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Vitamins

Thrive Carolinas / Vitamins

Supporting Your Natural Detoxification Systems

Written by: Nancy Palermo, MD | Edited by: Thrive Carolinas Our modern environment is filled with toxins—from the foods we eat and the water we drink to the air we breathe and the products we use daily. Fortunately, our bodies are naturally equipped with robust detoxification systems. The liver, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and kidneys work together to eliminate harmful substances through urine, stool, mucus, and sweat. Sometimes, however, our “toxic load” becomes too great, and we need extra support. That’s where temporary diets and detox protocols can help. Let’s explore how the body’s built-in detoxification process works and ways to support it naturally. Factors Influencing Toxic Load Several elements can affect how well our bodies handle toxins, including: Environment: Pollutants, chemicals, and other external contaminants Genetics: Inherited predispositions that...

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More Evidence to Support Primary Prevention in Breast Cancer

By Dr. Nancy A. Palermo, MD Edited by: Thrive Carolinas A recent landmark study published in BMJ Oncology by researchers from the University of Edinburgh examined the incidence of 29 cancers in individuals aged 14 to 49 across 200 countries over a 30-year period. The findings were alarming: the incidence of cancers in those under 50 rose by 79%, accounting for over 3.26 million cases. The researchers suggested that this increase is not due to genetic factors but rather to environmental influences like poor diet (high in processed foods and added sugars), alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and exposure to environmental toxins. Our genes haven't changed in the last 30 years, but our environment has—highlighting the need for lifestyle changes to address this growing issue. The...

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Getting More Protein in Your Diet: Protein Powders and Whey Protein 

Getting enough protein, especially 30g per meal, can be tough, and that’s where protein powders come in. However, many contain additives like artificial colors, sweeteners, and fillers that aren't ideal for health. Look for powders free from these and check the sugar content, as some can have high carbs, which isn’t helpful for weight management. Whey protein, a popular option, is made from the liquid whey left during cheese production. It comes in forms like concentrate, isolate, and hydrolysate. Whey protein isolate is highly concentrated, with 90-95% protein and minimal lactose, making it suitable for many lactose-intolerant individuals. Whey is known for its high biological value (BV), meaning the body can easily absorb and use it for muscle growth and repair. It's rich in essential amino acids, particularly branched-chain...

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...

Why Magnesium Matters: FDA Announces New Qualified Health Claim

On January 10, 2022, FDA announced in a letter of enforcement discretion a newly qualified health claim for magnesium and reduced risk of high blood pressure. Both health claims and qualified health claims characterize the relationship between a substance and a reduction in risk of contracting a particular disease or health-related condition and are reviewed by FDA through a petition process. Qualified health claims are supported by less evidence than the “significant scientific agreement” standard that governs unqualified health claims. Therefore, qualified health claims require a disclaimer or other qualifying language to avoid misleading consumers as to the strength of the scientific evidence supporting the claim. In January, the FDA reviewed health claims related to magnesium. A review of multiple studies did show some benefits with respect to hypertension, but the...

What Exactly is Clean Eating?

[caption id="attachment_9894" align="alignleft" width="300"] Nancy A. Palermo MD[/caption] Clean eating is an important part of what we provide at Thrive is Functional Medicine. Functional Medicine is a completely different approach to symptoms and diseases. It aims to get to the root cause of the symptoms rather than cover them up with medication. When we talk about root causes we cannot proceed without discussing diet as it is such a foundational component of our health. When I first meet a patient at their Functional intake visit, we often discuss their diet. I would say that most of them say they eat clean and do not feel their diet is the cause of their issues. While this certainly might be true more than not, we can find some places where...

Can an IV Infusion Boost Your Immunity Before Flu Season Starts?

The winter months don’t just raise the risk of eating too many holiday treats; they also increase your chance of contracting a cold, the flu, or COVID. Luckily, IV infusions are a preventative way to stay healthy during this cold and flu season. Before we dive into the holiday season, let’s go over the benefits of IV infusions and who should consider them.   What are IV Infusions?   Intravenous (IV) infusions are IV nutrient therapy that delivers essential substances to the body through the veins. Unlike other forms of IV therapy, such as IV injections, infusions use a pump or gravity to slowly and consistently administer the custom “cocktail” of nutrients into a patient’s veins.   IV infusions can be used in emergency situations or to treat chronic illnesses, but in...

The Savvy Guide to Buying the Right Supplements

The global supplement industry is booming. In 2019 sales topped $115 billion and that was prior to the pandemic when supplements sales really took off. The industry is huge and if you’ve ever searched for a supplement online or in the grocery store, you probably were bombarded with a million choices. It can be confusing to know which supplement is right for you–and which companies are misleading you about what’s actually in the bottle. Today, we’ll demystify why supplements are so confusing and give you the ultimate guide to selecting the most effective supplement for you.   The Supplement Industry   Four out of five people take at least one supplement, and many take more than one. The supplement industry is a multibillion industry with almost as many choices...

Akkermansia Mucinophila: Your New Best Gut Friend

[caption id="attachment_4067" align="alignleft" width="251"] Dr. Nancy Palermo[/caption] In the past 15 years, there has been a great deal of attention on the gut microbiome. In fact, since 2013 there have been over 19,000 published papers on this topic. If you search PubMed you can see that numerous studies have shown associations of the microbiome with disorders like obesity, diabetes mellitus, autoimmune disorders, cancers, liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and even neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Recent genetic tools like DNA sequencing have helped researchers further characterize the composition of microbes in the gut and successfully delineated their specific roles. In 2004 researchers first isolated a gram-negative anaerobe called Akkermansia mucinophila in the Netherlands. They now know a great deal more about this gut bacteria and what they have learned...

Why Your Diet Should Include Magnesium for Your Heart Health

We often discuss how calcium makes our bones stronger or that vitamin C improves our immune system. But magnesium is just as vital and important to add to your diet. Magnesium promotes good cardiovascular health and keeps your heart beating right.   Magnesium is a mineral that is responsible for many functions in the body. It helps keep nerves and muscles working, keeps bones strong, and helps control blood sugar. It also is necessary for maintaining normal blood pressure and a steady heartbeat.   In a 2019 review in Cardiology Research and Practice, researchers found those who have low levels of magnesium in their blood have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. In particular, the researchers found low levels of magnesium were present in those with a higher risk...

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