletes. There is a growing body of research into its important role in optimizing overall health.     One of the primary considerations is the vital role of creatine in maintaining bone and muscle mass.  This becomes a critical area of focus as we age, whether or not we have athletic goals. All activiies of daily living require adequate muscle strength and stamina and we start to lose...

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Collagen: Necessity or Hype

[caption id="attachment_11999" align="alignleft" width="340"] Dr. Palermo and a Biotics Research Optimal Collagen Product available at Thrive[/caption] Recently, collagen has gained popularity with claims of anti-aging, skin, nail, and hair rejuvenation, as well as structural support for bones, joints, and tendons. However, collagen is nothing new. In fact, some of its benefits were recorded as far back as 1175, when it was used for its pain-relieving effects. Let’s examine collagen and discuss how it may contribute to health and longevity. First, what is collagen, and how is it used in the body? Most people are not aware that 30 percent of our bodies are made up of collagen, and after about age 20, that amount begins to decline gradually, which makes supplementation an interesting prospect. Collagen provides the scaffolding or...

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Dermaplaning 101

Dermaplaning is a physical exfoliation commonly offered in many skincare spas. It can be used alone or alongside other skin services. It is important a licensed esthetician performs the procedure. During this procedure, the esthetician uses a small stainless steel surgical blade to scrape the top layer of skin from the face. This process removes the build-up of the layer of dead skin cells and will reveal a much smoother, brighter complexion. It can also eliminate the fine hairs on the face, known as villus (commonly referred to as “peach fuzz). While the procedure does require a sharp blade and may seem intimidating, it is typically painless and gentle. The benefits include smoother skin, a glowing complexion, and an overall improved skin texture. This procedure can also...

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The 2024 Clean Fifteen Dirty Dozen List: Your Shopping Necessity

We know we need to eat more fruits and vegetables. Recommendations suggest consuming up to eight servings a day minimum (6 vegetables/2 fruits). However, growing concern over the impact of pesticides and fungicides sprayed on our produce is real and needs to be considered. That is why we are so appreciative of the work done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that provides individuals with the information they need to live cleaner, healthier lives. Every year they come out with a list of the cleanest, and dirtiest, produce to help guide our buying choices. While buying organic produce is preferred, this is not always an option due to cost and availability. The EWG guide can help steer our choices. In March 2024, they...

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Grilling: Food Preparation and Toxicity: 2024

There is a lot more attention paid to our food sources and the type of food we eat. We recognize the importance of organic, minimally processed foods and their roles in health and disease prevention. It turns out that how we cook these foods plays an equally important role. When the weather is favorable, many cook meals on our outdoor grill. While small amounts of grilling are acceptable, research has suggested that meats may form carcinogenic chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) when charred or cooked over high heat. Epidemiologic studies have linked cooking meats at high temperatures with an increased risk of pancreatic, prostate, stomach, and colorectal cancers. The culprits associated with this risk may be these heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic...

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Food As Medicine: Consider the Broccoli Stalk

When your parents told you to eat your broccoli, they were looking out for your best interests. We now know that broccoli has several disease-fighting benefits that can optimize many aspects of your health. Some of this pharmaceutical importance includes its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, immunomodulator, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective roles. We will dive into science a bit, but you will leave this article wanting to crunch on more of this important vegetable. Broccoli, which originated in Italy, is a cruciferous vegetable or brassica, like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, kale, and cauliflower. Its edible parts include the stem, leaves, and the flowers or head of the stalk. Nutritional Benefits Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins C, K and A, It also provides important minerals like potassium, calcium and iron when consumed. Vitamins...

Summer Wellness Tips for 2025: Do Less, Live More

Published May 14, 2024 Updated: June 10, 2025 We hope you and your families are enjoying a restful and rejuvenating start to the summer season. As Thrive continues to grow in 2025, we remain deeply committed to supporting your health journey with practical, preventative strategies rooted in lifestyle medicine. Below is our refreshed list of summer dos and don’ts to help you feel your best in the months ahead. Don’t Put on Sunscreen… At least not for the first 15–20 minutes of sun exposure. Over 80% of Americans remain vitamin D deficient, often due to overuse of sunscreen and avoidance of sunlight. Vitamin D plays a critical role in immune function, mood regulation, inflammation control, bone health, and even cancer prevention. Your body naturally produces vitamin D through sun exposure, specifically from...

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Dr. Scott Greenapple May has been deemed Mental Health Awareness Month. In this article, I will combine some thoughts and theories and offer “tools” to help people become aware and educated. I will also offer some guidance for you or anyone you may know who suffers from this disease. Mental health issues are on the rise at alarming rates. Many theories are being studied and observed as to the reasons. Some of the most obvious stem from political unrest in this country and the world; the constant reality of war, poverty, climate change, financial struggle, and the barrage of news from social media are certainly at the top of reasonings. And, of course, the more personal ones such as family dynamics-dysfunction, trauma, genetics, chronic disease, pain, inter and...

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