Knowledge

These days, committing to a healthy lifestyle can feel daunting, and getting a well-rounded blend of nutrients may seem like an impossible task, but we genuinely believe it doesn't have to be. Athina Health was founded on the understanding that providing people with knowledge is even more important than providing them with a product. So if you're interested, we invite you to read below about a few of the ingredients you'll see on our labels, as well as some of the health challenges women (and men) face every day, that we're attempting to tackle together.

 

Iron

Iron Deficiency Anemia is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world, affecting almost a third of the global population, with menstruating women especially at risk. Iron is vital to the production of hemoglobin, the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Therefore, deficiency can leave you feeling extremely tired, weak, or pale. Read more here.

 

Vitamin D

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the intestines, and therefore plays a key role in developing and maintaining healthy bones. You've probably heard about how we get a lot of our Vitamin D from sunlight, but how exactly does that process work? Well, as the sun's Ultraviolet B rays hit our skin, our cells convert cholesterol to Vitamin D; but that means certain people are more susceptible to deficiency, such as the elderly, those with very little sun exposure (due to geography, cultural/religious clothing, or sun sensitivity), or individuals with darker skin. More fascinating reading on this topic here.

 

B Vitamins

So many Bs, so little time - 6, 7, 12, what do they all do, and why do we need them? In short, all B Vitamins assist your body's enzymes in carrying out their chemical reactions, usually related to cellular metabolism - helping your cells break down carbs to release energy. Below, we'll quickly go over the 3 most important B Vitamins, but you can read all about them and learn their codenames here.

B6 (Pyridoxine): Participates in several bodily functions related to metabolism, immune function, and brain health, and may also contribute to disease prevention.

B9 (Folate) and B12 (Cobalamin): Important building blocks that help your body make new cells, DNA, and RNA. Deficiency in either can cause Megaloblastic Anemia - a disease characterized by larger than normal dysfunctional red blood cells.

 

 The ACE

Rounding out our nutritional alphabet are the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E. You may already know a thing or two about them, but we'll review them briefly here:

Vitamin A (beta-Carotene): Involved in promoting good eyesight, as well as maintaining healthy teeth, mucous membranes, and skin.

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic Acid): Aside from the well-known immune system benefits, it is also involved in the formation and repair of bodily tissues like blood vessels, cartilage, muscle, and collagen.

Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol): Joins Vitamin C in aiding the immune system, while also contributing to red blood cell formation and vasodilation (widening blood vessels to prevent clotting).