Dr. Masha, ND

Naturopathy

weight loss

Are you deficient in B12 vitamin?

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Deficiency of vitamin B12 is quite common in the USA. Results of ongoing Framingham Offspring Study of 3,000 men and women found that 39 percent of them had  plasma B12 levels in the “low normal” range–below 258 picomoles per liter.

Though the level may be normal,  it is not optimal for all the many functions vitamin B12 takes part in the body.

Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin. It is predominantly found in eggs, milk, cheese, milk products, meat, fish, shellfish and poultry. Some soy and rice products can be fortified with vitamin B12. Vegetarian or vegan population can be potentially deficient in it.

Vitamin B12 is unique among other B vitamins due to how body processes it. Vitamin B12, coming from food sources, has an attached protein that should be removed by gastric acid and enzyme pepsin. Then it gets transported to the small intestine where intrinsic factor attached to B12 vitamin allows it to be absorbed into the blood. Thus, for optimal absorption of this vitamin, digestive system should be working well. It is natural that with age stomach acid level decreases, and, thus, can make aging population at risk for B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 takes part in many reactions in the body. Just to name a few:

  • Keeps nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all cells
  • Helps prevent megaloblastic anemia
  • Assists with conversion of protein and fats
  • Participates in many neurotransmitter functions
  • Helps convert amino acids
  • Produces coating of the nerves
  • Is essential in fetal development during pregnancy

Symptoms of deficiency can including the following: muscle weakness, burning and tingling of the feet, lack of energy, difficulty walking and nausea.

B12 injections have benefits for the following conditions:

-heart disease

-neurocognitive disorders

– coordination problems

– fatigue

-peripheral neuropathy

-during and after stomach acid reducing medications

-after gastric bypass surgery

-for vision loss

–fertility challenges

And many others..

If you experience symptoms of B12 deficiency or feel that you have a lack of bio-available B12 in your diet, B12 supplementation and B12 muscular injections can help restore your levels.

This is something that I offer patients in my office – quick, easy, safe B12 injections.

If you are interested in receiving one, please call 714-924-5592 for a B12 injection appointment.

Natural Solutions for Weight Gain

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In some cases it seems you have tried everything – multiple diets, weight loss promising supplements, exercise but the weight is still there. Our body is rather complex and it demands a closer look at what is going on inside to understand why it is challenging to change the weight.
A number of conditions can cause weight gain: hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid), adrenal imbalance or fatigue (cortisol dysregulation, not usually recognized by allopathic medicine), female and male hormonal dysregulation (estrogen imbalance), PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), Cushing’s syndrome (overproduction of cortisol by adrenal glands), pre-diabetes, digestive disorders, and many other conditions.

Thus, a weight gain may need more investigation such as thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone profiles, cortisol measurements, blood glucose, basic laboratory testing, a thorough history and overview of the diet and life style. 

One of the conditions that may cause weight gain is hypothyroidism. Thyroid, a bi-lobed gland, situated in the anterior aspect of the neck, is one of the most essential glands in the body. Thyroid regulates breathing, heart rate, body weight, menstrual cycles, body temperature, cholesterol levels, digestion, skin health, cognitive functions and much more.

As naturopathic doctors, we pay particular attention to its health and well-being. In the USA thyroid issues are on the rise. In particular, under-reactive thyroid or hypothyroidism has become a silent endemic.

Common symptoms of hypothyroidism are chronic fatigue, constipation, dry skin, anxiety, and weight gain. The best way to ensure that thyroid is functioning properly is to do a blood testing for thyroid hormones (TSH, Free T4 and Free T3, thyroid antibodies), have your doctor palpate the thyroid gland to make sure there are no nodules and if it is tender to touch.

  • Balancing thyroid hormones can be achieved through the help of pharmaceutical medications (Synthroid, Armour thyroid , Nature-Throid),
  • anti-inflammatory diet,
  • more movement (any type of exercise),
  • adding spiritual practice or meditation,
  • a number of helpful nutrients (zinc, selenium, vitamin A, vitamin D, amino acids, etc)
  • botanical medicine (herbal formulations).

Medications have to be prescribed by your primary care doctor or endocrinologist. Naturopaths or naturopathic doctors can prescribe thyroid medications (in particular, Armour Thyroid and Nature-Throid) depending on the state you are in.

In naturopathic medicine, in order to balance thyroid, it is paramount to address adrenal gland (cortisol metabolism), hypothalamus and pituitary (so called, HPA axis). This way the effect on the thyroid will be long lasting and profound.

When hormones are addressed along with the diet and life style, it becomes easier for the body to lose weight and improve the slowed metabolism caused by under-reactive thyroid gland.