06/08/2011
Readers Summary:
1. Why I use highly sensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) and Vitamin D as biomarker proxies.
2. After Leptin, Cortisol is the next most important domino to fall.
3. Hormone Cascade explained in a paragraph.
4. Unintended consequences of hypercortisolism destroy health.
5. Initial HS CRP signals the genesis of underlying hormonal disruption (First sign Leptin is toast).
Now that we have laid some foundation about Leptin at the “30 foot research level” (I know, I made your head hurt at times), lets zoom out now and look at how this affects the hormones that dictate the things patients see and feel and sense about their bodies.
I want to now give you some perspective as to WHY this matters.
We have established that as one gets fat, Leptin levels rise. Once they get high enough (around a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 20-24), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) rises in several tissues. TNF quickly destroys normal hepatic homeostasis, which sets the stage for fatty liver disease and type two diabetes over time. This rise in TNF also biochemically changes Leptin receptor signaling and changes its quantum properties by changing its “resonance” (think of a vibration like effect in the receptor) at the hypothalamus level. Once TNF rises, it causes the liver to make an acute phase inflammatory protein called highly sensitive CRP. HS-CRP is therefore a very early biomarker for cellular inflammation before any disease is established. We have already established in earlier blogs that inflammation causes Leptin resistance. Leptin controls all energy production in the body. Inflammation stops T4 to T3 conversion in the liver and abruptly turns off your thyroid’s ability to function properly despite normal thyroid labs. As an analogy, your car engine no longer has a gas pedal to use. Simultaneously Vitamin D production caves as well because TNF takes that out too. Immunity fails and bad things commence for the cellular terroir. (Levee 1)
In Summary, once Leptin resistance occurs centrally in the brain, the liver soon follows and then the peripheral tissues become resistant too. This effects fecundity, bone metabolism, cardiac metabolism, the thyroid, and the immune system in that order. Are you with me?
RESULTANT HORMONE CASCADE
Leptin resistance occurs first. Then insulin resistance happens next. This eventually leads to adrenal resistance. Cortisol is the stress hormone that allows for fight or flight syndrome (life or death). This is the hormone that allows you to run away from a hungry lion fast and live. Evolution always makes sure cortisol production stays ready for action at the expense of the other hormones that also are made from the same precursors. That precursor is pregnenolone. Pregnenolone is made from cholesterol, and cholesterol is made from LDL. So anytime the body is stressed or inflamed, it up-regulates cholesterol production to make more lifesaving hormones. It requires T3 and vitamin A as cofactors to complete this step. Blocking cholesterol’s production will increase cellular stress. This is why biochemically to me no statin drugs have ever made any sense under any circumstance in medicine. Moreover, this is why there is a chronic association of cancer to low cholesterol levels in the literature. In times of infection or stress, LDL levels always need to rise to protect the cell.
A diet should provide a substrate of animal protein to sustain the hormone substrates. This is why a Paleo diet is ideal for hormone health because it provides ample substrate for all hormones. This is why a Paleolithic diet is best for longevity in my opinion. It supports all of our hormones that are present in abundance in youth and health. Many other physicians, like Dr. Ron Rosedale, tell folks that protein stimulates the mTOR pathway which leads to death. The real issue I have there is that it gives no context to the statement. Here is my context. His belief is only true if the background cellular terroir has a high HS CRP back drop, and if your gut is leaky as shown by a low HDL level. If your HS CRP is treated aggressively with a Paleo diet, your HS CRP will be low and your HDL will be high, and then a moderate protein diet is protective. So I go hard after HS CRP in all of the patients I work with. It is a staple in my practice. Once solved it is hard core Paleolithic Robb Wolf style advice to affect the most important part of our biology. HORMONES. So anytime cellular stress is high (high HS CRP), it also forces all the hormone backbone substrate called pregnenolone to be shunted to cortisol production. This is called pregnenolone steal syndrome. What exactly does this mean, Doc? DHEA, Androstenedione, Vitamin D, testosterone, estrogen, and aldosterone production all fall dramatically. These are all of the hormones that are made from a common precursor. Remember that chronic Leptin resistance leads to huge hypercortisolism all the time! NEVER FORGET THIS BIOLOGIC FACT! So that means we need to understand well what high cortisol does to the cellular terroir as well. (Levee 1)
This also means that Leptin resistance clinically will lead to low vitamin D levels. This completely explains the epidemic that John Cannell, MD is reporting about in the Vitamin D council newsletters. This in turn down regulates T regulator cells of the immune system, and it will decrease bone metabolism as well since vitamin D is a cofactor in bone metabolism. Since DHEA and Androstenedione are lowered too, the sex steroids are also lowered because they are made from DHEA and Andro. In younger humans this leads to early andropause, low libido, and early onset perimenopause any time stress is present. When this occurs in older humans, like postmenopausal women, it destroys libido and electrolyte balance (low aldosterone effects) and causes osteopenia and osteoporosis. Younger females lose control of fecundity, oocyte maturation, and get amenorrhea. Evolution does not favor these activities when your stress hormone is high. It favors survival over these other activities. This observation was mind shattering to my practice when I realized it. In men, longevity is tied to their optimized testosterone levels. Here is a link that confirms this. http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v27/n7/fig_tab/0802292f1.html
The high cortisol also directly affects the Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis too. Cortisol directly blocks 5’ deiodinase enzyme that converts T4 to T3 (this occurs in the liver). Cortisol Releasing Hormone (CRH) (seen elevated in high cortisol production states) directly blocks TSH. The implication is huge because Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and T3, the active thyroid hormone, are inhibited quickly in this process. Immediately, any excess T4 is then shunted to reverse T3. Reverse T3 is a COMPETITIVE inhibitor to T3, the active thyroid hormone. This basically turns off the thyroid! (You’re welcome ladies.), This is a biological switch needed to shut metabolism off in starvation mode. This is precisely what happens in starvation or in anorexia. Once T3 is turned off, no fat burning can occur at the muscles with UCP3. Remember UCP3 activation requires T4, T3 and Leptin to be working well. With high cortisol it cannot. Shutting off these things could be good biologically, if you’re badly starving or if you’re morbidly obese. CRH also directly inhibits TSH. This is why TSH is a horrible marker for thyroid status. If you do not know the cortisol status you can infer zero information from a thyroid panel. This is reason number one for many thyroid misdiagnoses. The sad part is that most endocrinologists seem to have forgotten this vital biochemical fact. It is the source of most patient frustrations with their thyroid condition.
CRH directly blocks secretion of Growth Hormone secretion as well. This means you get sarcopenia and osteopenia together! Low GH levels (IGF1) increase your body fat, decrease your lean muscle mass and increase your osteopenia to great degree. It also causes the cardiac muscle to fail and decreases the stroke volume. Sarcopenia is the result of low IGF1 or GH level, and is a harbinger of ensuing death, especially with respect to the heart. There is now excellent data to support the use of GH and testosterone for cardiac health in aging because of these effects. High cortisol comes from stress. The causes of stress in humans are: psychological, traumatic, infectious, allergic, electromagnetic (EMF), xenobiotic and geopathic, as well as Leptin resistance and dysbiosis.
Key points about cortisol.
1. Anything that causes a chronic elevation of cortisol causes chronic disease.
2. Any chronic elevation of cortisol and insulin will lead to some kind of chronic disease and death.
3. Signs and symptoms that you really have stress and a cortisol problem will cause most medicine docs to put you on one or more of these ten medications: 1. Statin 2. Premarin 3. Synthroid 4. Prilosec 5. Hydrocodone 6.Norvasc 7. glucophage/metaformin 8. Albuterol 9. Claritin 10. Prozac/sleeping pills.
The reason is simple. There is no good blood test available for serum cortisol that is accurate, and western doctors do not realize the salivary cortisol tests are deadly accurate. NASA and the FAA use salivary testing for their screening of astronauts and pilots. When I see this combo of drugs, I know from the demographic page on a patient’s medical chart that we likely have an undiagnosed cortisol problem without any test. I generally will eventually prove my clinical suspicion with a salivary cortisol assay. So they listen to the symptoms of the patients and treat the symptoms, and not the underlying cause, HYPERCORTISOLISM. By far, the number one cause in the USA is Standard American Diet loaded with too many carbs or too much PUFA’s, which drives Leptin resistance and adiposity. Both raise TNF alpha. We are now back at the top of the post. The circle of life in one post. You now are an endocrinologist. Actually you may know more than them now.
5
June 8th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
i LOVED this post. i have don’t a bunch of reading about pregnenolone in the past after i read some of Ray Peat’s stuff and ALMOST started supplementing it with vitamin D- now reading this i think maybe i should have.
HS CRP stands for…? high stress…cortisol ratio, lol please clarify
seems things like curcumin, reservatol etc would possibly alleviate low level inflammation
June 8th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
You write re leptin levels, “once they get high enough (around a BMI of 20-24).”
Is that correct? Isn’t BMI under 25 technically “normal” weight?
June 8th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
There’s that “context” word again, I’m realizing just how important it is. If we want to talk about what is optimal for longevity then we must compare things in the context of longevity, and that would be optimal CRP levels. Inflammation seems to mess with everything, definitely DNA repair, so we will have to look at how things work in the case of optimal levels of inflammation. It does seem a bit simplistic that mTOR activation should = Short telomeres and that’s that, telomerase is probably more important. What is crystal clear is that there are many factors than influence telomere length strongly and have nothing to do with protein, yet protein helps us be as vital as possible as long as everything is in working order. I think I’m probably going to do 30% protein, 2/3s of that as meat and 1/3 as gelatin, even if protein isn’t a problem I think it is still probably a good idea to get some of both gelatin and muscle.
June 8th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Excellent rendition of complex topic.
Can you suggest some private labs who will do an accurate salivary cortisol assay as well as a HS CRP evaluation.
June 8th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
zrtlabs.com is a great source.
June 8th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Love the info and seeing the science, but just an FYI, most of your links are missing a colon to make them work. It’s http:// not http//
Links are fixed. Thanks for the tip. JK
June 8th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Beth maybe based upon today’s standards……but I am talking about our biologic standards. Most people reading this are coming to the understanding from their own perception of what fat really is. Leptin became biologically important from an evolutionary standpoint because food was scarce more often then not and most humans had to protect against low leptin levels not high one like we see today. The paradox in this system and why people get confused is that ultra low leptin and ultra high leptin biochemically cause high US CRPs and this shuts down the thyroid. It is protective in food shortage for survival and it kills you with chronic excess due to chronic elevations of cortisol and insulin simultaneously present in the cellular terroir (levee one). This induces mRNA at the DNA level that up-regulates genes that no longer allow p53 gene to protect our genome from oncogenesis. (levee 16)
June 8th, 2011 at 6:51 pm
I told you sooner or later I would reveal why Rosedale and I see it differently. He is caught in the quagmire of the research science and not understanding how it translates to a biologic system. This is why Levee one is revolutionary. Doctors must begin to understand that it is not about macro or micro factors…..its about what surrounds the cells over time that determines ultimate fates. Ill give you a perfect example Stabby. the supercentenary group out of Albert Einstein Medical Center in NYC just released some genetic data on their group. Guess what they found. These people had expression of just about every bad oncogene and bad gene we could imagine, yet lived to over 100 years old. Why? What is expressed does not matter as long as there is no traction for it to gain hold. Think of it like this. Our DNA is a stick of dynamite but if you never light it will it ever hurt you? HS CRP is the proxy for the match. Got it? Levee one is so simple but the change in perception brings all these crazy findings into some logical balance now. Discovery is a process that allows us to see something known in a new light…..to gain greater meaning. This is what I discovered when I read about my own injury and it changed my practice. Now I want to change the system of delivery. Just that one thought changes everything.
June 8th, 2011 at 6:52 pm
HS CRP is highly sensitive C Reactive Protein. If you click on the link it will tell you more! Links are fixed now!
June 8th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Gotta spin this one through the cycle a few more times, thanks.
Question: Pregnenolone steal, could this also happen with a natural Progesterone cream if the supplementer were in this stressed state? I have my suspicions, but you could lay them to rest.
Also, maybe I am alone in this, but perhaps a tool on your sidebar with a list of recommended blood/saliva tests, your take on what range is optimal, and which would be covered in a standard workup (with an asterisk or something?)
This blog is really something you should be proud of! Thanks for sharing.
June 8th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
If reverse T3 is the key to leptin status, what should we be looking for? Is the ratio of rT3 to fT3 what is important, and what range for rT3 or the rT3/fT3 is desirable?
June 8th, 2011 at 9:20 pm
@Harry you are looking for a problem in the ratio between the RT3 and the Free T3. i.e dividing the Free T3 by the Reverse T3 (Free T3 ÷ RT3). For healthy amounts of RT3, The ratio result should be 20 or larger. If it happens to be lower, then you have an issue. If you use the total T3, you are looking for a ratio greater than 10. If lower, you have an issue. The real problem is that the units that rT3 and T3 are measured in are often different! Why I have no idea but it creates a calculation problem. I usually ask my lab to calculate it for me so I dont have too. Then I give the news to the patient.
June 8th, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Jack I am going to agree with Beth above and dispute your BMI numbers. I am 5′ 10″, 148 pounds, BMI is 21.2. This is the 7th percentile. To avoid lepton resistance I need to lose 9 more pounds? That would put me under the 2nd percentile. Perhaps a discussion on what a correct BMI should be followed up by your usual excellent research? Is it time to re-write the BMI tables?
June 8th, 2011 at 9:28 pm
I will often draw a serum ferritin too in women because a low ferritin can cause a high reverse T 3 as well. It is an inhibitor of the conversion of T4 to T3 by the 5′ deiodinase enzyme. Most common cause is how HCL acid in the gut. So if I see a patient on a proton pump inhibitor I think about checking a serum ferritin too.
June 8th, 2011 at 10:47 pm
If low leptin causes high levels of HS CRP much like high leptin, as you mention above, is there a point at which you can have too little body fat, to the point where it is unhealthy? I asked a similar question on PaleoHacks – Leptin, where’s the sweet spot?
Maybe I’m missing something? I guess what I’m trying to get at is, What is the connection between body fat levels, leptin levels, and leptin sensitivity? Can one walk around at sub 10% body fat (Im assuming this means low leptin) and still not cause excess inflammation, which would lead to deleterious effects, down regulation other bodily functions, etc.? Or does low body fat not always mean low leptin, if said person is leptin sensitive?
June 8th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
This really is a superb post. Many thanks for taking the time to detail all this out for all of us. It truly is a great guide!
June 8th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Todd energy balance is what leptin controls. So there are three basic states. Energy deficit (anorexia or starvation) Energy Excess (obesity) energy balance (normal) When you are anorexic or starving TNF ( and so does HS CRP) goes up. This causes leptin resistance with low leptin levels at the receptor. The high TNF completely wont allow leptin into the brain at all. So the brain is blind to energy status. So it shuts off the thyroid to survive until it does know what is up. Shutting off the thyroid stops conversion of T4 to T3 and the remainder shunts to rT3. This keeps the thyroid and muscles on lock down from burning any fat no matter what. It does this as a protective mechanism. This is actually why leptin evolved. It really was protective. Today we see the other end most commonly in obesity. Where high levels of leptin shut signaling down. The one thing that is the same is that inflammatory cytokines control the leptin signal in all cases. That makes the leptin receptor is pleiotrophic. It means it can act give multiple results to multiple inputs based upon what other parameters are present in the human. Many other pathways in the body work this same way. Its a key concept that you must get. Because when we get to mTOR and AMPK your head will spin. They act sometimes in six dimension to many many chemicals and then can have different results from the same pathway.
June 9th, 2011 at 12:11 am
@ Meredith If your cortisol was sky high yes you need to adjust the dose of progesterone creams. This is why testing must be done by a healthcare professional. The key point I will make here is the more you test the more control you have over what is really going on. You just must make sure your doctor is on board with you. These days there are physicians who will help you. Meredith the site is not about offering medical advice for individuals. It is about explaining why something is happening or why it is not. We can lead you to the answer and then its your choice what to do with that thought. I want to give you control back for your health.
June 9th, 2011 at 12:36 am
Dr Kruse, I am going to have to learn this one by repetition. Thanks for what you are doing for us!
June 9th, 2011 at 12:57 am
This one is loaded with gold. Most of the question I see daily can be answered in this blog.
June 9th, 2011 at 1:05 am
John the numbers are guideline. They are not set in stone. Generally when one goes above those BMI numbers we begin to see TNF or HS CRP creep up. That is the sign we need to look for that we are not. There is a bell curve distribution of course for a population. Women tend to have higher leptin levels than men due to increased fat stores for childbirth. But the point should not be lost that the we can track early inflammation as one’s BMI evolves. That is why I am a huge believer in body composition testing. Very accurate fat mass measure. BMI is not something I even use any longer. I use body comp scores.
June 9th, 2011 at 3:03 am
WOW…I actually understood this Jack! So the stress I was under with mom’s illness lead probably to the cortisol issue, I had lost 58lbs last spring into fall until she got sick.From Nov. to Feb. I was gaining again, I get the stress.I am so excited right now you just don’t know, thanks for giving this info to me even the boys are syked! This is do-able. I wish we knew this when I was a teen, maybe life could have been different for our family! I sure hope people listen to this in 11 days I have lost 11lbs. I am amazed. To bad the medical association doesnt get on board so many people like me can change their future and its not hard at all. Got a cure for my smoking because this is a real challange for me. I have tried so hard in the past 3 months with no effect!
Diane
June 9th, 2011 at 3:35 am
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! Keep up the good work.
June 9th, 2011 at 5:04 am
What are your thoughts on problems with LOW cortisol? Do you see much of this in your practice? I’ve been dealing with this issue for a couple of years and am now taking replacement cortisol along with thyroid medication, specifically a T3 only med due to high rT3 levels. I’m really intrigued here.
June 9th, 2011 at 5:32 am
Jack, thanks so much for the info. Is serum HS-CRP reliable? Isn’t it known to be episodic? For example, I’m a T2 diabetic w/insulin resistance and 2 autoimmune diseases. Yet my CRP is usually at 0.3 (the lowest detectable) and my Westgren Sed Rate is always at 1 (minimum next to 0). I’m 5-10/160 eating Paleo and in good shape. CRP was elevated (3.5) only once and that’s becuz it probably coincided w/my gout attack.
I woulda thought CRP would be constantly elevated since I’m (1) insulin-resistant (T2 diabetes); (2) probably still leptin-resistant; (3)suffer from autoimmunity (and thus gut permeability); and (4) show clinical hypothyroid symptoms (though tests are normal).
June 9th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Natty now you know why your thyroid test are normal. You need to become leptin sensitive are rule one. I use HS CRP and think its pretty accurate. I also bet your vitamin D is sub 30. You need to get aggressive with this. If not you will never eradicate your diabetes. And you can do just that. A regular CRP is not the same test as a highly sensitive CRP. They are two different tests…..be very aware of that.
June 9th, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Yes i do…..the most common people who have this problem are people who overtrain and people who eat a large amount of omega six FFA. If you eat alot of processed foods we see it too. There are some people with end stage type two diabetes, and end stage fibromyalgia that have this too. People with serious gut issues also can have this because of the chronicity of their disease wears the adrenal glands out. A salivary cortisol test is pretty diagnostic and then you treat it. But you have to know about it first if youre the treating doc. Cancer patients also get this problem.
June 9th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
curious about this study:
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
Chronic low-grade inflammation is a feature of obesity and is postulated to be causal in the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess whether overfeeding induces peripheral insulin resistance in lean and overweight humans, and, if so, whether it is associated with increased systemic and adipose tissue inflammation.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:
Thirty-six healthy individuals undertook 28 days of overfeeding by +1,250 kcal/day (45% fat). Weight, body composition, insulin sensitivity (hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp), serum and gene expression of inflammation markers, immune cell activation, fat cell size, macrophage and T-cell numbers in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry) were assessed at baseline and after 28 days.
RESULTS:
Subjects gained 2.7 +/- 1.6 kg (P < 0.001) and increased fat mass by 1.1 +/- 1.6% (P < 0.001). Insulin sensitivity decreased by 11% from 54.6 +/- 18.7 to 48.9 +/- 15.7 micromol/(kg of FFM)/min (P = 0.01). There was a significant increase in circulating C-reactive protein (P = 0.002) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (P = 0.01), but no change in interleukin-6 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1. There were no changes in fat cell size, the number of adipose tissue macrophages or T-cells, or inflammatory gene expression and no change in circulating immune cell number or expression of their surface activation markers after overfeeding.
CONCLUSIONS:
Weight gain-induced insulin resistance was observed in the absence of a significant inflammatory state, suggesting that inflammation in subcutaneous adipose tissue occurs subsequent to peripheral insulin resistance in humans
they claim there was no rise in inflammation, but the creactive protein went up, there was no change in fat cells and no immunity change. still inducing insulin resistance or did the study induce leptin resistance and a longer term would have induced more problems?
June 9th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Full text reference to above mentioned study mentioned by Malory is at:
http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/59/9/2164.full
June 10th, 2011 at 2:38 am
I would not assume at 28 days of over feeding causes leptin resistance. But they did have higher levels of CRP which is consistent with my clinical findings that TNF is the first sign of leptin resistance. The easiest way to measure it clinically is the HS CRP. That is why I do it. We don’t know that they are leptin resistant because they never even assessed it.
June 10th, 2011 at 9:32 am
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! Keep up the good work.
June 12th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Not only are we generally getting insufficient UVB exposure so vitamin D3 25(OH)D levels are lower than optimum, the lack of outdoor bright light exposure during the day, combined with too much bright light during the evening and light pollution at night, leads to disruption of circadian rhythm and insufficient production of melatonin. Both melatonin and vitamin D3 are both fat soluble anti inflammatory anti oxidants and our ability to synthesise both declines as we age.
Melatonin has the ability to inhibit cortisol production
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21332028
I think it’s also probable that melatonin has an impact on metabolism
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20663045
Though I’m not convinced most lab rats have appropriate regulation of day/night light nor that they are an appropriate model for human circadian rhythm/melatonin secretion and metabolism.
June 12th, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Ted thank you for your comment. Melatonin has huge effects centrally in the brain and prior to 1925 I think it played a much larger role in metabolism. Artificial light became common to human existence in Paris in 1925. Its effect on vitamin D is well known especially in airline pilots, astronauts, and truck drivers. Ted I really appreciate you posting this. You definitely jumped ahead in the story but I promise you the quilt will get to the central effects of hormones because they are critical. I would also say to you the use of progesterone has amazing effects on cortisol and even is able to stimulate neurogenesis in the CNS by effecting cortisol production and leakiness of the mitochondria or long lived neurons to effect mitochondrial biogenesis. There is much more to the clinical effects of vitamin D3 than clinical medicine appreciates now. The research findings has far surpassed current clinical recommendations for disease prevention. When I get to the immunity levee vitamin D will be playing a starring role.
June 12th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
Dr. K wrote: “I will often draw a serum ferritin too in women because a low ferritin can cause a high reverse T 3 as well. It is an inhibitor of the conversion of T4 to T3 by the 5′ deiodinase enzyme. Most common cause is how HCL acid in the gut. So if I see a patient on a proton pump inhibitor I think about checking a serum ferritin too.”
i am 46. Low ferritin can also be caused by excessive menstrual bleeding, which i have. my ferritin stores are less than 1, even though my hemoglobin is 13. i’m guessing that my heavy flow is caused by fibroids. if my hemoglobin is 13, do i really need to worry about low ferritin? what ferritin level should i shoot for? i supplement with iron, but sporadically and probably at too low a level. i got my hemoglobin up from 9 (i believe) by taking aleve the first 3 days of my period, which cut down on my flow substantially. also, since fibroids and concomitant heavy bleeding are the number one motivating factors for hysterectomies, could you please do a post on fibroids? what is the safest procedure to have them removed, or is it best to try to manage them by a paleo diet, cutting down on flow with aleve, and iron supplementation? i’ve read that they shrink after menopause, so maybe it is better to manage them rather than do something risky to remove them.
i am asking you about an issue that affects many women. i hope that you can provide some general guidance and am not asking you to give me specific medical advice. thank you so much for sharing your experience.
June 12th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
This was all great info but a little hard for me to follow. So if you do have stress and have been gaining…what are the steps you should take exactly?
June 13th, 2011 at 1:57 pm
@V…..if you have heavy flow you need to look for an underlying hormonal problem causing it. I would strongly recommend you get that looked into. Most fibroids can be dealt with without surgery but you will find it tough to find an OBGYN who is willing to leave your uterus alone and treat you with bioidentical hormones. Women need to mandate they want that option over having their uterus’s removed with regularity. Those options are clearly laid out in the OB/GYN bible, Speroff’s textbook on OB/GYN. I have never understood why this is not aggressively treated medically.
June 13th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Tammy there is a lot you can do. The first thing to do is get all your labs done and get salivary cortisol levels done to see truly what your problems are. The way to gain control back Tammy is to quantify yourself with labs. Once you know something is amiss you can help your doctor treat the issues. Your doctor may not know about these tests but there likely is a doctor in your area who does. Start researching it.
June 17th, 2011 at 4:48 am
Pardon me if I’m being dense, but what does one do, exactly, to get cortisol under control. Some of the steps in regaining leptin sensitivity seemed to indirectly cover that, but are there other steps to control cortisol in and of itself?
June 20th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
I’m seeing cortisol saliva test kits on Amazon for $35. Thoughts?
http://www.amazon.com/AM-Cortisol-Hormone-Imbalance-Testing/dp/B004BT8FGC
June 20th, 2011 at 5:32 pm
@Adriana I have no experience with them at all. I would search the internet and google for reviews on it. @ Brahnamin the treatment for a high cortisol depends upon its cause. If it is obesity I have already begun to lay how to fix it. LR leads to hypercortisolism. Fix the obesity and it goes away. If it is induced by other means we have other options. I will reveal more about cortisol as the Quilt unfolds.
June 29th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Dr. Kruse – I’ve met many 40-something males with ‘metabolic syndrome’ who are treated by the symptoms, ie. meds for bp, cholesterol, high trigs, hypothyroid. Once they take control and lose weight, get their leptin reset and become healthy, they usually get off all their meds–except hypothyroid meds. Conventional wisdom is that the thyroid will always need Synthroid or similar. Is there a protocol for stopping hypothyroid medication after the ‘metabolic syndrome’ symptoms disappear?
June 29th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
@Tim. There are two possibilities I have seen. In morbidly obese there is permanent damage to the hypocretin neurons in the hypothalamus. This can lead to life long issues that will need treatment after the weight is lost. Not as common in my practice. More common is after two years of regaining leptin sensitivity the body adapts and balance occurs. The biggest issue hormone wise in men in women is the sex steroid hormones which are dramatically altered and often need to be augmented for a period. This is also true of vitamin D levels. But they all seem to come back to a baseline within two years of healthy living. Hope this helps.
June 29th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
Thanks! I won’t beat this to death…It sounds like the thyroid will be OK once everything is in balance. Is there any harm that could come from continued (unneeded) Synthroid therapy? What would be the best test to see if Synthroid could be safely stopped?
June 30th, 2011 at 3:49 am
Great info Doc thanks!
July 3rd, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Jack,,,i love ur site,,,i would like to ask u a question,,,i am 57, already went through menopause,,,my dr changed my thyroid med from synthyroid to armour thyroid and i have been doing low carb hign fat for about 3 months,,is there anyway that this could have caused me to start bleeding,,,been on provera 2 a day for 10 days….but still bleeding,,,i would appreciate ur imput,,,,my dr will start saying histerectamey,,,i have had throid and hormone trouble for 30 years thanks 4 all u do,,,and for telling it like it is,,,God bless you and yours,,,,thanks regina
July 5th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
@ Regina Provera? Yikes. I dont advocate any synthetic hormones. They cause major issues. Why not dump Provera and go bioidentical with prometrium? And before you have your uterus removed go see an OB/GYN that uses bioidenticals and wont try to take your uterus out right away. Most hysterectomies can be avoided with good old fashion BHRT. You need to read some of Suzanne Sommers books on this issue because she has done a good job explaining this issue.
July 10th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Dr. Kruse, I’m learning so much! Thank you! One question: You said you tackle the CRP first? Did you mean you watch for it to go down first (of all measures) with a healthy paleo diet? Or do you tackle it in other ways as well?
July 10th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
@ Kaleein The best way to drop HS CRP is with high dose Rx grade omega three fish oil then you eat a good paleo diet.
July 10th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Thanks for your quick response! It wasn’t HS CRP but the “cardio CRP” was at 14.5 last time. Scared me silly! I’ve lost 40 lb since November and have been eating 90% Primal for about 3 months in an attempt to just “maintain” for a while before losing “with intention” again. Was surprised to find myself actually losing as long as I stuck to Paleo without dairy… Now I understand why! I’m going 100% Paleo after reading your blog. I’ve been eating lots of Salmon and taking Omega 3 until I ran out a few days ago. Unfortunately, it was bound with soy oil, and I know soy isn’t good for me. I hope I can presume plain old fashioned Norwegian Cod Liver Oil would be RX grade?
July 10th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
HS CRP = cardiac CRP just so you know. They are the same protein. 14.5 is off the charts. above three I get antsy. you are almost five times that level. I would recommend going to consumerlabs.com to get Rx info on Fish oil. I am a big fan of LEF.org supplements.
July 10th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Thanks again for your quick response. I was surprised my doctor didn’t react as you and I did on that number. Since I had to request that test to begin with, I suspect she just isn’t knowledgable about it and needs more education, as you know many doctors do. At the time of that test I did have extensive hip pain (inflamation), somewhat better now. We surmised that had a definite impact on the CRP. And haven’t had the tests redone since I’ve lost some weight.
I’ve ordered RX Omega 3. Thanks, again, for the education.
July 19th, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Wow, this could have been a post about my experiences! One question. If I regain leptin signaling, will I be able to get off Armour thyroid? Or does the thyroid stay broken?
July 20th, 2011 at 6:10 pm
@Colleen in my experience that is possible as long as your thyroid is not permanently damaged by an autoimmune process that is long standing.
July 20th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Ah it might be.
I have celiac disease too. And my C-Reactive Protein has been high a long time. Homocysteine levels too though they have fallen quite a bit since I’ve lost weight. I will keep following this though. You are a genius! I’ve been telling lots of people about your blog.
July 22nd, 2011 at 2:03 am
genius…..no,. I just want to share my thoughts.
July 22nd, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Can I just say what a relief to find someone who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
July 26th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
I’ve been on the paleo life style for over two years. Lost some weight but seemed to be plateaued at a 38″ waist. I have had a recurring problem with gout flare ups every three months or so and take prednisone for relief. I don’t eat fruit, but it seems that I can’t eliminate enough uric acid thru my kidneys. A while ago I read on the perfect health diet web site that eating a 50gram of starchy carbs will help the body process this extra uric acid. It seemed to work for more than 6 months , after reading your site I have started eating breakfast every morning as you suggest but now I am now having another flare up. Do you have any thoughts on this subject and why it affects only a small % of people on a paleo diet? The medical people I have seen are clueless as to what’s going on. Thanks for helping us understand the science behind a healthy life style.
August 4th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
Thx for this great info, Doc. This past Dec I got a wake up call when my A1c went above 6.5 I started eating Paleo and took myself of statins. Eating btwn 20-30 gm net carbs per day, about 85-120 gm protein, and 45-75 gm fat (mostly low O6 fats – occasionally binge on nut butters) I’ve been doing great -Lost about 50 lbs so far (30 more to go), feeling better than I’ve felt in years – for the most part, I’m not hungry and have to force myself to eat 1000 cals per day, no more achy knees, allergies much better, more energy overall. I had a check up again this week and overall things looked good in bloodwork. Triglycerides down from 81 w/statins to 62 w/o. HDL up from 55 to 66, LDL went up from 61 – 107 (which I expected given that statins lower LDL) Doc did not do LDL subtypes but I presume my LDL is the “fluffy” type and that low triglycerides shows that I’ve been truly low carb. Anyhow, my surprise was this – My A1c went down to 5.7 which is considered normal – but it’s not nearly as low as I expected given that I’m only eating 20-30 net gm carbs per day.
I’m wondering if I could be Leptin resistant and if this accounts for the still somewhat high A1c value? One thing I’ve noticed that I do that’s different from your leptin reset protocol is that I’m usually not at all hungry until around 11 am. I’ll eat a large salad w/protein and then around 7pm I’ll eat dinner. Usually no snacks in between, tho occasionally I’ll have some protein late afternoon. Why is eating high protein first thing in the morning so critical?
August 4th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@bean. HbA1c is a measure of glycation of RBC’s which have a lifespan of 120 days. So HbA1c falls slowly over time. The key to follow is your trend. You want it to go even below 5. I would strongly recommend asking your doc to also get fasting insulin levels too. You want that level below 2. If your labs both show those numbers you can bet your leptin status is solid. No way of knowing for sure without your labs, weight, BF% etc…..glad you enjoyed the post.
August 4th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
@Jack S I am not a fan of just saying eat more carbs as Paul J does. I think if your uric acid levels are high you are not drinking enough water and you might want to increase specific fruits…..like cherries or cherry extract whose flavinoids really help clear uric acid from the body.
August 7th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
Dear Jack, Is becoming leptin sensitive enough to lower cortisol or am I missing the connection?
August 9th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Can you put together a list of all the tests we should ask for when we want to find out where we are in this whole process of trying regain our leptin sensitivity and recover our health?
August 20th, 2011 at 4:34 am
Hi there! So fascinated by your blog – great info and discussions.
You mentioned that anorexia can raise cortisol and shut down the thyroid
once recovered (3 years) how would one approach getting leptin and hormones back to normal? Leptin reset?
I often have periods of fatigue and insomnia despite taking melatonin 5mg
Early 30s but still experiencing amenorrhea despite acceptable weight and body fat %
eating paleo – no dairy, no grains, high omega 3s, etc.
D levels are high but have only had tsh checked – 4.1
would pregnenolone be something to consider? What sort of tests should I get?
Thanks in advance for any assistance!
August 20th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Getting in to see your doctor and getting a complete set of labs done is where I recommend all people serious about regaining their health begin. It requires that the doc understand what and how to interpret the data. Not everyone is comfortable doing this. I suggest finding docs in your area who do this routinely. Many of the pcps around me are doing these things. Everyone has a special expertise in this. One day I may list the tests I use……but it is useless when you have no one to make sense of the data. That is why I have resisted doing so on the blog.
August 20th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
I would also suggest anyone who is interested in seeing how a leptin reset works for people who have never physically seen me but took my advice do with minimal guidance take a peak at the thread at marks daily apple in the nutrition forum that is now close to 370 pages long. I think this might open some of your eyes on how this advice plays out clinically.
August 24th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
Hi I’m new to your site and ideas and just trying to learn. The hard part is I think I have an unusual history. Severe asthma with equally severe IR and HPA axis suppression. Thanks to 15 years of oral steroids before the advent of Advair.
This last suppression episode lasted for 15 months (mostly due to medical mismanagement). When I was insufficient, it was very easy to lose weight. I could eat sugar and still lose (which was soooo different from the usual IR weight gain mode my body is in).
When the switch flipped and the HPA axis came online, until I got off steroids, I could not lose weight no matter what I did. So I definitely have personal evidence that high cortisol is no good for weight.
The thing is, even off oral steroids (still do inhaled with spacer) I seem to be struggling. I lost an initial 9lbs and now nothing for 2 months. Previous stall was 7 months. Need to lose another 30 lbs or so.
I will be tweaking my diet a la your suggestions here, but I wondered if, since a lot of my situation is externally applied via oral steroids, there was any other advice you might impart? Any books I should read on leptin or inflammation (I’ve read both Taubes and Mark’s books, but need to learn more).
The other thing I’ve noticed is that weight loss triggers the asthma. Each time I’ve had the initial LC rapid weight loss, I ended up in the hospital. I’m the only person I know whose health doesn’t change with LC. I’m sicker, but skinnier. Even my messed up cholesterol stubbornly stays the same. I think I need something more than low carb, but I don’t know what that is.
Thanks for your time.
Michelle
August 24th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
There really are no great books on leptin. The story on it is being written as we speak. I think you need to read as much as you can on it in the literature. You could start with Mastering Leptin by Byron Richards and use his bibliography in the back of the book. It links a ton of seminal papers but the latest stuff coming out now is no where in printed book.
August 26th, 2011 at 4:02 am
I’m sitting here bawling lol! I’m on 5 of those meds and different serotonin inhancers yes plural. I’m still having to take the omeperazole every couple of days the acid reflux is really bad. The Beyond HCL isn’t enough YET. My doctor had to take me off the Cephalexin today it just made me way too nauseous and week. I’m hoping the cellulitis is good and dead!
Jack idk what you like to be called but I’m hell bent on getting healthy! I thank my HP that I found your site and MDA I’m almost done with Mastering Leptin and next is Primal Blueprint!
Thank you soooo much!!! I’m one that will probably have to take thyroid replacement but if I can quit being, as my husband calls me, the walking pharmacy I’ll be thrilled!!!
btw my doctor sent a lab down to check my vit d.
August 28th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
I have adrenal fatigue with low cortisol all day. My reverse T3 is very high at 669. My Free T3 is 2.3. My Vitamin D level is 99 because I have taken supplements for a couple of years. My ratio of Free T3 to Reverse T3 is between 3 and 4. I mainly eat eggs, meats, vegetables, nuts, and use coconut oil daily. I also take fish oil daily as well as several other supplements based on my own research. A lot of people recommend hydrocortisone for the adrenal fatigue. I am scared to do this. I have started on an Adrenal Glandular by Nutricology and licorice. I am also taking kelp for my thyroid. I am tired and depressed most of the time. Will your dietary recommendations help fix my adrenals and my thyroid? Any other suggestions? Sorry for so many questions, but I am desperate!
I live in Alabama – close to Birmingham. Could I become a patient if I traveled to see you? I am having a hard time finding a doctor that I trust. Thanks for your time!
August 28th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
Your problem sounds pretty serious and you may need to consider doing things you might not want to. This will require you and your doctor sitting down and having a serious heart to heart. Your HPA axis may need a jump start with cortisol to get you up and going. I think you need to get your DHEA and sex steroid hormones tested if you have not done so already with your situation. I also think you need to consider a lot more interventions for that problem.
Take a look at this blog…….Im not sure you saw it.
http://jackkruse.com/what-might-casey-anthony-and-oj-have-in-common/
August 29th, 2011 at 1:22 am
Thanks for your quick response and the link. I had not read it. I have had my DHEA tested, and it was low. My testosterone and progesterone were high due to supplementation (compounded cream). I am currently implementing many of the suggestions in your blog as I have researched adrenal fatigue for at least a couple of years. I am currently looking for a new doctor as I have not been pleased with my improvement under my last doctor’s care. I was under her care for over a year and saw minimal improvement. I am afraid that if I go on the cortisol I won’t ever be able to get off of it. I am also afraid of weight gain as I have about 10 pounds that I can’t get off no matter what I do. I have been taking adderal for several years which I know is bad for my adrenals, but I don’t think I could do my job as a school teacher without it. I have gotten off of the adderal twice, but then some family problems caused my adrenals to crash again and I had to go back on the adderal to function.
I have considered a ketogenic diet and possibly the GAPS diet as I have several digestive issues and depression.
Thanks again for what you do to help people with your blog
September 1st, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Dr. Jack – Can you post your killer smoothie recipe with coconut milk, raw eggs & heavy cream… can’t seem to find where I read that in a post somewhere. Thanks!
Here you go: I use 3-6 raw pastured eggs, Nutiva coconut manna, So delicious unsweet coconut milk, Navitas 100% pure Cocoa powder, Cinammon, Raw pastured heavy cream, Navitas Goji berry powder, and occsionaly Ill add carbs…….like blue or blackberries and in the fall organic pumpkin and nutmeg. If I am working out I also may sneak some unporcessed whey in too.
September 7th, 2011 at 5:26 am
Hi Dr Jack, I had Cushing’s disease for around 5 years, and recently got it fixed (took two surgeries to get the tumor…).
So I’ve gone from having sky-high cortisol to basically zero, and need hydrocortisone to avoid adrenal crisis.
Vit. D is at 83.2 ng/mL from lots of sunlight and supplementation. I’m also taking magnesium, calcium, K2 and fish oil.
I do resistance training thrice a week, plus some chinese IMA and yoga.
Is there anything you would recommend me to take note of with respect to your leptin protocol?
September 8th, 2011 at 1:49 am
@Yxy You know that Cushings can cause significant hypothalamic changes so a full work up would need to be done to see truly where you are now. And since you have had two transsphenoidal approaches this really mandates it. Often the adenomas of ACTH are hard to find and the surgeon has to become really agressive and some normal pituitary is taken out with the tumor.
September 8th, 2011 at 4:53 am
Dr Jack – you’re right, they cut out over half of my pituitary gland. The remaining part is still asleep…
Anyway I lost the moon face and belly pretty quick, along with good muscle and strength gains.
Bone density has still not recovered though, and now I can’t seem to gain any weight…
Do you have any tips for increasing bone density?
September 8th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
You really need post op pituitary retesting. When I operate on patients like you we retest at 3 and 6 months with the endocrinologist.
September 9th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
yeah, that’s what i’ve been getting. not cheap =(
September 10th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
@JPatti has suggested these links and I vetted them and I think they are fine.
http://faqhelp.webs.com/rt3ratiot3meds.htm This can help decipher Rev T3 labs
http://www.cushings-help.com/ This one is a good resource for Cushings patients
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steroidogenesis.svg Good picture view of steroid cascade
As for your comment about biochemistry not being the same as when you went to grad school……youre right. What we do know now has changed a bit. Adrenaline (epinephrine) is the acute fight or flight responder but the proper context here is about metabolism and leptin. This is where ACTH and cortisol chronically completely negate adrenaline. Excessive chronic ACTH or cortisol completely shut down the symapthetic nervous system out flow at the brainstem level. So when someone is LR adrenaline is basically useless to the them over time. This is why so many unfit people and the obese rely on stimulants like caffeine and nicotine to get them going. They become dull to its adrenergic effects on all receptors. Surgeons like myself see this all the time in surgical cases where cortisol or ACTH is elevated and even giving the patient levophed (synthetic adrenalin) will not move their blood pressure and have little action on the heart. This is also why nurse refer to levophed as “leave them dead”. The reason is that the levophed does not work well on the organs that are under stress but it does clamp down on others that can still respond to its adrenergic effects. So you see clinical medicine must take the cortisol situation into account to see how it will affect the situation. The underlying cortisol issue must be dealt with first. So in essence when a in vivo human has chronically elevated cortisol as one does in LR, cortisol becomes their flight or fight hormone and not epinephrine. And that is a big problem. Remember the point in the article was that context matters. In a fit person who still can respond to adrenalin the context is different. Your comment is based upon the normal physiologic response and my article is based upon what occurs in the pathologic state. I choose not to publish all your comments because I felt many would not understand your point because they don’t understand the context problem that you seemed not to grasp. This is why in learning from a book differs from real life clinical medicine.
September 14th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
Dr. Kruse,
Background- 28, female, 5’9″, 190lb, mostly compliant with primal diet, latest labs- CRP 1.0 (not hs), Calcitriol 96.4, 25-Hydroxy vitamin D 57.5. Cholesterol has always been good/”normal” with exceptionally high HDL (80-100).
I would have guessed I’m leptin resistant (which would explain difficulty losing weight by “Standard” methods), but the normal CRP and high calcitriol throw me. Any thoughts on HIGH vitamin D and high BMI?
Love the blog, I’m leaving chem E to pursue a masters in biochemistry.
September 15th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@Andrea My bet is that you likely do have an underlying hormonal problem. It could be LR or a thyroid issue. I think you definitely need to consider testing to get tot he bottom of it. When you get a thyroid panel make sure you get Rev T3 and TPO Ab panel too. If you can get your salivary cortisol level done too. I bet those will uncover the mystery.
September 15th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
Dr. Kruse. Thanks, I had thyroid panel done in April of this year, T4 8.7, T3 Uptake 30%, Free T4 Index 2.6, TSH 0.88, T3 88.0. I’ll check into getting reverse T3, TPO Ab and salivary cortisol. I have a good doc that will write scripts for tests, insurance the more difficult matter.
Thanks again,
Andrea
September 18th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Question, Dr Kruse, I’ve been looking and maybe I missed the answer: my thyroid condition was determined to be autoimmune when I was 14 (yep, I was over weight then, 16 yrs ago) and if I follow the instructions on my medication, it says to wait anywhere from 30 min- 1 hr before eating. I am not the same person now, I actually weigh less now than I did then (now: 5’2 & 129.4 lbs), but am curious if I still might be some-what LR. What would you recommend: eat anyway, take the medication later; get LS and hopefully stop taking the medication? I have been on the primal diet, loosely, for about 1 -11/2 yrs and just started over with the Primal Challenge.
September 25th, 2011 at 4:45 am
Hi Doc, this is a question for men in general: Besides avoiding high carbs/PUFA’s and regaining LS, what else can we do to naturally increase testosterone and decrease cortisol? 1. does heavy lifting help? 2. how much would you say is overtraining and there defeating the purpose?
Also, not to sound technical, but if one is 20-30lbs overweight (not morbidly obese or diabetic), what kind of testosterone and cortisol derangements are we talking about? Some effect, or very dramatic effects? Thanks again!
September 26th, 2011 at 8:59 pm
Dr.Kruse,
I often get confused with the chicken or the egg effect of cortisol, insulin, leptin, thyroid. I know they are all inter-related somehow, but the chain of events still confuses me sometimes. Can you help?
September 26th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
@Carlos The most common way is Leptin resistance leads to insulin resistance and that ends in adrenal resistance in most cases of obesity……But other ways are possible for other disease processes like arthritis or PTSD.
September 29th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
So how do I lower my corisol? Just with the paleodiet? My urine cortisol is 2.5X normal (and I’m on synthroid and lorazepam…join the club, right!) My endocrinologist is checking for possible issues with my adrenal glands and/or pituitary.
September 29th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
@MikeM best way is go give mindfulness a shot and maybe consider some biofeedback.
October 22nd, 2011 at 2:36 pm
What if someone has been on hydrocortisone for 5-6 years with no end in sight? I still have high RT3 even on a good dose of T3 only med and my blood cortisol still comes back high on a dose of 30mg hc. My doctor basically put me in the addisons category last time I was there. That was the point I basically gave in to the fact that my adrenals may never get better. Now I have found this blog and your website and have a little hope left.
Is there something I need to be looking for while doing the reset as far as thyroid goes? My doctor allows me to adjust my meds according to how I feel and temps. Since the temps may drop as you get better, this confuses me a little.
November 6th, 2011 at 4:51 am
I had a thyroidectomy in February and have put on 30 lbs. I was thinking of trying the HCG diet but just found your website and am much more impressed by the info you provide. Would any modifications need to be made for someone who no longer has their thyroid? Is it possible to “reset” and get over the maddening sugar cravings even though my body no longer functions the same way. I did not crave sugar before they thyroidectomy and ate a low carb diet out of desire not necessity. Sugar and bread were a treat not a craving.
November 6th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
@Cyn No…..as long as you are on thyroid replacement that is solid.
November 7th, 2011 at 5:53 am
Thank you so much for replying. I am on thyroid meds (not really any choice.) I am excited about starting this program! It is really fantastic that you provide all of this information in a way even I can understand.
November 13th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
Please tell me your thoughts on using Armour after a total thyroidectomy, as opposed to Synthroid and Cytomel combined. I am on round one of the HCG diet (5 years post TT) and am doing well; many on the Yahoo HCG Group have recommended your blog, so I am reading….fascinated! I just want to know if my situation requires any modification on the path to LS
November 13th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
@nancy I have few issues with Armour in this case.
November 15th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Still trying to understand all of this. Just did blood work, no reverse T3 (Dr. would not order). What is a high HS CRP? Mine was 2.1. Test claim I am borderline high cholesterol, 209, tri-54, hdl-60, ldl 138. I just lost 38lbs on HHCG. I have been reading your site gathering info. Trying to start into leptin reset. Thanks
November 16th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Dr. Jack, thank you so much for all your wonderful posts. I’m so glad I stumbled on this site after researching leptin resistance. Like most I’ve read, I’m overwhelmed by the wealth of information! I’m a closet “scientist” and am just soaking this up. I too have had a thyroidectomy and am on Armour. I have been officially diagnosed with celiac disease, lupus, systemic candida, insulin resistance, adrenal exhaustion, PCOS, fatty liver disease by various doctors over the last few decades. But, I’m not feeling better as quickly as I feel I should be with all the various protocols I’ve been put on. I’ve always felt like I’m spinning my wheels going round and round. I’m tired of wasting time! I’m a 54 year old, 60-pound overweight post-menopausal woman who wants to know what it’s like to be well. After reading alot here, a light is starting to come on that the candida was my beginning as I was born with thrush. Never felt well as a child and definitely not as an adult obviously with all my issues. I have had an insatiable sugar hunger all my life. So, again, after reading most here, Dr. Jack I’m “hearing” that I need to: a) following your Leptin Rx, b) go paleo, c) follow yours/Robb Wolf’s autoimmune elimination protocol to tackle the leaky gut? That the leaky gut correction will be the healthy beginning for me??? Oh, and I think I remember reading somewhere in this website you said to aggressively tackle the candida.
November 16th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
@Kathleen Yes Candida is a bastard to get rid of. It keeps a lid on your HDL level and your HS crp never falls close to zero.
November 16th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Yup, it’s a beasty beast alright! I’ve tried before to kick it, but I let it creep back. I’m a stress eater. Well, it appears I have my work cut out and I feel I finally have firm resolve to “just do it” after reading your info. Tons of info and tons of science to back it up. THANKS!!! I hope and pray that I’ll be back in a few months with a transformation testimony!
November 16th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
@Kathleen the journey of success begins with a lot of small steps. We’ll be waiting to hear from you!
November 16th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
I was suggested this blog by way of my cousin. I am no longer positive whether or not this publish is written by means of him as nobody else recognize such certain about my problem. You are wonderful! Thank you!
November 17th, 2011 at 8:54 am
Thanks for the encouragement! (I added the M to the end of my name — I’m seeing another Kathleen asking Q!)
November 18th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
regarding your response to Kathleen and candida… is there a test that can test levels definitively? what if you have become immune to the standard herbals, or the herbals are making your leaky gut more sensitive/leaky? would you do a Rx anti-fungal and continue to follow strict paleo, leptin reset, and a leaky gut healing protocol? i know its a bastard to get rid of, is this your way of saying foggedaboudit? if there is a way can you please suggest? thanks again for all the great articles.
November 22nd, 2011 at 9:36 am
[...] or post-prandial glucose readings done every 15 minutes for one hour after eating. (Read my Hormone 101 blog for [...]
December 4th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Hi Dr. Kruse. I am back to ask you for your help. I finally got in to a new doctor and had the “optimal” discussion with him. He was very understanding and obviously wants to help, but after looking at my test results, I don’t agree with his conclusion that I am “extremely healthy”. I am a 40 y/o female taking Armour for hypothyroidism.
Of utmost concern to me is serum glucose – 96 and A1c – 5.4. However, I’ll give you the other results as they may help paint a picture:
A/G Ratio 1.3
Globulin 3.2
Creatinine Serum 4.0
Estradiol 24.5
LH 7.0
FSH 9.1
Glucose, Two hour post-prandial 74
Insulin-like Growth factor 172
T3 105
T4, free 0.66
Testosterone serum 25
TSH 2.240
Vit D 31.8
I realize you are very busy, so your consideration is so very much appreciated. Thank you for what you are doing.
Laurie
December 4th, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Sorry – forgot to add Antithyroglobulin AB – 53, which may be an indicator of hashimoto’s? I think there’s something in all of this, but I don’t know for sure where to start??? Just point me in the right direction please. Paleo diet, supplements, BHRT, etc. I am desperately afraid I am headed for T2D, and there’s no preventive help such as what I’ve read on here. Thank you again,for any help you can give.
December 6th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
For the 1st time, re-reading this, I noticed that ALDOSTERONE is also lowered by pregnenolone steal.
I don’t have deficient cortisol, but even my dr told me to start having a tsp of salt in a glass of water every morning, & keep my salt intake high, because my sodium levels are low-normal & I get weak without it…usually right at the bottom of normal despite high salt intake. This let me to wonder if I’m low in aldosterone. I also have to urinate pretty quickly after downing water, and pretty copiously!
Low aldosterone: can’t hold salt. Low sodium, can’t hold water.
With my high a.m. serum cortisol, I couldn’t have addison’s. (P.M. was not tested.) Hx of cortisol crashing spontaneously & idiopathically. No dramatic crashes in recent years; maybe bc of eating very low carb.
Yet in researching it, I found that aldosterone deficiency is supposedly very rare. My father & half-sister also crave(d) salt like I do, & dad died of kidney/bladder cancer. (Any connection likely? He was a heavy smoker, tho.)
Is it possible someone with high salt craving (& it does restore me from weakness when I eat it, tho the need is rare now as I salt heavily) could actually have an aldosterone deficiency, not from genes, but from pregnenolone steal?
December 6th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
@Mimidiet it is more common today than it was 30 yrs ago because people are now realizing that pregnenolone steal syndrome is a real problem. I never heard of pregnenolone steal syndrome until 2003. It is very possible this is happening.
December 7th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
I found your site yesterday and cannot pull myself away from it! FASCINATING!!! I am a 42 year old female who has been following Mark’s Daily Apple, well, daily for about a year. I lost the weight I wanted going “primal”, but continued to be very fatigued, cold, irritable, etc. After NUMEROUS tests, it was discovered my sex hormones were in the toilet and my thyroid was a bit hypo.
Reluctantly, I was put on Estradiol, Prometrium, and Androgel by my Gyno. My Endo has me on (surprise, surprise) Synthroid. I am now ravenous constantly AND have regained ALL the weight I had lost (I still eat/live primally). Yes, I have a bit more energy now, but I have lost significant hair and feel horribly obese (I am not, but I sure feel that way).
I look forward to beginning your Leptin Reset for the next 6-8 weeks. My Gyno says he’s happy with my levels of sex hormones now and doesn’t want to change anything. I see my Endo tomorrow and am not sure where to go from here. Cytomel with my Synthroid? Armour? Get off it all?
I am assuming it’s the thyroid med that’s creating this hunger/weight monster, no? Or maybe it is the combo of everything. If you have a recommendation of what I should ask my Endo (and/or direct me to a previous post), I would be sooo appreciative. I truly feel like I’m back to square one.
Thanks for such an informative and helpful site. I wish I could sit in front of my computer and digest this all day!!
December 11th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Dr. K, I’ve been doing your Leptin Rx for 4 weeks now. I am a 43-year-old woman, mom of 2, and I’ve never been overweight by more than 20 lbs. I have been on a low carb high fat mod protein diet, paleo style, for almost 3 years now. I couldn’t lose the last 15 lbs of baby weight despite trying every diet. I felt better on low carb high fat paleo, got sick much less often, more energy, and so stuck with it, despite some gains in weight. Finally went on hcg this year and lost that 15 lbs. In the last 4 months since I stopped hcg, I have gained back 10 lbs. I still do the same paleo diet. I haven’t had any sugar or starch…no bread, pasta, rice, etc. and no desire for any of it. I gain weight with my mens. cycle each month about 2-3 lbs come on right on day 1 or 2 of my cycle and then, I spend the rest of the month trying to get it off and it’s stuck like glue. Sometimes I’ll lose 1 lb and then, gain it back. I think my hormones are messed up but my cycles are so perfect, 28 days, not heavy, some PMS but less than I ever had in my 20s. I was told I was estrogen dominant (before I got pregnant with my second) and did the progesterone cream for about 6 months. Other than that, I am under tremendous stress, financial, emotional, grief (major losses in my life), and not much support. I am doing the Leptin Rx even though I’m not 100% sure I am LR since it’s only 10 lbs overweight. Something is clearly wrong if I am gaining weight without changing my diet. I eat 70% fat, 20-25% protein, 5-10% carbs. My carbs are often only about 15g for the day. I have been trying to actually increase them to get to 25g. I want to heal myself before I keep gaining and gaining and really have a big problem. Thanks for your insight.
December 11th, 2011 at 8:22 pm
@Claudia after reading this all I dont think you are leptin resistant so the Leptin Reset may not be ideal for you. Hence your outcome. I think you need to follow the Leptin Post Rx written on Nov 16, 2011.
December 11th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Thanks Dr. K. Should I still continue the reset for 2 more weeks since I’ve already been doing it for 4 weeks? It has helped me to eat the BAB and not snack (which I definitely always did) and not eat at night (another thing I did before, although not an out of control thing, just a snack every night). My sleeping is also better. I had nightmares frequently at first and many vivid dreams. I thought that was very unusual. Is that typical? I stopped doing so much cardio. Can I go back to some HIIT sprint type cardio on the treadmill for this winter and add weights to my work outs? I have been doing very little…only some yoga and light jogging a couple days per week. I want to get this 10 lbs off. I am only 5 ft tall and ten extra pounds is a lot on me, it’s visible, clothes don’t fit as well, and I can’t wear my wedding rings. I don’t want to do hcg again, even though it’s the only thing that worked to get the weight off. I’ll read the Post Rx. I think my hormones are still out of balance, something is wrong. Otherwise, why would I gain with my cycle each month, 10 lbs in 4 months? Thanks Dr. K. You are helping so many people.
December 11th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
@Claudia you can do an N-1 but after Dec 21 I would revert to the other plan…..and ramp up. I bet you see an immediate change.
December 12th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Dr. Kruse,
My IGF 1 Insulin Like Growth Factor has been low for a number of years. Given my numerous head injuries and a diagnosis of SIADH, my endocrinologist had me undergo a glucagon stimulation test. My peak GH level was 15.9 mg/mL (normal >3) and my peak cortisol level was 27/7 mcg/dL (normal >18).
My endocrinologist said there was nothing that can be done. It seems to me that while my pituitary is capable of producing GH it is not doing so. Am I correct in my thinking and, if so, is there anything I can do?
December 12th, 2011 at 7:29 pm
@Paul I can not understand your doctor inaction. If you have a deficiency it should be treated period end of report.
December 13th, 2011 at 11:53 am
So assuming the person survives the hypercortisol state for a while, can this eventually lead to adrenal insufficiency along with the thyroid dysfunction? Then what? What can be done for such a person? Can the adrenals be recovered and the rest of the system restored without again causing high cortisol? What would be your approach?
December 13th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
@Angel It depends upon the cause of the cortisol problem.
December 14th, 2011 at 10:43 am
The original high cortisol issue was very likely mostly due to stress. The current low cortisol is perhaps adrenal fatigue. Hypothyroid and T4 to (useful)T3 conversion impaired. Complex situation I imagine with no measurements until the ‘crash’ already happened. Trying to dig out of the hole. General ectomorph body type, but abdomen is the place extra fat goes easily, esp. with sugar intake.
December 29th, 2011 at 7:54 am
Dr Kruse,
What is your take on using T3 only protocols, (similar to Wilson’s protocol) to lower RT3 caused by severe overtraining / intermittent fasting that has not recovered on its own? (been over 6 months with plentiful diet, regular meals and no training at all)
If one has low testosterone could the normalisation of thyroid and metabolism bring that up?
(Have had GNRH stim, ACTCH stim, scan of testes and pituitary – all fine. Adrenal Stress Index curve is normal apart from 4th reading before bed which dips out of range)
Great reading your stuff, thanks.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:28 am
Dr Kruse,
Awesome post, this is the first time I am reading this.
Cortisol high, leptin resistance and very high rt3. Which one we should treat? Should i take T3 medication for high rt3 or not required..If i can rectify leptin resistance, is that enough? Please suggest
January 2nd, 2012 at 12:57 am
Found your site from MDA and am currently starting the Primal Lifestyle way of eating. Reading your site I’m certain I am LR but not sure what to tackle first. I am 32, 100+lbs overweight, have infertility, HBP and recently had bloodwork work that really concerns me. I was hoping I could give you some of the results and get some direction as what to do first, what tests to ask my Dr. to run for more clarification and how I should approach eating/exercise.
Fasting Glucose:95, Total Chol:187, HDL:46, LDL:119, Trig:110 and CRP: 16.3. (The cardiac CRP has been high still at 6-7 the past two years but I don’t know if this is the HS CRP test). A1C: 5.8%, Alkaline Phosphatase:128. This panel is part of a large battery my husband’s company does each year. I know I have to do something I just don’t know where to start. Is the Leptin Rx right for me with the high CRP and low HDL? I have a recumbent bike and elliptical trainer at home and have been trying to spend 30 min a day on the bike…should I continue that or do the more strenuous elliptical? Thank you so much for all your information and help on my path to wellness & healing.
January 5th, 2012 at 2:59 am
“Leptin levels rise. Once they get high enough (around a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 20-24), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) rises in several tissues.”
Dear Dr. Jack,
I got worried about the BMI of 20-24 I thought that was a healthy BMI..
Keep up the good work,
Petra
January 5th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
@Petra It is normal by CW standards……..I think maybe we need a tighter range for men. Women should have 20-24 because leptin is sexually dimorphic and they need higher leptin levels to have children
January 9th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
I am an enthusiastic newbie and just listened to your interview on living la vida low carb. I have a feeling you may have answers that I have failed to get from the medical community for 20 years. I have nocturnal panic attacks, they only occur while I am asleep (seemingly moving from one phase into another). Klonopin resolves them, but years of being on that created a horrible addiction and I assume health problems too. I have always suspected a hormone connection and am convinced I have crazy high cortisol levels. Do you have any insight or thoughts about this autonomic misfire during my sleep which grows into full blown panic? Also, do you know of a place in So. Cal. with reasonable lab testing? I just called Holtorf and its $400 just to go inside the clinic, then I have to cover the lab tests after that. Oy. Thanks, you are awesome!
January 10th, 2012 at 10:33 am
@brenda my bet is inflammation is the cause…..one of your cytokines is driving it and I bet its coming from your gut. Get yourself a metametrix GI fx test and get a HS cRP and vitamin D level…….i bet they are all messed up. You can assess your sleep issue with a DHEA level I bet its quite low too.
January 24th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
I cried when I read your response, I didn’t understand any of it, but I just felt you were again right on the money. My labs showed Pregnenolone, MS 34 ng/dL , Cortisol 9.5 ug/dL , Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) 212 ng/dL , Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 24.2 ng/mL <–you were so right! C-Reactive Protein 0.87 mg/L , Reverse T3 243 pg/mL So, am I leptin resistant? And, can I start supplementing DHEA, Pregnenolone, and taking prometrium? Also should I do anything about the cortisol? You are amazing and I told that to my doctor who was so indignant about even letting me get this lab work done. Thank you!
January 27th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Dr Kruse. You rock. I was wondering if you had any advice about my low testosterone, which is around 190-200 total naturally, I am 5’6 and 29 years and hypogonadal since my about 24. Thyroid ultrasound, brain/hypothalamus MRI all clean. Been on androgel testosterone for years now. About 6-7g daily. I have gone from being 210lbs to 156lbs since 2010. +/- 5lbs for a year now. I have had the androgel throughout my weight loss. Any thoughts on how I can naturally build it up without the Rx? I read online that the exoginous hormones can skrew up the complex symphony of hormone balance. Thoughts on that description? I am eating lower carb and higher fat, mostly on than off for two years now. My doc says I have had the caddilac of tests and believes my T levels are because of my previous obesity no other clues as to cause. I have carb cravings an am very irritable without the medicine. My estrogen and cortisol levels are normal. However I have relatively undeveloped musculature and a bit of gynecomastia. I never feel like exercising. I went to an endo and he also had nothing additional to offer. Other comorbidities: ADHD, dyscalculia/trouble determining left and right when stressed, and very mild tourettes.
January 27th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
@Jedeye I can’t practice medicine on the internet but you might consider a peddle to the metal move…….i’d consider a different tact. Replacing what you do not have with what your supposed to have.
January 27th, 2012 at 10:36 pm
Thanks! How can I find someone who can help me identify what I do not have?
January 27th, 2012 at 11:16 pm
Is there anyone in NYC you would recommend?
January 27th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
@Jed eye no one in my home base I can recommend………14 million people can’t get the help they need in my view Too much CW from NYC docs
February 2nd, 2012 at 12:33 am
Hi Jack,
Thanks for taking the time to answer people’s questions. I am still reading your past blog posts, so apologies if this is answered elsewhere, but I took the cortisol saliva test, and found out my cortisol levels are high at night.
I’ve always been a night owl with trouble getting to bed early and up early, but in the last year I’ve started waking with a start shortly after falling asleep, sometimes with my heart racing or with an irregular beat. And a couple of times I had what I guess would be considered panic attacks. I’ve since cut out caffeine and a doc recommended Seriflos (but that just kept me up). Had the heart checked and it was fine.
I’ve been trying paleo for the last few weeks and have been gluten/dairy free for years (had leaky gut issues in the past and was diagnosed with several food sensitivities, most of which have improved, though dairy sensitivity is still sky high). I’m a few days into your leptin reset and am hoping that will ultimately be the answer. I’m trying to get to bed earlier, though the cortisol issues make it tough to fall asleep, and when I wake up, sometimes it takes hours to get back to sleep. It does seem to be helping that I’m not having night time snacks now. I’m fairly fit overall but have always been a snacker and sugar addict, so trying to get over all that too.
I’m wondering if you have any other supplements or eating tactics you’d suggest to help with the night-time high cortisol and sleeping. Thanks!
P.S. I was on 4, 8, and 9 up there before I got off the gluten and dairy. Not taking anything except a multivitamin, fish oil, and magnesium now.
February 2nd, 2012 at 7:45 am
@Lynn I like L-theanine, phosphotidyl choline and serine, high rise magnesium malate 800-1200 mgs, DHEA replacement based upon your labs, bioidentical progesterone replacement based upon your labs…….and melatonin based upon your labs. If your gut is bad…….then I think about 5-HTP to replenish serotonin. You need testing to conquer this. Sleep hacks are my favorite but they are toughies for patients because it requires their full attn and effort. I will tell you the two best hacks for insomnia that you can start now……as soon as the sun set make your house as dark as possible……after a few days you will notice how it works. the other thing I recommend is buying a clark that has the sounds of nature on it as you sit/lay down in the dark. It relaxes you to meditate. I do a lot of TM and it helps sleep huge. Look into the book called The Healing Codes and do the exercises in the dark. I did this precisely last night because I was not tired. I slept like a rock.
February 2nd, 2012 at 1:24 pm
I recently got a full thyroid panel. Everything in normal range except for rT3. The ratio to free T3 is about 2.5. Salivary cortisol showed normal. Should I get my dr on board to use Cytomel to reduce the rT3?
I’m in the fifth week of the leptin reset. Cravings were gone right away. About 8 lbs down. But I’m cold a lot, especially cold hands and feet, and feel lethargic.
February 2nd, 2012 at 2:29 pm
@Lynnet It does sound like you need your T3 raised but you need to talk to your doc about this. I also think you need to consider bioidentical compound T3 and not synthetic hormone replacement.
February 3rd, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Thanks so much. Just today I got my thyroid autoimmune report, and it shows high on thyroid peroxidase, in other words Hashimotos. For a little more info, I’m a 67-yr-old woman, 5’7″, 182 lbs, with celiac disease and some fibromyalgia. I’ve been testing my BG lately, and it is showing up high, around 100 upon arising. After eating a high-carb meal last week, it was 198! This is the only high-carb meal I have eaten this year. This is getting tricky, since if I low-carb and keep my BG down, my rT3 may go up. I am determined, and have loads of practice in dealing with dietary restrictions. Any ideas?
February 3rd, 2012 at 3:49 pm
@Lynnet you need to buy The Paleo Answer by Loren Cordain, Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson or The paleo Solution by Robb Wolf…….they will all tell you how to eat. After you got the fuels you come back here and read the Leptin Rx and the Leaky Gut Rx…….I will help you climb yourself out of your rut.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:58 am
Dr Kruse, what’s your opinion of the cortisol/testosterone ratio? is it a good marker to improve? What’s the difference between the salivary and serum testosterone test? Would having both be better than just one or the other?
February 9th, 2012 at 11:51 am
@Michael the ratio is good for over training or to tell you if there is an imbalance between your adrenal and sympathetic nervous system. I like the cortisol/DHEA levels better because it is more sensitive.
February 9th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
I am now officially confused. I finally managed to score a copy of Cordain’s book in New Zealand and find he recommends ‘limiting eggs’ to no more than 6 per week, omitting all bacon, eating a lot of chicken and using small amounts of CO (but recommending extra virgin olive oil more!). Since following your blog, completing the Leptin RX and now doing the post-Leptin reset living, I’m feeling great but eating lots of eggs (and lots of fish/shellfish, beef, venison, pork,and offal) and using CO as pretty much my only fat (and at every meal). He’s also recommending half my calories from fruits & veggies. I realise he is recommending a healthy diet, not a diet for someone trying to cure something/fix a problem, but I’m mostly that category now (about 15 more pounds to lose, need to get strong/fitter, but no health complaints). Is this a contradiction or am I missing something? (P.S. Can’t wait to hear more about the RX re: cold & ice!)
February 9th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
@Lauren The reset is a temporary rewiring program. Dr. Cordain is talking about a healthy eating plan when your not trying to repair an issue. The Leptin Rx is designed to fix a certain issue.
February 9th, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Thanks Dr Kruse. Yes, I realise that. I’m in the POST Rx mode. But when I asked you about your hierarchy of protein, what you suggested you follow (Wild Fish>shellfish>offal>pastured eggs>wild game meats like Deer/elk Bison>grass fed skeletal muscle meat>Ostrich>pastured pork>cured grass fed meats>protein from fowl’s) seems in contradiction with his general recommendations. Are you saying, then, that once all health issues are cleared, I should switch to following Cordain’s recommendations (specifically, reducing eggs, eating only lean meat, and using all fats, including coconut oil, sparingly?)? Thanks.
February 12th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Just saw your post on Provera. I was on this drug for 2 years for heavy bleeding, was taken off in Nov 2011 as am now menopausal and have no bleeding anymore. Is there anything extra I should be doing to get the leptin reset working better since taking this drug? I did well at first, within the first 14 days I had lost 11 pounds, today is my 41st day and have lost 15 in total. It seems I lose weight when I first start a different way of eating, such as WW or low carb, then went low carb omega 3 and am now on the leptin reset, each time lost a bit of weight then stalled, been going up and down the last 4 pounds for over 3 weeks now. Lost inches the first couple weeks as well, but none since, I see you’ve advised people to just stick with it and it will eventually come off. I will eat this way for life as I feel best when I eat this way, have no snacks and no cravings, but I really would like to see this weight leave me, I could easily lose an avg person in weight
so I’m far from being optimal. Maybe I need to start counting my protein grams and keep them lower then I’ve been eating, usually average around 100 grams a day. I also take all of your suggested supplements. Thanks for all your information.
February 12th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
@Eleanor My 2/11/12 post maybe something that is perfect for you then.
February 12th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
I read your 2/11/12 post and have already ordered the compression suit as well as some bitter melon. I tried what BenG suggested by putting ice packs between the scapulas/lower neck area, left them there for 10 minutes, then moved them down to my belly area, wasn’t cold enough for that though, it’s been an hour and my lower neck area is still cold. I’m one of those that can’t take much in temp wise, go 1 degree in either direction and I feel it, so hopefully this won’t do me in
Looking forward to seeing more of what you post about this part of the leptin reset protocol.
February 16th, 2012 at 6:08 am
Dr. K ~
While I do not think I’m LR (my cortisol levels decrease as the day goes on and I’m not currently overweight), my RT3 levels are high. After being on synthroid for several years, a new doc just put me on Nature-throid.
Can you give me any insight on how you would treat patients with elevated RT3 that are LS? Will Nature-throid be better than the synthetic synthroid? Anything else I could use to better treat it?
How about tests you would suggest to determine the root cause for the elevated RT3? Thanks!
February 16th, 2012 at 7:20 am
@Sara that is easy Read 2/11/12 blog. That is the best way
February 16th, 2012 at 8:58 am
Thanks Jack. I’ve pretty much been doing that for awhile now anyway since I’ve been on the GAPS diet and for the most part that follows your diet plan. What do you think of taking the Nature-throid with elevated RT3? Any problems there? I’m gaining weight lately and wondering if it has something to do with the NT/
February 16th, 2012 at 12:09 pm
Maybe you can’t say Doc, but I’m curious if you think there’s any harm in dropping my Nature-throid while following the post leptin Rx protocol? My last labs had my FT3 level normal, but my RT3 high. Since I’m not LR, can following the post leptin Rx resolve that high RT3 without any thyroid replacement hormones?
February 17th, 2012 at 6:56 am
Hi Doc,
You posted above that low ferritin can also cause RT3. I’ve been searching for answers to my high RT3 for over a year now with no resolution. I do know I have low ferritin (26.1).
What do you suggest to increase ferritin? I follow a paleo diet and eat liver 2-3 times a week. All my other iron labs are good and I’m hesitant to supplement iron since I’ve read gut pathogens can feed on it and I know I have gut issues that I’ve been working through for a year now too.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
@Marisa my blog of 2/11/12 gives you the best way to blow up a high rev T3 that I know of.
February 21st, 2012 at 11:55 pm
I am coming in really late on this and don’t want to wade through fifty billion comments to see if it has been addressed already but–I have had problems with heavy periods. In fact I went through about a three-year bout where they were so bad I’d have to break out the literal rag bag on the first day or two and couldn’t leave my home for fear of accidents.
I read something at the Weston A. Price Foundation website, in passing, about how vitamin A was important in reproductive health and how some people are poor converters of beta carotene. I was intrigued and decided to try it for myself, derived from fish liver oil.
Bingo. My periods are probably still a little bit on the heavy side but they are manageable, and this weird twingy cramp thing I used to get in my left lower abdomen the day before the flow would start is gone gone GONE, as long as I’ve taken vitamin A regularly enough in the previous month. I have since heard about women in developing countries being treated by charity clinics for menhorragia, and the treatment is vitamin A supplementation.
Not that I don’t think hormones could be playing a role in this as well. I’m one of those unfortunate folks who could desperately use a leptin reset as you have outlined elsewhere. But a subclinical vitamin deficiency was definitely part of the problem for me. Also, given how many children are wearing glasses now and given the fact that urinary tract defects are the number one type of birth defects in the United States, AND that women are discouraged from seeking out animal sources of vitamin A and also discouraged from eating liver during our pregnancies–I think this will shape up to be another vitamin-related health care crisis.
It has effects on thyroid function and such as well.