A loss of sex drive can be concerning for both men and women. In this post, we will cover the most common causes of low libido in men and what can be done (next post is devoted to increasing the female libido). Although it is natural for a man to have a gradual decrease in libido, this doesn’t typically happen until 60 or 70 years of age. Aside from aging, there are many reasons for this to occur. Depression “The … Continued
I just saw Book Club, the movie. It’s about a group of mature women who chose Fifty Shades of Grey to be their book of the month. If you don’t know what Fifty Shades of Grey is by now, even if you haven’t read the books, you have probably been living in a closet. This month I want to talk about the effects on the body of a book like that. That means we are going to talk about libido. … Continued
Happy 4th of July!! Alcohol is not a health food. It is, however, consumed anyway even by my most health conscious colleagues. I too indulge every now and then. Let’s cover the healthiest way to imbibe. Red Wine Chock full of polyphenols, quercetin, and resveratrol, red wine has shown to have properties that can protect the heart from damage. Antioxidants can help slow down the build-up of plaque in arteries, regulating blood pressure, decreasing inflammation and lowering oxidative stress. A … Continued
Now that you know how to test thyroid function and autoimmune thyroid disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, let’s cover what we can do about it. When you have a High TSH and a Low T4 (or a low free T3) you see your MD or DO to get thyroid medication to correct for this imbalance. When you have high TPO or TG antibody levels you come see me or your favorite functional health practitioner. Identify and Remove Triggers Identifying and removing triggers … Continued
Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of hypothyroidism (low functioning thyroid) in the world. The autoimmune disease, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. Knowing this, don’t you agree that we should test for it? Wouldn’t you want to know if your symptoms of being tired, cold, and unable to lose weight are not just symptoms you are imagining? Nothing infuriates me more than a patient coming in with these symptoms having never … Continued
Are you tired, cold, and can’t lose weight? These symptoms together come through my office almost daily. The most common cause of these symptoms is a low functioning thyroid. Over the next few posts, we will talk about how the thyroid works, how to test it thoroughly and what options correct a low functioning thyroid. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ that resides in the front of the throat. It is the power plant that gets a message from … Continued
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, to name just a few, are often avoided by hypothyroid and Hashimoto patients due to their thyroid suppressing effects but this only occurs if these vegetables are eaten raw. Cooking them decreases their goitrogenic effects. These are some of my favorite foods and since we need to avoid gluten and most grains while treating these conditions, roasting them is a healthy and recommended suggestion. This recipe is ridiculous in its simplicity and … Continued
Ketogenic Success Keto diets have shown to improve many conditions. I have had great success with prescribing a ketogenic diet. Especially for patients with migraines, closed head injuries and blood sugar or cholesterol imbalances. I recommend a plant heavy, healthy fat ketogenic diet. Whether you are following this kind of diet or contemplating it, here are some tweaks that can make your journey go smoothly. Avoid Toxins Our bodies are brilliant. One way that the body shows it’s brilliance is … Continued
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is so common many people consider it (like diabetes and heart disease) a right of passage. It is actually a sign that you need to investigate and not something to just throw a pill at because one pill ultimately leads to another. The force of the blood pushing against the walls of the blood vessels, as your heart beats and blood is pushed through the circulatory system, is your blood pressure. It can be too … Continued
Beware: Allergies Ahead If you live in Michigan there is a great possibility that you deal with seasonal allergies to the point that you use over-the-counter allergy medication. These medications come with a handful of side effects. One adverse effect may surprise you. There are many names and forms of over-the-counter seasonal allergy medication A Patient’s Experience A patient brought to my attention a condition that, although not overly common, was concerning enough that I felt you all needed … Continued