A quick reminder that The Thyroid Secret online documentary replays air this weekend – all 9 episodes will be available to watch! It comes highly recommended! (You can still register here)
In Episode 5, The Stress Sickness, Michelle Corey, Functional Medical Practitioner, Nutritionist and author of the groundbreaking book The Thyroid Cure, The Functional Mind-Body Approach to Reversing Your Autoimmune Condition and Reclaiming Your Health, talks about the connection between shame and inflammation:
We know that shame is inflammatory. In fact, there was a study done where they had students sit for 20 minutes and think about some experience in their life that was shameful. They measured their blood afterwards, and they found spikes in inflammatory cytokines. We know that, from that study that induced shame cause a lot of inflammation. Unfortunately, we live in a global culture of shaming.
…shame is not something people really wanted to talk about, even psychologists or psychotherapists. Because shame is shameful. When you think about something shameful, it’s like the worst thing…
It’s very uncomfortable to speak about. I think just getting into the conversations about it. Just even journaling is one of the ways, because it is inflammatory. I have found, because I work with the autoimmunity [community], and there has been a big connection between abuse and autoimmunity in my practice that there is a lot of shame there. Just having someone be there to truly share your experience in a nonjudgmental way. Not in the way that I’m going to fix you, but just hear your story and have empathy for you. That’s one of the ways that shame dissolves. Because empathy is the antidote to shame. If we can have empathy for ourselves, if others can have empathy for us.”
She is talking about autoimmunity but this topic of shame and empathy is very relevant for my community – that means you of course – simply because of the shame and stigma around anxiety and mental health in general.
In case you’re interested here is the study Michelle is referring to: Immunological effects of induced shame and guilt, published in Psychosomatic Medicine in 2004.
I so appreciate everyone in the series, including Dr. Izabella Wentz, for sharing their powerful stories without shame so we can all be inspired and learn from them and have hope!
It’s not easy. I know because I used to have anxiety and panic attacks myself and made the choice to talk openly about the struggles I had. I was cautioned by a well-meaning mentor not to talk about it. She warned me that it was not professional and just not done in the field. I chose to be open and share anyway and I’m really glad I made this decision. It’s so important for healing on so many levels – for me and especially for those of you who hear my story and have hope!
In this same episode the topic of negative thoughts, the fears that we’re holding and the [negative] beliefs that we have about the body are discussed by Marc David and Emily Joy Rosen, founders of The Institute for the Psychology of Eating.
Marc shares this about these impacts on autoimmunity and the body attacking itself:
Autoimmune disease. That’s an autoimmune disease literally of our thinking, it’s self attacking self. It makes perfect sense to me because we know mind and body track one another. If I’m attacking self with negative thoughts, physiology can often follow where all of a sudden the body starts to attack itself. Or the body can attack its own thyroid gland. Which is, wow, how does that happen?
And Emily talks about how these thoughts impact treatment protocols:
I’m not saying that’s the only factor whatsoever. I think it is really important to look at the [negative] thoughts that we’re thinking. The fears that we’re holding, and the beliefs that we have about the body. Because they will impact the efficacy of any treatment protocol.
I wholeheartedly agree with both Marc and Emily and would like to add that these are all classic signs of low serotonin (that we can easily address):
- negative thoughts (or negative self-talk)
- fears and phobias and
- the [negative] beliefs that we have about the body (often seen as low self-esteem or lack of confidence)
We could even connect the shame Michelle Corey talks about to low serotonin. The definition of ashamed is “reluctant to do or say something through fear of embarrassment or humiliation” or “hesitant or afraid to do or say something.” It sounds like low serotonin doesn’t it?
The wonderful thing is that these signs of low serotonin can be eliminated with some key nutrients.
The quickest and most effective way to boost serotonin is with the amino acids tryptophan and 5-HTP. I discuss the amino acids in the documentary: I touch on them in episode 2 and you hear me go into more detail in the FULL interview (which is part of the Deluxe GOLD package if you’re considering purchasing the series). Other ways include assessing and addressing low zinc, low vitamin B6, a need for inositol or curcumin or saffron, leaky gut and an out of balance microbiome. Eating GMOs, trans fats and gluten is detrimental. Exercising, eating grass-fed red meat and wild fish and supporting the adrenals is beneficial.
I hope you enjoyed this snippet and enjoy the replays!
And a quick reminder: did you know you can own the entire Thyroid Secret documentary series for yourself?
- The Premium Silver Package, includes all 9 video episodes of The Thyroid Secret documentary series, complete easy to read transcriptions and MP3 audio recordings of each episode
- The Deluxe Gold Package includes over 100+ amazing expert video interviews and 64 patient stories in over 76 hours of videos, transcriptions and MP3 audio recordings of each full length interview.
I’d love to hear some of the highlights you found useful and practical? Please share below in the comments.
PS. Feel free to share The Thyroid Secret online documentary with friends and family – all 9 replays air this weekend.
SO identify with all of this Trudy – I do however have an issue with red meat. I have the APOe3 and APOe4 genes and we have been advised to reduce animal fat and to have red meats only once a week. I am compensating for that with free range chicken, wild caught salmon and sardines several times a week. What are your thoughts?
Drew
I’m so glad you identify with this – it’s good information! Please share where/why the red meat recommendations with APOe3 and APOe4 genes
Dr Alan Christianson said:
Dr. C’s Comments
To me, this is one of the most fascinating genes. It influences how we metabolize fat. Those who have an e2 variation and no e4 (2/2, 2/3) are likely more fat tolerant. They can metabolize animal fat better and can tolerate lower carb diets. Those with the e4 variation (2/4, 3/4, 4/4) are likely more fat sensitive and do better on less animal fat, and more low glycemic good carbs. I’ve written more about the dietary implications of the APOE gene here.
– See more at: http://drchristianson.com/three-genes-to-know-and-work-around-to-lose-weight-stay-mentally-sharp-and-feel-younger/#sthash.bi2kIT6t.dpuf
Hi Drew
I’d love to spend days looking at this and will get to it when I have time because it’s an important and controversial topic! This is what I have found for now and my quick perusal gives me confidence in what I’ve been reading since it’s heavily research based and created by a group who is focusing purely on this gene (how wonderful for us!) and seems very balanced.
I’d start here: An introduction to ApoE4, biochemistry, and possible prevention strategies https://www.apoe4.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1418
A few things to highlight regarding your comment
“GENETICS IS NOT DESTINY. Not everybody with ApoE4 gets Alzheimer’s Disease” and “Not everyone with ApoE4 gets heart disease.”
For prevention this is #1
“1. Lowering insulin resistance. Many researchers and doctors, and many on our forum including myself, think this is the very most important thing you can do to hopefully prevent AD. In addition, it is critical for prevention of CVD. This latter statement is not controversial at all.”
But want to point out what they say here https://www.apoe4.info/forums/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=1418&start=10
GLYCAEMIC CONTROL TRUMPS LIPIDS, EVERY TIME
and this lower down in response to a paper on linking saturated fat to dementia
“I am fully aware that this particular facet is controversial, and I am stating my interpretation of the evidence, which resonates with many top Alzheimer’s clinician’s opinions and that of many of our members. I am not promoting a high saturated fat diet, and our forum is not promoting a high saturated fat diet either. Mainstream recommendations are to limit saturated fat to 7% or less of calories and I see no compelling evidence that is contrary to this. I am fully aware that there are those who believe that high saturated fat is benign. In the absence of compelling evidence to support this, ie reduced risk of AD and CVD with high saturated fat (not surrogate markers such as a LDL level, I want to see numbers of actual dementia and actual heart attacks, and with clear causation, not correlation), I chose to limit my saturated fat and so do many on the forum. However, others disagree.”
You will also see sleep is one of the prevention strategies
I didn’t see the amino acids GABA and tryptophan, and melatonin mentioned and they may be very useful (in most instances) for sleep and stress. There is research on GABA and ApoE4 – Enhancing GABA Signaling during Middle Adulthood Prevents Age-Dependent GABAergic Interneuron Decline and Learning and Memory Deficits in ApoE4 Mice https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26888940. There is also research on ApoE4 and serotonin and melatonin. This may all be mentioned elsewhere on their site (I have yet to dig deeper).
Hope this helps and provides a good source of reading and research for you for now! I think we need a few blog posts on this topic so please keep sending questions and feedback 🙂 By the way I personally have one copy of the APOE e4 allele.
Drew
How could I forget to mention Dr. Sara Gottfried’s wonderful new book “Younger” – she has plenty to say about the ApoE4 gene and Dr. Dale Bredeson’s amazing work on Alzheimer’s disease https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/stress-aging-turning-off-bad-genes-sara-gottfried/
I know you said you purchased a copy – happy reading!
She also has a program coming up and I’m going to sign up so I can learn even more from her. This is all so fascinating and we have so much control!
And this is also very relevant for apoe4’s:
http://drchristianson.com/the-apoe-gene-and-a-new-study-about-it/
We’ve been wondering about this for a while and this is really the first real information we have come across. Seems like my high fat days are over before it’s too late… 🙁
Hi Drew, How do you know if you have this gene? I did the 23 and Me, does it show on that? The reason I’m asking, when I was a baby and this probably sounds bizarre, but my mother told me she took me to the doc cuz I had strange stools of just balls. They tested them and it was pure fat. Have always wondered why and have told all new docs I have seen and of course it was tossed aside. So am curious to know how to find out about this. Kaye
Hello there Kaye, yes it shows on 23andMe as rs429358 APOE ApoE epsilon 4 C CT +/-. I used MTHFR Support Sterling App variant report v2.3 to interpret the results. Good luck on your research! Warm regards.
Ok Drew…. explain what MTHFR Support Sterling App variant report…..means!!!! LOL… I haven’t heard of that….
In fact when I went to 23 and me and tried to find what another blogger on one of Trudys blogs recommended thru Dr. Christianson, I put the number in the search but it didn’t work. I contacted them and they said I had to make a screen shot (I’m not that tech savvy) to send them….urr….
Kaye
Hello Kaye. 🙂 Once you have created an account with them, all you have to do is go to this link and upload your 23andMe raw data file. It cost $30 when I did it:
https://mthfrsupport.com/sterlings-app/
Ben Lynch also has Stragene but I can’t vouch for that one as haven’t used it:
https://seekinghealth.org/product/strategene/
Hope this helps… Drew
Thanks Trudy, yes I look forward to reading the book whilst getting a much needed break in Myrtle Beach, SC! Thanks too for your comprehensive response re: ApoE4 on the shame blog post, I am ingesting that and will respond at some point! 🙂
PS. Is the program you’re signing up for the ‘7 Day Younger online Challenge’?
yes that’s correct
Hi Drew, I looked on my 23 and me and it doesn’t look like they tested me for that one. At least its not listed on my list. Now what? it was rs429358 APOE apoe epsilon 4C CT from your entry on March 14,2017. thanks Drew
Drew do you know if Genetic genie is the same info as the Sterling App?
Kaye
They are different tools
Hello Kaye – Genetic Genie has far less SNPs than the Sterling app. The raw data on 23andMe won’t show you much unless you can interpret it – you really need an app such as Sterling…
Drew,what type of diet do you follow?
Hello BJ. Mediterranean Paleo but with higher carb including brown rice and legumes… I don’t do well low carb/high fat, crash and burn.
Thank you Trudy and Drew. Trudy, I rechecked my thyroid tests as you told me that you could be negative on thyroglobulin and tpo and still have hashis. So why test at all??? I was 99.5 on tpo and negative on thyrog. test. The tpo has been that amt. for years. So how do you know? My Functional med. dr says I don’t have hashis but hypothyroidism. And to go off gluten which I use very little. I really don’t know how do you know which is which?
I did purchase The Thyroid Secret but somehow didn’t get this part, I guess.