 | A WEIGHT OFF MY MIND | September 2002
Helping Thyroid and Autoimmune Disease Patients Lose Weight and Feel Great
from Mary J. Shomon
Author of Living Well With Hypothyroidism, Living Well With Autoimmune Disease, and The Thyroid Diet Success Guide |
| IN THIS ISSUE:
Is Your Doctor Making Thyroid Treatment Mistakes That Can Interfere With Your Weight Loss?
Nourishing Traditions, from the Weston A. Price Foundation
When Did 'Added Sugar' Become a Vital Nutrient? -- Dr. Robert Atkins Strikes Back on Diet Guidelines
Defeating Negative Thinking With One Word!
Test Your TSH at Home
When It Comes to Diet, If It Sounds Too Good to be True, It Usually Is!
All About Almonds!
The Thyroid Diet Success Guide
Special Value Offer
Living Well With Autoimmune Disease – On Sale October 8th!
Notes from Mary
BACK ISSUES:
Online, back to December 2001
A Weight Off My Mind email edition is published monthly, and is copyright 2001-2002, by Mary Shomon.
Web: http://www.thyroid-info.com
Email: news@thyroid-info.com
Regular mail: Mary Shomon, P.O. Box 565, Kensington, MD 20895-0565
Fax: 425-977-1175
IMPORTANT NOTE: All information in this newsletter is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should always seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and always consult your physician or health practitioner before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, herbal therapy, supplement or other self-directed treatment.
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Welcome to the ninth issue of "A Weight Off My Mind," Mary Shomon's email newsletter for thyroid and autoimmune disease patients who are interested in losing weight and feeling better through diet and nutrition. You are receiving this issue because you signed up to receive this free email report. (Note: If you are no longer interested in receiving future
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IS YOUR DOCTOR MAKING THYROID TREATMENT MISTAKES THAT CAN INTERFERE WITH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS?
We may feel that we are receiving the best possible care for our thyroid disease, but frequently, our practitioners are making mistakes that may be preventing us from optimizing our thyroid treatment, and normalizing metabolism -- making weight loss difficult, if not impossible.
Is your doctor making any of these mistakes? If so, it's time to make some changes.
10. Does your doctor focus on your test results, instead of you and how you feel?
So many practitioners rely on the test numbers, forgetting about the more important factor -- your symptoms and how you actually feel. Innovative and knowledgeable practitioners treating thyroid disease understand that test results are only part of the equation, and your symptoms -- including weight gain, fatigue, heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, hair loss, low body temperature, and depression, among many others -- are also a good way to gauge whether you are getting enough -- or too much -- thyroid medicine.
9. Does your doctor believe that thyroid disease can be diagnosed solely with a TSH test, instead of a full thyroid panel, including antibody tests?
When testing is done, a TSH test is just one of many tests that make up a "thyroid panel." You can have a TSH level that falls in the "normal range," or is in the higher or lower end of normal, while still having a diagnosable thyroid problem or autoimmune thyroid disease (like Hashimoto's or Graves' disease). How would that diagnosis be made? A knowledgeable practitioner won't rule out a thyroid condition solely on the basis of a TSH, but instead, runs additional tests, such as T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3, and reverse T3. Complete thyroid antibody profiles are also run, and they can diagnose autoimmune conditions long before other blood values become abnormal. Treatment for people with antibodies and normal TSH levels can also help prevent development of clinical hypothyroidism in some people!
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8. Does your doctor believe in only one brand of thyroid medication?
I so often hear of doctors who tell their patients openly, "I only use Synthroid with my patients," or 'I only work with Armour Thyroid," etc. Don't let a practitioner tell you that she or he "only prescribes" this drug or that drug. That's a sign that you have a practitioner who doesn't really understand the complex nature of thyroid disease. The best thyroid drug is the thyroid drug that safely and effectively works best for you. So if one brand or type of thyroid medicine doesn't work for you, your doctor should be willing to try another. For information, see my Thyroid Drug Database!
http://www.thyroid-info.com/drugs/index.htm.
7. Does your doctor provide information on how to properly take your thyroid medicine?
Do you know not to take calcium -- and calcium fortified juice -- with your thyroid medicine, but to wait several hours? What about the same for iron, or vitamins with iron? If you don't know about these things, your doctor isn't telling you key information that can help ensure that you're getting the most from your thyroid medicines.
6. Does your doctor look at adrenal and other hormonal issues as part of the picture?
Even the best possible thyroid treatment may not work at all -- or may not work as well as it could -- if your underlying adrenal and hormonal problems are not dealt with effectively. If your doctor is not evaluating your adrenal function and hormonal situation, then an important part of your health is being overlooked. For more information, see the interview with Drs. Richard & Karilee Shames, at http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/shamesadrenal.htm, and the interview with Dr. David Brownstein, at: http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa071700a.htm.
5. Does your doctor ignore symptoms that are related to the thyroid condition, or claim they are unrelated?
It is very common for doctors to fail to realize how connected thyroid problems are to so many symptoms, or to even deny that they are connected. Just a few that are frequently overlooked...joint/muscle pain, endometriosis, hair loss, fatigue, depression, miscarriage, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc. If your doctor is dismissing symptoms like this as unrelated to your thyroid, it's time to consider finding a new physician.
4. Does your doctor want you to get RAI, but hasn't discussed other options for hyperthyroidism/Graves' disease?
Only in the U.S. is radioactive iodine (RAI) considered the first course of treatment for hyperthyroidism and Graves' disease. Most doctors won't tell you that as many as 25% of patients have a chance of remission from their hyperthyroidism with use of antithyroid drugs. There's even less chance that you will hear about alternative medicine options. The solution? Read "Graves' Disease: A Practical Guide," by Elaine Moore, simply the best book on the topic, and a must-read for anyone diagnosed with hyperthyroidism/Graves' disease. For more information, read a review of the book at
http://www.thyroid-info.com/gravesbook.htm.
3. Does your doctor fail to see the bigger picture of autoimmune disease?
Many doctors don't warn thyroid patients -- the vast majority who have Hashimoto's or Graves' disease -- that we face a higher risk of developing other autoimmune conditions such as Sjogren's Syndrome (dry eyes and mouth), or Reynaud's Syndrome (tingling and numbness in hands and feet), or rheumatoid arthritis (aching, painful joints and muscles), and many other condition. In fact, there are almost 100 different autoimmune conditions, and there are many things we can do -- via diet, supplements, mind-body medicine, and conventional drugs -- to help prevent, avoid, heal and even cure some autoimmune conditions. For more information, read my new book, Living Well With Autoimmune Disease, which is being published October 8th. For information, and to read a free chapter, the table of contents, and advance reviews, go to
http://www.autoimmunebook.com.
2. Does your doctor provide little support or information regarding weight loss?
Some physicians will tell you that an underactive thyroid has nothing to do with weight gain, and that after RAI or thyroid surgery, or after a hypothyroidism diagnosis, you won't gain weight. This is absolutely wrong, and has even been proven by double-blind, peer-reviewed research published in major medical journals. If your doctor can't help, I can! See the Thyroid Diet Information Center at http://www.thyroid-info.com/diet.htm.
1. Does your doctor fail to be a caring partner who believes you can and should feel truly well again?
I counsel people who write to me that life is too short to try to transform the wrong doctor into one who cares, is open-minded, and who is your partner in wellness. If your doctor isn't a willing partner in your care, move on to a practitioner who is right for you. Your first stop? The Thyroid Top Docs Directory, at
http://www.thyroid-info.com/topdrs/index.htm
NOURISHING TRADITIONS, FROM THE WESTON A. PRICE FOUNDATION
I recently had the pleasure this month of having lunch with Sally Fallon and several of her board members from the Weston A. Price Foundation. What a lovely group of people, and an interesting organization!
The Weston A. Price Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1999 to promote the work of Dr. Weston Price, a nutritional expert who identified what he felt were optimum characteristics of human diets, based on studies of diets and food around the world. Dr. Price's research found that people have the best health when they consume nutrient-dense whole foods and the vital fat-soluble components found in animal fats.
The Foundation is therefore dedicated to restoring these nutrient-dense foods to the human diet through education, research and activism. They support nutrition instruction, organic and biodynamic farming, pasture-feeding of livestock, community-supported farms, honest and informative labeling, prepared parenting and nurturing therapies. They support a ban on soy infant formulas, and are concerned about the health effects of overconsumption of soy foods in the American diet.
 | The founder and president of the Foundation, Sally Fallon, has also written a fascinating cookbook, Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats, along with Mary Enig, Ph.D.
The book proposes that the "Diet Dictocrats" don't want you to know some key information about food and nutrition, including the ideas that...
- Your body needs old-fashioned animal fats
- New-fangled polyunsaturated oils can be bad for you
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- Modern whole grain products can cause health problems
- Traditional sauces promote digestion and assimilation
- Modern food processing denatures our foods but Ancient preservation methods actually increase nutrients in fruits, nuts vegetables, meats and milk products!
Nourishing Traditions offers an alternative to the highly processed, low-fat diets that have made America gain weight and develop more diseases.
The book builds on the culinary customs and traditions of our ancestors, and looks ahead to a future of better health by offering a guide to wise food choices and proper preparation techniques. The book also features over 700 delicious recipes for a variety of incredible dishes.
Personally, I believe this book is a tremendous addition to anyone's kitchen. It’s packed with information, and it will make you entirely rethink your approach to food when you read this wonderful book. It is so filled with interesting tidbits of information – not to mention interesting recipes -- even a fantastic recipe for the best homemade baby formula that I wish I had a few years ago -- that you'll return to it again and again as a key reference. I highly recommend it!
Robert C. Atkins, MD, author of “The Atkins’ New Diet Revolution,” likes the book as well. He said: “I have to recommend . . . Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. The first chapter of her book is so right on target that I feel a little guilty for taking her ideas. But what she pointed out is that independent producers of food--such as people who present us with meat, poultry, eggs and butter--provide the lowest profit margin in the industry. People who put out junk food . . . have an incredible return on invested capital because they are putting out low-cost items and making a very high profit.”
If you're interested in getting a copy, you can order the book now at Amazon.com, or ask for it in bookstores (Nourishing Traditions, ISBN# 0967089735).
I would also invite you to get to know the Foundation, by checking out their website, www.westonaprice.org. In particular, check out their various articles about soy and its health effects, including thyroid impact, that are featured at their “Soy Alert!” page.
WHEN DID 'ADDED SUGAR' BECOME A VITAL NUTRIENT? -- DR. ROBERT ATKINS STRIKES BACK ON DIET GUIDELINES
In the last issue, I reported on the National Academies' Institute of Medicine new food guidelines regarding recommended dietary composition of carbohydrates, fat, and protein, as well as new exercise guidelines. The report suggests that added sugars should comprise no more than 25 percent of total calories consumed.
In response, the following release was issued by Robert C. Atkins, M.D., Chairman of The Dr. Robert C. Atkins Foundation, and creator of the famous "Atkins Diet:"
Over the past few months, responsible members of the scientific community and the media have entered into a healthy dialogue seeking a solution to what is arguably the worst public health crisis to ever face this country-the linked epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Most everyone agrees that there is a real possibility that the 20-year-old government nutrition policy has failed our nation. So, why, we must ask ourselves, have the National Academies issued new dietary guidelines that suggest an unhealthy mixture of inconclusive science, politics and economics?
Perhaps the most bizarre example of just how flawed these guidelines are is the recommendation that added sugar can account for up to 25 percent of daily caloric intake. Right now, today, more than 60 percent of the American population and more than 25 percent of our children are either overweight or obese. Moreover, there are 17 million Type 2 diabetics and another 16 million people with pre-diabetes. These statistics aren't theory. They aren't debatable. Did the prestigious National Academies actually tell a nation of more than 160 million dangerously overweight adults and children that it's okay to consume candy bars, cake, ice cream and soda pop on a daily basis? Of course they didn't, because these guidelines were designed for the minority of Americans who are slim, fit and physically active adults. They don't help the majority of Americans, including children, who are facing a lifelong struggle to achieve and maintain a normal weight.
As physicians and nutritionists we need to provide a dietary regimen that will help Americans lower their weight and then maintain it throughout life. In such a plan, added sugar should be eliminated. Along with the rest of America's science-based nutrition and medical community I eagerly await the good science that defines added sugar as a nutrient so vital to good health that it can provide up to 25 percent of our daily caloric intake.
I am also extremely disappointed that the new guidelines fail to distinguish between refined and unrefined carbohydrates, such as those found in nutrient-dense foods. Each person needs to find his or her individual carbohydrate intake level for weight maintenance and health. It may be perfectly appropriate for individuals to consume fewer grams of carbs per day than the level set in these new recommendations. The specious claim that the brain needs a minimum of 130 grams of carbs a day for normal function is at best based on research looking at carbs, fats and proteins in a high carb setting. Research focused on a controlled carb diet paints a very different picture and has long shown that every cell in the body, including the brain, is capable of using ketones as energy. (Ketones are the byproduct of fat burning, which occurs on a low carb diet.) In fact, in a recent interview quoted in The New York Times Magazine, Dr. Richard Veech, an N.I.H. researcher and one of the world's experts on ketones, claims that the heart and the brain run 25 percent more efficiently on ketones than on blood sugar.
In a more reasoned recommendation, the National Academies have finally acknowledged that not all fat is bad and that excessively low-fat diets may actually increase the risk of heart disease. But the guidelines are based upon science that examines the role of fat in the context of a high-carbohydrate diet. In fact, research in a controlled carb setting does not show that saturated fat has a deleterious effect on good health. I do, of course, agree that trans fats are unhealthy and I strongly discourage people from consuming them at all.
Ironically, research that supports the safety and efficacy of controlled carbohydrate nutrition is only now emerging, unfortunately not soon enough to have had an impact on government recommendations. All this despite the fact that this paradigm shift about the dangers of over consumption of carbohydrates is at the center of national discussion on how to solve the nation's obesity and diabetes epidemics. As a result, the needs of the majority of the American populations are being ignored-increasing their risks for obesity, chronic disease-and ultimately-death.
For many years the medical establishment has criticized me for not conducting scientific research in an objective examination of my theories and practice. In response, two years ago I established a not-for-profit foundation for the purpose of funding and supporting independent studies expressly to provide such august bodies as the National Academies with the evidence they've sought. This research and the results of other excellent work conducted by prestigious institutions have been published in peer-reviewed journals such as the American Journal of Cardiology. I encourage the members of the National Academies panel to read these studies and use the information to prepare truly helpful guidelines.
It is time for all health professionals to focus on the real life health issues most citizens face. It is also time to smash the old paradigms represented by the food guide pyramid and low-fat ideologues and to come together to make dietary recommendations based on science that apply to the situation at hand. Added sugar indeed!”
Source: Dr. Robert C. Atkins Foundation
DEFEATING NEGATIVE THINKING WITH ONE WORD!
by David Junno
"You can't teach an old dog new tricks".
Many of us feel set in our ways. We've been doing things the same way for so long, it is hard to imagine we will change. This becomes a big problem when we are faced with having to make changes in our dietary and exercise habits to improve our health. We might say, "I can never give up the foods I love,” or "I can't do an exercise program.” Or maybe we have tried to change our diet, or tried to exercise more and were not successful. Then we might say, "I tried that and it hasn't worked" or "I don't have the discipline or the will power.”
This creates a self defeating cycle which goes like this: our negative thinking leads to not taking action, not taking action leads to no results, and no results confirms and reinforces the negative thinking. It is like we have given ourselves a life sentence without parole. We are stopped from making changes even before we start.
The magic word
So what can we do? The answer: introduce the following word into our vocabulary when we talk about our efforts to change: "yet.”
"I haven't been able to give up the foods I love...yet.”
"I can't do an exercise program...yet!"
"I tried that and it hasn't worked...yet.”
"I don't have the discipline or will power...yet.”
This may sound like a small step but it opens up big possibilities. It introduces the potential for success, which can help keep us motivated to continue trying. In the future all things are possible. Anyway, how do we know we can never stay with a diet or exercise program? Where is it written that this is impossible? Others have made these changes, why can't we? Sure it may take work but that doesn't mean it can't be done.
Just because we haven't done it so far doesn't mean we won't be able to eventually. Many people who succeed at making healthy lifestyle changes, at first experienced some failures.
The other thing to keep in mind is that many things we were unsuccessful at doing the first time we tried, we are eventually able to master. Remember riding a bike? Did you ride perfectly the first time? Probably not, chances are you needed to practice a number of times, or build up your confidence, or just be in the right frame of mind to be willing to try.
So notice that negative thinking, challenge it. Break out of the self-defeating negative cycle of thinking that keeps you from taking positive steps to improve your health. Hold open the door to possibility. You'll get there...yet!
Quotes
There is no shame in failure only in quitting."
"All personal breakthroughs begin with a change in beliefs." -- Anthony Robbins
"Change your thoughts and you change your destiny."
"When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it, but all that had gone before." -- Jacob Riis
Remember, having the right diet and getting enough exercise will not only improve your health - IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR LIFE.
Until next time,
Dave Junno Psy.D.
Dave Junno Psy.D. is a psychologist, coach and author of Lowering High Cholesterol and Reducing Your Risk of Heart Disease - READY OR NOT! You may contact Dave Junno via e-mail at: drjunno@drjunno.com or visit his website at
www.lower-high-cholesterol-ready-or-not.com.
NOTE FROM MARY: I really love David’s article. Words – especially the ones we say to ourselves – are very powerful. Every time you want to think a negative or self-critical thought, add that word YET! It sounds simple, but it works!!
WHEN IT COMES TO DIET, IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT USUALLY IS!
In mid-September, the Federal Trade Commission released a Report on Weight-Loss Advertising: An Analysis of Current Trends. The report concludes that false or misleading claims, such as exaggerated weight loss without diet or exercise, are widespread in ads for weight-loss products, and appear to have increased over the last decade.
Many marketers, the report states, use false claims, misleading consumer testimonials, and deceptive before-and-after photos to market their products. According to the report, nearly 40 percent of the ads in the study, including ads that appeared in mainstream, national publications, made at least one representation that is almost certainly false and 55 percent of the ads made at least one representation that is very likely to be false. Often ads promised weight-loss results beyond what is possible. Nearly half of the ads claimed that the users could lose weight without diet and exercise. In one ad, for example, the headline proclaimed: "LOSE UP TO TWO POUNDS DAILY WITHOUT DIET OR EXERCISE!" Other ads cited rapid, prolonged weight-loss claims - such as claims that consumers can lose 8 to 10 pounds per week over an extended period of time.
"We have known for some time now that there is a serious problem with weight-loss product advertising. This report demonstrates the extent of that problem," said FTC Chairman Timothy J. Muris. "Reputable marketers continue to take care to avoid false and misleading claims, but it appears that too many unscrupulous marketers are making false claims promising dramatic and effortless weight loss to sell their products. It is not fair to consumers; it is not fair to legitimate businesses, it is illegal, and it will not be tolerated."
The report, which examined 300 promotions that appeared in all major forms of media between February and May 2001, was prepared with the assistance of the Partnership for Healthy Weight Management (PHWM). The Partnership is a coalition of representatives from science, academia, the health care profession, government, commercial enterprises, and organizations whose mission is to promote sound guidance on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
"There is no such thing as a miracle pill for weight loss," Surgeon General Richard Carmona said. "The surest and safest way to weight loss and healthier living is by combining healthful eating and exercising. First eat healthfully - cut fats, eat at least five servings of fruit a day, and cut down on the amount of alcohol you drink. Next, get some physical activity in your day. Walking just 30 minutes a day, five days a week can reduce weight, and make you feel better."
According to the report, a comparison of current ads to ads that ran in 1992 suggests that there has been a dramatic increase in the number of weight-loss products and the amount of deceptive weight-loss advertising, during the last decade. The report noted two major trends: 1) a shift away from weight-loss products advertised as "low-calorie meal-replacements" in 1992 to pills and other products that commonly claimed to work without diet or exercise in 2001; and 2) that although ads from both 1992 and 2001 contain deceptive or false claims, the recent ads were much more likely to make specific misleading performance promises.
Since 1990, the Commission has filed 93 cases challenging false and misleading weight-loss claims involving over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, commercial weight-loss centers, weight-loss devices and exercise equipment. Despite the unprecedented level of FTC enforcement over the last decade though, misleading and deceptive ads continue to saturate the market.
According to health and nutrition experts, many of the weight-loss products and programs most heavily advertised are either unproven or unsafe, and frustrate efforts to promote healthy weight-loss efforts by promising unrealistic results.
"As health professionals, we are concerned about the epidemic of obesity and are equally concerned about false and misleading claims in advertising of weight-loss products and services," said George L. Blackburn, M.D., PhD, chair in nutrition medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the PHWM. "Many promise immediate success without the need to reduce caloric intake or increase physical activity. The use of deceptive, false, or misleading claims in weight loss advertising is rampant and potentially dangerous. Many supplements, in particular, are of unproven value or have been linked to serious health risks."
The weight-loss report, as well as resources for consumers, businesses, and the press, is available at http://www.ftc.gov/dietfit.
In the meantime, if you are one of the estimated 50 million Americans who will go on a diet this year, the FTC has these suggestions. First, don’t be tempted by advertisements for products promising easy, quick ways to lose weight. You should know that when it comes to losing weight, gimmicks usually don’t deliver on their promises.
While some dieters succeed in taking off weight, perhaps as few as five percent manage to keep it off in the long run. Most experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and burn more energy by increasing physical activity. Experts suggest aiming for a goal loss of about a pound a week. This usually means cutting about 500 calories a day from your diet, eating healthy, low-fat foods, finding a regular exercise activity you enjoy, and sticking to it.
When it comes to evaluating claims for weight loss products, the Federal Trade Commission recommends a healthy portion of skepticism. Before you spend money on products or programs that promise fast or easy weight loss, weigh the claims and consider these tips:
- "Lose 30 Pounds in Just 30 Days." As a rule, the faster you lose weight, the more likely you are to gain it back. Also, fast weight loss could harm your health. Unless your doctor advises it, don’t look for programs that promise quick weight loss.
- "Lose All the Weight You Can For Just $39.99." Some weight loss programs have hidden costs. For example, some don’t advertise the fact that you must buy their prepackaged meals that cost more than the program fees. Before you sign up for any weight loss program, ask for all the costs. Get them in writing.
- "Lose Weight While You Sleep." Claims for diet products and programs that promise weight loss without effort are phony.
- "Lose Weight And Keep It Off For Good." Be suspicious about products promising long-term or permanent weight loss. To lose weight and keep it off, you must change how you eat and how much you exercise.
- "John Doe Lost 84 Pounds in Six Weeks." Don’t be misled by someone else’s weight loss claims. Even if the claims are true, someone else’s success may have little relation to your own chances of success.
- "Scientific Breakthrough...Medical Miracle." There are no miracle weight loss products. To lose weight, you have to reduce your intake of calories and increase your physical activity. Be skeptical about exaggerated claims.
ARE YOU GETTING THE FREE THYROID NEWSLETTER?
If you're a new "Weight Off My Mind" subscriber, you may not know about my monthly thyroid newsletter, "Sticking Out Our Necks," which features thyroid-related news and information, both conventional and alternative. Each monthly issue covers a variety of the latest thyroid disease news and information of interest to patients and practitioners. If you signed up for this diet newsletter, you are NOT automatically subscribed to the monthly thyroid newsletter, so get on the list for this free monthly now! Or, send an email to news@thyroid-info.com with "Subscribe Thyroid News" in the subject. |
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ALL ABOUT ALMONDS!
A few issues back, we talked about peanuts, and how they may fit into a healthy diet plan. Another nut that’s getting some attention these days is the almond. In particular, if you’re looking to maintain a heart healthy diet, you may want to incorporate almonds into your diet. A new study, published in the American Heart Association's publication “Circulation,” reconfirms a growing body of research that almonds may lower "bad" cholesterol levels and help reduce risk of heart disease.
A clinical trial conducted at the University of Toronto, found that women and men who ate about one ounce (or a handful) of almonds each day lowered their LDL cholesterol by 4.4 percent from baseline. The study showed an even greater decrease of 9.4 percent in LDL cholesterol in those who ate about two handfuls of almonds a day, indicating that almonds' effect increases with increased consumption. The study also found that all of the people in the study, both those who ate only ounce servings and those who ate more, maintained their weight.
"We found that almonds reduce coronary heart disease risk factors in a dose-dependent manner and may be used as healthy snacks without weight gain," said Dr. David Jenkins, who conducted the analysis. According to Dr. Jenkins, almonds are a good source of vegetable protein, "and the combination of monounsaturates with some polyunsaturates in nuts is an ideal combination of fats, all of which may have a beneficial effect on blood cholesterol."
When looking for a heart-healthy snack, why not consider the following quick recipe developed by famed chef Graham Kerr:
Almond and Fruit Mix
1 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup each:
dried cranberries
dried tart cherries
green pumpkin seeds
cracked flax seeds (pulsed in blender)
Combine all the ingredients and store refrigerated in an airtight jar for up to one month. Can be used to low fat yogurt, in cold cereal or all by itself as a snack.
Makes two cups.
Per Serving (2 tablespoons): 88 calories; 6 g. fat; 1 g. saturated fat; 6 g. carbohydrates; 2 mg. sodium; 2 g. dietary fiber
Note from Mary: One of my favorite decadent treats is to toss a handful of slivered almonds on canned pears or peaches (the kind that are packed in juice, not syrup).
MARY SHOMON’S “THYROID DIET SUCCESS GUIDE”
 | Thousands of people have already ordered their copies of the "Thyroid Diet Success Guide,” and people are reporting that the low-glycemic approach featured in the guide is helping them slowly and safely lose weight.
This is the only way I’ve been able to effectively lose weight (and believe, me, I’ve tried them all!!) The "Thyroid Diet Success Guide" features information about why it's harder for thyroid patients to lose weight, insulin resistance, the role of the adrenal system, and lots of practical suggestions to help you finally enjoy weight loss success.
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Just a few of the key features in the 35-page Guide include:
- Weight Loss Secrets for Thyroid Patients
- The Thyroid/Weight Loss Connection - Some Theories
- How To Lose Weight With Hypothyroidism
- Weight Loss Success: How I Lost 25 Pounds
- The Ultimate Thyroid Exercise Program
- Choosing the Right Weight Loss Program
- The Habits of Successful Weight Loss
- How Much Weight Do You Really Need to Lose?
- Popular Weight Loss Myths
- Seeing Results with Weight Loss and Exercising
The "Thyroid Diet Success Guide" features a diet plan that you can follow, and specific information on exercises, and many other tips and resources. The Success Guide will help you get on the right track, with information that has actually helped other thyroid patients -- including me -- to effectively lose weight!
 | Order online now, securely, using Visa, Mastercard, American Express or your Discover card, via secure processing with CCNow.
DISCOUNT FOR ONLINE ORDERING!
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You can also order by fax, or mail. For an order form you can print out, visit http://www.thyroid-info.com/dietbook.htm. U.S. cost is $15, outside the U.S. is $25.
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DELIVERY TIME: Don’t forget to allow 10 days to 2 weeks from receipt of your order for delivery of your Thyroid Diet Success Guide.
SPECIAL OFFER: We had the “Mini-Guides” reprintd, so every Weight Off My Mind subscriber who purchases The Thyroid Diet Guide will receive a free pocket-sized "Mini-Guide" that summarizes the key diet tips in a portable, easy-to-carry format!
MORE CRUCIAL THYROID NEWS TO HELP YOU LIVE WELL
If you are not receiving the Sticking Out Our Necks bimonthly print newsletter, you may be missing out on some essential thyroid news. Sticking Out Our Necks is a full-text newsletter sent by mail, including special features you won't find on the web in my email newsletters. It’s the only independent patient-oriented newsletter focused on the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease and related conditions. Every bi-monthly issue of Sticking Out Our Necks is filled with 12 pages of conventional and alternative thyroid-related information that helps you live well. You'll find unbiased conventional and alternative information, including the latest medical journal research that even your doctor hasn't gotten around to reading yet. If you want to be informed, empowered, and have the information you need to live well with your thyroid condition, subscribe now.
A one year subscription is only $25. Order securely online now, with Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover, or via mail/phone/fax (Visa and MasterCard only).
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LIVING WELL WITH AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE – ON SALE OCTOBER 8TH!
 | For those of you who have Hashimoto's disease, Graves' disease, or any autoimmune condition, my new book is hitting bookstores, and shipping from online booksellers next Tuesday, October 8th. Living Well With Autoimmune Disease: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Tell You...That You Need to Know, is being published by Harper Collins, and is the second book in my ongoing "Living Well..." series. The book focuses on various autoimmune diseases and subclinical autoimmune syndromes, their symptoms, and the conventional - and alternative - treatments that can help reduce the risk of developing these conditions, help to keep them from worsening - and in some cases, even CURE them! It's also the only book to look at autoimmune diseases as one group of conditions with common or similar causes and triggers, and many common treatments to help. |
I spoke with dozens of the nation's most respected physicians and natural medicine experts with expertise in autoimmune disease to develop this book, which includes a variety of lifestyle issues, including diet, herbs and supplements, that you can use to help deal with autoimmunity in general, and specific conditions.
| In conjunction with the book's launch, my new newsletter, The Autoimmune Report, will be coming out next week, covering the issue of autoimmune disease specifically, so if you're interested, sign up here, or send an email to news@thyroid-info.com with "Subscribe Autoimmune" in the subject for news and updates, including advance information on the book. |
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You can find out more about the book, or read a free chapter or the table of contents at the website, www.autoimmumebook.com.
You can also pre-order your copy from Amazon.com right now, and they'll bill you and ship it out the minute books arrive in the warehouse!
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!
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15TH PRINTING!! Also, don't forget that your starting place for information about hypothyroidism is the first book in the Living Well series, , my book Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctors Don't Tell You...That You Need to Know. The book, published in 2000 by HarperCollins, is a top 40 Amazon.com health bestseller, and in September, it just went to its 15th printing! You can find out more information, read a free chapter online, order it now from Amazon.com, or get more information on the book and how to order it at http://www.thyroid-info.com/book.htm. |
NOTES FROM MARY
One of the things I really like to share is when I meet a fascinating practitioner, or when I come upon a product that I personally use that is helping me. This month, I’m happy to report both!
 | I had the pleasure to meet and speak at length with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia (CFS & FMS) expert Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., author of the best-selling book From Fatigued to Fantastic, and a practitioner who sees CFS and FMS patients at his wonderful Annapolis, Maryland clinic, nestled in the woods. Dr. Teitelbaum, himself a CFS and FMS patient, has developed integrative and holistic approaches to dealing with the conditions.
If you haven’t read his book, it’s definitely a recommended read for anyone with an autoimmune condition who struggles with fatigue, and is required reading for anyone with diagnosed or suspected CFS and FMS. |
As if he’s not busy enough already, Dr. Teitelbaum has also just released the “End Fatigue Energy Revitalization System,” a set of products manufactured to his exacting specifications by Enzymatic Therapies/PhytoPharmica, for people who suffer from lack of daytime energy, often followed by restless sleep. (If you’re not familiar with Enzymatic Therapies, they are one of the most respected supplement manufacturers in the world! I have used several of their products, and have trust in the quality of their products.)
Dr. Teitelbaum’s “End Fatigue Energy Revitalization System” includes several products:
 | - Daily Energy Enfusion Drink Mix to help build all-day energy and endurance. One scoop a day of this citrus powder replaces approximately 25 supplement tablets. The Enfusion drink is designed to be taken with the Daily Energy B Complex, to support endurance and energy. This product is available at most health food and vitamin stores, various online outlets, Dr. Teitelbaum’s website and from online retailer Iherb.com.
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Fatigued to Fantastic!® Revitalizing Sleep Formula helps patients get eight hours of deep sleep naturally so they wake up energized. This product is also available at most health food and vitamin stores, various online outlets, Dr. Teitelbaum’s website, and from online retailer Iherb.com.
All of Dr. Teitalbaum's royalties are donated to charity. And, when you order directly from Dr. Teitelbaum’s website, or by calling 800-333-5287, all profits from the sale of any products are also donated directly to charitable causes.
I personally am taking the Enfusion Drink and B Vitamins (they replace about 20 different vitamin and supplement pills I was taking daily, and ends up costing me so much less in terms of money, plus time spend swallowing pills!) I also really like the idea of a drink, versus pills. Sometimes, even though supplements are meant to make me feel healthier, I actually feel like it's not good for my psyche to be taking pill after pill -- even if they are vitamins!
Regarding the Enfusion drink, I’ve found that half a scoop (half the general recommended daily dose) is the optimal dose for me. (You can take up to a full scoop a day, but if you’re like me, the iodine in a half-scoop may be as much as you need each day. I find half a scoop leaves me energized and feeling great, but a full scoop may have a bit too much iodine for my particular metabolism and thyroid status). The Energy Enfusion Drink tastes nice as well – it has a light citrus-like flavor. I also use one of the Sleep Formula pills each night, and find that I sleep through the night more regularly, and am waking up in the morning far more refreshed and energized. So, whether or not diagnosed with CFS or FMS, I can wholeheartedly recommend this product to anyone looking for more energy and better sleep!
PILATES ALERT!! My friend Jeannie and I have hired a personal trainer who specializes in working with people with chronic pain or chronic health problems to work with us on flexibility, strength and muscle building, and we find ourselves doing mainly Pilates. I am LOVING it!! Next month, look for my report on Pilates. And if you'd like to share your own Pilates experiences, drop me a note at news@thyroid-info.com with the Subject “Pilates” (P.S., if you’re in Montgomery County, Maryland and want a FANTASTIC and affordable personal trainer, drop me an email as well, and I’ll share her name and contact info with you!)
Live well (and don’t forget to hold in those abdominals and tighten those glutes!)
-- Mary
All
information is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a
substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical
conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health
issues and consult your physician or health practitioner before starting a
new treatment program. Please see our full disclaimer.
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