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DRSladic.com
May 2023
THE HIDDEN CONNECTION An Autoimmune Disease and Fibromyalgia
“When I started doing more blood chemistry on these women who said they’d been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I found many of them also had all the markers for autoimmune thyroid diseases.”
About 15 years ago, I noticed an increase in women who would come into my office and tell me they had fibromyalgia. They’d say this with a sense of assurance because they finally knew what they were suffering from for the first time in their lives. So I had to ask, “How did your doctor figure out you had fibromyalgia? Did they do an MRI or CAT scan? What about a blood test?” To my surprise, many of the women replied that, no, they didn’t have any intensive testing done. Instead, their doctor listened to them describe their symptoms and diagnosed them with the condition. Fifteen years ago, diagnosing fibromyalgia from symptoms alone was pretty normal, because the condition’s hallmark was the combination of chronic fatigue and muscle pain or soreness. And, doctors didn’t need extensive tests because fibromyalgia tends to create soreness in the same spots in every individual who suffers from the condition. In fact, fibromyalgia has 18 common “tender points” doctors look for, which include the frontside of the lower neck, edge of the upper breast, arm near the elbow, knee, base of the skull at the back of the head, hip bone, upper outer buttocks, back of the neck, and back of the shoulders, presenting symmetrically on each side of the body.
So as doctors began to see more and more women complaining of the same symptoms in identical spots, they realized these weren’t just random occurrences, but instead a condition that needed treatment. Thus, they named the disorder “fibromyalgia” with “fibro,” meaning fibrous tissues (like tendons and ligaments), and “myalgia,” meaning muscle soreness. However, when I started doing more blood chemistry tests on these women who said they’d been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I found many of them also had all the markers for autoimmune thyroid diseases. And as I tested more and more women with fibromyalgia, to my surprise, this proved true roughly 65% of the time. So when faced with the question, “What causes fibromyalgia?” I see more often than not an underlying thyroid condition. If you read our last newsletter, it makes sense that fibromyalgia primarily affects women because thyroid disorders do too. This discovery also offers a solution for women who suffer from the chronic fatigue aspect of fibromyalgia, which, unlike muscle pain, has no medication to help keep it at bay. Understanding that autoimmune thyroid disease may trigger fibromyalgia can offer people new ways and resources to mitigate the symptoms.
And, just like thyroid conditions, fibromyalgia often develops when women are in their 30s. This isn’t the case 100% of the time, but more often than not, I see women in their mid-30s suffering from either or both conditions. Likely, because at this point their bodies have undergone tremendous stress levels, whether from birth or just the slow buildup of tension over time. Essentially, it’s like the body is slowly getting beat up for 30 years and finally reaches a breaking point. That breaking point comes in the form of an autoimmune disease. So, if you feel constantly tired, no matter how much sleep you get, paired with pain sensitivity in your muscles, especially in any of the locations I mentioned above, call 1-877- 861-5927 to schedule a consultation with me. I’ll perform a comprehensive blood chemistry test to determine if you’ve also been suffering from an unknown autoimmune thyroid disorder. Then, equipped with your symptoms and blood chemistry results, I’ll develop a plan to help you and your body get back to health.
–Dr. Tom Sladic
THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.”
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FAT IS NOT EVIL
IT CAN BE HEALTHY!
Why are healthy fats vital as we age? 1. They aren’t fattening fats. When you think of fats, your mind likely immediately turns to weight gain. However, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, when consumed in proper amounts, help with fat loss and maintaining a healthy weight. To trim
to consume too much, as Omega-3s can become fattening when consumed in excess.
Everyone wants to be fit and trim, and many avoid all fats because of this. However, healthy fats are vital for aging bodies. Fat keeps your brain functioning optimally, provides energy, and helps your body absorb minerals and vitamins to maintain your health. When making dietary choices, it’s important to remember that healthy fats are your friend and, when consumed in the recommended amounts, will not lead to weight complications. What are healthy fats? Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats help our bodies feel full and work to slow down the digestion of carbohydrates. These fats improve blood glucose and insulin levels, lower LDL cholesterol, and keep our heart healthy. Also, eating healthy fats is easy — they’re in tuna, salmon, flaxseed, chia seeds, eggs, avocados, nuts, olive oil, yogurt, and tofu.
3. They boost brain function.
Healthy fats play an essential role in our brain function and development. Your brain is roughly 60% fat, and it’s important to note that your brain cells rely on a steady supply of good fats to operate correctly.
down, eliminate unhealthy saturated and trans fats from your diet instead. Trans fats are those that are partially hydrogenated and are common in processed foods.
4. They provide energy.
Healthy fats combat fatigue and provide your body with energy. When we consume omega-3s, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats, our body absorbs them and converts each calorie into energy for our cells to function.
2. They reduce inflammation.
Omega-3s, a polyunsaturated fat, have anti-inflammatory properties that can help your body heal faster. No matter how much exercise you do, combatting inflammation with your diet is beneficial. Omega-3s can even be taken as fish oil supplements if you can’t work it into your diet. However, just be careful not
So, remember when you’re planning your meals for the week: Good fats keep you healthy!
DON’T EAT THAT! Fibromyalgia Sufferers Should Avoid These Foods
Foods That Are High in Sugar, Especially Added Sugar
If you or someone you love has fibromyalgia, it might feel like dealing with the symptoms is a never-ending cycle. And while it’s true there’s no cure for the condition, there are definitely foods that can help ease some of the symptoms, while others only make them worse, especially when dealing with an underlying autoimmune disorder. So, if fibromyalgia aches, pains, and fatigue just won’t quit, here are common food culprits that might be responsible for making your condition worse. Foods That Are High in Trans Fats Trans fats are a type of unsaturated fat that commonly occur in heavily processed foods like shortening, margarine, vegetable oil, peanut oil, canola oil, commercial baked goods, fried foods, and nondairy coffee creamers. Research has shown that consuming these foods high in trans fat makes fibromyalgia symptoms worse, especially joint and muscle pain.
among those intolerances are gluten and dairy. And like any food sensitivity, exposure to foods someone is sensitive to increases inflammation and gastrointestinal responses, which both continue to worsen fibromyalgia symptoms. So, if you’re someone with fibromyalgia and find that many of these foods are in your diet, it might be time to make some dietary changes. If you don’t know where to start, read our article on page 3 of this newsletter to find the foods you can eat instead to help relieve those common fibromyalgia symptoms.
Just like trans fats, studies show that sugary foods like cookies, donuts, candy, and soft drinks make fibromyalgia pain worse. But what’s more, excess sugar is a direct cause of weight gain, which puts more strain on muscles and joints that are already tender from fibromyalgia in the first place. Chemical Food Additives Food additives like MSG, nitrates, and aspartame are all put into foods to make them taste better. In fact, they’re considered “flavor enhancers.” However, these additives can all trigger inflammation in the body, which stresses an already weakened immune system and painful musculoskeletal system. Gluten and Diary As with most conditions concerning autoimmune disorders, those who have fibromyalgia likely suffer from many food sensitivities as well. The most common
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ROASTED SWEET POTATO ARUGULA SALAD
If you’ve read our list of foods that exacerbate fibromyalgia symptoms on page 2 and are looking for alternatives you can use to ease the fatigue and pain of this condition, we’ve got a list for you. Feel free to keep this newsletter or cut out this article to keep handy next time you shop for groceries. Pure Butter and Olive Oil Suppose you use a lot of oils with trans fats (like shortening, margarine, canola, and vegetable). In that case, great alternatives are switching to butter and olive oil. While some unhealthy fats contain many ingredients due to the high amount of processing they go through, butter is just two simple and natural ingredients: cream and milk. Also, olive oil has been proven to aid heart health due to its high level of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids. Most importantly, butter and olive oil do not contain any trans fats, which means they do not irritate your body’s anti-inflammatory response and increase pain in your joints and muscles. Fish Oil Fish oil, whether in a capsule or from eating fish directly, are a great source of something called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). EPA is an anti-inflammatory agent. Eating foods high in EPA, like salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, shellfish, herring, flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts, can help decrease inflammation in the body, which helps relieve pain from fibromyalgia. Magnesium Studies have shown that magnesium deficiency may play a role in developing fibromyalgia. So, to combat this, taking a magnesium supplement or eating foods high in magnesium is a great way to help your body. Magnesium is also a natural muscle relaxer, so if sore muscles from fibromyalgia are a problem, magnesium can help ease your pain. EAT THESE INSTEAD! Foods That Reduce Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Enjoy this salad’s warming cinnamon and crisp bites of radish and arugula.
Ingredients
• 3 medium sweet potatoes, cubed • 1 tsp smoked paprika • 1/2 tsp turmeric, ground • 1/2 tsp cumin, ground • 1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground • Salt and pepper, to taste • 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced • 3 small radishes, thinly sliced • 2 cups arugula, thinly sliced • 1 1/2 cups cooked lima beans, drained and rinsed • Balsamic salad dressing of choice
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a bowl, toss sweet potato cubes with smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Transfer to prepared baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. 3. Roast for 25–30 minutes until sweet potatoes are nicely browned and fork-tender. 4. In a large salad bowl, combine onion, bell pepper, radishes, arugula, and lima beans. 5. Toss the salad with dressing, then top with roasted sweet potatoes. Directions
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So, aside from taking supplements, the following foods are high in magnesium:
• Pumpkin seeds • Chia seeds
• Soymilk • Rolled oats • Avocado • Brown rice • Milk • Bananas
• Almonds • Spinach • Cashews • Peanuts
Mother Nature Parade
Seedling Veterans
Switching the anti-fibromyalgia foods listed on page 2 for foods listed in this article will lessen those bothersome symptoms of fibromyalgia that keep you down.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. Thyroid and Fibromyalgia: The Surprising Link
2. Healthy Fats Exist Too
Foods to Cut Out for Fibromyalgia
3. Roasted Sweet Potato Arugula Salad
Fibromyalgia Friendly Foods
4. Anxiety CAN Be Overcome
THE WORLD ISN’T ENDING 3 Strategies to Reduce Anxiety
When most people think of anxiety, they likely have negative connotations tied to it. Many make the assumption that anxiety will always lead to panic attacks and fears of major change, but just about anything can generate feelings of anxiety, and not all of them are harmful. However, if your anxiety stops you from doing something, it can hinder you almost every day.
put things in perspective. JAMA Internal Medicine published an article stating that practicing mindfulness can help ease feelings of anxiety, depression, and pain. You can meditate by following a guided meditation or silently sitting in a quiet area and breathing slowly. While meditating will be challenging at first, it will become easier with practice.
Face Anxiety Head-On Many people try to avoid anything that could make them feel anxious. While this method may make you feel short-term comfort, it can cause you to be more anxious about specific scenarios. The best strategy to overcome anxiety is to face it head-on. Although it will be uncomfortable and challenging, don’t let it stop you! The more you put yourself out there, the less anxious you’ll feel. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for!
In honor of May being National Anxiety Month, here are three ways to reduce your anxiety.
Daily Exercise Physical activity can increase your self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, and lower anxiety symptoms. You don’t have to do anything significant — you can go for a walk, take a hike, conduct at-home workouts, go to the gym for at least 30 minutes, or participate in yoga and Pilates.
Please contact your health care provider if you’re worried about the anxious feelings you get. They can assist you with identifying your triggers, why anxiety is occurring, and methods you can use to reduce your symptoms.
Meditate Sometimes, taking a step back, focusing on your breathing, and letting your thoughts flow in one ear and out the other can help you
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