The Thyroid Diet Revolution by Mary J. Shomon

Author:Mary J. Shomon
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2013-03-18T21:52:49+00:00

Chapter 8

Vitamins, Supplements, and Herbs

Nature heals under the auspices of the medical profession.

—HAVEN EMERSON

There is no shortage of miracle supplements promising to help you lose weight without any effort whatsoever. We are constantly subjected to an incessant battery of hype—the never-ending late-night infomercials, bus stop advertisements and billboards, magazine and newspaper ads, e-mail spam, and multilevel marketers—all trying to sell us the latest miracle diet supplement. You know, it’s the one that will finally melt your extra pounds while you sleep, allow you to eat anything you want and still lose weight—and all without exercising!

Do they work? Do we really need to ask? The truth is—and you don’t need me to tell you this—there is no miraculous diet pill for anyone, much less for thyroid patients in particular. So forget about the amazing Thyro-Weight-Be-Gone or GlandUSlim or SkinnyRoid or whatever ridiculous new capsule comes along to try to take advantage of thyroid patients.

Because they’re a rip-off.

I get hundreds of e-mails each week from frustrated thyroid patients who are trying to lose weight, and I guarantee you, if any of these pills worked, I would be hearing from the legions of people who are thrilled with their miracle pills. So far, in more than fifteen years of thyroid advocacy work, I haven’t heard from anyone who has had success on a “miracle pill” yet. And yes, I’ve occasionally fallen prey myself to the overblown marketing claims and tried a bottle or two of too-good-to-be-true miracle pills, and they haven’t solved the problem. No matter what, I’m always back to eating well, moving, sleeping, and managing my stress.

That said, there are some supplements and herbs that may help you in your weight-loss efforts. Keep in mind that none of these supplements replaces the need to eat well and move. And remember that when it comes to supplements to aid in weight loss, one size does not fit all. Some supplements will do nothing at all for you; some might actually have the opposite effect. (There are always a few people who have a completely opposite reaction to pills and supplements.) Keep in mind that some supplements have undergone various studies and trials, and others have been in use for centuries as part of traditional Chinese medicine or Ayurvedic remedies. Some are included mainly on the basis of practitioner experience and patient evidence-based medicine (known derogatorily by some conventional authorities as “anecdotal evidence”).

To ensure that there are no problems with interactions between prescription medications and supplements, always remember to check with your doctor or practitioner before starting new supplements or changing your supplement dose.

FIRST, A CAUTION

When it comes to diet supplements, I need to offer a caution. Be especially careful about diet supplements sold online. While a diet supplement sold in your local drugstore may not be effective or a good fit for you, it’s more likely that it has gone through some sort of quality control process. But the products that are marketed and sold primarily online—including sometimes by online natural health stores that you trust—may pose a risk.

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