brain function – Natural Medicine Clinic

Thyroid’s Dramatic Effect on Brain Function and Health

July 12, 2014 Dr. Tom Rofrano

If you want more energy, vibrant health and better brain function, then you need to have a healthy thyroid.

Brain symptoms of low thyroid function include:

depression

anxiety

moodiness

brain fog – difficulty concentrating

poor memory

slow speech

Other hypothyroid symptoms include:

fatigue and exhaustion

difficulty losing weight

hair loss

dry skin and hair

itchy skin, hives and rashes

aches and pains

plantar fascitis

numbness and tingling

low sex drive

infertility and miscarriages

irregular menstrual periods

high cholesterol

chronic infections

constipation

headaches

insomnia, and the list goes on…

Millions of Americans with hypothyroidism go undiagnosed. Standard blood tests which include TSH and maybe T4 on your routine labs are simply not enough.

For instance, I had a young woman come in to the Natural Medicine Clinic complaining of back pain, plantar fasciitis (heel pain), fatigue, depression, anxiety, poor memory and concentration, digestive problems, dry skin, frequent infections, hair loss, obesity and being unable to lose any weight despite dieting. She said blood tests from her doctor were always normal.

After a thorough history and examination, I ordered comprehensive blood testing which included TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Reverse T3, Thyroglobulin Antibodies and TPO Antibodies.

Her results revealed low thyroid function, and her antibodies were elevated. This indicated an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, which happens to be the most common cause of hypothyroidism.

Besides providing treatment for her back and foot pain, I put her on a comprehensive wellness program with supplements and a personalized diet. The end result was that all of her symptoms cleared up and she lost 50 pounds! And that was without any medication.

Interestingly, her TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 were within the “normal” lab ranges but one of her antibodies was elevated, confirming the diagnosis. This is one reason why so many cases go undetected, as you can have “normal” lab values and still have a thyroid condition.

Often times, prescription thyroid hormones are needed. If so, many individuals do much better on the natural desiccated thyroid prescriptions rather than the synthetic hormones.

The great thing about discovering a low thyroid condition is that you can dramatically improve your energy and clear up many different, long-lasting symptoms by just fixing your thyroid!

If you or a family member would like any help with testing your thyroid or guidance in this area, feel free to email us at info@nmcwellness.com or call us at 561-627-5800. We would be happy to help.

Yours for Optimal Health,

Dr. Tom Rofrano

Have More Energy, Better Health & Brain Function with Vitamin D

June 28, 2014 Dr. Tom Rofrano

Have More Energy, Better Health & Brain Function with Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with many brain disorders including:

depression
dementia
MS
Parkinson’s
schizophrenia
epilepsy
generalized cognitive impairment

Other conditions linked with low vitamin D levels include:

Fatigue
Diabetes and Obesity
Osteoporosis
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Back Pain and Neuropathy
Cancer and Heart Disease
High Blood Pressure
Dental Cavities and Rickets
Asthma and Influenza
Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain

In fact, recently a group of researchers from Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford and seven other institutions published a study in the BMJ that concluded that low vitamin D levels were responsible for almost 13% of U.S. deaths.

That falls between the 20% of U.S. deaths associated with smoking and 9% for alcohol consumption.

They also determined that vitamin D3 supplementation reduced the risk of premature death by 11%.

They estimated that almost 70% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D, which they defined as having vitamin D levels of less than 30 ng/ml.

I have found similar results here at the Natural Medicine Clinic, as most of our patients whose blood levels I check for the first time are low in vitamin D.

Although the lab normal ranges are typically 30 to 100 ng/ml, the optimal range of Vitamin D 25-OH is considered to be 50-80 ng/ml by the Vitamin D Council and other authorities.

The primary source of vitamin D is from the sun, as it is not readily available in our diet in sufficient amounts.

So why even here in sunny Florida are so many people low in vitamin D?

First, sunscreen can prevent the absorption of vitamin D.

Second, most of us don’t have the time to get a daily 10-15 minute dose of mid-day sun on most of the body.

Third, the darker someone’s complexion is, the less vitamin D they produce from the sun.

Years ago, a patient flew over from the Bahamas to see me. He had many different symptoms including depression, fatigue and chronic pain and had seen many doctors without any answers.

After running some tests, I found out he was extremely low in vitamin D, even though he was a landscaper and was out in the sun (with no sunscreen) for over 40 hours per week! Apparently his very dark Bahamian skin prevented any absorption of vitamin D.

So how much vitamin D do you need? Well, that depends on your blood levels.

I have found that most teenagers and adults need to take 2000 to 5000 IU Vitamin D3 per day and most infants and children need 1000-2000 IU per day depending on their age and weight.

I do, however, recommend that you get lab testing before you just start taking vitamin D supplements because it is a fat soluble vitamin, and you can get too much of it.

Just remember, making sure you get enough of this vital nutrient is one of the most important things you can do for your health and wellness.

If you need any help in this area feel free to contact us. If you have any questions or would like yourself or a family member to have their Vitamin D levels checked, email us at info@nmcwellness.com or call us at 561-627-5800. We would be happy to help.

Yours for Optimal Health,

Dr. Tom Rofrano

P.S. We have three vitamin D supplements to choose from. One is a convenient liquid Vitamin D for the kids. Click here to take a look!

B12 for More Energy & Better Brain Function

May 30, 2014 Dr. Tom Rofrano

Fatigue, lack of focus and concentration, memory loss, depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders and ADHD are all very common symptoms that I see in patients.

After helping many improve their health, energy and brain function over the years, I have found some common points that seem to be most helpful.

For one, vitamin deficiencies seem to be rampant in both adults and children. Patients come in without having any prior labs, or the tests from their doctor or pediatrician are very basic and incomplete.

So when ordering lab work, I find it extremely important to check, among other things, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Ferritin (stored Iron), RBC Magnesium and Vitamin D levels.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency include:

fatigue
brain fog
lack of focus and concentration
memory problems
mood swings
lack of motivation & apathy
insomnia
muscle weakness
numbness and tingling
depression & anxiety
dementia
hyperactivity
psychosis
behavioral disorders
tremors… the list goes on and on.

It’s very rare that someone will bring in a blood test from their doctor that ever tests Vitamin B12. If they do run a test, the lab normal range is typically 200 to 1100. So if you are at 201 that’s considered “normal.”

But you can have severe symptoms and an actual deficiency at levels under 500. Labs in Japan actually have this as their lower level.

Not too long ago, a 20-year-old college student came in with lack of concentration, fatigue, tremors and shakiness in her hands. I ordered lab testing and her vitamin B12 level was 237. She was soon better after following my recommendations which included a sublingual B12 supplement.

There is a big difference between “normal” and optimal levels of vitamin B12, which depend on many factors. But I would certainly recommend staying over 600 pg/ml.

Once we identify low levels, we use a sublingual product called B12 Supreme that I found to be extremely effective. Be aware that there is a vast difference in quality and absorption between brands and types of B12. Some are much better than others.

There is rarely a need for B12 shots, as I have found and studies also show that sublingual B12 is just as effective, if not more than B12 shots. Click here for a highly absorbable, bioavailable B12 that I have had great result with.

I would not suggest just going out and loading up on B12 unless you actually need it, as it may cover up some other issue that you are unaware of.

Look for upcoming emails for more information on how to improve your energy, brain function and overall health.

If you have any questions or would like you or a family member’s B12 level checked, email us at info@nmcwellness.com or call us at 561-627-5800. We would be happy to help.

Yours for Optimal Health,

Dr. Tom Rofrano

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Thyroid’s Dramatic Effect on Brain Function and Health

Have More Energy, Better Health & Brain Function with Vitamin D

B12 for More Energy & Better Brain Function

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