Vitamins

750 million people have some degree of thyroid disease

What are the risks? In 2013, the FDA increased the warning label requirements for statins, adding elevated risk of liver damage, memory loss, type 2 diabetes, and muscle weakness to the list. Acute kidney damage has also been seen, particularly in those taking higher dosages. When all available data is compiled, these drugs have been […]

Dieting and Counting Calories Many people still believe that counting calories is what's going to bring the much dreamed about weight loss. In reality, calories are great deceivers. That's because everyone's metabolism is different and absorbs calories differently. And the way in which the calorie values of foods are determined has no relation to the […]

Beginning around age 30, a man's testosterone levels start to decline, and continue to do so as time goes on, unless you proactively address your lifestyle. Environmental factors, including pesticides, plastics, and other pollutants, have resulted in a significant decrease in the average testosterone levels for men, so most men will have, at least, a […]

With summer almost here, there are good reasons to heed the wisdom of "Slip-Slop-Slap — slip on a shirt, slop on the sunscreen, and slap on a hat." On the other hand, chemical sunscreens have their dangers too. What to do? A new study suggests your lifespan could be affected by solar activity that occurred […]

Introduced in the United States in 1964, Diet Pepsi was the first nationally marketed diet soda. In 1983, Coca Cola introduced Diet Coke, a beverage that celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013. Today, four carbonated, low calorie, diet drinks rank in the top ten best-selling carbonated beverages in the country. In order, they are: In […]

According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)'s 2014 Consumer Survey on Dietary Supplements, 68 percent of U.S. adults report taking dietary supplements — with more than 50 percent being regular users. And 83 percent of the population express overall confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of dietary supplements. (CRN Consumer Survey). Unfortunately, it […]

Let's take a look at seven things that every smart patient should do in 2017 that may help you manage and improve your health in the new year. 1. Schedule an annual checkup. If you are in an HMO, or have health insurance, your annual checkup is likely to be scheduled as a longer visit, […]

In a Chinese study, researchers looked at vitamin D and autoimmune thyroid disease status in their patients. Their study evaluated 66 patients (34 had Hashimoto's disease and 32 had Graves' disease), compared to 52 healthy controls. They measured the serum D3, calcium, parathyroid hormone, Free T3, Free T4, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies […]

A study recently published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism looked at the connection between TSH levels and pregnancy outcomes in hypothyroid women being treated with thyroid hormone replacement medication, in this case, the synthetic T4 medication levothyroxine. The study, which evaluated more than 50,000 hypothyroid women, found that during the first trimester, […]

To borrow the metaphor, you may have to kiss a few frogs along the way before you find that prince — or princess — or a practitioner. But in some cases, it becomes clear that this is not a working relationship, and it's time to move on.Here are seven signs that you definitely need a […]

Researchers know that obesity and Type 2 diabetes frequently go along with Vitamin D deficiency, but they wanted to study whether low Vitamin D levels actually contribute to these conditions. According to the study's principal investigator, Stephanie Sisley, MD, "Our results suggest that Vitamin D may play a role in the onset of both obesity […]

The randomized, controlled trial focused on getting the patients to a level between 32 and 48ng/ml for 20 weeks via oral supplements. The levels were reassessed at 5, 13 weeks, 25 weeks, and 24 weeks after supplementation was discontinued. The researchers found that even after supplementation was stopped, the patients experienced a significant reduction in […]

Magnesium Deficiency One of the most common causes of leg cramps and pain is magnesium deficiency. In fact, a key symptom of magnesium deficiency is cramps, spasms, pain and aches in the legs and feet. If you notice aching in the legs and/or feet at night, ask your physician to check magnesium levels via a blood […]

Over at the Very Well Thyroid site, patient advocate Mary Shomon has reported on new research, just published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, that shows that larger doses of supplemental thiamine (vitamin B1) were shown to substantially help resolve fatigue in Hashimoto's patients who were on thyroid hormone replacement medication. Check out […]

Our adrenal glands produce hormones that help balance blood sugar levels, manage our energy levels, and help us handle stress. If a person is under constant physical or emotional stress, their adrenals may become weak and unable to produce adequate amounts of critical hormones, especially a hormone called cortisol. This creates an illness commonly known […]

The microflora in the gut form a barrier that protects against invaders by competing with harmful bacteria and viruses. These microflora actually communicate with the immune system, prompting it to attack bad bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites, and to prevent more bacteria from taking up residence. When microflora aren't thriving, these harmful agents are left […]

The immune system also plays a role in restricting tumors and cancerous growths inside the body. It's important to keep your immune system strong and healthy. Here are eight things that can make your immune system weaker. Stress Stress can have a major negative impact on your immune system. When you experience continued stress, the […]

If you had asked me ten years ago whether I thought I would still be alive today, I would have responded with "absolutely not." That's how surely I was convinced that I was slowly dying — emotionally, socially, intellectually, spiritually, and physically. The most frightening thing about it was that I perceived I was powerless […]

Don't blame yourself for failure. Sometimes there's a medical reason for weight gain or the inability to lose weight! Here is a list of key tests that can determine if there's a physiological cause for your weight problems. Thyroid hormone imbalance An imbalance of thyroid hormones, specifically hypothyroidism or thyroid hormone conversion disorders, can make […]

How Does Poor Gut Health Affect Your Thyroid Health? Your gut is home to 70% of your body's immune system. Tissues within the gut store immune cells that attack and produce antibodies against foreign substances such as viruses or bacteria. A healthy intestinal lining allows nutrients and other biological substances to be filtered through for […]

Infections can either trigger or contribute to CFS. These may include viruses such as Epstein Barr or herpes, or bacterial infections, including Lyme disease. Chronic fatigue syndrome is not a "mysterious" disease anymore. It can be treated, if all underlying factors are properly diagnosed and addressed. Infections Present With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Numerous studies have […]

People feel they are under constant pressure and stress, sluggish, irritable and fatigued during most of the day and they are desperately trying to clear up that mental fogginess with coffee or other stimulants, just to crash worse afterwards. Although it's been widely accepted as the "common way of living in a working, modern society," […]

You have probably heard that 15 - 30 minutes in the sun will be enough to produce vitamin D for your body. But clinical reality demonstrates that our ability to produce/absorb/utilize sunlight and vitamin D is genetically variable. For example, even in northern California a large number of people tested during winter months have serum […]