from Dr. Mercola’s discussion of hormones. See the article for a full discussion of HRT, Bio-identical hormones, as well as lengthy discussion by interested readers. One we found particularly interesting, had to do with thyroid issues.
Ask your doctor to test your thyroid function
One reader writes:
Thyroid health and support is very important here! A lot of issues, such as fibroids, thermostat regulation, dry skin, digestion, etc. all could be addressed by also looking at thyroid function. Each person should have an individualized diagnosis because causes of thyroid disfunction vary and therefore the cure would be different (even in terms of which foods to add and which to avoid. For instance, raw maca is a goitrogen but royal maca is pre-cooked and the cooking removes these properties, though even roayl maca still probably should not be used in combintation with some of the therapies or herbs (like hormone therapy,black cohosh or red clover) because the combination sometimes actually increases symptoms).
I would welcome others to please add comments re: fibroids and thyroid health, because a lot of Gyns tell women their fibroids will disappear after menopause and therefore do not address the underlying thyroid issue. I think there may be other underlying issues as well, and would welcome more information to be added to the comment section. So many of you have such excellent comments that I look forward to reading the comments as much as I do to reading the articles!
Dr. Wilson replies:
Thyroid health and support is very important here! A lot of issues, such as fibroids, thermostat regulation, dry skin, digestion, etc. all could be addressed by also looking at thyroid function. Each person should have an individualized diagnosis because causes of thyroid disfunction vary and therefore the cure would be different (even in terms of which foods to add and which to avoid. For instance, raw maca is a goitrogen but royal maca is pre-cooked and the cooking removes these properties, though even roayl maca still probably should not be used in combintation with some of the therapies or herbs (like hormone therapy,black cohosh or red clover) because the combination sometimes actually increases symptoms).
I would welcome others to please add comments re: fibroids and thyroid health, because a lot of Gyns tell women their fibroids will disappear after menopause and therefore do not address the underlying thyroid issue. I think there may be other underlying issues as well, and would welcome more information to be added to the comment section. So many of you have such excellent comments that I look forward to reading the comments as much as I do to reading the articles!
Dr. Wilson replies to Taygete:
Taygete–I agree that thyroid issues should be carefully evaluated and treated. We now know that prolonged exposure to excessive fructose mainly from sugar and HFCS and high glycemic carbohydrates mainly from grain can trigger a type of diffuse brain dysfunction. Initially people get what we call “sugar-brain” where they start craving sweet and starchy food. At this stage they also start storing excessive body fat. As their cravings push them to consume more of the food that is frying their brain, they can eventually transition to a more serious disease called Carbohydrate Associated Reversible Brain syndrome or CARB syndrome.
People with CARB syndrome can develop up to 22 brain dysfunction symptoms that interfere with their ability to function and they continue to store excessive fat because their brain misreads the environment and thinks a famine is coming. This “bear in fall” fat storage mode will make you store extra fat even as you diet and attempt to lose weight.
At this point the brain attempts to shut down thyroid function to conserve energy and store more fat. Thus you end up with a form of secondary hypothyroidism with a low TSH and low thyroid hormones. The treatment for this relatively common form of hypothyroidism is treatment with Amour Thyroid and eliminating the triggers of CARB syndrome–sugar, HFCS and high glycemic carbohydrates from grains.
Dr. Wilson, On the subject of hormones, thyroid in particular, I have been going to an MD board certified in anti-aging medicine. He happens to be also certified in endocrinology and internal medicine. He tells all his patients to avoid at least gluten grains and dairy although I have eliminated grains entirely from my diet. My only sugars come from moderate amounts of low-glycemic fruit, beans and non-starchy veggies. The anti-aging doctor started me on thyroid (nature throid) as well as bioidentical progesterone, estrogen and testosterone about 3 years ago. In the last year, he has begun cutting down my dosages of thyroid and various sex hormones, one at a time. What changed last year was that I started to do the full GAPS diet, which is based on the Weston A Price Foundation’s nutritional recommendations with some tweaking. So I think your approach works and that gradually, over time people’s hormones can become self-regulated. The problem is that anti-aging doctors are expensive and generally don’t accept insurance at the time of service. I have to file for myself and fight with the insurance company. But I would encourage anyone to find a doctor knowledgeable about bioidentical hormones and get help. I have seen the many benefits Dr. Mercola lists in his article because of taking them. And I recommend your dietary approach of avoiding grains and high-glycemic sugars, esp HFCS. My brain fog cleared up years ago following a similar diet and has never returned. Thank you for your work!