Online Blog

Hi all,

I opened a site at msn a few years ago and then decided to make changes...I am in the process of closing the original site and am reposting the good info...I am going through and rechecking the links to make sure thye are workable and then reposting the links...

There is some very good info in these posts, even if the were written in 2000 and I originally posted them in 9/01, the info is still relevent for the most part and definitely no need to re-invent the wheel...Hugs, Bee

Thyroid function teststime for a reassessment - Education and Debate

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0999/is_7245_320/ai_62648660

DNA-Hydrolysing Antibodies Expressed In Autoimmune Thyroid Dysfunction http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/8525697700573E1885256A2600715F0B?OpenDocument&id=48DDE4A73E09A969852568880078C249&c=Thyroid%20Disorders&count=10

Thyroid Hormone Replacement Therapy - Tricks of the Trade http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=166943

Peripheral Metabolism of Thyroid Hormones: A Review

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m0FDN/4_5/65068470/p1/article.jhtml?term=%2BHypothalamus+%2BPhysiological+%2Baspects

ENDO: Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Level Inadequate Measure Of Hypothyroidism Severity http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/C929A7B14581389085256A750057BB87?OpenDocument&id=48DDE4A73E09A969852568880078C249&c=Thyroid%20Disorders&count=10

Hypothyroid Women On Hormone Therapy May Need More Thyroxine

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/344/23/1743

http://www.exercise.com - good info link

http://www.efit.com - health and fitness

http://www.fitness.com - health link

http://www.water.com/healthnews.asp - Water Wisdom

http://gourmetconnection.com/diabetic/toc.shml - diabetic recipes

http://www.fitday.com - A Great Start for Fitness/Diet Journal

http://www.ediets.com

http://www.dietwatch.com - Weight Loss Community and Diary

http://www.cookinglight.com - Low fat and low carbohydrate cooking

Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs for Chronic Fatigue

© Susan M. Lark M.D. (Excerpted from The Menopause Self Help Book, Celestial Arts)

Lot's of instruction for weight-lifting...how-tos

ExRx Exercise & Muscle Directory

http://www.exrx.net/Lists/Directory.html

1. Weight training tones your muscles which looks great and raises your basal metabolism...which causes you to burn more calories 24 hours-a-day. You'll even burn more calories while you're sleeping.
2. Weight training can *reverse* the natural decline in your metabolism which begins around age 30.
3. Weight training energizes you.
4. Weight training has a positive effect on almost all of your 650+ muscles.
5. Weight training strengthens your bones reducing your risk of developing osteoporosis.
6. Weight training improves your muscular endurance.
7. Weight training will NOT develop big muscles on women....just toned muscles!
8. Weight training makes you strong. Strength gives you confidence and makes daily activities easier.
9. Weight training makes you less prone to low-back injuries.
10. Weight training decreases your resting blood pressure.
11. Weight training decreases your risk of developing adult onset diabetes.
12. Weight training decreases your gastrointestinal transit time, reducing your risk for developing colon cancer.
13. Weight training increases your blood level of HDL cholesterol (the good type).
14. Weight training improves your posture.
15. Weight training improves the functioning of your immune system.
16. Weight training lowers your resting heart rate, a sign of a more efficient heart.
17. Weight training improves your balance and coordination.
18. Weight training elevates your mood.

By Diana Schwarzbein, M.D.
"We must reverse the common thinking that a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet is the key to health and weight loss."
Knowing what I know today, it is still hard for me to accept that between 1981 and 1990, while I was in nine years of medical training, my instructors were teaching me and everyone else in medical training that a low-fat diet was the way to prevent obesity, diabetes, and heart attacks.
My instructors stressed the "fact" that eating fat not only made you fat but also caused a host of health problems. These professors spoke of hundreds of studies that they said proved that fat was indeed the culprit in creating a national epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Countless magazines and newspapers shared the results of these studies with the public. These studies fueled a frenzy outside of medical schools as people got caught up in trying to lose weight and prevent heart disease by reducing or eliminating fat from their diets. And the short-term effects of eating less fat and more carbohydrates seemed to indicate that people could lose weight and decrease their cholesterol by eating this way.
But these studies proved to be wrong. This may come as a surprise to you, but cutting back fat from your diet and filling up on carbohydrates may actually cause you to gain
weight in the long run, can increase your cholesterol level, and can set you down a path of what I call "accelerated metabolic aging." A low-fat diet eaten over a long period of time actually deprives humans of the nutrients they need to regenerate healthy cells, which can lead to disease and early death. The studies referred to by my professors in medical school only took into account the short term. Therewereand areno long- term studies that show a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet maintains weight over the long run and prevents illness.
Since leaving medical school I have radically changed how I think about nutrition and health. No longer do I believe that fat is evil and carbohydrates are good. From my own clinical research with thousands of patients, I now have a better understanding of what we all need to eat to control our weight and prevent disease. I no longer advocate a low-fat diet, but instead teach all of my patients how to balance their meals. The secret to weight loss and maintenance lies in controlling the amount of the hormone insulin that is released into our bloodstream after a meal. And the secret to preventing disease is to make sure we eat, foods that can rebuild our cells and keep them strong.
Over the years I have come to understand how vitally important it is that people stop eating a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet and start combining their food properly. This understanding started when I took a job at a medical clinic in Santa Barbara, California. I was hired to reestablish a diabetes program there. I would spend a full
hour with each diabetic patient, obtaining a detailed history. These were type II diabetics, which accounts for 98 percent of diabetes. With this type of diabetes, the body produces insulin, the hormone responsible for getting sugar into the cells, but the patients' cells do not respond well to insulinthey are what is called insulin resistant.
As I listened to the patients' stories, it was clear that they were very upset that instead of getting better after seeking medical help, they were steadily getting worse. They
told me that they had started off eating the American Diabetes Association (ADA) diet, which is a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. They checked their blood sugars
regularly. When they came back to the doctor, the doctor would tell them that they had not been compliantif they had been, their blood sugars, cholesterol, and weight would be better. Imagine how you'd feel if you'd done precisely what the doctor ordered and not only did you get worse, the doctor as much as called you a liar!
The next therapeutic step was to add in one of the sugar-lowering drugs while continuing to follow the same diet. During their next follow-up visits they were again told that they must be noncompliant because they were not getting well. A lot of them were then switched from pills to insulin injections. And you guessed it, they still did not get better (remember, these patients are insulin resistant). And if the doctor did believe that they were following their diet, the fact that they were not getting better was
attributed to genetic problems and they were still put on insulin injections.
You can see how frustrating this must have been for them. I certainly felt their frustration and anger when I heard these stories. And then I realized I had two choices. I could continue with the same standard treatment regimens that these patients were already on or the patients and I would have to come up with a new treatment plan.
I gave each of these patients a choice. Every one of them wanted to come up with something different, so we started by collecting baseline data. I had them write down everything they put in their mouths. I had them check their blood sugars six times a day, before and after their meals. First thing in the morning I had patients measure their blood sugar. It was always normal. Then they had the breakfast recommended by the ADA, typically a bowl of cereal with nonfat milk, a banana, and a glass of fruit juice. Nondiabetics eating this breakfast would experience only a ten- to twenty-point rise in their blood sugar. But after this high-carbohydrate, low-fat ADA-recommended breakfast, my patients would watch their blood sugar soarup between 100 and 200 points, ten times the normal blood sugar response.
It had to be the diet that made their blood sugar levels soar, but why? And then it suddenly hit metheir blood sugar rose dramatically because we were feeding them hidden sugars: hidden sugars in the form of carbohydrates. All carbohydrates are broken down into sugar by the body during digestion, whether they are in the form of
grains, starches, dairy, fruits, or sweets. By recommending a high- carbohydrate diet, we were asking diabetics to eat sugar.
After seeing these patients' blood sugar levels rise so dramatically after meals, I was convinced that the ADA diet was wrong. Though it was professionally a tough decision for me, I had to turn my back on the ADA-approved diet and conventional learning. The new clinical evidence was too strong. All of my type II diabetic patients
reported the same results: the ADA diet made their blood sugar skyrocket.
Now the real process began. If not the ADA diet, what should these patients be eating? I started with the premise that it should be as few carbohydrates as possible, since they were, converted to sugar. So that left proteins, fats, and nonstarchy vegetables. However, I asked them to keep their fat intake to a minimum because type II diabetics have the highest risk of heart disease of any patient population. Limiting fat seemed wise since I still believed at that time that eating fat caused heart disease.
The most important clinical question was: Could we get the patients' blood sugars lower while still keeping heart disease at a low level? One week later the first group of patients returned for an evaluation. I looked at the blood sugar numbers they had recorded. Their progress was astounding. But the ones who had improved the most
were the "cheaters." On their own, with the help of their home sugar-measuring devices, they were seeing that their blood sugar levels were improving when they ate more fat with their meals. Soon they were eating even moremayonnaise, butter, cheese, eggs, and steak. What a delight, after months or years of shredded wheat and nonfat milk!
By cutting down on carbohydrates and eating fats, they were losing weight! For a type II diabetic, losing weight is an almost impossible feat. But these patients were eating fats and losing body fat and it did not end with just losing weight. Everything was improving. They felt satiated and their energy improved. Their cholesterol levels were
improving. And because their cholesterol levels were getting better and not worsebelieve me, I was monitoring this closelyit encouraged me and my patients to continue this regimen.
My biggest fearthat I would treat their diabetes but increase their risk of heart attacksproved groundless. Why? Because weight gain around the middle of the body, high blood pressure, high blood sugars, and high cholesterol levels are all risk factors for heart disease and every one of these conditions was improving!
So how did treating diabetics with this diet plan change how I treat all my patients? Because I started to look at our similarities as humans. We all have mouths, stomachs, small intestines, portal veins, and livers. We all digest carbohydrates into sugars by using the same enzymes. We all secrete the same hormones in response to the food
that we are eating. Our livers all have the capacity to turn sugars into fat and cholesterol. Our bodies all function the same. And that is when I started testing my hypothesis on other patients who were not diabetic. It worked for them, too!
I was more astonished with each passing day. Every single patient thrived as he or she adopted this more balanced eating planfewer carbohydrates and all the proteins, fats, and nonstarchy vegetables they wanted. Those who needed to lose weight did so effortlessly. Those who were already in good shape found themselves with more
energy.
While I was watching my patients get healthy while eating fat, it made me realize that I had never met anyone who followed a low-fat diet who was as healthy as my patients
were becoming. Well, I thought, maybe it was just that those people I saw came for treatment of some problem. Maybe there were many healthy low-fat dieters out
there who never needed a doctor. Or, and this is a frightening thought, were they only healthy temporarily because they hadn't eaten that way long enough for the damage to their bodies to show up?
This was when I conducted a thorough search of the medical literature and discovered that there was not a single long-term study that proved that a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet was beneficial to our health. However, I did find thirty years' worth of basic science studies that proved that high insulin levels were linked to heart
disease, high blood pressure, excessive increase in body fat, and many other problems. This is when I concluded that the population studies were not as important in determining how to be healthy as basic science was.
Population studies take a segment of the population, follow it for a few years, and try to come up with conclusions. The variability involved in population studies makes this an almost impossible task. On the contrary, basic science is the study of how the body actually works in physiological terms. Basic science does not change greatly. However, every time you turn around the population studies are telling you how to eat differently. If we just stick to science everyone would stay on a balanced eating program consisting of healthy, nutritious foods.
You have seen how we have debunked the myth that eating fat makes you fat by actually looking at basic human physiology, which proves that increased insulin levels cause weight gain. Now let's go ahead and debunk another myththat consuming excess calories causes weight gain.
A calorie is simply the amount of energy required to raise one gram of water one degree Celsius. Proteins and carbohydrates each have four calories per gram. Fat has nine calories per gram. Therefore, fat is more than twice as fattening as proteins and carbohydrates, right? Wrong!
What happens in a test tube is not the same as what happens in your body. In your body, a carbohydrate snack must be used for immediate energy or it is stored as fat. But if the snack is protein and fat, the food is used first to replace cells, enzymes, and hormones that are made up of proteinsm and fats, which leaves fewer leftover calories to be stored around your middle.
After I discovered this, it became clear to me why my patients were able to consume more calories and more fat and still not gain weight. Once again, all signs were pointing to hormone changes in the body as the reason why people lose or gain weight. When insulin levels and their effects are higher, people are more prone to storing fuel as fat.
But I still had more work to do to convince my nondiabetic patients that eating fats was essential. They proved to themselves through experience that eating fat would not make them fat, but they were still worried that consuming more fat and cholesterol would lead to heart disease. So I began telling them how cholesterol and fat are essential to health and life. They are used by the body as building materials, and they need to come from the food you eat. Fat and cholesterol don't cause heart disease;
in fact, you must eat them to avoid heart disease and early death. The more good fats you eat, the healthier you will be.
Look at the good that cholesterol accomplishes in your body:
Essential for brain function
Forms insulation around nerves to keep electrical impulses moving
Forms membranes inside cells
Provides important structures in cell membranes
Keeps cell membranes permeable
Helps prevent mood swings
Maintains a healthy immune system
Makes important hormones
Stabilizes neurotransmitters
I explain to my patients that the body is constantly breaking down cells and building them up again. Dietary fats play a key role in this replenishing process. Like cholesterol deprivation, fat deprivation disrupts all the biochemical processes of your metabolism. It would be impossible to list all the health problems that can occur as
a result of depriving your body of fat, but here are a few signs and symptoms:
Brittle nails
Carbohydrate and stimulant craving
Constipation
Dry, limp, thinning hair
Infertility
Insomnia
Loss of lean body mass and fat gain around the middle
Mood disorders
Scaly, itchy skin
The solution to overcoming these conditions and avoiding many more is to eat good dietary fats. Fats found in nature are healthy. Saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats are all natural fats and therefore good for you. Your diet should be rich in fat and cholesterol, which can come from a wide variety of foods, such as
avocados, butter, eggs, red meat, chicken, shellfish, fish, olives, tofu, nuts, and seeds.
To summarize, let's take a quick look at "conventional wisdom," errors touted by everyone from women's magazines to the ADA, and compare it to what really happens in your body:
Conventional Wisdom: Eating fat makes your cholesterol rise, and puts you in heart-attack country.
The Truth: The high insulin levels created by am high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet cause plaque to be deposited in your arteries. Build enough plaque and you've built a heart attack. Eating fats and cholesterol lowers insulin levels and switches off the body's production of cholesterol, protecting you from heart attacks.
Conventional Wisdom: Risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) is increased by eating fat.
The Truth: Again, insulin is the real culprit. Without fat, insulin levels rise higher in the blood, which leads to other factors that cause high blood pressure.
Conventional Wisdom: The low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet for diabetics makes patients healthier.
The Truth: Type II diabetics are insulin resistant. Eating a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet increases their insulin resistance. Patients get better on a balanced plan of protein, fats, nonstarchy vegetables, and limited carbohydrates.
Conventional Wisdom: A low-fat diet prevents cancer. A high-fat diet causes cancer.
The Truth: Cancer cells grow best when insulin levels are high, just the climate created by the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. Dietary fat increases a healthy immune system and gives the body key components to fight cancer cells.
You now see why I am on the fat bandwagon. Eating fat isn't making us fatit's the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet that raises our insulin levels. There are some other factors that raise insulin levels, too, both directly and indirectly. These include dieting, stress, lack of exercise, caffeine, alcohol, aspartame, tobacco, steroids, stimulants
and other recreational drugs, excessive and/or unnecessary thyroid replacement therapy, and all over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
These insulin-stimulating factors have defined the lifestyle habits that have prevailed over the last twenty years in this country and parallel the rise in the incidence of
disease during the same period of time. A more complete exploration of the science as well as the nutritional and lifestyle program I recommend to my patients can be
found in The Schwarzbein Principle (Health Communications, Inc., 1999).
DIANA SCHWARZBEIN, M.D..
Santa Barbara, California

TOPS 10:
1. Strengthen your resolve-by deciding why weight loss is important to you.
2. Know your weaknessess-Keep yourself out of temptations way when possible.
3. Learn to recognize-which emotions triggers your worst food habits. Find other ways of dealing with these emotions.
4. Seek out fun, constructive activities-If simple boredom is the culprit seek out fun, constructive activities. This makes it less likely you'll overeat to fill the vacuum in your life.
5. When you make a mistake, acknowledge it and move on-everyone stumbles once in a while, but the successful person refuses to stay down for long.
6. Set specific, measurable, realistic goals-A small goal that you can meet is better than a bigger one that makes you anxious and sets you up for failure. And in time, all those small achievements will add up to a big improvement.
7. Focus on performance, not outcome-You can control whether you finish a 2 mile race; you can't control whether a faster walker or runner happens to beat you to the finish line.
8. Favor positive over negative goals- Positive goals tell us what to do. Negative goals tell us what to avoid. It's best to focus on alternatives that give you pleasure and help you move forward.
9. Set priorities-You have a limited amount of discretionary time each day. Spend it on things that really matter in the long run, like your health.
10.Be flexable-Successful weight-losers have a plan yet "go with the flow" to alter that plan when the need arises.

Hi Kim,

Good to hear from you...

Well, for your sake, I hope this works out that no other surgery is neccessary...but the main thing that I hope for is that you get things taken care of the best way possible for you, as fast as possible...

It just seems that almost everyone that ever has any kind of surgery, has to have it at least once more because the doctors always want to do this "wait and see thing" and do just a partial, instead of just getting it over with, so that patients can get on the correct dose for them as fast as possble and get on with their lives...

I am sure that if the doctor was the patient, they would get it all over with now, instead of waiting...
It is so frustrating to watch...I am just so glad that of all the things I had wrong, at least I didn't have to have surgery...because I know from the docotrs I had early on in all of this, I would have been one of the ones who had a conservative doctor and most likely had to have more than one suregery to get things finally taken care of...

Ok off my soap box...I am wishing you the best...thanks for the update...

Hugs, Bee

Well Friday was my doctor visit The ECHO wsa ok but I have to have a CTscan on my neck their could be a grouth and that is going to be donethe first week in Sept.this week I have lab work that has to be done Could be facing more surgery or redio active Iodine or both.The I go
back to the Doctor on the 8 of Sept to get the results of the CTscan.I get the feeling that it is not going to be ok because of thesize og my neck.Anyway will keep ever one posted.
kim

We've all heard the dangers of making your body think your starving - the result is that it holds onto every calorie it can hold on to - what you are doing is basically starving for about 16+ hours (Let's say from 7:30 pm - 11:30 am).... everyday!! Here are some articles about
how important breakfast is:

The Many Benefits Of A Great Breakfast http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm/cmi_350556

The Benefits of Breakfast
http://www.ivillage.com/food/experts/nutrition/articles/0,11731,165778_845,00.html

Breakfast -Why is it Important http://www.familyhaven.com/health/breakfast.html

Well Friday was my doctor visit The ECHO wsa ok but I have to have a CT
scan on my neck their could be a grouth and that is going to be done
the first week in Sept.this week I have lab work that has to be done
Could be facing more surgery or redio active Iodine or both.The I go
back to the Doctor on the 8 of Sept to get the results of the CT
scan.I get the feeling that it is not going to be ok because of the
size og my neck.
Anyway will keep ever one posted.
kim

Vandaag was ik door de arbeidsdeskundige van de USZO uitgenodigd voor
een toelichting op de herbeoordeling. Het is een hele aardige
arbeidsdeskundige, die het dossier goed had bestudeerd en de tijd
nam om mij alles uit te leggen.
De eerste keuring was 65-80% en de herbeoordeling door verzekeringsarts
bleek op hetzelfde percentage uit te komen.
De verzekeringsarts komt op een belastbaarheid van 20 uur in de week,
omdat ik 's ochtends en 's avonds mijn mail kan checken, een paar uur
per maand vrijwilligerswerk doe voor de huurdervereniging. Als je nog
in staat bent om telefoongesprekken te voeren, dan kan je kennelijk
ook nog telefonische verkoop doen. Ook werkt in mijn nadeel, dat ik
voor het ongeluk weinig verdiende. Met de geduide banen als inpakster,
beddenmagazijn medewerkster, medicijnen bezorgen voor een apotheek,
telefonische verkoop, schoonmaakster kan ik nog voldoende verdienen om
op het percentage van 60-80 % te komen.
Het bezwaar op de eerste beoordeling loopt nog. Ik ben vooralsnog niet
van plan om w.w. aan te vragen, aangezien ik niet kan werken en ook
niet kan solliciteren. De arbeidsdeskundige van de tegenpartij is ook
van mening dat betaalde arbeid niet haalbaar is.
De (her-)beoordeling van 65-80% door dezelfde verzekeringsarts zou geen
verrassing, maar het was toch weer een enorme confrontatie.
Ellen.

http://channels.aimtoday.com/ns/homerealestate/package.jsp?name=fte/fatvirus/fatvirus

Does a Fat Virus Cause Weight Gain?
[INLINE] Is fat contagious? A Virginia scientist thinks it might be and wants to test our blood for a fat virus.
Virginia physician and scientist Richard Atkinson, who is president of the American Obesity Association, has set up a new lab in Richmond called Obetech designed to test human blood for a fat virus, reports The Washington Post.
Before you laugh, know this: There is such a virus in chickens. And weirdly, the chickens that are infected are much fatter but have lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels than chickens that are not infected. Atkinson and Nikhal Dhurandhar have identified a similar "fat virus" that they say is "quite common in humans." It's called adenovirus (AD) 36. Atkinson's lab test costs between $125 to $150 and results take a few weeks.
Even if our weight gain is caused by a fat virus, eating less and moving more are still the best way to fight obesity. But understanding why we get fat, why some people can carry the extra weight with minimal health impact, and how to predict which slender twentysomethings will have a beer belly by age 45 are questions that intrigue scientists.
Atkinson and Dhurandhar injected the AD 36 fat virus into healthy animals and noticed it caused them to become fat compared with control groups that did not receive the injection. Washington Post reporter Sally Squires writes that just like Dhurandhar's chickens, the infected animals had blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels that remained lower than those in uninfected animals.
Since they can't inject a virus into human beings, the team screened blood from obese Americans and people of a healthy weight. They specifically looked for a previous AD 36 infection by hunting for antibodies against the fat virus. They found that about 30 percent of the obese participants had antibodies against AD 36, compared with 10 percent of the healthy-weight control subjects. Once again, those who had AD 36 also had significantly lower blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels than their uninfected counterparts.
The idea that a virus might be partly responsible for weight gain "is sort of a fringe idea as opposed to a cutting-edge idea," Steven B. Heymsfield, deputy director of the St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Obesity Research Center in New York, cautioned The Washington Post. "But Doctors Atkinson and Dhurandhar have done their homework. There's nothing to suggest that their observations are not valid to this point."
Atkinson is quick to point out that having the fat virus does not mean you will definitely become obese, but if you find out you have been infected before you have gained a lot of weight, it will alert you to be cautious.

http://www.about.com CTRL + Click to follow link
Thyroid Disease

In the Spotlight | More Topics
[INLINE] from Mary Shomon, your Editor and Guide
[INLINE]

[INLINE] In the Spotlight
Fighting the Dogma of Dr. Guttler & the So-Called "Real" Thyroid Experts
If you asked some of the conventional self-proclaimed thyroid experts, such as Dr. Richard Guttler -- most would insist that the following statements are true: "Real thyroid experts" should restrict patients to ONLY T4-replacement (levothyroxine, like Synthroid) There is NO...read more

[INLINE] [INLINE] More Topics
* Thyroid Disease Basics, Starting Point, Thyroid 101, Introductory Info
* Lose Weight Successfully Despite Thyroid Disease
* Thyroid Drugs & Various Treatments for Thyroid Conditions
* Get Tested for Thyroid Disease and Properly Diagnosed
* Thyroid Disease Symptoms and Risk Factors for Thyroid Disease
* Weight Loss and Diet Information Center
* Hypothyroid/No Thyroid -- Info Center

Drug Plant Manager Enters Guilty Plea to Tampering with Thyroid Drug Expiration Dates
Frances Hutchins, the former manager of the Charlotte, North Carolina Vintage Pharmaceuticals plant, is pleading guilty to federal felony charges that she participated in a conspiracy to put the wrong expiration dates on packages of millions of generic thyroid pills....read more

Clear Connection Found Between Thyroid and Autoimmune Diseases
Brazilian researchers recently reported on a study looking at the prevalence of thyroid function alongside autoimmune abnormalities, and determined that there is a definite connection between certain autoimmune diseases and thyroid dysfunction....read more
[INLINE]
Visit Related About GuideSites:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Fibromyalgia Depression Diabetes
Infertility Pregnancy / Birth Women's Health

[LINK]
Fitness

In the Spotlight | More Topics | Top Picks

[INLINE] from Wendy Bumgardner, your Editor and Guide
The Games are underway in Athens and my walking buddy Nancy says it's the time when she watches and thinks, "I wish I had THAT body!" We can all go a little faster, be a little stronger, climb a little higher.
[INLINE]

[INLINE] In the Spotlight

[INLINE] Ball Core Exercise Routine for Abs and More
The exercise ball is a great tool for strengthening those hard-to-get-to muscles, as well as improving your balance and overall coordination. See how to use your exercise ball to challenge your abs.
- Exercise Guide Paige Waehner

[INLINE] [INLINE] More Topics
* Olympic Cheat?
Swimming
* They Walk Funny - Olympic Racewalking
Walking
* Bike Stunts
Bicycling
* Frustrations - Beginners, Injuries, Plateaus
Martial Arts
* 10 Reasons Women Should Lift Weights
Sports Medicine
* The South Beach Diet and Diabetes
Diabetes
* Hooked on Fish - Low Carb Recipes
Low Carb Diets

[INLINE] Olympics News
Keep up to the minute on all details of the Athens Olympics. Join Jamie Fitzpatrick as he follows and blogs all of the activites and news of the Olympic Games.
- Olympics Guide Jamie Fitzpatrick

[INLINE] Shock Your Muscles with 100 Rep Sets
If you've been lifting weights regularly, you've undoubtedly come to training plateaus. These are the days when you gut it out and use 21s, half reps, drop sets, forced reps, or any other similar technique to help you climb over the wall. One "shock your muscle" method you may not have attempted yet is a 100 rep set.
- Bodybuilding Guide Estella Juarez

[INLINE] Top Picks - Backpacks for School and Work from your Walking Guide
[INLINE]
Backpacks and daypacks for going back to school or lugging your stuff to work should be as well-designed as those for hiking. Look for padded shoulder straps, waist belts adn sternum straps to distribute the weight. Reflective trim is a plus for walking safety.

1) JanSport Air Zone Daypack
Take the load off your shoulders with the comfortable S-curve Gelastic Gellycomb straps. The middle pocket holds a CD-player and cell phone with a trap door for headphones. The larger compartment holds all of your books, lunch, and other goodies.

2) High Sierra Buzz Pack
It has a CD pocket with headphone port, and an organizer with multiple pockets. The S-shaped Vapel mesh Airflow padded shoulder straps add comfort.

3) The North Face Yavapai Backpack
A great school or work pack with technical backpack features. Carry the load right with well-designed shoulder straps, sternum strap and hip strap. The back is ventilated for comfort. Organize your stuff in its pockets. Carry along drinks in the mesh pockets. Reflective stripe for safety. Compression straps to keep the load tidy.

Visit Related About GuideSites:
Bicycling Bodybuilding Exercise
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This info came to me from another group I am in and I wanted to share it with you all. We with auto-immune diseases(like hashimoto's)would have a tendency to have higher homocysteine levels.

FOLIC ACID AND BONES
Homocysteine, the amino acid that has been linked to heart disease may also be an important new risk factor for osteoporsis. A study in the Netherlands recently linked mildly elevated levels of homocysteine to an increased risk of bone fractures in elderly people. Researchers studying 2,406 subjects aged 55 and older found that the likelihood of facture doubled in subjects with the highest homocysteine levels compared to those with lower serum levels of homocysteine. The effect was found after researchers controlled for age, gender, body mass index, smoking and history of recent falls.
In a U.S. study, researchers found a similar association between homocysteine and hip fractures.
Because the studies showed no relationship between bone density and homocysteine levels, researchers believe homocysteine may be affecting bone structe in a different way by interferring with the development of the bone microarchitecture, a progress known as collagen cross linking. Lower amounts of collagen crosslinks have been found in patients who have momocysteinuria.
The good news is, if elevated homocysteine levels are causing osteoporsis, supplementing with B vitamins that have been shown to lower serum homocysteine levels especially folic acid may turn out to be an easy way for our aging population to avoid osteoporsis. Folic acid supplements are inexpensive. We urge our readers to start taking folic acid early.

To let all of you know...When I learned that there might be yeast
problem in my body (from candida symptom websites, and the "spit
test") I did some research and found myself on a website for threelac
and eventually at a health food store. I ordered threelac online so
I can't give any advice about that yeast fighter yet but, I did,
however, buy "twin lab yeast fighter" (yup its generically called
yeast fighter) the name brand cost was 60.00 when twinlab's cost
25.00. When I read about the effects of excess yeast in your system
I learned that many of the symptoms are the same as hypo symptoms.
So I figured give it a try. I took a couple of pills right away. It
didn't hit me how well it worked till this morning. I have not felt
this good since diagnosed with hypo. I have so much energy today
that I didn't take my usual nap on my lunch break. I don't have
chest pain today or bloating like usual. I am finding that I feel
best when I take pills throughout the day, one at a time four times a
day or as needed. (the label says take five all at once-I thought
that was a bit much) BUT the results are wonderful. I feel that
people with hypo need to be aware of the candida possibility...if you
have unexplained bloating, indigestion, heartburn, dizziness,
confusion, re-occuring yeast infections, cold hands and feet, upset
stomach, headache, etc. there are more but these are the symptoms I
had it might be worth checking the websites out. I left a few.... I
wish someone had told me instead of my many months of pain.
Good luck :)
Thanks Bee
Monica

[LINK]
Low Carb Diets

In the Spotlight | More Topics

[INLINE] from Larrian Gillespie, your Editor and Guide
[INLINE]

[INLINE] In the Spotlight

Get Hooked on Fish
No bones about it...fish is an excellent source of low calorie protein and omega fatty acids. Read my article and learn some fish tales.........read more

[INLINE] [INLINE] More Topics
* Dining and Shopping
* Recipes
* Menu Plans for Popular Low Carb Diets
* Weight Loss Diet Information Center
* Health Risks and Benefits
* Recipes
* News

Low Carb Cancer Connection
A low carb diet may offer some new benefits, when it comes to decreasing your risk of developing breast cancer. Read my article on the Low Carb Cancer Connection.......read more

Top 20 Fiber Rich Foods
Looking for a way to speed up your weight loss? Just select some of these Top 20 Fiber Rich Foods and watch the pounds slip away....read more

[INLINE]

[INLINE] [INLINE]

There is an article here about the low acid type diet that was posted about, that was in a woman's world magazine...a lot of holistic doctors swear by this type of diet to balance ones system to rid the body of several diseases...has to do with balancing the ph in the blood...there is also one on detoxing and one by Mary Shomon on Reiki...Hugs, Bee

[LINK]

Alternative Medicine

In the Spotlight | More Topics | Top Picks | Email Course

[INLINE] from Teri Robert, your Editor and Guide
Welcome!
This week in About Alternative Medicine: The Alkaline Diet, Exploring Your CoreSelf - Who Are You?, The Everything Reiki Book, Female Sexual Dysfunction, Emotional Root Causes of Illness and Injury, Chef Sabra Ricci's Detox Recipes, and more.
As always, we wish you health and tranquility.
[INLINE]

[INLINE] In the Spotlight

[INLINE] The Alkaline Diet
Most people have never heard of alkaline-acid balance, but many holistic doctors and nutritionists believe this diet can heal many health conditions and promote optimal health. The alkaline diet is opposite the high protein, high fat, low carb diets that are currently in vogue.
- Alternative Medicine Guide Cathy Wong, N.D.

[INLINE] [INLINE] More Topics
* Female Sexual Dysfunction
Alternative Medicine
* Emotional Root Causes of Illness and Injury
Holistic Healing
* Chef Sabra Ricci's Detox Recipes
Alternative Medicine
* Specialized Medicine
Holistic Healing
* Natural Treatments for Dandruff
Alternative Medicine
* Aligning Your Chakras
Holistic Healing
* Home Remedy How-To's
Alternative Medicine

[INLINE] Exploring Your CoreSelf - Who Are You?
Bob Gottfried Ph.D., author and originator of an innovative therapy called Core Integration Therapy (CIT) shares an adapted excerpt from his book: Shortcut to Spirituality: Mastering the Art of Inner Peace. He asks you to explore your CoreSelf to discover who you really are.
- Holistic Healing Guide Phylameana lila Desy

[INLINE] The Everything Reiki Book: Channel Your Positive Energy...
At first glance The Everything Reiki Book may seem a bit out there if you're not familiar with holistic healing or energy work. Author and Reiki Master, Phylameana lila Desy, our About.com guide to Healing, acknowledges that this treatment option is most suited for open-minded people who tend to adopt innovative treatments, and who don't require reams of journal research to know that something works. She agrees that close-minded skeptics may be reluctant to try reiki before fully understanding its intricacies. Once you delve into the topic of reiki under Desy's deft guidance, however, I have no doubt that skeptics and believers alike will all find something to take away from The Everything Reiki Book.
- Thyroid Disease Guide Mary Shomon

[INLINE] Top Picks - Editor's Choice from your Health Channel Guide
[INLINE]
This week, I thought I'd bring you something a bit different, so I'm listing one of my favorite sections from the three sites regularly featured in About Alternative Medicine.
Enjoy!

1) How to Meditate
People who meditate have long known that this practice has positive health benefits that include improved energy and calmness of mind. Research shows that meditation also increases levels of melatonin, an important hormone that supports the immune system, promotes deep and restful sleep, slows cell damage and aging, improves energy and may even inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Here are two meditation techniques that are based on those used in research studies. For maximal benefit, try to meditate for twenty minutes to half an hour before you go to sleep using the technique that feels more comfortable for you.

2) Spirituality
Library of linked pages on angels, spirit guides, rituals, charms, spells, amulets, dolphins, animal totems, more.

3) Basics For Beginners
Resources and information for beginning herbalists.

[INLINE] A Course On the Alternatives
[INLINE]
An Email Course for Better Health
Of course there's medication - sleeping pills, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants. But perhaps other techniques might help you sleep. If your doctor prescribes the pills, be sure to follow his advice, but try some one or more of these alternatives as an additional sleep aid. This eight week course will help you discover if one of these methods will work for you.

Visit Related About GuideSites:
Alternative Medicine Exercise Healthy Herbs
Holistic Healing Low Fat Cooking Nutrition
Stress Management Vegetarian Cuisine

this one is really interesting...
http://www.candida-society.org.uk/

Thanks so much.
Monica <mwcislo@...

here you go...
http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa052401a.htm
http://www.candidasupport.org/#why%20buy%20from%20us?
the second one is about candida....the first one is the possible link
to hypo...
good luck

WOW thats great. Can you give a link to the web site by chance?
Monica <mwcislo@...

Hello - I just wanted to share my recent findings about myself... I
have been suffering from chronic yeast infections since being
diagnosed and thought it may be related...still unsure if they even
are related but - stumbling on a website about candida was the best
mistake I have done in awhile because through a self test I was able
to determine that yeast overgrowth was a problem in my body - I
bought some yeast fighters and like magic my bloating went away, my
yeast infection went away, my headaches stopped, no more confusion,
no more nastly film in my mouth, way more energy and I feel 210%
better today then I felt yesterday. UNBELIEVABLE Granted its only
been a day but I wish I would have known about this possibility
months ago. No worries now though I just hope I feel this much
better all the time! Thanks for letting me share:)
Monica

here you go...
http://thyroid.about.com/library/weekly/aa052401a.htm
http://www.candidasupport.org/#why%20buy%20from%20us?
the second one is about candida....the first one is the possible link
to hypo...
good luck

Hello - I just wanted to share my recent findings about myself... I
have been suffering from chronic yeast infections since being
diagnosed and thought it may be related...still unsure if they even
are related but - stumbling on a website about candida was the best
mistake I have done in awhile because through a self test I was able
to determine that yeast overgrowth was a problem in my body - I
bought some yeast fighters and like magic my bloating went away, my
yeast infection went away, my headaches stopped, no more confusion,
no more nastly film in my mouth, way more energy and I feel 210%
better today then I felt yesterday. UNBELIEVABLE Granted its only
been a day but I wish I would have known about this possibility
months ago. No worries now though I just hope I feel this much
better all the time! Thanks for letting me share:)
Monica

Hi all,
I get updates on this guys website, because, although he does not have thyroid disease, he has lost a lot of weight...actually the main reason, is because he has a funny, ironic view of the world and posts in such a way that I enjoy most of his writings...
I do get the impression that he has a rather simplistic view on thyroid disease, as most of the world does, until it happens to them...but then a lot of thyroid patients who don't have as severe a case as others can be rather uncompassionate too...which is why I started my own thyroid disease group...
I guess the story he speaks of has been on the news, but this is the first I had heard of it...
I have to say that I cried as I read it...I felt as if I was reading my own "there, but for the grace of God go I" story...
Some of you have read my story before and some of you have seen the pics I posted in the photos section...I have a hard time telling my story, because it raises feelings in me that will probably never go away...afterward, I feel like a wrung out washrag, because of the buried emotions that I go through as I dredge up the past...and of course there are those who believe that no matter how bad our disease is, we have or had control to do something about it...because for whatever reason, they were able to...
I just really feel like the woman in this commentary most likely had thyroid disease...and probably had gone to doctors and been blown off and she finally gave up...because no one would listen...no one would listen...how many of us were treated that way for even a short time, but had good insurance to change doctors or otherwise change our course of fate...
People commenting on the story feel like she probably was mentally ill...how many of us went through depression when we went UN or UNDER-treated? I know that I did...in fact, if I miss a dose or 2, I will get a little bluesy and in the winter, if I don't have a higher dose of meds, I get SAD...what if we hadn't eventually found decent doctors who knew what they were doing...how many of us are still at the mercy of doctors who don't keep up with the latest research, or test the free's, and consider the tsh the only standard to go by and that anywhere in the so-called normal range (old or new) is just dandy...
Even though I feel like this all went haywire after the birth of my 2nd child, the warning signs and lots of symptoms had been there for years and treated symptom by symptom, but no one until I, (at 350 lbs) came across an article on thyroid disease and as I went down the list of symptoms, realized that with 28 out of 30 of the listed symptoms, that "this was me!"...I cried because after months of sitting and crying my eyes out on a daily basis, afraid to tell anyone, because I thought I was just going through a horrible post-partum depression and in my family, you don't ever admit that you are not perfect...
Fat people are disgusting in my family, so in addition to feeling like this "thing" had literally grabbed me by throat and drug me away, all the way, fighting, kicking and screaming...but I couldn't get away...and until I insisted on being tested...I just kept being told to try harder to diet and exercise...but at 350 lbs, I was finally diagnosed...the fact that I was gaining an average of 10 lbs a month never made my doctor wonder if this was normal...I had quit smoking, so I must be sitting in front of the fridge, fork in hand 24/7...I started to say that in addition to all of the diseases efects, I had a family that treated me like I was the most disgusting thing that ever lived...and of course the world does this, but that is easier to take...my husband and kids were great...was my mother mostly...it was so obvious that she didn't believe a word of it...she told me that she didn't believe in thyroid disease...what a %$#*@! she madesure in everythign she di that I knew
she was ashamed and disgusted with me...
So at 350 lbs, I was put on a tiny little (50mcg) dose of synthroid...and for the next 6-7 years was told that since that dose put me into the normal range, I was "all fixed"...
even though I continued to gain weight, but at a slower pace, no matter how much I starved myself...
Finally at 384.5 lbs and not being able to walk across the room without my back going into muscle spasms (I am 5'1") and trying to take care of 2 wonderful little boys who deserved a mother who was able to do all the things I had dreamed of being able to do with my children...I decided to have bariatric surgery...I had considered it before, but always thought that was such a drastic thing to do...I was going through a serious depression at the time and was so miserable that I did contemplate suicide, but ended up deciding that that was a lot more drastic than giving in and having the surgery...
After the surgery, I lost 100 lbs in the first 6 months, then came to a dead stop...the surgery puts your body into ketosis and your hormones on hyper-drive for supposedly 18-24 months, but I figure it only lasted the 6 months for me because of the thyroid disorder being so severely undertreated...I worked really hard and was able to get another 35 lbs off and then came to a dead stop again...
I kept complaining that I still had lots of symptoms, including the fact that I was hardly eating anything and had had the surgery, yet my weight was at a standstill...
Then about 3 1/2 years ago, I went into a horrible downward spiral healthwise and gained back 57 lbs in a 6 month period...I was getting sicker by the day and finally ended up in the ER thinking I was having a heart attack (for the 2nd time!) because of chest pains, shotness of breath, arm pain, etc...basically all of the things they tell you means a heart attack...well, all of my tests said my heart was fine...
They also told me that my thyroid was fine and all was wonderful and I kept seeing the nurses exchange looks while they rolled their eyes...they told me that my iron was really low but that wouldn't cause any of those symptoms either...the way they treated me was really humiliating, because I was not a hypochondriac and it was very upsetting...they told me the shortness of breath was probably that my emphysema has gotten worse so I had COPD...I had told them that I smoked for 20 years and that when I had quit, it was because the docotr had told me that he had heard the beginnings of emphysema and if I quit then, it might not get any worse...so this is why they came to this conclusion...
I walked out of there feeling like I really needed to get to the bottom of all of this...so I got out several of my natural healing books and such and the more I searched, the more I found that everything that had been going on was right there in black and white and was related to thyroid or iron deficiency or both!...this is when I finally gave in and got on the internet and started searching for answers...I found that even though my tsh WAS barely inside the so-called "normal range", that most of us feel much better when the tsh is much lowerthe chest and arm pains and shortness of breath can be caused by severe iron deficiency AND the thyroid disease!
The more I learned, the more I searched for answers and a doctor who would listen to me and I started printing off articles to try to get my doc to read them...I ended up goign through several doctors before I found one who knew what he was doing...most doctor's think they already know everything and don't want you helping them to learn...
About 1 1/2 years ago I found a doctor who is wonderful and has gradually upped my dose to about 14 times the dose I was kept miserable on for years...it turns out that I am one who needs a very large amount of t3 in addition to a t4 drug...in that 18 months, I have lost approx. 57 lbs...And even more important, I am feeling the best I have in years...most of my symptoms are either gone or much better...I still have trouble with aches and pains in my knees and feet, but hopefully as my body absorbs the latest dose increase, that will finally ease...
This story just really brought back a lot and made me remember once again Why I am here...
This is the first article that I read... the others give more detail about her life...and yes, she did have thyroid disease...definitely undertreated for this to happen...I couldn't help but cry as I read this, because this could have been me, had I not had insurance that paid for the surgery and pays for a good doctor who knows what he is doing with this...
http://www.chunktohunk.com/bp.php?page=/pages/journal.html <<<this links has a place to respond to his post and read others responses...
Couch-bound woman's death raises questions
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/martin_stlucie/epaper/2004/08/18/s1a_mcbody_0818.html or http://tinyurl.com/4x9hq
480-Pound Woman Dies After Six Years On Couch
http://www.wftv.com/news/3643877/detail.html

I should have my copy any day now! Can't wait to see what she has to say.

Barb S.
Bee Fuddled <beefuddled912@...

Is an improperly treated thyroid condition causing you to pack on the pounds, or dooming you to diet failure?
Today, you'll have the answer.
[LINK] I'm writing to let you know that today is publication day for my new book, The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss, the first book to tackle the critical connection between weight gain and thyroid disease, and offer a plan for lasting weight loss. The book is available in bookstores around the country, and if you put in your order at Amazon.com, the book will ship right away.
Order now at Amazon.
More than 25 million Americans have diagnosed and undiagnosed thyroid conditions, which almost always result in a metabolic slowdown. The Thyroid Diet will help many previously unsuccessful dieters get diagnosed and treated and proper thyroid treatment may be all that's needed for you to successfully lose weight.
Even after optimal treatment, however, so many of us have struggled with weight problems. For those of you who, like me, have battled extra weight, The Thyroid Diet identifies the many frustrating impediments to weight loss, and offers solutions--both conventional and alternative--to help.
You'll find information on optimal dietary changes, including how a thyroid sufferer should focus on a low-glycemic, high-fiber, lower-calorie diet, optimal timing of meals for maximum hormonal impact, thyroid- damaging foods to avoid, helpful herbs and supplements, and more.
The Thyroid Diet contains several different eating plans, food lists, and a set of delicious and healthy gourmet recipes, developed by Food Editor Jim McCauley. With handy worksheets to use in weight loss tracking, and a special resource section featuring websites, books, and support groups, you'll find vital help for the millions of thyroid patients dealing with weight problems.
The book is already in its second printing, due to pre-publication advance sales, and has been an Amazon.com Top 100 Bestseller for several weeks. Now you can have your own 400-page copy, jam-packed with the tools you need to finally lose weight, despite your thyroid problem.
The Thyroid Diet Features...

* Diet Planning Worksheets
* Eating Plans
* Food Lists
* Gourmet Recipes
* Information on Safe & Helpful Supplements and Herbs

Find Out More About The Thyroid Diet Now
* Read the Table of Contents
* Read a Free Chapter Online
* Explore Recommended Products/Supplements to Get You Started
* Get Cooking and Food Information from Jim McCauley, Food Editor
* Order the Book Now from Amazon.com -- Only $10.47, a 30% saving of $4.48 over the $14.95 list price

[INLINE]
As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction! ~Irish Blessing

http://www.about.com CTRL + Click to follow link
Thyroid Disease

In the Spotlight | More Topics | Top Picks | The Thyroid Diet
[INLINE] from Mary Shomon, your Editor and Guide
Dear Readers:
If you asked some of the conventional self-proclaimed thyroid experts, such as Dr. Richard Guttler -- most would insist that the following statements are true:
* "Real thyroid experts" should restrict patients to ONLY T4-replacement (levothyroxine, like Synthroid)
* There is NO BENEFIT to using T3 in treating hypothyroidism, so the treatment should be T4-replacement
* Most patients on T4-replacement after antithyroid therapy DON'T gain weight
* Patients DON'T have chronic fatigue or depression after becoming hypothyroid despite using T4-replacement
* TSH and free T4 levels CAN NOT possibly lead to different conclusions about a patient's thyroid status, depending on when her blood is drawn
* TSH and free T4 levels CORRESPOND to patients' TRUE clinical status
But NOT SO, says researcher Dr. John Lowe, who in a detailed critique that has just been published, systematically and scientifically analyzes and debunks every one of these beliefs, citing recent research in the field of endocrinology to back up his argument. Dr. Lowe explores how Dr. Guttler and many of his fellow "real thyroid experts" regularly fail to comply with the professional scientist's principle of evidence-driven medicine.
Says Dr. Lowe: "their beliefs aren't just dead, they're in rigor mortis..."
If you are dealing with doctors who are basing their treatment of you on out-of-date information about thyroid disease, or practitioners who feel that you don't deserve to hear the kind of information I provide you here at the site, this is a report you -- and your doctor -- must read.
Live well,
Mary
[INLINE]

[INLINE] In the Spotlight
Fighting the Dogma of Dr. Guttler & the Real Thyroid Experts
Many of you are dealing with doctors who feel they have the last word on thyroid disease, who are basing their treatment of you on out-of-date information about thyroid disease, or who feel that you don't deserve to hear the kind of information you get here at the site. If so, this special report from Dr. John Lowe, debunking many of the beliefs about hypothyroidism treatment as espoused by Dr. Richard Guttler and other self-proclaimed "real experts" is essential reading.

[INLINE] [INLINE] More Topics
* Reader Writes: Try Walmart Pharmacies
No problem getting Armour & other drugs
* Find Top Thyroid Doctors, Learning From and Dealing With Doctors
The best doc is your best advocate
* Conditions Common in Thyroid Patients or Related to Thyroid Disease
Explore your symptoms now
* Endocrine Conditions and Autoimmune Diseases
They're all related and interconnected
* Thyroid Cancer, Goiter, Enlarged Thyroid, Nodules and Other Conditions
Key information about important issues
* Weight Loss and Diet Information Center
Losing weight is possible!
* Thyroid 101 Basics/Site Map/Start Here
Your starting place for key info

Thyroid Groups Issue Press Release Warning About Generics
The American Thyroid Association (ATA) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), two groups that receive extensive funding from Abbott Labs, manufacturer of Synthroid, have issued another press release regarding the generic levothyroxine issue, warning that important differences do, in fact, exist between one generic and the Synthyroid. Are the endos more worried about you, or Synthroid's market share? Find out what you need to know.

Readers Furious at Nat'l Enquirer and Radio Host for Remarks
Thyroid patients around the nation have not taken kindly to the National Enquirer's assertion that Linda Ronstadt's political statements at a concert were a result of her being "unhinged" and "unstable" due to her Hashimoto's thyroid disease. And they didn't appreciate LA radio host Gary Bryan making fun of thyroid patients as he repeated the story on the air. No matter what side of the political debate you're on, we're all on the same side as thyroid patients, as you'll after reading some of the letters written to the Enquirer and/or Gary Bryan....

[INLINE] Top Picks - Latest Weight Loss Breakthroughs from your Thyroid Disease Guide
[INLINE]
Discover some of the most recent breakthrough information for weight loss, along with one of my favorite secrets!!

1) Hoodia Gordonii: Promising Appetite Suppressant
If you haven't heard about the supplement hoodia gordonii, there's no doubt you will very soon. Hoodia, a natural appetite suppressant, is earning attention as a potentially powerful weapon in the war against obesity and the American focus on losing weight. Find out now.

2) Cinnamon: Help for Insulin Resistance and Weight Loss
If you think cinnamon is simply something to sprinkle on your holiday cookies or cappuccino, think again. The popular spice, once considered more precious than gold, has medicinal value that is making dieters take notice. Find out more now about how cinnamon may be an aid in the battle of the bulge.

3) Pilates Power
If you're not familiar with this form of exercise that was popularized as training and rehabilitation for dancers decades ago, and is now enjoying renewed success with celebrities, you're missing out on a wonderful muscle-building approach. Find out why I do Pilates two times a week!
[INLINE]
[INLINE] The Thyroid Diet is Coming!
[INLINE]
The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Weight Loss
On Wednesday, August 17th, The Thyroid Diet will arrive. My new book, which is already a Top 100 Amazon.com bestseller, and is in a 2nd printing before it has even been released, will be in bookstores, and shipping from your favorite online retailers. The Thyroid Diet is the first book to tackle the critical connection between weight gain and thyroid disease, offering a conventional and alternative plan for lasting weight loss. The Thyroid Diet can help previously unsuccessful dieters get diagnosed and treated - and proper thyroid treatment may be all that's needed for you to successfully lose weight. But for those who, despite treatment, still struggle with weight problems, The Thyroid Diet identifies the many frustrating impediments to weight loss, and offers solutions--both conventional and alternative--to help. The Thyroid Diet discusses optimal dietary changes, including how a thyroid sufferer should focus on a low-glycemic, high-fiber, lower-calorie diet, optimal
timing of meals for maximum hormonal impact, thyroid-damaging foods to avoid, helpful herbs and supplements, and more. The book contains several different eating plans, food lists, and a set of delicious and healthy gourmet recipes, developed by Food Editor Jim McCauley. With handy worksheets to use in weight loss tracking, and a special resource section featuring websites, books, and support groups, you'll find vital help for the millions of thyroid patients dealing with weight problems. Click through to read a sneak preview of the book's Introduction now right here at About.com!
Visit Related About GuideSites:
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / Fibromyalgia Depression Diabetes
Infertility Pregnancy / Birth Women's Health

A WEIGHT OFF MY MIND | June 2004
Helping Thyroid and Autoimmune Disease Patients Lose Weight and Feel Great
from Patient Advocate Mary J. Shomon
Author of "Living Well With Hypothyroidism," "Living Well With Autoimmune Disease," the "Thyroid Guide to Fertility, Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Success," "Living Well with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia," "The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss," and the forthcoming "Living Well With Graves' Disease & Hyperthyroidism"

Medscape from WebMD Diabetes & Endocrinology^®
www.medscape.com/diabetes-endocrinologyhome
MedPulse is a weekly index of key news and features on Medscape's specialty sites compiled by Medscape's Editors.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040818/HBECK18/TPHealth/

Recent fears won't keep salmon off my dinner plate
By LESLIE BECK
Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - Page A11

It's hard to figure out what to eat these days. Previously revered for its heart-healthy oils, salmon was dealt another blow last week. Researchers from Indiana University reported trace levels of flame-retardant chemicals in farmed and wild salmon.

This news comes on the heels of an earlier finding from the same study. In January, a report published in Science magazine revealed that farm-raised salmon harbour significantly higher levels of PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, than do their ocean-swimming cousins.

Health professionals have long praised the nutritional virtues of salmon and advise Canadians to eat two servings of fish per week to guard against heart disease.

Fish is an excellent source of protein and it's low in artery-clogging saturated fat. Fish such as salmon, trout, sardines and mackerel are packed with omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce the risk of heart arrhythmias, lower blood-fat levels and slow the growth of fatty plaques on artery walls.

So what's a confused consumer to do with this mixed message? Should you replace your salmon filet with a New York steak?

Before you decide what to eat and what not to eat, the recent findings about farmed salmon need to be put in perspective.

Last week's report identified low levels of chemicals called polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in salmon. PBDEs are used as flame-retardants in many products, including furniture stuffing, carpet backings and computer and television casings.

These chemicals are gaining attention due to their increasing levels in the environment, and for their potential for accumulation in the body and toxicity.

PBDEs make their way into the environment during production, use or disposal and end up in humans through food, breast milk and dust. They enter the food chain because they are stored in the fat of animals, so meat, poultry and fish all contribute PBDEs to the diet.

The Indiana University researchers analyzed 700 species of uncooked salmon from around the world and determined that, as a group, farm-raised salmon -- especially those from Europe -- have higher levels of PBDEs than do wild salmon. But when salmon species were compared by location, the highest levels were found in wild B.C. Chinook salmon, even higher than the farmed species.

Previous studies, including one from Health Canada, have found very low PBDE levels in farmed salmon (one to four parts per billion) and slightly lower levels in wild salmon. In contrast, household dust contains PBDEs measured in parts per million -- one thousand times greater than parts per billion.

PBDEs have not been demonstrated to be carcinogenic in animal studies. Limited data in mice suggest harmful effects on the nervous system and thyroid hormone function. According to Health Canada, the extremely low levels of PBDEs in our food do not pose any health risk, and no regulatory agency has yet established an acceptable limit for PBDEs in food.

What about PCBs in salmon? These chemicals were widely used for industrial purposes until 1977, when they were banned in North America. Like PBDEs, PCBs stick around in the environment and accumulate in the fat of animals and fish.

The Indiana University study found an average PCB content of 36.6 parts per billion (ppb) in farmed salmon, compared with three ppb in wild salmon. A difference yes, but not so different when examined in a larger context.

Health Canada, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization have set the acceptable limit of PCBs at 2,000 ppb. The trace PCB levels found in farmed salmon represent less than 2 per cent of the acceptable limit.

Nevertheless, the authors of the Indiana study concluded that eating farmed salmon more than once a month could increase the risk of cancer. That risk is theoretical, primarily based on animal studies. There is no credible evidence that environmental exposure to PCBs increases the risk of cancer in humans.

Yet there is a mountain of evidence that eating fish rich in omega-3 fats protects against heart disease. Recent research also suggests that fatty fish might keep the brain healthy and help prevent Alzheimer's.

No food should contain contaminants but, unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world. While we wait for governments to introduce measures to protect the environment from PBDEs, we must learn how to minimize our intake of food contaminants and choose foods that offer the greatest health benefits.

To reduce your exposure to fat-soluble chemicals such as PBDEs and PCBs in fish, meat and poultry, trim away fatty areas before cooking. Remove the skin and then grill, bake, broil or steam on a rack to allow fat to drain off while cooking.

I am not going to trade in my salmon for meat. I will continue to enjoy salmon, both wild and farmed. I don't believe that one study alone is enough to dismiss the long-standing research that demonstrates the health benefits of salmon.

However, I will take measures to minimize my intake of chemicals from all foods, not just salmon.Leslie Beck, a Toronto-based dietitian at the Medcan Clinic, is on CTV's Canada AM every Wednesday. Contact her at lesliebeck.com.

Is an improperly treated thyroid condition causing you to pack on the pounds, or dooming you to diet failure?
Today, you'll have the answer.
[LINK] I'm writing to let you know that today is publication day for my new book, The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss, the first book to tackle the critical connection between weight gain and thyroid disease, and offer a plan for lasting weight loss. The book is available in bookstores around the country, and if you put in your order at Amazon.com, the book will ship right away.
Order now at Amazon.
More than 25 million Americans have diagnosed and undiagnosed thyroid conditions, which almost always result in a metabolic slowdown. The Thyroid Diet will help many previously unsuccessful dieters get diagnosed and treated and proper thyroid treatment may be all that's needed for you to successfully lose weight.
Even after optimal treatment, however, so many of us have struggled with weight problems. For those of you who, like me, have battled extra weight, The Thyroid Diet identifies the many frustrating impediments to weight loss, and offers solutions--both conventional and alternative--to help.
You'll find information on optimal dietary changes, including how a thyroid sufferer should focus on a low-glycemic, high-fiber, lower-calorie diet, optimal timing of meals for maximum hormonal impact, thyroid- damaging foods to avoid, helpful herbs and supplements, and more.
The Thyroid Diet contains several different eating plans, food lists, and a set of delicious and healthy gourmet recipes, developed by Food Editor Jim McCauley. With handy worksheets to use in weight loss tracking, and a special resource section featuring websites, books, and support groups, you'll find vital help for the millions of thyroid patients dealing with weight problems.
The book is already in its second printing, due to pre-publication advance sales, and has been an Amazon.com Top 100 Bestseller for several weeks. Now you can have your own 400-page copy, jam-packed with the tools you need to finally lose weight, despite your thyroid problem.
The Thyroid Diet Features...

* Diet Planning Worksheets
* Eating Plans
* Food Lists
* Gourmet Recipes
* Information on Safe & Helpful Supplements and Herbs

Find Out More About The Thyroid Diet Now
* Read the Table of Contents
* Read a Free Chapter Online
* Explore Recommended Products/Supplements to Get You Started
* Get Cooking and Food Information from Jim McCauley, Food Editor
* Order the Book Now from Amazon.com -- Only $10.47, a 30% saving of $4.48 over the $14.95 list price

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As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction! ~Irish Blessing

[LINK]
Depression

In the Spotlight | More Topics | Top Picks | Submit a Link

[INLINE] from Nancy Schimelpfening, your Editor and Guide
Can the food we eat have an influence on our moods? I believe so. Certain foods can have a strong influence on blood sugar, which can affect your mood. Deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals can cause symptoms of depression. Certain foods can also raise serotonin and boost your mood. It's clear that your intake of food can either cause or alleviate depression, depending upon your own unique nutritional and health status.
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[INLINE] In the Spotlight

Does Chocolate Cause Depression?
This is an older forum thread, but I thought some good points where brought out: "Any time I eat chocolate. I am depressed for a few days. It could be an allergy to food. But any kind of chocolate and...read more

[INLINE] [INLINE] More Topics
* Food and Mood
* Eat Fish for Healthy Baby, Happy Mom
* Low Carb Recipe Index
* Expert Says High Carbs Key to Losing Antidepressant Weight
* A Vitamin a Day Keep Depression Away
* More About Nutrition and Depression
* More Causes of Depression

Modern Eating Habits Linked to Depression
The causes of depression may vary as much as our individuality, yet we often fail to consider our eating habits as possible culprits....read more

Better Nutrition Needed, Not Drugs
As a Clinical Nutritionist I look at the problem of depression in a entirely different point of view from the drug oriented approach by most doctors....read more

[INLINE] Top Picks - Recent Forum Posts from your Depression Guide
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1) Employers Should Treat Depression
I've posted elsewhere, but wanted to reach the largest numbers possible with this information. If you are suffering from depression, you may benefit from the news release I've pasted below. Or if you know someone with depression, you could pass it on to him or her. It gives information about a free internet based "depression calculator" that employers can use to calculate the costs and benefits of treating depression among their employees both with medications and counseling. I would think it would be of interest to human resources departments at companies, as it presents a pretty persuasive argument for treatment that might result in more employees with depression being treated. Good luck!

2) Would You Do Therapy Online?
Would you ever consider entering into online therapy? If so why? If not why? Have any of you ever done it?

3) Wellbutrin XL or SR?
My therapist wants me to get on anti-depressants again but I'm really concerned about weight gain. I went to the doctor and they perscribed me Wellbutrin XL 150 mg but I haven't even taken it yet because I'm worried about the side effects. The doctor didn't even go over anything with me or tell me anything about Wellbutrin SR. I'm kinda confused because I've been reading alot of message boards and people seem to like SR better than XL. I'm thinking about calling and changing to SR because alot of people said it made them hungry and gain weight. I even asked the doctor if it would make me gain but it's also the same doctors office that said I wouldn't gain on remeron. Which I put on 15 pounds in two months and it took forever to lose. What is your experience with Wellbutrin SR or XL? And which one causes weight loss?
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Visit Related About GuideSites:
Abuse / Incest Support Bipolar Disorder Mental Health Resources
Panic / Anxiety Disorders Senior Health Women's Health

http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm/cmi_200636

Take a Diet-Friendly Breakfast Beyond Bacon And Eggs

By DANA CARPENDER Columnist
August 18, 2004 Pages(2): 1 | 2 | Next Page

BREAKFAST SHOULD BE the cornerstone of your low-carb diet. It has a profound impact on hunger all day. In one study, subjects who ate a cheese omelet for breakfast ate 81 percent fewer calories during the rest of the day than subjects who ate instant oatmeal. Eating the right breakfast can also improve your energy, mood and mental clarity.

Eggs are great for people following a low-carb meal plan, and infinitely variable, but my mail tells me that many of you are heartily sick of them.

Here are some ideas to vary your breakfasts:

While bacon is too low in protein to serve by itself, both sausage and ham make fine, high-protein breakfasts. Throw sausage patties on your electric tabletop grill, and they'll cook quickly, with little tending.

Burgers, chops and small steaks make great breakfasts, and can also be cooked quickly and easily on that electric tabletop grill.

Leftovers make a good breakfast (such as warmed-up meat loaf or stir-fry).

Cottage cheese is cheap, high protein, low-carb and loaded with calcium, too. (My sister likes cottage cheese and sausage together!) If you like, you can add berries and a little sweetener to your cottage cheese: 1 cup of cottage cheese plus 1/2 cup sliced strawberries has 27 grams of protein, 11 grams of carbohydrate with 2 grams of fiber, for a usable carb count of 9 grams ("usable carb" being the number of carbohydrates minus the fiber).

In "The GO-Diet" (GO Corp., 1999), Jack Goldberg and Karen O'Mara explain that the 12 grams of carbohydrates per cup figure listed on a container of plain yogurt is high. Yes, the milk the yogurt is made from has 12 grams of lactose, but the yogurt bacteria convert it to lactic acid, giving yogurt its characteristic tangy taste, and leaving the yogurt with just 4 grams of usable carb per cup (and 9 grams of protein). Add your favorite flavoring extract - I like lemon or vanilla - and artificial sweetener.

To increase the protein content of that yogurt, add a little low- carb "granola." One-third cup of Gram's Gourmet Flax 'n Nut Crunchies (you can buy it at www.carbsmart.com), my favorite, adds another 7 grams of protein, 6.7 grams of carbohydrate with 4 grams of fiber, for a usable carb count of 2.7 grams - and plenty of minerals and healthy fats. Plus, of course, crunch and flavor!

There are a number of low-carb "cereals" on the market, both cold and hot. Many are soy-heavy, however, and I try to limit my soy intake, due to worries about effects on thyroid, mineral absorption and cognitive function. However, my favorite low-carb hot "cereal," Cream of Flax (you can find it at www.gramsgourmet.com), has no soy. It is as quick and easy as instant oatmeal, with 18 grams of protein per serving, and 11 grams of carbohydrate, 8 grams of which are fiber, for a usable carb count of just 3 grams.

http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm/2/cmi_200636

Take a Diet-Friendly Breakfast Beyond Bacon And Eggs

By DANA CARPENDER Columnist
August 18, 2004 Pages(2): 1 | 2 | Next Page

Protein bars and shakes make quick grab-and-go breakfasts. Of the two, I prefer shakes, because they usually don't contain polyol sweeteners. With the new carb-reduced milk on the market, you can easily make your own, if you like - just put 1 cup of carb-reduced milk through the blender with a scoop (about 1/4 cup) of whey protein powder, a few ice cubes, and the extract and sweetener of your choice.

Other breakfasts-to-go include individually wrapped string cheese or cheese chunks, hard-boiled eggs, cold cuts and cottage cheese in individual containers with peel-off lids.

Low-carb baked goods are flooding the market, but again, most contain a lot of soy. I prefer to make my own. If you'd like to try adapting a muffin or quick bread recipe, try using a 50-50 combination of vanilla whey protein powder and finely ground almonds or pumpkin seeds in place of the flour. (For example, replace 1 cup of flour with 1/2 cup of ground almonds and 1/2 cup of vanilla whey protein powder. Note: this combination, without additional gluten, won't work in yeast breads.)

Here's a recipe for Gingerbread Waffles I came up with for Sunday breakfast just recently. Make a double or triple batch and freeze the extras, and you'll have waffles to pop in the toaster while you're taking a shower.

GINGERBREAD WAFFLES

SERVES SIX

3/4 cup almonds

1 cup vanilla whey protein powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup Splenda

1 tablespoon baking powder

11/2 cups carbohydrate-reduced milk (or 3/4 cup heavy cream and 3/ 4 cup water)

2 eggs

4 tablespoons melted butter

2 teaspoons ground ginger

Preheat waffle iron.

Put the almonds in your food processor with the S-blade in place, and grind them until they're the texture of cornmeal.

Combine dry ingredients, including the almond meal. Mix together the low-carb milk or cream/water combination, and the eggs, then stir the melted butter into them. Pour this into the dry ingredients, and mix with a few quick strokes.

Ladle the batter into the waffle iron (about 1/2 cup at a time is right in my waffle iron). Bake according to the directions for your waffle iron.

Serve with whipped cream.

Made with carb-reduced milk: 345 calories; 34 g protein; 8 g carbohydrate; 3 g dietary fiber; 5 g usable carb.

Dana Carpender is the author of "500 Low-Carb Recipes," the best- selling low-carb cookbook in America, and the editor of the bi- weekly online newsletter "Lowcarbezine!" You can contact her online at www.holdthetoast.com.

(C) 2004 Seattle Post-Intelligencer. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved

August 16, 2004

If, at the end of the day, you're left feeling like your life is running yourather than you're running your lifeit's time to take charge! Otherwise, it's just too easy to skip workouts and eat the wrong foods on the run. Organization and preparation are the keys. Now, I'll admit it doesn't come to me naturally, but with a husband, two kids, and a busy career I had to learn fast! Try some of my secrets:
* Use Sunday as a planning day. Look over recipes and think ahead. What can you get ready in advance to save time later?
* Keep a calendar. A day planner can help you get the most out of every hour in your day.
* Try to exercise in the morning, before the day's activity begins.
* Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Learn to delegate.
* Prepare meals in advancemaking a double portion one night, for examplethen serving one and freezing the other for a more time-pressed day.

Monday, August 16 Subscribe Now!

Welcome to your Daily Zone the newsletter from Dr. Sears Zone Diet Advantage! Lose weight, boost your energy, and safeguard your health with daily advice from Dr. Barry Sears, creator of the Zone diet.
Easy Summer Marinade

Getting together for a family barbecue is one of the great traditions of summer. To make the most of your backyard bash, try this delicious Zone-friendly marinade, which is sure to be a hit with everybody, whether they're living in the Zone or just visiting.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fish sauce
2 teaspoons soy sauce
Juice of 1 lime

Instructions:
Combine ingredients in a bowl. Marinate meat or fish for 30 minutes.

For a great side dish, try wrapping some vegetables (either fresh or frozen) in foil and seasoning them with ginger, soy sauce, and lime. Leave some room in the package so the vegetables can steam. When you're ready to serve, just throw the foil away.

The Skinny on Fats

What are considered "good" fats on the South Beach Diet?
* Monounsaturated fats like olive oil and canola oil are Dr. Agatston's number one choice. Studies show that they can actually reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. They're also filling and make your food more palatable, which can help with long-term weight control.
* Polyunsaturated fats like sesame, sunflower, corn, and peanut oil are also recommended.
* Fats to avoid are trans-fatty acids (the hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils found in most solid margarine), and saturated fats like lard, animal fat and butter, which can increase your bad cholesterol.

While there are no specific limitations on how much of the good oils you should use, they can sabotage your weight-loss goals if you overindulge. Try sticking to a tablespoon or so with each meal, and monitor your response carefully. If you're not losing weight and you think oil is the culprit, consider cutting back.

http://diet.fitness.msn.com/article/809342.armx?GT1=4538

The Most Important Meal of the Day

By the American Institute for Cancer Research

Eating breakfast (© BananaStock/PictureQuest)

Remember the saying, Breakfast is the most important meal of the day? Its true. In fact, breakfast may help control Americans increasing problem with overweight and obesity. A number of studies show that people who successfully maintain a significant weight loss eat breakfast just about every day.
What you choose to eat for breakfast makes a big difference for your health. A variety of fruits can bring you near the minimum number of five daily fruit and vegetable servings recommended for lower cancer risk. Or once in a while try a medley of vegetables in an omelet.

A Long-Lasting Start to Your Day
After fasting all night, breakfast can kick-start your energy level. If you choose healthful, slow-burning foods, like whole grains and fruits, you should be able to control your appetite until midday. Overeating throughout the day is also less likely. Studies show that people who skip breakfast tend to make up for the calories later in the day, often with unhealthy, high-fat and high-calorie convenience foods.
Theres another advantage, too. Eating breakfast increases the metabolic or calorie-burning rate. Consequently, you have more energy and weight control is easier.
Watch out for foods heavy with refined sugars, like pastries and sugary cereals. These foods offer calories without many essential nutrients. High sugar foods and drinks may also cause your energy to soar briefly before it falls to lower levels. You may feel more drained and hungry, even if you ate breakfast.
To avoid the sugar slump, choose whole grain breads and cereals (with low sugar content), fresh or canned fruits (in unsweetened juice) and even foods that are not usually served for breakfast, such as vegetable soup or a bean spread like hummus on whole wheat toast. Choosing these foods will give you longer-lasting energy.
Breakfast on the Go
To resist the temptation to grab a doughnut, shop smart. Stock your pantry with healthful ingredients, like oatmeal, whole wheat bread, wheat germ, nuts and canned or dried fruit. Flaxseed from health food stores is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which you can grind and add to lowfat cereal, yogurt, cottage cheese and smoothies. Some other quick and healthful ideas are:
* A nonfat or lowfat yogurt parfait layered with fresh fruit and cereal, nuts or raisins
* Lowfat yogurt mixed with fresh fruit in a blender for a vitamin-rich smoothie
* Whole wheat toast with a little peanut butter and banana slices

* Instant or quick-cooking oatmeal or whole grain cold cereal with raisins or fresh fruit and lowfat dairy or soy milk
* Fish, such as leftover salmon, on a whole grain bagel with reduced or nonfat cream cheese
* Homemade bran or fruit and nut muffins, made on the weekend and frozen.

The American Institute for Cancer Research offers a brochure called The New American Plate for Breakfast to help you change to a better beginning each day. It includes recipes. Call 1-800-843-8114, ext. 110, to request your free copy or read it online at www.aicr.org/brochures/br.htm.

Provided by the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C.

Today marks 2 full weeks on Synthroid...at 50mcg...Not really seeing any changes...just less hungry...is this normal? How long before I see some changes and what should I expect?

Peace, Mona

So you REALLY want a Ministry? Well, here's one that's FREE, EASY and you don't have to leave home to do it:

http://www.wordforlife.com/ptm/stamps

If Christians spent as much time praying as they do grumbling, they would soon have nothing to grumble about.

http://diet.fitness.msn.com/article/809359.armx

Too Much Junk

By Karen Collins, MS, RD, CDN

Eating potato chips (© BananaStock/PictureQuest)

A new report on American eating habits reveals that almost a quarter of the calories we consume come from nutrient-poor selections better known as junk food. This surprising fact clashes with the advice of many nutrition experts on how to eat more healthfully and control weight. To counteract the effect of escalating portion sizes, many experts recommend decreasing the amounts of the foods we eat. But if one-fourth of what we eat is junk food, weight reduction campaigns should emphasize eating differently, not just eating less.
The new report is based on surveys of about 4,700 people. According to the responses, soft drinks are the number one source of calories. They accounted for 7.1 percent of the calories these people consumed in 19992000. Altogether, the categories of soft drinks, sweets and desserts, and alcoholic beverages contributed 23.8 percent of the calories that these survey respondents consumed. Salty snacks and fruit-flavored drinks added another five percent of calories. Since these foods are relatively concentrated in calories, you dont have to eat a lot of them to increase your daily calorie total.
Another study looking only at youths aged 8 to 18 reports similar findings. Candy, table sugar, sweetened drinks, baked and dairy desserts, salty snacks, fatty foods like butter and gravy, along with some other nutrient-poor foods made up more than 30 percent of the calories these youths consumed. In fact, desserts and table sweeteners alone comprised almost 25 percent of the total calories. Furthermore, those who ate the most junk food tended to eat the least amount of nutrient-dense, healthful foods. They took in less vitamins A, B-6 and folate, as well as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc.
Although both of these studies are based on large national surveys, they included larger than representative proportions of blacks, Hispanics and low-income individuals. Consequently, the results may poorly characterize the eating habits of the average U.S. population.
However, a third study, which used a randomly selected group, confirms that people who eat a lot of junk food suffer nutritionally. This study looked at the impact of salty snack foods, like potato chips, corn chips, crackers, pretzels and cheese curls. Those who ate the most of these high-fat salty snack foods had diets high in total and saturated fat and low in fruits and vegetables. These people scored poorly for dietary healthfulness. Other people who ate more fat-free versions of these snacks tended to eat more fruits, vegetables and fiber. But even fat-free snacks, when heavily consumed, can be detrimental to your health because of too many calories. The amount of sodium consumed by heavy users of both regular and fat-free snack foods also went well beyond recommended limits.
These three studies of nutrient-poor food consumption highlight several important messages. Between-meal snacks and drinks may be the best place to start substituting healthy choices and cutting back. Second, people who are overweight can still be undernourished. Eating more healthful foods may be an important goal for these people, too. Finally, these studies and others like them refute the commonly heard idea that as long as someone maintains an appropriate weight, junk food is OK. Eating substantial amounts of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods tends to be part of an eating pattern that ignores nutrient-rich vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans. Even if you dont gain weight with this eating pattern, it could increase your health risks, like the risk of cancer, by depriving you of protective nutrients and phytochemicals.

Provided by the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C.

Looking good, Melissa!
Just thought a few of you would like to see my progress. I am still amazed at how amazing my surgeon is. You can't even see half of my scar already unless you look closely. It is 4 inches but you can only see half of it. There is still a little swelling but not much. Melissa

ps- for the thyroid groups, I will post them in the file section under Melissa's pic.

[INLINE]

[INLINE]
Organize, print and share your digital photos.
Click here to get the software.

How to save a picture
Simply right click on it and select "save image as." MAC users, click and drag the image to your desktop.

[LINK]

Copyright © Eastman Kodak Company, 2003

It's your body; it's your life.
Be proactive in your health care.

Just thought a few of you would like to see my progress. I am still amazed at how amazing my surgeon is. You can't even see half of my scar already unless you look closely. It is 4 inches but you can only see half of it. There is still a little swelling but not much. Melissa

ps- for the thyroid groups, I will post them in the file section under Melissa's pic.

[INLINE]

[INLINE]
Organize, print and share your digital photos.
Click here to get the software.

How to save a picture
Simply right click on it and select "save image as." MAC users, click and drag the image to your desktop.

[LINK]

Copyright © Eastman Kodak Company, 2003

I sent photo's to the list and also added them to my photo section labled Melissa's pics. I thought it looked good at just 8 days but I am in total amazement at how it looks at 2 weeks. My scar started at 4 inches and now only about half is really visable.

Melissa

"Dreams are the touchstones of our character." Henry David Thoreau

Yey! I am not the only one who oredered it in advance! :)

If you buy it in advance at Amazon.com, it is only $10.47... and if you spend $25, there is free shipping. I already ordered it and am anxiously waiting it!

Glynis

Hi all,

The boys and I went to my parents cottage again on Monday night...we just got back last night...they each took a friend and brought home 3 turtles...

My mailbox is swamped and I am trying to get through it...lol...posted a few newsletters this am, but am tired today...

Hi to all the newbies...there are lots of good supportive, friendly knowledgeable people here...

School starts the 23rd, so that is when I go back to work...

Thanks to Heidi and anyone else for approving newbies messages...we only moderate your first post, but I usually take people off moderation either as soon as they post or a few hours after you join...spammers usually post immediately upon joining, then disappear, so there is no need to "babysit" for long...lol

I will get through my mail soon, there were several posts that I saved to respond to...hopefully I will get to them soon...

I talked to Lady b last night on Im and she is doing good...hopefully she will post to say hello soon...

I am figuring since next week is our last week before school starts, we may take off and spend a few