Thyroid Dysfunction and Heart Failure Link
Dr. Anne R. Cappola, an assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania and her colleagues looked at one possible result of abnormal thyroid activity, the development of heart failure. They followed more than 3,000 people for an average of 12 years, monitoring thyroid activity by measuring blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), looking for a relationship between thyroid activity and heart failure, the progressive loss of the ability of the heart to pump blood.
Study participants with a TSH reading of 10 or higher had about twice the incidence of heart failure as those with lower readings. “Between 4.5 and 10, there was no effect,” Cappola said. As many as 27 million Americans have some type of thyroid disease, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists; about half of these people are undiagnosed.
The Institute for Progressive Medicine recommends several natural herbal and nutritional supplements for patients with thyroid disorders. See your doctor for details.
Source: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction, cardiac function, and the risk of heart failure. The Cardiovascular Health study.
Omega-3s Help Fight Osteoporosis
Increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in fish oils, may decrease the chances of developing osteoporosis and protect against bone loss during post-menopause by decreasing activation of osteoclasts.
The Institute for Progressive Medicine offers a wide variety of fish oil options including liquid and encapsulated forms. See your doctor for details.
Source: Effects of n-3 fatty acids on autoimmunity and osteoporosis.
Make sure you eat your fruits and veggies.
Scientists have shown that a very low carbohydrate weight-loss diet results in a four-fold reduction in the numbers of certain types of bacteria in the gut of obese men. This is a significant finding because these gut bacteria produce a substance called butyrate, which has been shown to be important for keeping the gut healthy including helping to prevent colorectal cancer.
“If low carbohydrate diets are to be consumed for long periods of time, it may be important to ensure that there is enough of the right sort of carbohydrate in the diet which can be used by the bacteria to produce compounds such as butyrate, which are beneficial for human health. This means making sure you continue to eat plenty of sources of fiber – such as fruit and vegetables,” said Professor Harry Flint.
The Institute for Progressive Medicine offers expert dietary counseling combined with laboratory testing and a truly workable system to help you reach a healthy weight and body composition.
Source: Reduced dietary intake of carbohydrates by obese subjects results in decreased concentrations of butyrate and butyrate-producing bacteria in feces.
