Dear Dr. Dan:
My doctor prescribed me levothyroxine for my low thyroid function, but I'm still tired. What else can I do?
Geraldyne
Dear Geraldyne:
First, please understand that levothyroxine (a.k.a. "Synthroid") has no active thyroid in it. It only contains T4 or "inactive thyroid" and is dependent on the liver to convert it to T3 or "active thyroid".
Second, get an accurate thyroid function test. To do this, your lab work should contain an analysis for TSH, T4, T3RIA, and Thyroid Antibodies (Anti-TPO, Anti-Thyroglobulin). If antibodies are present, which sometimes occurs by taking the synthethic chemical thyroid, then more thyroid is needed to overcome this effect.
Third, natural thyroid contains both T4 and T3 in a ratio of 4:1. If thyroid is sluggish, or antibodies are present, some additional T3 (e.g., Cytomel 5 mcg) can help to change the ratio to 3:1.
Fourth, make sure you're getting adequate protein and saturated fat from your diet as the thyroid needs both of these for healthy functioning, as well as adequate exposure to sunlight. Coconut Oil is a great source of saturated fat and can be used for cooking, too.
Finally, get some adrenal support with natural DHEA and Pregnenolone. The adrenals tend to takeover when thyroid function is sluggish. Supplementing with these adrenal hormones helps augment the body's production and reduce the workload on the adrenals.
Hope This Helps!
Dr. Dan
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
WEIGHT LOSS WITHOUT DIETING
Dear Dr. Dan:
I heard a guest on your radio show say that you can lose weight simply by counting calories, but that exercise must be done for 1 and 1/2 hours. Is this correct?
Fred
Dear Fred:
While calories are a factor in weight loss, there are other considerations that cannot be overlooked such as blood sugar regulation, lower hormone levels with aging, food allergies, body-fat ratio, and exercise. The body fat ratio is key for helping to ensure that muscle mass is not sacrificed during the weight loss process. If the body-fat ratio does not improve then the patient is less healthy than before losing weight and can be expected to gain back all that was lost plus more. At New Hope Medical Center, we use Bio-Energy Testing to help us determine at what point a patient changes from fat burning to carbohydrate metabolism. This information is important whether the patient is an athlete trying to refine his workout or a patient seeking to lose weight.
In regards to exercise, it stimulates the production of testosterone which, in turn, helps improve the body fat ratio. Exercise can be done more intensely over 20-25 minutes with interval training, which is where a person works up to a high heart rate and cools down repeatedly over a period of time as opposed to one continuous steady pace, and thus, burn calories more quickly than over a more prolonged period of time. The key for exercise in weight loss is to include it as part of your daily routine 5-6 days a week, as opposed to 3-4 days a week for maintaining weight. Cardiovascular training for fat burning can also be alternated with resistance training to promote lean muscle mass retention and/or development. In this way, the patient not only loses weight but redistributes it and looks healthier as a result.
I hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
I heard a guest on your radio show say that you can lose weight simply by counting calories, but that exercise must be done for 1 and 1/2 hours. Is this correct?
Fred
Dear Fred:
While calories are a factor in weight loss, there are other considerations that cannot be overlooked such as blood sugar regulation, lower hormone levels with aging, food allergies, body-fat ratio, and exercise. The body fat ratio is key for helping to ensure that muscle mass is not sacrificed during the weight loss process. If the body-fat ratio does not improve then the patient is less healthy than before losing weight and can be expected to gain back all that was lost plus more. At New Hope Medical Center, we use Bio-Energy Testing to help us determine at what point a patient changes from fat burning to carbohydrate metabolism. This information is important whether the patient is an athlete trying to refine his workout or a patient seeking to lose weight.
In regards to exercise, it stimulates the production of testosterone which, in turn, helps improve the body fat ratio. Exercise can be done more intensely over 20-25 minutes with interval training, which is where a person works up to a high heart rate and cools down repeatedly over a period of time as opposed to one continuous steady pace, and thus, burn calories more quickly than over a more prolonged period of time. The key for exercise in weight loss is to include it as part of your daily routine 5-6 days a week, as opposed to 3-4 days a week for maintaining weight. Cardiovascular training for fat burning can also be alternated with resistance training to promote lean muscle mass retention and/or development. In this way, the patient not only loses weight but redistributes it and looks healthier as a result.
I hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
Friday, May 9, 2008
HORMONE TREATMENT FOR WEIGHT LOSS
Dear Dr. Royal:
I try to lose weight but I always seem to gain it back. What else can I do? Thanks!
Sammie
Dear Sammie:
It's important that your hormones are balanced. Be sure that you at least are supplementing with the daily physiologic doses of DHEA (2.5 mg) and Pregnenolong (30 mg) for a woman. Next, get your thyroid checked. You may need to supplement with a natural source (e.g., Thyroid USP) that has T3 (active thyroid) and divide your thyroid into 2-3 doses to keep it level throughout the day. If you're overweight, fatigued, and retaining water then your metabolism is probably too slow and you could be clinically hypothyroid despite whatever your lab tests may read. Don't forget to test your estradiol and testosterone (free and total) levels, too, and supplement with estrone and/or testosterone if necessary as both have some androgenic benefit. Also, add resistance training exercise to stimulate muscle growth as this is essential to improve your body-fat ratio and increase metabolism. Finally, make sure you're getting enough sleep because this helps with growth hormone production. If you need help here, take a product called, "Cortisol Manager", which you can get from New Hope Medical Center by calling (702) 476-0000 or (866) HEAL-NOW! Hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
I try to lose weight but I always seem to gain it back. What else can I do? Thanks!
Sammie
Dear Sammie:
It's important that your hormones are balanced. Be sure that you at least are supplementing with the daily physiologic doses of DHEA (2.5 mg) and Pregnenolong (30 mg) for a woman. Next, get your thyroid checked. You may need to supplement with a natural source (e.g., Thyroid USP) that has T3 (active thyroid) and divide your thyroid into 2-3 doses to keep it level throughout the day. If you're overweight, fatigued, and retaining water then your metabolism is probably too slow and you could be clinically hypothyroid despite whatever your lab tests may read. Don't forget to test your estradiol and testosterone (free and total) levels, too, and supplement with estrone and/or testosterone if necessary as both have some androgenic benefit. Also, add resistance training exercise to stimulate muscle growth as this is essential to improve your body-fat ratio and increase metabolism. Finally, make sure you're getting enough sleep because this helps with growth hormone production. If you need help here, take a product called, "Cortisol Manager", which you can get from New Hope Medical Center by calling (702) 476-0000 or (866) HEAL-NOW! Hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
Saturday, May 3, 2008
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT DEFICIENCIES & TREATMENTS
Dear Dr. Dan:
How do you test for nutritional deficiencies? Also, what are the most common nutritional deficiencies you see with the patients in your practice and how do you treat them?
John
Dear John:
We use SpectraCell Laboratories for nutritional testing because they have a patented test that that assesses what's actually getting into the white blood cells, not just what's floating around in the plasma. Although SpectraCell analyzes certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, the most common deficiencies I see are for general antioxidants (a.k.a. Spectrox) and immune function (a.k.a. Lymphocyte Proliferation Index). To treat deficiencies, we use proven professional supplements such as minerals complexed with the amino acid aspartic acid that delivers them directly to the cells where they're needed most. Nutritional injections and infusions are also very helpful because they bypass problems that may be associated with digestion. I hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
How do you test for nutritional deficiencies? Also, what are the most common nutritional deficiencies you see with the patients in your practice and how do you treat them?
John
Dear John:
We use SpectraCell Laboratories for nutritional testing because they have a patented test that that assesses what's actually getting into the white blood cells, not just what's floating around in the plasma. Although SpectraCell analyzes certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, the most common deficiencies I see are for general antioxidants (a.k.a. Spectrox) and immune function (a.k.a. Lymphocyte Proliferation Index). To treat deficiencies, we use proven professional supplements such as minerals complexed with the amino acid aspartic acid that delivers them directly to the cells where they're needed most. Nutritional injections and infusions are also very helpful because they bypass problems that may be associated with digestion. I hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
WHAT IS ADRENAL STRESS AND HOW DO I TREAT IT?
Dear Dr. Dan:
I heard you talk about "Adrenal Stress" on your radio program last Friday, April 25, 2008, with Cheryl Myers. How do I know if I have it? What can I do about it? Thanks!
Jane
Dear Jane:
Adrenal Stress primarily refers to the excessive adrenaline or "fight or flight" response to our environment. Some stresses are conscious (e.g., fear) and others are non-conscious (e.g., toxins). A good test I use in my office is Heart Rate Variability, which assesses the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic tone in a patient's autonomic nervous system. Adrenals can be supported through a product called, "End Fatigue", as well as through natural hormones such as DHEA and Pregnenolone. However, for natural hormones, have your physician prescribe the pure products in the right amounts from a compound pharmacy. These supplements wil, in turn, augment your body's production of its own adrenal hormones and allow for a gradual recovery from the exhaustion that occurs from the overstimulation of these glands. For more information, please go to my resource library at www.newhopemedical.com and read my articles on Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and Chelation Therapy. I hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
I heard you talk about "Adrenal Stress" on your radio program last Friday, April 25, 2008, with Cheryl Myers. How do I know if I have it? What can I do about it? Thanks!
Jane
Dear Jane:
Adrenal Stress primarily refers to the excessive adrenaline or "fight or flight" response to our environment. Some stresses are conscious (e.g., fear) and others are non-conscious (e.g., toxins). A good test I use in my office is Heart Rate Variability, which assesses the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic tone in a patient's autonomic nervous system. Adrenals can be supported through a product called, "End Fatigue", as well as through natural hormones such as DHEA and Pregnenolone. However, for natural hormones, have your physician prescribe the pure products in the right amounts from a compound pharmacy. These supplements wil, in turn, augment your body's production of its own adrenal hormones and allow for a gradual recovery from the exhaustion that occurs from the overstimulation of these glands. For more information, please go to my resource library at www.newhopemedical.com and read my articles on Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, and Chelation Therapy. I hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
Friday, April 18, 2008
TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
Dear Dr. Dan:
I am tired all the time, but my doctor tells me there's nothing wrong with me. What can I do?
Stan
Dr. Stan:
Chronic fatigue syndrome ("CFS") is an energy deficiency disease. For this you must check your hormones, including thyroid and free/total testosterone (or estradiol for a woman). Also, get antibody titers for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Herpes Virus 6, and Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Candida. Natural hormonal support should always be given in fatigue patients for adrenals with DHEA and pregnenolone, thyroid, and possibly, testosterone (or estrone for a woman). An excellent supplement we use in our clinic is Corvalen (D-Ribose), which the body uses as a source for RNA that is needed in the ATP energy production process. IV vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can be very helpful in expediting recovery. Sleep is also important. Taking the supplement "Cortisol Manager" at night can help CFS patients normalize their sleep pattern. For more information, go to my Resource Library at http://www.newhopemedical.org/ and find the article on "Chronic Fatigue." I hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
I am tired all the time, but my doctor tells me there's nothing wrong with me. What can I do?
Stan
Dr. Stan:
Chronic fatigue syndrome ("CFS") is an energy deficiency disease. For this you must check your hormones, including thyroid and free/total testosterone (or estradiol for a woman). Also, get antibody titers for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Herpes Virus 6, and Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Candida. Natural hormonal support should always be given in fatigue patients for adrenals with DHEA and pregnenolone, thyroid, and possibly, testosterone (or estrone for a woman). An excellent supplement we use in our clinic is Corvalen (D-Ribose), which the body uses as a source for RNA that is needed in the ATP energy production process. IV vitamins, minerals, and amino acids can be very helpful in expediting recovery. Sleep is also important. Taking the supplement "Cortisol Manager" at night can help CFS patients normalize their sleep pattern. For more information, go to my Resource Library at http://www.newhopemedical.org/ and find the article on "Chronic Fatigue." I hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
Saturday, April 12, 2008
SUPPLEMENT TREATMENT WITH COQ10
Hi Dr. Royal:
I'm a healthy female who take supplements, but I have a question about CoQ10. Here are my questions:
I'm a healthy female who take supplements, but I have a question about CoQ10. Here are my questions:
- How much CoQ10 should I be taking?
- What does CoQ10 actually do?
- What form of CoQ10 is best?
Thanks!
CC
Dear CC:
Generally, CoQ10 should be supplemented at not less than 50 mg, although we use 100 mg at New Hope Medical Center. CoQ10 is essential for energy production. Because it is not stored in the body, it is in constant need of replenishment. It is particularly helpful for heart and brain conditions where much energy is expended. For example, if someone has a weak heart, then 200-400 mg should be taken daily. The best form of CoQ10 is "Ubiquinol", as opposed to Ubiquinone, because this is the active form. For more information, you can hear my radio show podcast for April 11, 2008, which is found on my website at http://www.newhopemedical.org./ Hope this helps!
Dr. Dan
Friday, April 11, 2008
TREATMENT FOR ATYPICAL CELLS ON PAP SMEAR
Hello Dr. Royal:
I have a couple of questions about the hormone shots. This is due to an abnormal pap smear test I had recently and I'm going Friday to see another doctor for a second consultation regarding this issue. The results specifically found ASCUS (Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance)
1. What exactly is the substance injected?
2. Based on your experience. Is it possible this hormone shot can cause an abnormal pap smear result?
Linda
Dear Linda:
At New Hope Medical, we use Estrone 5 mg/cc (from Compound Pharmacy derived from Wild Yam). We also prescribe the sublingual Progesterone Oil 3 mg/drop (also derived from the Wild Yam) to be taken with the injection. Atypical cells can be caused from an excess of nutrients (e.g., B3) or deficiency (e.g., Folic Acid). Interestingly, one treatment for atypical cells of the cervix is to apply intravaginal Estrogen cream (e.g., Estrone). For more information, visit my Medical Resource Library at http://www.newhopemedical.org/.Dr. Dan
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