Thyroid Disease, Menopause and “Low Fat” Diets? Why is Everyone Gaining Weight?! Here’s a Clue…

In the United States alone, over 97.1 million adults or, 54.9% of the adult population are overweight as reported in an article titled Carbophobia: a The Dieting Publics Obsession With Carbohydrates by LEDA at Harvard Law School.

Delving into the Food Guide Pyramid, the USDA, Dr Atkins Diet and Sugar Buster Diet as well as the Zone Diet brought a “hot topic” in the. 1980s, the height of the low fat movement was compounded by companies toting “low fat” causing consumers to believe that these “reduced fat” products were healthier than traditional grocery store items. Ironically- THEY ARE NOT! Fats are replaced sugars, equally dubious health claims and often, higher prices.

On April 8, 2008, Laura Dolson wrote an article for About.com commenting on a segment she had watched on Good Morning America regarding the accuracy of food labels. The FDA allows a “fudge factor” of up to 20% which Laura states “makes sense” in that one strawberry isn’t the same size as another. However, one label was found to be as much sad 70% higher which goes far beyond the “fudge factor.”

The Atkins Diet works by restricting carbohydrate consumption so low that people go into a state of ketosis, in which insulin levels fall so low that the muscles and tissues burn body fat for energy. Food scientists claim that ketosis is very hard on the kidneys and the liver, however increasing your water and beverage consumption will help flush your system. I mean LOTS of water! Not one or two glasses, urine can become thick and kidney infection can occur stressing the importance of fluid intake can not repeated too much on this issue. If you are type 1 diabetic you MUST discuss plans for a high protein diet prior to starting or run the risk of ketoacidosis, a metabolic state associated with high concentrations of ketone bodies, formed by the breakdown of fatty acids and the deamination of amino acids.

The two common ketones produced in humans are acetoacetic acid and hydroxybuterate. Your breath is a strong indicator of ketoacidosis, when the liver breaks down fat and proteins in response to perceived need for respiratory substrate. Prolonged alcoholism may lead to alcoholic ketoacidosis. The smell is attributed to acetone, a direct byproduct of the spontaneous decomposition of acetoacetic acid. It is often described as smelling like fruit or nail polish remover. Ketosis may also smell, but the odor is usually more subtle due to the lower concentrations of acetone.

Dr Atkins , Dr Sears and H Leighton Steward, Morrison Bethea, MD Sam Andrews MD, and Luis Balart MD bringing the term “glycemic index” mainstream on commercials like Nutrisystem and Weight Watchers by limiting carbs, Sugar Busters attempts to restrict the release of insulin into the body by avoiding refined carbohydrates and sugars. Glycemic index is a measure of how much insulin certain foods force the body to release. According to Sugar Busters,
foods with higher glycemic indexes (carbs) cause more insulin which forces calories into fat rather than being used for energy while also making the person consuming the high carb foods hungry again sooner. Using a diet with more protein than the USDA but less than Atkins or Sears, the Sugar Busters Diet advocates bread, pasta and cereals- all heavy carb foods, as long as they are whole wheat and sugarless.

On July 7, 2002, the New York Times published an article titled “What if it has all been a big fat lie.” This story instantly gave Dr Atkins notoriety and credibility as he took the wave of publicity straight to the bank.

The American public has long been told that too much protein is bad for your kidneys and may increase the risk of heart disease.

Animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs and milk provide the richest source of both essential and nonessential amino acids, meaning they contain complete proteins.

Glucose is the body’s primary energy source. If more glucose is available than the body currently needs for energy, it is turned into glycogen. Glycogen is stored in the muscles and liver, or it can be stored in the body as fat deposits. The body is unable to break down fiber- thus fiber passes intact through the digestive system. Low carbohydrate diets also lower cholesterol, and weight loss is documented to be twice as effective than low fat diets. High carbohydrate diets are linked to diabetes, high cholesterol levels, obesity, heart disease and other life threatening conditions.

However, as late as 1990 when Congress passed the Nutrition a Labeling and Education Act, which gave the FDA the authority to require food labels. FDA proposes that “complex carbohydrates” be defined as dextrins and starches.

Perhaps so the carb counting consumer will be confused when reading labels?

The FDA received numerous complaints about this proposed definition. Nonetheless, because the Secretary is given discretion to determine whether inclusion of “complex carbohydrate” in the food label would assist consumers in maintaining healthy dietary practices, any legal challenges would almost certainly fail.

The Glycemic Index was developed in 1981 as a better way to classify carbohydrates rather than classifying them by the saccharide chain length, so you would assume that by 1992 the Glycemic Index would be prominently well understood- this is not the case. How many consumers do you know that can give a clear definition of the Glycemic Index?

Drs. Michael and Mary Eades (1996) wrote a book titled Protein Power and I found a chapter titled “Excess Insulin and The Insulin Resistance Syndrome”
to be of particular interest with my family history.

“Insulin and it’s counterbalancing partner, glucagon, are the master hormones controlling the human metabolism. The word insulin may immediately call up a mental association with diabetes, and the connection is a valid one. Controlling blood sugar is insulins most important job in the human body. Many with a family history of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or obesity in their families- have inherited a tendency for the insulin sensors in cells to malfunction with age, illness, stress, or the assault by years of high sugar and starch consumption. As these sensors become sluggish, the condition of insulin resistance develops. Because it’s crucial to get the sugar out of the blood and into the cells, the pancreas will compensate by making more and more insulin to force the sensors to respond. Finally, people become so resistant that their sensors to clear sugar from the blood is more than the pancreas can make: that person then becomes a diabetic! Excess insulin stimulates a wide variety of other metabolic systems: it encourages the kidneys to retain salt and fluid, stimulates the production of cholesterol in the liver, fuels the increase in triglyceride production, it thickens the muscular portion of the artery walls , increasing the risk for high blood pressure, and sends the message to fat cells to store any incoming sugar and fat. Insulins actions are countered by the second metabolic hormone, glucagon. Glucagon sends the signal to kidneys to release excess salt and fluid, to the liver to slow down production of cholesterol and triglycerides, to the artery wall to relax and drop blood pressure, and to the fat cells to release stored fat to be burned for energy. When insulin levels in the blood are high, they overwhelm the system and suppress glucagons actions. Since food is what mainly controls the production of these two hormones, we have been able to create a nutritional structure that maximizes the release of insulin, creating a closet balance between the two hormones. Under these conditions, the actions of the glucagon predominate, allowing the metabolism to heal and the malfunctioning sensors to regain sensitivity. Once this healing occurs, the metabolic disturbances that insulin resistance caused improve or disappear. If elevated, your cholesterol and triglycerides return to normal, your blood pressure returns to normal, blood sugar stabilizes and you can effectively lose excess stored body fat. All of these benefits accrue by not treating the symptoms, the blood pressure, cholesterol problem, overweight or diabetes- but the root cause, chronically elevated insulin and insulin resistance. There are no medications to treat this disorder- the right diet is the ONLY remedy.”

A diet rich in protein, dairy and vegetables that limits carb intake has been show to effectively do this.
Many of our friends and clients know I’m an identical twin. What some may not know is that I (and my twin too) have struggled my entire life with dumb diets and weight issues that often contributed to depression along with a family history of heart disease, high cholesterol, hypoglycemia and diabetes.

I’ve lost many friends and family members to the ravages of diabetes. For personal reasons (including my own health), I decided to delve into solutions to a worldwide epidemic of high cholesterol, extreme diets, heart disease and depression attributed to health issues that are the direct result of high carb intake to better understand why low fat diets were resulting in fatter Americans.

Working as a model for 18 years puts a huge amount of stress on you–starving myself became a way of life since I would never be smaller than a sample size 8, I accepted with my bone structure that ultra thin could not be achieved unless a I became bulimic, anorexic or both. Many models I worked with were! I’m a workaholic and often on the run, grabbing a ” low fat or healthy meal” was a way of life but, slowly, steadily- I could not lose or maintain my weight!

At 27 years old I had a partial hysterectomy due to complications. Three more surgeries by Dr Jay Herd from complications of endemitriosis would be required over a 10 year window before I was in full blown menopause.

At the dr at least once a month for sinus infections, kidney infections and ear aches- my carb intake was never discussed by any medical professional with me. My wonderful husband Matthew became accustomed to yearly surgeries for health issues due to tumors in my abdomen, breasts, and throat along with extreme mood swings from hypoglycemia and finally depression from the weight gain and medication.

Never once complaining, my husband has always been there for me during health issues that began shortly after our marriage of health setbacks and surgeries that would have had most men running for the hills!

Extreme high and low blood sugar levels left me hungry, confused, sweaty and anxious- chronic kidney infections and blood in my urine coupled with kidney stones were common. I went to Endocrinologists, Dietitians, and specialist BUT, none of them told me to cut carbs! NONE, not one. In fact, I was told that due to my chronic hypoglycemia that it would be best to carry juice and candy at all
times (yes, candy and juice.)

Suddenly, my health declined to such an extent that the fear of going blind due to high cholesterol and blood sugar levels haunted most of my waking hours.

Exhausted, overweight, suffering neuropathy in my feet, I had to change my eyeglasses three times in one year! No matter what I did or didn’t do- I gained weight. Chronic heartburn, and headaches were constant companions. Ironically , prior to the thyroidectomy I’d never had heartburn.

I was Hell bent on finding a solution before I suffered a heart attack or stroke, I read Dr Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution.

Enlightening and Empowering for every diabetic, I’m shocked it isn’t handed to every patient! But then how would the pharma companies pay their bills? Or the specialists in the diabetic field?

My mammogram found a large tumor that required surgery. At 47 years old, I was diagnosed with thyroid disease and scheduled for a full thyroidectomy. Unable to swallow, my eyesight failing quickly I begrudgingly scheduled yet another surgery. Had I known that this would put another 42 pounds on me- I would have never had the thyroidectomy, but Dr Fewins insisted it was medically necessary.

Every year, right after paying the deductible rolled over, something new attacked my body that required expensive surgery. No one ever explained how or why these fatty tumors were attacking me. The medications however, weren’t helping me to lose weight either , Quite the opposite .

At this point, I hated the sight of scales or dressing rooms. My twin Cindy was suffering the same struggles without the benign tumors from endemetriosis or thyroid disease. But, did struggle with painful breast lumps. We both had pain and tingling in our hands and feet and were prescribed more medication in the form of Ametriptaline. This drug was so strong that neither of us could take it- we work so parenthesis or not, being incapacitated was never an option. Cindy has been raising her twin grand daughters Maryssa and Makenna Mahaney since they were born and I have always worked 60-80 hours a week.

No Doctor or specialist could explain to my sister and I why at not even fifty years old , we had gained over 50 lbs each and had chronic heartburn and cholesterol of 300, Cindy was on high blood pressure medicine and if I didn’t act quickly, I was next! Raising twins in your forties is much more challenging than your twenties ! Especially twins born nearly three months early with severe health issues and I was terrified that should something happen to Cindy or myself, who would raise Maryssa and Makenna?!

Two weeks ago, knocking around the Goodwill, I discovered a book called the South Beach Diet. An avid reader, I bought it and learned everything I’ve spent a lifetime doing to control my weight was wrong! Googling more information, I discovered the Diabetic Solution by Dr Bernstein. Formerly an engineer, his approach had saved thousands from amputation, blindness, kidney disease and death.

Carb intake in the 1940s was considered standard diet for diabetics and certainly not successful. Many died not having access to the internet and more information on how to live with or control blood sugar highs and lows. Dr Bernstein experimented on himself to find an alternative to controlling his insulin and his health by becoming a Dr to educate others. In my opinion, this man deserves an award for his stellar accomplishments and discoveries in the medical community.

Combing information from the South Beach Diet with the Diabetes Solution would change my life and those around me. Since my husband and I along with my twin and her husband have expensive medical plans with Blue Cross Blue Shield, we had an array of doctors and specialists at our fingertips but, no valuable information to make changes to our declining health. For this reason, I decided to educate others on what I’ve learned and lifestyle changes I’ve made to drop my blood sugar, weight and cholesterol WITHOUT MEDICATION!

Most women DO NOT eat breakfast and I was one of them. With a family history of high cholesterol, heart attacks and strokes, no matter how hard I tried, my cholesterol was close to 300. I didn’t eat fried foods or even fatty ones and the medication to lower my levels left me feeling like a truck just ran over me. I threw my Crestor in the trash, as did my husband and my sister.

Over the past two and a half weeks, I’ve lost 21 pounds by doing something I’ve never done- counting carbs instead of fat and calories! My cholesterol dropped 48 points, stabilized blood sugar, no kidney stones or neuropathy and best of all my eyesight isn’t riddled by blurred vision, headaches or night sweats!

I haven’t a accomplished this by strenuous exercise or starving my friends. I’ve accomplished this by
Changing my thyroid medication from Synthroid to Cytomel, I finally stopped the weight gain of a pound a day immediately. Told that I would die and my organs stop functioning if I failed to take my thyroid medication, I went through 4 doctors before getting my prescription changed to Cytomel.

I find it ironic that thyroid and health forums all complain of weight gain and depression and doctors that refuse to change from Synthroid, the most widely prescribed and ironically most hated drug on the market. If your doctor won’t change it, change your doctor! Gaining 1-3 lbs a day is dangerous and causes depression along with health issues.

Starting your day with a boiled egg, cheese stick and bottle of water is difficult for folks who don’t eat breakfast. Choke it down! This is when you control your insulin levels with protein rather than your morning coffee.

Ten and two o’clock are your snack times, you can have a cheese stick, nuts or plain yogurt with sweetener. These snack times are important! To keep your metabolism going you MUST have a high protein, low carb snack at these times.

Don’t like water? Get packets of sugar free drink mixes, my sister loves them.

Buy magnesium supplements and take two a day. I’ve struggled with constipation and taken chewable fiber for years not knowing it contained carbs in the form of sugar!

No fruit juice or fruits in your losing stages. You can work them back in on your maintenance plan later or not- remember this is NOT a diet, it’s a lifestyle change that will require you to make sacrifices regarding your favorite foods and snacks. Your health is more important that treats- those treats and high carb foods are killing America one bite at a time.

You will now change from checking fat and calories to only checking carbs.

If a doctor had told me this YEARS ago, my life would have been changed and so would members of my family and friends lost to heart disease, kidney disease and diabetes.

My grandmother went blind in three months from diabetes, it was tragic and shocking how quickly it happened. I had no idea she loved candy so much that she was sneaking it behind my sister and myself backs. Candy killed her quickly- very quickly. Every time I see a family member pick up a desert or candy I want to grab it and throw the item away. Did you know that white rice is linked to diabetes ? Or, white bread ?

You can’t force others to change so change yourself! Take control of a disease that is spreading so quickly throughout the country with very few asking why.

I take vitamins and many family members do too. Google magnesium, you won’t have to take fiber pills anymore. This isn’t a diet, it’s a lifestyle change and one that members of my family will tell you WORKS! Best of all, it works quickly. No special diets, no pills. Foods you can pick up nearly anywhere. High protein in the form of lean meats and cheeses.

Your lunch and dinner will be salads with lots of fresh vegetables and meat, fish or chicken.

You probably don’t know that low fat items are loaded with carbs, I didn’t. Stop buying low fat foods and condiments! If you want a few crackers (who doesn’t) check the carb count.

Items containing the words low fat, low calorie, fat free, etc have been thrown in the trash at my house. Read the labels on these so called diet foods- it’s truly amazing that they contain more carbohydrates that regular foods.

Buy a scale! I know folks concerned about their weight hate them, I did too! Your inspiration with start with that scale.

You can lose up to 23 pounds your first two weeks but ONLY by eating breakfast, snacks at 10 and 2 and following the low carb diet. This isn’t a NO CARB diet, you will need to double up on protein to keep from getting exhausted- your body has become accustomed to all the carbs (sugar) you throw into it and since you are now burning energy you will require more protein.

Normally my blogs center around event services, weddings and funerals but, I only wish someone had told me this sooner so I’m telling you.

Diabetes is so common in this country that it touches nearly everyone’s life- or will. The statistics on diabetes are staggering, and a diagnosis can be terrifying. Diabetes is the third leading cause of death in this country. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) there are over 8 million diabetics in America and equally that number who have not yet been diagnosed. 700,000 new diabetics will be diagnosed within a year; that’s one every thirty seconds!

With most Americans struggling with weight, I’m amazed that the Atkins diet is still so popular. It’s very high in fat and cholesterol and most people who are overweight have health issues directly related to high fat and cholesterol.

Try this, you can do it! I’m finally opening the three closets I’ve stored my favorite clothes in for the past ten years, have more energy and feel excited to try on bathing suits next month. I’ve still got 15 lbs to go to wear a size 8- but honey, I’m getting there! My cholesterol continues to fall and I have more energy and, a new “Old School” bicycle from my husband. Walking Mr. Foxy Wortham three times a day help too. I want to be fabulous at fifty not frumpy – I’m willing to work to get there.

Peace and Love to you my friends and let’s start getting healthy together by educating ourselves and implementing changes to our diets.