Dr. Davis:

As part of my low carb diet. When my family has pasta (2x per month or so) I have Dreamfields pasta which claims to "lock up" the carbs so they become indigestible. By testing, I know this does not cause a spike in my blood sugar like a normal pasta meal would. I have no wheat sensitivity at all that I can detect, but lately I've become concerned that this may still contribute to small particle LDL, even though it does not spike my blood sugar. Will I still have negative effects from eating this?  P.S. Sorry to be "Anonymous" but I'm not signed up for any of the other options.

You need to test up to 5 hours after eating the pasta. It may be slowing, but not eliminating the spike

I find wheat to be an appetite stimulant, congesting, it leads to bloating, a few pounds of water weight gain, and a lot of crud on my teeth. If a slightly flatter chest is the price I have to pay to avoid all this, I call it a bargain.

... but other than all those reasons....wheat's ok right? Cause we need fiber....right??

LOL!!! I am a Type 2 Diabetic with normal blood sugar and CDE's have told me I should start eating grains.... for FIBER!

I should take drugs & insulin ....for fiber...

Thanks Dr. Davis!!!

So women who want big ones should eat wheat . Just saying.

"So women who want big ones should eat wheat . Just saying."

Didn't work for me!  I've had size A cup boobies before and after wheat.  I do have a nice, flat stomach now though so it was a net gain (loss actually)!

I also got rid of allergies, skin problems, joint pains and other minor health complaints.

To the person above eating Dreamfields pasta, it is still loaded with glutens, which cause a host of problems associated with wheat. It's not just the carb content of wheat that is bad.

im a new persona after quiting wheat but doctor what are the usual minerals low in a person consuming wheat which they should supplement after stopping wheat... eg iron/iodine?

Hi, Anonymous--

See Anonymous' response. It's right on.

We've had mostly good experiences with the Dreamfields, though some have had modest increases in blood glucose.

Yet another Anonymous--

Great question about the deficiencies that develop with wheat consumption.

I'll cover that in an upcoming Heart Scan Blog post.

As you say, "'Wheat' is no longer wheat".

Here's a paper that shows varying wheat toxicity, as you observed with einkorn:

"Natural variation in toxicity of wheat: potential for selection of nontoxic varieties for celiac disease patients."

http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/16143119

Different species and varieties, all (usually) called by the same name: not helpful for reality-based thinking.

Robert DeNiro used Pasta to gain, what was it? 70lbs? for "raging Bull"
...worth an Oscar, I guess

"Wheat causes dementia."  What's the documentation for that?  I've read all over the place that the evidence for dementia causes, including dietary causes, is inconclusive.  (I also understand that big pharm would have us believe that the problem is insufficient levels of Namenda and Aricept, etc.)

It's confusing.  My mother has significant dementia.  My dad had a huge belly, all sorts of diabetes complications, heart disease, etc., which killed him, but never developed dementia.  

Anyway, enjoy your blog and am almost there on eliminating wheat from my diet.  

Thanks!

The first sign of wheat intolerance can be wetting your pants.
(Cerebellar ataxia, i.e., destruction and atrophy of the cerebellum, caused by wheat leads to loss of coordination and bladder control. Average age of onset: 53 years old.)
Where can I find more info on the above? I've been googling but cannot find something substantial.
Thanks!

I think it might be more catchy to think of "healthy whole grains" as the equivalent not of Salems but of "healthy low tar" cigarettes.

The increased visceral fat (wheat Belly) caused by the high wheat SAD does cause men to aromatize their testosterone to estradiol and get man-boobs, but in women it converts their estradiol to testosterone causing hair growth abnormalities etc.   The SAD causes men to look like women and women to look like men.

Hi, Eric--

A clarification: I don't believe that I can argue that ALL dementia, or even most dementia, is caused by wheat. But the Mayo Clinic has published a study demonstrating that it has this potential. Nobody knows how common this is.


Hi, Desia--

Go to Pubmed.com and enter "cerebellar ataxia" and "gluten" and you will come up with the extensive work of Hadjivasilliou et al.


Dr. Trumbower--

Good to hear from you!

Excellent distinction. I should have added: "Wheat makes women grow mustaches."

The new poster boy for the wheat industry:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gv9eOOyFf8Q/SAP0wrd5E6I/AAAAAAAAB0g/vht-QdRvPZQ/s1600-h/76e41476b9ecd0ed6e386edb0e9e0fccfb3b2b77.jpg

Thanks for the reply Dr. Davis.

I fell off the wagon this Thanksgiving.

All my family and friends completely reject the very idea of wheat abstention. Although, I did succeed in convincing my mom to go LC for a little while. She lost eight lbs. and two 1/2 inches off her waist in two weeks. She fell off the wagon soon after and quickly regained the weight. She said she was going to "try it" again.

This holiday I was asked to two Thanksgiving meals and the usual villains where there in abundance; breaded turkey stuffing, thick-starchy gravy, puffy white butter rolls, and a variety of pies drowned in sugar.

After 31 straight months abstaining from all things wheat, starch, and sugar, I succumbed to the prodding of my hosts to fully participate in the carb filled feasts (although I did so only in small portions.)

By the time I got home later that afternoon, I felt so lethargic and foggy all I wanted to do was lay down and go to sleep. If I didn't know any better, I would have sworn someone slipped me a drug, but I knew it was only a reaction to the carbs, especially after being (at or near) a ketogenic state for so long.

Instead, I got the dumbbells out and did some heavy lunges, presses, and pull-ups and I quickly felt much better.

I think the adoption of wheat in western societies is so accepted and so prolific, and even highly revered and dispensed as a health food by medical and dietary establishments, the war for minds and bodies (literally) against this enemy is going to involve very long arduous battles.

Oh, and I'll think very hard when ever again my family or friends offer up a bowl of stuffing, gravy, or butter rolls.

Thanks for the ammunition doc. My experience however is that apart from my partner, children and closest friends, second line relatives and friends are not so willing to listen to this kind of advice. Fortunately a lot of blog readers and Facebook friends are very willing to pick up the information (in this case http://bit.ly/cyKHre) and do something with it.

One minor modification to the Salems quip:  Healthy whole grains are the "light" cigarettes of our age!

Very good analysis for the diet, family. Really good. Go natural...






Freida Pinto

Its really very much helpful.

Initially by eating iodine-rich seaweeds daily, and then by taking 12.5 mg of Iodoral daily, my required T4 dose has decreased dramatically: from 165 ug per day to 100 ug per day so far. None of my doctors have every seen anyone reduce their T4 dose like this.

It may not be the case that dramatic TSH increase on 12.5 mg or more of Iodoral is a sign of iodine toxicity. The docs with the most experience with mg level iodine supplementation (Abraham, Brownstein, Flechas) seem to agree that sometimes TSH will rise a lot, temporarily, but generally without hypothyroidism. They  believe this is a  functional adaption to the correction of iodine deficiency--i.e., TSH appropriately upregulating various aspects of iodine and thyroid hormone metabolism, including the iodine symporter system. Quite a few people have supplemented with doses of 100 mg per day or more with apparently no signs of iodine toxicity.

See Dr. David Brownstein's book, "Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It," and the articles by Dr. Guy Abraham, the pioneer of modern iodine orthosupplementation, at http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/opt_Research_I.shtml.

Should iodine be taken with something (i.e. oil, etc) to help with absorption?

-- Boris

Is iodine stored in fat or fluids? In other words, can a person eat a bunch of iodine-rich seaweed once or twice a week, or should it be eaten every day if you're going that route?

HI, Google--

Read it. Know his stuff.

I think he's got a lot of great lessons to teach us. But not in this case. This was a clear-cut instance of extreme TSH elevation with prolonged iodine. This was not the phenomenon that David Brownstein describes  of modest TSH increase in the face of early iodine supplementation, an effect I see every day with great frequency.

Dr Davis

Regarding your post "This was a clear-cut instance of extreme TSH elevation with prolonged iodine"

Can you please explain more in layman's term?

So iodine meds supplementation should not be whole year round?

But iodine foods can be eaten everyday?

Are there cases of patients being "allergic" to iodine?  I'm thinking of those who have reacted to some form of seafood in the past and now might be reluctant to try iodine supplementation.

What do you think about iodine and hashimotos´s? Should they supplement too? Regular medical advice seems to dissuade.

Hi Dr. Davis,

I'm curious if your patients with high TSH levels also showed clinical signs of hypothyroidism. I ask because I've read all the work I can find from the three docs most experienced with iodine supplementation (Abraham, Brownstein, and Flechas) and I don't recall any of them reporting any cases of iodine-induced clinical hypothyroidism—elevated TSH, yes, but clinical illness, no. And they use much higher iodine does than you do, in some cases ten to twenty times higher, for years.

I'm also curious if you are aware of any plausible mechanism for iodine-induced hypothryroidism at the doses you are using. Other than than the mythical Wolf-Chaikoff effect (see http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/IOD-04/IOD_04.html), I'm not aware of any.

Since, as with Vitamin D, iodine deficiency appears to be extremely widespread and perhaps just as dangerous, clarifying any potential for toxicity that might discourage supplementation seems worthwhile.

Thanks.

What advantage does kelp have over something like potassium iodide?

Although kelp is natural, it also tends to collect lead, etc. from the environment, which may not be so healthy.

Hi, Garry--

My understanding of the iodine allergy issue is that, not being a protein, there is no such thing as genuine iodine allergy.

There is something called "anaphylactoid reactions" to iodine-containing x-ray dye, which is not iodine allergy, but a reaction to the osmolality of the solution.

There also seems to be allergy to iodine-modified proteins that can occur in fish and shellfish. Most of these people, in my experience, can safely take an iodine supplement. After all, most of these people use iodized salt.

Very rarely, for reasons I do not understand, there seems to be a genuine allergy to iodinated compounds. I have met one or two people like this.

I have been taking an iodine supplement in liquid form called 'Iosol' off and on for years. It has been around a long time yet I have never seen it mentioned in any blogs. It is said to be water soluable, that is if the body doesn't need it it is excreted...so it's fairly safe to take. Here are two links for more info.

The company that makes it http://www.tpcsdirect.com/

and a good description on Byron Richard's site:
http://www.wellnessresources.com/products/iosol_iodine.php

Are you familiar with it Dr. Davis? Or anyone else?

I use Iosol quite frequently in my practice.  Particularly if the patient is on thyroid medication, as too high a dose can trigger hyperthyroid symptoms.  Some people will get acne on higher dose of I, probably due to excretion of other Halogens such as Bromine from the tissues.  I never use the 12.5mg dose to start.  My usual routine is Iosol 1drop daily increasing to 4 drops over 4-6 weeks (1drop=180mcg) and then switch to TriIodine capsules 6.25mg daily (available at our local health food store).  The only drawback to Iosol is that it does not contain Iodide as does Iodoral or TriIodine.  The other benefit to Iodine is the reduction in fibrocystic breast change and probably  breast cancer and prostate cancer.   I have only been doing Iodine for the past year, so I can't comment on cancer prevention results, but one of my pts. who was getting mammograms/MRI scans every 6 months for dense breast tissue with a terrible family history of Ca, has been on triIodine for 6 mon.  The radiologist asked to see her ID as her films did not look like they did 6 mon ago!   I also recommend VitD and correction of progesterone deficiency (estrogen dominence) to decrease breast cancer risk.

Dr. Davis,

Am I too presumptuous to assume that part of America's obesity crisis is due to our inefficient metabolisms caused, in part, by an iodine deficiency?

Anyone with a high Reverse T3 problem needs to be careful with iodine.  There are quite a few reports coming in on the thyroid forums that it increases RT3.  Apparently, if you have a problem converting T4 into RT3 instead of T3, it will sometimes encourage the RT3 conversion. Would love to hear any feedback/experiences from docs or thyroid patients on this.
Warm regards, Catherine
(I think we have 3 or 4 different Catherines posting here!)

Great post, I am taking kelp at this point and you are so right - the energy I get from it is amazing! I am still very confused about the T3, T4, and TSH - what is normal, what is preferred and so on. What should I look for when I have a test done? If possible can anyone direct me to a easy to read basics on thyroid health and kelp/iodine supplement that describes the test results? I would like to go to the doctor to have some new tests done but if I can't understand the results then what good do they do?! Don't even know for sure that my doctor would be able to explain it to me...

My two main concerns would be Hashimotos and potential pre-cancerous cells... both of which may be aggravated by iodine supplementation.  Do you make a point to rule both of these out before beginning supplements?

I have Auto-immune thryroid disease, and have elevated anti-bodies, TSH,normal T4 and T3.
I started taking a highish dose of iodine and my thryoid started enlarging and TSH shot up. As soon as I decreased the dose to RDI the enlargement stopped - in fact it's a little smaller.

Can you explain more about your recommendations for AITD (Hashimotos)
I am taking omega 3, vit D selenium, iodine, zinc, magnesium and doing strict paleo especially strict no gluten as I know there is a connection. I am not overweight, and have only mild thyroid symptoms sometimes.

Hi
I've been reading you're thyroid articles so I went out and bought a thermometer.
Seems my temperature throught the day varies from 35.5C to 36.8C. (just measured today)
That would sounds like possible hypothyroidism accoridng to your other articles.
But reading arround I've seen lower body temperatures are typical when on calories restriction diets which I kinda do. And also that lower levels of T3 when under calorie restriction diet is one of the possible benefits of it.
Anyway I'll go out and get some blood tests to get more information about my thyroid.
But would like to know if you have data on body temperature of people on calorie restricted diets with healty thyroid.

@Julianne,

There's a newly posted series about iodine and AITD over at The Healthy Skeptic.

The first of the three is at http://thehealthyskeptic.org/the-most-important-thing-you-may-not-know-about-hypothyroidism

Your post contains opposite advice to that given in this blog post at healthyskeptic:

http://thehealthyskeptic.org/iodine-for-hypothyroidism-like-gasoline-on-a-fire

William Trumbower recommended using Trilodine capsules after a few weeks of Iosol for people who are presently on thyroid medication. I am presently taking Synthroid and have been for many years now. I have tried to find the Trilodine but with no success.  Is there another name or product that will do the same thing, or could you advise me as where I can purchase it?

http://curezone.com/upload/_I_J_Forums/Iodine/Maniek/flechas_questions_answers_2006_lynn.doc

http://curezone.com/upload/_I_J_Forums/Iodine/Maniek/Iodine_New_Member.doc

Rread frends

I came across an account of Dr. Flechas's views on iodine-induced hyperthyroidism (he's one of the docs most experienced with iodine supplementation). Apparently it does happen on occasion, but it's not necessarily a reason to discontinue iodine. The source for this is:

http://curezone.com/upload/_I_J_Forums/Iodine/Maniek/flechas_questions_answers_2006_lynn.doc



What happens to thyroid hormone production in the presence of iodine supplementation?

Iodine supplementations should be prescribed only when iodine testing indicates iodine deficiency. Iodine testing kits can be ordered from my office (828 684 3233) by individuals or by medical practitioners.

Traditional medical literature indicates that patients who have thyroid nodules or thyroid goiter may have the potential to develop hyperthyroidism when supplementing with iodine. Hence, before commencing iodine supplementation, it would be advantageous for a person to have their primary care doctor order a thyroid ultrasound to rule out the possibility of pre-existing goiter or thyroid nodules.
The primary care doctor should also order thyroid lab work (to be used as a baseline) before prescribing iodine therapy and this lab work should be repeated and followed at regular intervals during the patient's iodine therapy.

For iodine therapy patients not also on thyroid hormone replacement therapy, adjustments to the iodine therapy should be made if signs of hyperthyroidism should occur.

Should signs of hyperthyroidism occur in patients who are taking thyroid hormone replacement therapy as well as taking iodine supplementation, the physician should first recommend an adjustment in the thyroid hormone therapy rather than in the iodine supplementation.

This adjustment in therapy is recommended because iodine is required not only by the thyroid but is required for the proper functioning of many other tissues.

The presence of pre-existing thyroid nodules or goiter does not preclude the patient from iodine supplementation therapy. In fact, in the extensive research with iodine therapy done in my office, I have seen many case of pre-existing thyroid nodules and goiter shrink in the presence of iodine therapy.

Hyperthyroid patients. Graves disease patients and other with autoimmune disease take iodine also but use lithium and copper among other minerals (he didn't say) to decrease the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Iodine isn't reduced because it's the neutralizer of the thyroid.  Patients in a thyroid storm with high heartbeats are given iodine to calm it down as normal medical practice.


Goiters. In some patients with goiters the iodine will stimulate it to produce more thyroid hormone and the patient will suddenly look hyperthyroid with elevated T4 and losing weight. As the goiter shrinks this normalizes. 


http://www.helpmythyroid.com/iodine.htm

I came across an account of Dr. Flechas's views on iodine-induced hyperthyroidism (he's one of the docs most experienced with iodine supplementation). Apparently it does happen on occasion, but it's not necessarily a reason to discontinue iodine. The source for this is:

http://curezone.com/upload/_I_J_Forums/Iodine/Maniek/flechas_questions_answers_2006_lynn.doc



What happens to thyroid hormone production in the presence of iodine supplementation?

Iodine supplementations should be prescribed only when iodine testing indicates iodine deficiency. Iodine testing kits can be ordered from my office (828 684 3233) by individuals or by medical practitioners.

Traditional medical literature indicates that patients who have thyroid nodules or thyroid goiter may have the potential to develop hyperthyroidism when supplementing with iodine. Hence, before commencing iodine supplementation, it would be advantageous for a person to have their primary care doctor order a thyroid ultrasound to rule out the possibility of pre-existing goiter or thyroid nodules.
The primary care doctor should also order thyroid lab work (to be used as a baseline) before prescribing iodine therapy and this lab work should be repeated and followed at regular intervals during the patient's iodine therapy.

For iodine therapy patients not also on thyroid hormone replacement therapy, adjustments to the iodine therapy should be made if signs of hyperthyroidism should occur.

Should signs of hyperthyroidism occur in patients who are taking thyroid hormone replacement therapy as well as taking iodine supplementation, the physician should first recommend an adjustment in the thyroid hormone therapy rather than in the iodine supplementation.

This adjustment in therapy is recommended because iodine is required not only by the thyroid but is required for the proper functioning of many other tissues.

The presence of pre-existing thyroid nodules or goiter does not preclude the patient from iodine supplementation therapy. In fact, in the extensive research with iodine therapy done in my office, I have seen many case of pre-existing thyroid nodules and goiter shrink in the presence of iodine therapy.

Hyperthyroid patients. Graves disease patients and other with autoimmune disease take iodine also but use lithium and copper among other minerals (he didn't say) to decrease the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Iodine isn't reduced because it's the neutralizer of the thyroid.  Patients in a thyroid storm with high heartbeats are given iodine to calm it down as normal medical practice.


Goiters. In some patients with goiters the iodine will stimulate it to produce more thyroid hormone and the patient will suddenly look hyperthyroid with elevated T4 and losing weight. As the goiter shrinks this normalizes. 


http://www.helpmythyroid.com/iodine.htm

I came across an account of Dr. Flechas's views on iodine-induced hyperthyroidism (he's one of the docs most experienced with iodine supplementation). Apparently it does happen on occasion, but it's not necessarily a reason to discontinue iodine. The source for this is:

http://curezone.com/upload/_I_J_Forums/Iodine/Maniek/flechas_questions_answers_2006_lynn.doc



What happens to thyroid hormone production in the presence of iodine supplementation?

Iodine supplementations should be prescribed only when iodine testing indicates iodine deficiency. Iodine testing kits can be ordered from my office (828 684 3233) by individuals or by medical practitioners.

Traditional medical literature indicates that patients who have thyroid nodules or thyroid goiter may have the potential to develop hyperthyroidism when supplementing with iodine. Hence, before commencing iodine supplementation, it would be advantageous for a person to have their primary care doctor order a thyroid ultrasound to rule out the possibility of pre-existing goiter or thyroid nodules.
The primary care doctor should also order thyroid lab work (to be used as a baseline) before prescribing iodine therapy and this lab work should be repeated and followed at regular intervals during the patient's iodine therapy.

For iodine therapy patients not also on thyroid hormone replacement therapy, adjustments to the iodine therapy should be made if signs of hyperthyroidism should occur.

Should signs of hyperthyroidism occur in patients who are taking thyroid hormone replacement therapy as well as taking iodine supplementation, the physician should first recommend an adjustment in the thyroid hormone therapy rather than in the iodine supplementation.

This adjustment in therapy is recommended because iodine is required not only by the thyroid but is required for the proper functioning of many other tissues.

The presence of pre-existing thyroid nodules or goiter does not preclude the patient from iodine supplementation therapy. In fact, in the extensive research with iodine therapy done in my office, I have seen many case of pre-existing thyroid nodules and goiter shrink in the presence of iodine therapy.

Hyperthyroid patients. Graves disease patients and other with autoimmune disease take iodine also but use lithium and copper among other minerals (he didn't say) to decrease the overproduction of thyroid hormones. Iodine isn't reduced because it's the neutralizer of the thyroid.  Patients in a thyroid storm with high heartbeats are given iodine to calm it down as normal medical practice.


Goiters. In some patients with goiters the iodine will stimulate it to produce more thyroid hormone and the patient will suddenly look hyperthyroid with elevated T4 and losing weight. As the goiter shrinks this normalizes. 


http://www.helpmythyroid.com/iodine.htm

Sorry for the multiple identical posts regarding Dr. Flechas. Google (Blogger) kept giving an error that made it seem the posts hadn't been published.

Really trustworthy blog. Please keep updating with great posts like this one. I have booked marked your site and am about to email it to a few friends of mine that I know would enjoy reading
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I second the healthy skeptic post.  In the presence of TPO auto antibodies (Hashimoto's), it could backfire as the autoimmune attack may worsen.

I've read that autoimmune thyroid disease is more common in iodine sufficient areas, which correlates too.

[...] is iodine deficient. But a substantial minority of the Midwest population I see certainly are.    Iodine update | Track Your Plaque Blog     My website: http://www.shoppinganywhere.net/        Reply With [...]

Perhaps I could add a fourth factor: Arthritis is more and more sen as an autoimmune disease. Wheat is one of the most prominent initiators of autoimmune diseases http://bit.ly/a9Gvjk

Not being critical or attacking your statements.  I do believe that wheat (& other grains in general) are detrimental to health.

But my understanding is that pH in the body is in a very small window: between 7.35 and 7.45 is what i have read.  

??

"Bagel Bones" - I like it!

But, how about "Bread Bones", or "Bakery Bones"?

Kathryn

blood pH and urine pH are quite different things, but the urine pH reflects the cost that body pay to maintain the blood ph in the range you just mentioned.


Hans Keer thanks for the link.

Dr Davis thanks for another great lesson of medicine , everyone could use it!

I am waiting an article regarding "MEMBRANE UNSATURATION AND LONGEVITY" considering "Great Fish Oil Experiment" of Ray Peat.

Sorry for being rude, I should have said "I would appreciate"...

food fractures

Don't forget gluten triggering autoimmune disorders, like rheumatoid arthritis.

I don't have arthritis yet, but bread sure causes me to have a lot of digestive problems. Unfortunately, I love bread, so it's a constant struggle.

i love your articles on wheat and really liked the neurological impact of wheat as told by you dr. davis. great work.

Wheat of Mass destruction

Wow... Continually checking up on your articles has really opened my eyes to how bad wheat really is.

I am somewhat of a bread lover, but after reading about the disabling effects of wheat, I think I'm going to become a vegetable lover instead.

Keep writing your articles to spread this unknown knowledge around!

Hi, Hans--

Yes, indeed. Yet another path by which wheat can exert joint damage.

I suspect that there is more to this autoimmune or inflammatory pathway than suggested by rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, with negative serum markers for rheumatoid arthritis or "atypical" appearances of the joint inflammation, it is often just labeled "arthralgia" or a non-specific arthritis, treated with non-steroidal agents, then dismissed.

Hi, Kathryn--

Pater's comments address your concern: Tissue and serum pH is indeed tightly regulated. But there's a price to pay to maintain normal pH when disruptive acids or bases (mostly acids) are introduced. This is reflected in urine pH, an expression of net change.

So low urine pH=osteoporosis? Do we have a scientific citation for this?

I've seen all over the internet that eating lots of meat causes low blood pH, which causes osteoporosis. Obviously, what we eat cannot influence our blood pH, or we'd be dead.

But if low urine pH caused osteoporosis, wouldn't internists everywhere be advising patients to correct that? I see them prescribing drugs plus extra calcium plus vitamin D plus exercise, but never a word about changing the net pH of the diet. Odd.

It's nicely coincidental that you mention wheat as as a cause of low blood PH. I've just found I have low blood PH during a checkup, yes wheat is slightly acid but after doing a bit of research my thinking is that it was caused by the moderate to high protein, high fat diet I have been consuming on the recommendation of alot of paleo blogs.

To answer Stargazey, here are 6 studies I found that support the link between protein, blood PH and bone density.

Consumption of higher protein omnivorous diets promoted decreased bone mineral density after weight loss in overweight postmenopausal women.
The control, nonmeat, chicken, and beef groups lost 1.5%, 7.7%, 10.4%, and 8.1% weight and 0.0%, 0.4%, 1.1%, and 1.4% bone mineral density, respectively.
http://biomedgerontology.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2010/07/05/gerona.glq083.abstract

Results: After adjustment for age, sex, and energy intake and control for forearm muscularity, BMI, growth velocity, and pubertal development, we observed that long-term dietary protein intake was significantly positively associated with periosteal circumference (P < 0.01), which reflected bone modeling, and with cortical area (P < 0.001), bone mineral content (P < 0.01), and polar strength strain index (P < 0.0001), which reflected a combination of modeling and remodeling. Children with a higher dietary PRAL had significantly less cortical area (P < 0.05) and bone mineral content (P < 0.01). Long-term calcium intake had no significant effect on any bone variable.
http://journal.shouxi.net/qikan/article.php?id=206948

We conclude that excessive dietary protein from foods with high potential renal acid load adversely affects bone, unless buffered by the consumption of alkali-rich foods or supplements.
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/128/6/1051

Elderly women with a high dietary ratio of animal to vegetable protein intake have more rapid femoral neck bone loss and a greater risk of hip fracture than do those with a low ratio. This suggests that an increase in vegetable protein intake and a decrease in animal protein intake may decrease bone loss and the risk of hip fracture.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/73/1/118

Enduced acidosis caused the loss of calcium, sodium and potassium from the cells and bones of subjects
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC292842/?page=6

Low dietary potassium intakes and high dietary estimates of net endogenous acid production are associated with low bone mineral density in premenopausal women and increased markers of bone resorption in postmenopausal women
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/81/4/923

Aside from protein, Ketone bodies are also acidic and cause acidosis in diabetics "diabetic keto acidosis" and alcoholics "alcoholic ketoacidosis"

I find this topic extremely interesting, especially from an athletic standpoint.

As far as acidity, osteoporosis, and Paleo, Don from Primal Wisdom delved into this in a nice 7 part series: http://donmatesz.blogspot.com/2010/03/paleo-diet-ph-does-it-matter-part-vii.html

Add in resistance training, though, and the whole point of diet and osteoporosis becomes almost completely moot. VitD, Ca, K, P don't hold much against skeletal bone adaptation to picking heavy stuff up.

While I've seen evidence of increased athletic performance by the addition of exogenous pH buffers (bicarbonate), I have NOT seen evidence of (quantifiable) ergogenic improvements due to an "alkaline" diet.  While there might be some merit there (I myself follow a fairly strict Paleo diet), attempting to be more "alkaline" by decreasing meat intake would only hinder my performance.

Back on topic:  I'll echo what other have stated already, in that the mechanism for arthritis, specifically RA, would be auto-immune mediated with wheat gluten intake.  I'm surprised Dr. Davis did not mention this.

Eating very much carb in general makes my shoulder hurt. One of my dance teachers has said the same thing about her knees.

FWIW, both surgical anesthetic (morphine?) and wheat make me feel lousy. I didn't have any withdrawal when I quit eating wheat.

@Mike

While exercise may mitigate some of the effects of Acidosis such as low bone density, stress (acidosis raises cortisol), risk of panic attacks (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17713689); I've read acidosis is associated with many other diseases.

The positive effects of bicarbonate during exercise are probably related to higher muscle protein catabolysis during acidosis which would probably continue after you stopped exercising.

Another effect of protein is to lower serum testosterone and sex binding hormone globulin. Saturated fat raises it however (http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/82/1/49)

@Joe,

I have no doubts chronic acidosis has strong implications in many disease etiologies; I was just stating my experience (and opinion) on the effectiveness of an alkaline diet on athletic performance, and emphasizing resistance training for optimal bone density over dietary changes.

On buffering:  I've personally trialed a few doses of sodium bicarb w/ short duration, highly glycolytic/lactate producing workouts, and the ergogenic (performance enhancing) effect has more to do with reduction in muscle fatigue secondary to reducing H+ ions than protein catabolysis.  I believe this is why many athletes have anecdotally adopted a "high alkaline" diet without actual quantifiable data on it.  By no means am I saying it's unhealthy (a diet high in vegetables and devoid of grains most surely IS healthy!), but it just doesn't make a difference, performance wise, like actual NaHC03 loading.

I do agree on the effects of SFA and testosterone, though---hence my choice of whey protein and coconut milk PWO.

Thanks for the references. Today is a work day for me, so I've only glanced at them, but it seems like the evidence either way is not overwhelming. I'll study it more carefully in the next few days as I find the time.

Hello Dr. Davis,

I follow your blog regularly. Keep up doing the good work.I appreciate it.
Regarding Oseoarthritis I slightly disagree:
Osteoarthritis is one example of “The pitiful state of medical ignorance” as Dr. Mike Eades says. Patellofemoral syndrome can be rehabilitated. Your cartilage can actually get better! 80 % of Doctors and physiotherapists don’t know this. Health care system? Don’t get me started!
I can't give you the link because the science stuff is in German.
But here is a good post from Mark Sisson about the topic: “OA is not your destiny”.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/arthritis-diet/
Here's what I have learned from my "private research":
Movement is great for rehab but you have to start where you are. Too little load is bad for joints and too much load is bad.  Find the “magic zone” as physiotherapist Doug Kelsey says. Joints and ligaments need time to adapt. More time than muscles.
Interesting fact I learned from smart PTs:  cartilage works actually better under load than without. Yup!

I am not too impressed by science because I know how it works. I always told my docs that the so called “chronic deseases” are not a disease but failure of self regulation in your body. This is the basic premise of Functional Medicine. Even if they believed me they shrugged their shoulders. They were not interested because they only had drugs and surgery as tools. And if you only have a hammer as a tool every problem looks like a nail.
But here’s the good news: The docs slowly change their mind, even in Germany. Surprise…. Prof. Dr. Henning Madry, Arthritis Research, Saarland Medical School, Germany, says: Osteoarthritis is no wear and tear but a chronic disease like asthma and diabetes. Cartilage is damaged by accidents or sports injuries but very often it is induced by internal processes which are not understood. Cartilage gets weak and finally destroyed.This has nothing to do with aging per se. Many young people have OA today and many old people have no OA says Prof. Madry.
Hey – that’s what I said for years! But I am not an MD – only a person with a brain.

Hello Dr. Davis,

I follow your blog regularly. Keep up doing the good work.I appreciate it.
Regarding Oseoarthritis I slightly disagree:
Osteoarthritis is one example of “The pitiful state of medical ignorance” as Dr. Mike Eades says. Patellofemoral syndrome can be rehabilitated. Your cartilage can actually get better! 80 % of Doctors and physiotherapists don’t know this. Health care system? Don’t get me started!
I can't give you the link because the science stuff is in German.
But here is a good post from Mark Sisson about the topic: “OA is not your destiny”.
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/arthritis-diet/
I am not too impressed by science because I know how it works. I always told my docs that the so called “chronic deseases” are not a disease but failure of self regulation in your body. This is the basic premise of Functional Medicine. Even if they believed me they shrugged their shoulders. They were not interested because they only had drugs and surgery as tools. And if you only have a hammer as a tool every problem looks like a nail.
But here’s the good news: The docs slowly change their mind, even in Germany. Surprise…. Prof. Dr. Henning Madry, Arthritis Research, Saarland Medical School, Germany, says: Osteoarthritis is no wear and tear but a chronic disease like asthma and diabetes. Cartilage is damaged by accidents or sports injuries but very often it is induced by internal processes which are not understood. Cartilage gets weak and finally destroyed.This has nothing to do with aging per se. Many young people have OA today and many old people have no OA says Prof. Madry.
Hey – that’s what I said for years! But I am not an MD – only a person with a brain.

my comment - part 2
Why are the causes of symptoms like OA not understood? Because nobody in the medical establishment looked for them. Big Pharma has no interest in research about the causes and definitively not in prevention or healing. Healthy people who are not drug junkies? Terrible for Big Pharma!
Dr. Ron Rosedale, MD, says: “If you are going to treat a disease you need to get to the root of the disease….But the problem is that we don’t know what the root is, or we haven’t. (…) the problem is that medicine really isn’t a science, it is a business.”
Nothing in the human body “just wears out”. Your pancreas doesn’t ” just wear out”. Stop eating tons of crap! Your liver doesn’t “just wear out”. Your eyes don’t “just wear out” – stop misusing and poisoning them. Read optometrist Jacob Liberman, PhD., or Leo Angart on why eyes get bad, you’ll be surprised. Liberman and Angart are seniors and don’t need the glasses they had as young men. Liberman’s deconstruction of “medical idiocy” in ophtalmology is great.

Too much anything can be harmful. That is why you should have a nice balanced diet. Great, informative article.

"Unfortunately, I love bread, so it's a constant struggle."

There is hope!  My middle name used to be "toast", only 1/2 kidding.  I have eaten no bread for almost 3 years and the craving for it is gone. I have had a bite here and there and can feel the "hook" trying to reset so I just don't go there.  Most of the time I no longer even think about it. It does take time and persistence (stubbornness) to reset taste buds and mental concepts.

1.  There's no evidence for acid-base balance.

2.  You missed a big one -- autoimmune reaction.

Funny, Daniel: I have an inch-thick file of research on acid-base disruptions from diet.

Shall I file it in the fiction shelf?

"Wheat causes glycation--Glycation is glucose-modification of proteins in the body that occurs when blood glucose exceeds 100 mg/dl. Cartilage cells are especially susceptible to glycation."

Is there a citation for this claim?  I understand that there is evidence that when blood glucose levels exceed 140 mg/dl our organs can be damaged, but cartilage does not contain blood vessels, so why is it 'especially susceptible to glycation?

To be clear, I don't eat wheat, but why single out wheat as a cause of arthritis if any food that raises blood glucose levels per the claim above would cause arthritis?

Dr. Davis,
You can start by posting some links on your blog, I suppose.

Wikipedia says this about acid/base balance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaline_diet

I think if you characterize your dietary advice in terms of getting adequate minerals, it would have more solid grounding than characterizing it in terms of ph.

@Andrea
Would you mind posting the link to the German research you were talking about? I'm German and would love to read it.
day. Thank you!

Funny, Dr. Davis, I've read well written pieces from WAPF and Stephen G. on why the acid/base balance theories are not well founded when picked apart.

ACID BASE BALANCE

So I dunno if storing your files on the fiction shelf is the best option, but you might wanna at least place it on the "still under review" shelf.

-Jack

What in medical science is not still under review, aside from how to set a broken bone ?

Thanks for your post and welcome to check: here.

@ rhc
No problem - here is the interesting geek stuff in German:

Claudia Dickinson:
Der Knorpel - regenerativ und therapierbar!
http://www.claudiaploke.de/download/physiomed/pm_4_2001.pdf
I traveled from Berlin to Karlsruhe to get assessment and diagnosis from Claudia. Orthopedic doctors? Don’t get me started! As famous composer Hanns Eisler said: "My whole life I fought against stupidity – in music and elsewhere. I am afraid I have lost."
I could write a book about stupidity (and denial of assistance & malpractice)  in orthopedics.

Markus Gunsch:
Die Behandlung des patellofemoralen Schmerzsyndroms mit Kompression und deren Wirkungsweise
Gekürzte und überarbeitete Fassung der Diplomarbeit, die bei der Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Fakultät Gesundheitswesen, Institut Physiotherapie, Amsterdam im August 2004 vorgelegt worden ist.
http://www.wsz-muc.de/_downloads/a_kg01.pdf
http://www.wsz-muc.de/_downloads/a_kg02.pdf

Gunsch:
Patellofemorales Schmerzsyndrom_Kompression hilft
http://www.wsz-muc.de/_downloads/PM_1_2010_Gunsch2.pdf

Prof. Henning Madry, Universität Saarland: Arthrose ist keine "Alterserscheinung", sondern eine chronische Krankheit
http://idw-online.de/de/news377579

You need a TWEET THIS button on your posts.

@Andrea,
WOW l lots to read..will get to it later in the day. Thanks a lot!

Hello

I do have arthritis and I hate it. .I can't stand in cold places, so sad. Thanks for sharing. I should avoid wheat

Joseph, thanks for the citations.

It appears from this reference Acid diet (high-meat protein) effects on calcium metabolism and bone health, that a high dietary protein intake causes more absorption of calcium from food, and consequently more calcium excreted in the urine.

From this reference Protein and calcium: antagonists or synergists?, because bone is 50% mineral and 50% protein by volume, a high-protein diet and calcium supplementation are essential for maintaining and enhancing bone status. If only one element is present in sufficient quantity, bone may actually be lost.

As other commenters have indicated, acid-base balance has little or nothing to do with the process.

dr. davis whats your take on brown rice?

@rhc
you are welcome!  

I thought you would say that the modern human is health conscious and keeps a right percentage of foods in the diet.At least what IO see is healthy buddies exercising everyday and etching for calorie free health food these days.

Wheat is not the cause for Rheumatoid Arthritis but only a co-factor. It is more likely to be an infection as both doctors Wyburn-Mason and  Brown claim. As a former RA pacient who got healed using the Wyburn-Mason protocol, I tend to support the infectious nature of RA, not the autoimmune theory.

dr. davis whats your take on brown rice? is it a good replacement for wheat? a cup full at mealtimes?

hi,
nice posting about wheat cause arthritis.These are many forms wheat cause arthritis are as follows.
Wheat causes glycation
Wheat is acidifying
Wheat causes visceral fat
Arthritis

I had joint pain in my elbows and fingers for 3 or 4 years and it was getting worse.  After researching on the internet I heard about the wheat - arthritis connection, so I though I'd give it a shot.  I've now been off wheat for four months and the joint pain is gone.  I've done "experiments" where I reintroduce wheat products for one meal and the joint pain will return for the next two days. I've also lost ten pounds and most of my wheat belly.  A no wheat diet takes some planning but well worth it.

That's pretty solid, JB.

I call it the "on again, off again" phenomenon in which you stop wheat, the symptoms stop; resume wheat, they come back. The effect can be repeated at will.

In my mind, that is pretty solid proof of an association.

I have bought and read your book on wheat, and it was a great discovery for me. You see, my mother's family were Italians, and pasta, pizza, biscotti, and so on, is standard fare in Italy. So, I would never, ever have thought that my joint pain in the fingers could be linked to wheat consumption. But my mother also told me that there is a strong arthritis predisposition in the family. So, when I read your book I connected the dots.
I have taken wheat out of my diet and the joint pain is gone (it was not a big pain, it was very subtle, I'm only 37, but I was wondering why I had it). Same as JB who left a comment above: I've done the test of eating a plate of pasta, and on the same day, a few hours later, the joint pain was back. So, I'm off the wheat, and I thank you so much for having written this great book!

Dr. Davis, what do you think of Krill Oil as opposed to fish oil as a source of EPA and DHA?

Well, the one published study that I've seen was very promising. I have no personal experience, however.

I'd like to see more data generated before we jump in deeper.

Dr. Davis,
What about fish oil supplementation for people who are taking Warfarin? I see on our bottle of fish oil a notice to consult a health care professional if you are on an anticoagulant.  What can you tell us about this?  Thank you.

Hi, Barbara-

Because of the mild platelet-blocking, blood thinning effect of fish oil, you'll find that warning on all preparations. In our patients, we have never seen any meaningful interactions--no bleeding, no strokes, no other adverse consequences of the combination. In fact, in my view, the combination is beneficial.

However, legal concerns force me to say that you should always consult with your doctor first.

Let me add that taking fish oil with warfarin is no more risky than eating salmon or other oily fish every day while on the drug.

Thank you, Dr. Davis!
I understand that you are not giving specific advice here, but it is helpful to have your professional perspective on these matters.  From your posts, it certainly sounded like you must have some patients who are on warfarin and taking fish oil, too.

My husband had a PE (cause undetermined) last January and has been on warfarin since then.  As he was lucky enough to survive the PE, he decided to get serious about improving his health.  I had been nagging him for some time before his near-death experience, to no avail, to try the Protein Power plan. As I've mentioned in other posts, he's lost quite a bit of weight (now 50 lbs) with the low-carb way of eating and is feeling better than he has in years - younger, actually, and he looks it, too!  I've benefited, too, much to my delight.  We can still each lose a few more pounds to be at optimal weights, and we're getting there, slowly but surely. We're never going back to wheat and sugar, that's for sure.

BTW, I just finished Dr. Malcolm Kendrick's book, The Great Cholesterol Con, and I think it's a great read (I was highly entertained - I enjoy his writing style!) and helpful in understanding heart disease.  Your comments on this book would be a great blog post, although I'm sure you have a long reading list!  

Thanks again.

Hi, Barbara-

I've not read Dr. Kendrick's book but, based on your comments and those of others, I'm adding it to my list.

A reader also brought some of his webcasts to my attention:

Part 1: Cholesterol: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XPPYaVcXo1I
Part 2: Familial Hypercholesterolaemia: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xrr8MjDJ78
Part 3: About Statins: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jE_RIQY53ys
Part 4: Stress and the HPA axis (Bjorntorp): http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fHIA8usGxEM
Part 5: CVD Populations and Stress: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Na_Ear8OdJM
=

Say someone switches to a high-potency preparation of 360 mg EPA and 240 mg DHA, providing a total of 600 mg omega-3 fatty acids per capsule, or twice the dose of the low-potency preparation. Would you expect double the effect?

In addition to home kits we might create drop in health shops where healthy people are given a quick set of automated tests/scans and the results made available to them online.

This is a great tool as many of my clients mention their thyroids and wonder if there was a way to monitor it.  When will this be available in the UK?

I'm not sure getting tested is as big of an issue as getting a proper diagnosis and treatment.  I know lots of women who have their their thyroids tested (at least minimally with a TSH) but the results are not properly interpreted or treated.   Usually they end up with anti-depressant meds or are told to eat less and exercise more (or both).

My thyroid was tested for about ten years (mostly with just the TSH and total T4, not the full complement of thyroid tests) for more than ten years because of two infertility investigations and later, symptoms of fatigue, etc.  I didn't ask for these tests; they were routine as part of a panel or the doctor specified them.  

My HMO network doctors failed to see that my TSH was slowly slowly rising in that decade because they only looked at the recent result and not the trend (and there was a faster rate of increase after 7-8 years of testing).  They also missed that my results  were always in the "upper end" of the reference range (in late 2002 at least two national medical boards said the upper range was suspicious of development of mild hypothyroidism and the range should be adjusted downward).  Last year when I brought these AACE and NACL recommendations to the attention of the local HMO network lab supervisor, he was unaware of of the new range recommendations and promised to look into it.  I was pleased to note the ref range was somewhat adjusted down a few months later.

So for me, the lab tests were less an issue; I had numerous TSH and total T4 tests while my symptoms progressively increased, but with little good.  

The biggest difficulty was getting a correct diagnosis and the proper treatment, instead of attempts to suppress symptoms with other meds (I felt in my gut this was the wrong approach and I mostly resisted it).  

The best treatment I've tried to date has been desiccated thyroid hormone (I'm now taking 1 grain of Nature-throid daily); to get to this it took a full three years with a continual search to find a local doctor who would use and correctly interpret the right lab tests *and* take into account my symptoms.   I hear similar stories from other hypothyroid people.

Yes, absolutely correct, Anna. Getting tested is just the first step.

Once tested, understanding what they mean is the next step. But at least you know where you start. It's certainly better than not having any data at all.

Next hurdle: Getting treatment when you need it. A topic for future discussion!

Lincolb--It is available in the U.K. by ordering.

I guess that's how CA and NY can justify putting restrictions on their sale.  Sheesh!  Reminds me of when CA was on the brink of criminalizing home-schooling.

That's great! I will recommend that to my sister and friend who were always complaining that they might have thyroid problem.
See yah!

Cathy Young
http://fashionhotcelebs.blogspot.com/

I have also been able to get my doctors to do TSH tests, but since my labs ate at the upper end of normal, they also pooh pooh my suggestion  that treating the thyroid might positively impact other issues they care about, like my cholesterol levels and my asthma.  But they would rather give me statins (which I refuse to take) and advair (which I take only because I have to be able to function.)  I think they have it in my notes that I am hypochondriac and uncompliant. So much for being proactive for my own health care! Now they think I am a nutcase!

I agree with Anna. My doc has routinely tested TSH for years. This past check up I told her I wanted more info on the thryoid because of my lack of energy and other symptoms. She ordered T3 and T4 along with TSH but nothing else. My TSH came in at 4.5 on a scale going to 4.5 which is a full point jump since my last test. My T3 is almost abnormal on the low end. However since they are within the lab's normal range, she says I am fine. I am making an appointment with doc #2 in my search for someone that knows what they are doing. I sure hope it does not take the 3 years to find him/her it took Anna!

Laura,

I'd also like to add that much of that 3 years looking for better care was also spent educating myself (I must have read every book available on hypothyroidism to get a sense of all the perspectives), so developed a sense of when to seek out another doctor's care and when to settle for "good enough for now".  

For me, the hardest part was early on -  summoning the inner strength to get over my reluctance to find new care and thyroid hormone options.  I was acutely aware that my tactic might be viewed as "doctor-shopping" or hypochondria.   Each step wasn't always very far forward, but it was still progress in some way and far more therapeutic than stagnating (it didn't always feel like progress at the time, though).

Good luck in your quest for better care and more thorough assessment of your thyroid function.  Be sure to get tested for anti-thyroid antibodies.

Regular Doctors are always a crap shoot. If you don't mind switching Doctors, it is better to seek out a Doctor that you know will probably be receptive to alternative therapies right from the get go. Life Extension has a list of "Innovative Doctors" here:

http://www.lef.org/Health-Wellness/InnovativeDoctors/

Another good source for Doctors that would probably be receptive to taking a patients thyroid concerns more seriously can be found at the A4M site:

http://www.worldhealth.net/pages/directory

Likewise, if lipid disorders are your concern, you can find a Lipidologist at the following site:

http://www.learnyourlipids.com/resources.php

Hope this helps.

John M.

here is the site to find thyroid hormones friendly doctors.
http://www.armourthyroid.com/con_phLocator.aspx

Dr Davis, I don't think that you are on there? LOL

Another option when faced with uncooperative doctors: order thyroid from an overseas pharmacy.

You forgot the option of saying you look Healthy so the test is unnecessary and Ridiculing you -- but finally ordering the tests, because you wouldn't leave the room till he patronizingly agreed (hey, whatever works)... and it turns out I have multi-nodule goiter!!

Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

Although this was not asked in the poll, I believe that it is a safe assumption that you asked with good reason: you're abnormally fatigued, you have been gaining weight for no apparent reason or can't lose weight despite substantial effort, or you feel cold at inappropriate times.

Great site lots of usefull infomation here.
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I just like your site very much. Good to have all this kind of information. Just want to convey message to keep your body fit and don’t get indulge in bad things. It will make your body misbalance and make you unfit. So be careful.
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