Question #1
I take Thyroid medication and am thinking of taking kelp also. Do people ever get off thyroid meds once they start taking them? I am taking a dose of .125 one day and alternating this with .137 dose to keep my Thyroid at Optimal level. Not taking thyroid meds is not an option for me
When someone's thyroid isn't working as well as it should, or if they've had their thyroid removed for medical purposes, then they are considered hypothyroid. Hypo means that this gland isn't producing enough of the hormones it's supposed to produce. When this happens you are usually placed on thyroid medication to replace what your body isn't able to produce. This medication is important since thyroid hormones are used throughout your entire body. Once your thyroid stops working as well as it should be it usually stays that way, meaning you will probably be on medication for the rest of your life. In some cases, especially where thyroid levels are only slightly below normal, kelp can help get then back to normal. But kelp needs to be treated like a medication so you need to let your doctor know you are on it so it can be factored into your overall care plan. Too much kelp can cause more harm than good.
Question #2
Dr Torres - Are you familiar with Dr. Joel Fuhrman and what do you think of his diet? Thanks Shirley
This diet is known as the "Eat to Live" diet. It mostly focuses on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables with limited amounts of whole grain products. It avoids animal products. Like most diet plans, it can help you lose weight and in some cases the results have been dramatic. But this is a very strict diet plan that will prove hard to maintain for most of us. As humans we tend to crave variety and if we try to stick to a restrictive plan it doesn't work. This is part of what accounts for the "Yo-Yo" diet phenomenon people experience with most diet plans. Your best bet, for not only losing weight but also in keeping it off, is to make sure you incorporate healthy lifestyle changes you can sustain for years on end. This means eating better, eating less and exercising more.
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