Vitamin D Helps Weight Loss Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Vitamin D Helps Weight Loss

Being overweight with excess body fat and abdominal obesity represent an overwhelming threat to the health of millions of men, women and children. Obesity is out of control, and today the number of obese people exceeds 35 % and it is growing rapidly. It is a true epidemic. Closely tied with this epidemic is the high percentage of the population of the United States that is grossly deficient in vitamin D. We have been told that the sun is bad for us, and processed foods have minimal Vitamin D in them and even Vitamin D fortified milk and orange juice are a joke, with the wrong type of Vitamin D, and amounts so small that they are essentially worthless unless you drank five gallons of milk and juice a day.

Fortunately, there is hope. Vitamin D has been shown to be critical in the creation of stored fat. You can help your body burn abdominal fat and lose weight naturally by incorporating adequate amounts of vitamin D in your diet, primarily through extremely inexpensive supplementation. A Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism study showed that the lack of Vitamin D is important in the accumulation of excess body fat. In the absence of sufficient vitamin D the body increases the number and size of newly formed fat cells that will promote and accelerate abdominal obesity. Providing sufficient levels of vitamin D, will signal fat cells to shrink. This makes weight loss much easier when calories are restricted. So start taking at least 5000 units of vitamin D a day. You will reduce your risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases and even the common cold....and now even lose weight. www.andlos.com Dr. Rob

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How Common Is Thyroid Disease? Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Thyroid Disease: The Numbers

How Common Is Thyroid Disease?

When the AACE (American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists) established new TSH Guidelines (0.3 - 3.0 vs. 0.5 - 5.0, and Labcorp and your physician still insist that a level of 4.5 is normal?)) the number of people estimated to be affected by abnormal thyroid function doubled.

According to the AACE, the number of people affected by Thyroid Disease now surpasses the number of people diagnosed with Diabetes or Heart Disease.

• 27 Million: The number of Americans estimated to suffer from Thyroid Disease. (And 75 % of those patients are being treated with the worthless therapy of only T4 or synthroid alone)
• 13 Million: The number of Americans estimated to suffer from Thyroid Disease...but remain undiagnosed.( I think that this number is much higher)
• 14 Million: Estimated number of Americans affected by Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (Autoimmune Thyroiditis / Hypothyroidism). And that means that the TSH lab test , and even all the basic thyroid lab tests are worthless. And by the way, 30% of women over the age of 50 will have these antibodies, will have classic low thyroid symptoms, and will be told their lab values are normal! The lab tests are worthless, and the ONLY way to manage Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is by adjusting the medications to a patient’s signs and symptoms.
• 8 out of 10: Patients with Thyroid Disease are women.
• 5x - 8x: Women are 5 to 8 times more likely to suffer from Hypothyroidism than men.
• 25%: Approximate number of women that will develop permanent Hypothyroidism.

So stop suffering from low energy levels (especially in the late afternoon), weight gain( despite eating right and exercising), brain fog, muscle aches and pain, poor digestion, hair loss, dry skin and depression. Just say “no” to only being tested with TSH, and demand to get the full panel. If you are NOT getting better on replacement therapy, demand that your doctor checks your thyroid antibodies. And demand that your doctor takes care of you and NOT a worthless unreliable lab test like TSH.

TREAT YOUR THYROID BETTER Robert G Carlson, MD, FACS

Most endocrinologists. Internists and Family Practice physicians subscribe to the practice guidelines of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Guidelines that totally disregard a patient’s symptoms and place more importance on worthless reference range lab values. Why do they totally disregard a patient’s plea of classic symptoms of low thyroid function, with weight gain, exhaustion, hair falling out, dry skin and worsening memory, even depression when confronted with a “normal” TSH level??? I have no idea why. I believe how the patient actually feels is the absolute most important decision making factor in choosing therapy as well as in increasing or decreasing doses. The TSH level is absolutely, unadulteratedly worthless test! Studies have repeatedly shown the ineffectiveness and potential harm of only T4-replacement. The studies show that T4-replacement leaves many patients suffering chronically from hypothyroid symptoms and gaining weight they can't lose through dieting and exercise. I believe Synthroid may be a reasonable medication, but ONLY for someone who has no stress. T4 is inactive, and does not interact well with thyroid receptors. It has to be activated to T3, which is the only form of thyroid hormone that interacts with thyroid receptors. Stress blocks this conversion. Therefore giving a patient synthroid to a patient with any type of physical, emotional or situational stress is a worthless effort. It will not work! Patients have to use the combination of T3, and T4. The T3 will provide immediate energy. I prefer the Armour thyroid from Forrest labs, and avoid the use of generic thyroid supplements.
Now here is one more twist. When a person has Hashimoto’s (Autoimmune Thyroiditis), they have antibodies that have attacked their own thyroid. Because these antibodies “gum” everything up and block any hormone from interacting with thyroid receptors, thyroid levels are absolutely worthless. You can have high “normal “ values and still demonstrate severe low thyroid symptoms. The lab tests are worthless, and the ONLY way to manage Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is by adjusting the medications to a patient’s signs and symptoms. I repeat …Lab results are worthless, and patient’s symptoms are the most important and only way to adjust medications. The only way! So, spending time speaking with patients, as well as ongoing adjustment of thyroid replacement therapies is critical to achieve optimization of thyroid management.

Dr. Rob