Cold Intolerance in Fibromyalgia
Vitality101 Newsletter
Hello Reader,
Cold intolerance is very common in fibromyalgia. There are three main health issues that lead to this:
1. Low Iron
Thyroid hormones act as a kind of "thermostat" to regulate temperature in your body. But in order to function properly, these hormones require adequate supplies of iron in your blood. Otherwise, your thyroid hormones won’t work despite your thyroid blood testing being normal.
Ironically, the "iron" blood test is not effective for checking iron levels. To check your iron levels, ask for a ferritin test, which should measure over 60 ng/ml. If you're lower than this then you're iron deficient. Ignore the "normal range," which will say that your ferritin is normal if it's over 12. Research shows that using this normal range is, simply put, insane. A blood test called an "iron percent saturation" can also be helpful, and should be kept over 22%.
Medical Marijuana for Fibromyalgia Pain?
A new study shows that cannabis may help decrease pain in fibromyalgia — often dramatically. In addition to helping pain, the multiple components in hemp oil also can help sleep and anxiety.
Hemp oil products vary dramatically, with many of the manufacturers seemingly spending all their money on marketing and labels instead of what's inside the bottle. Because of that, I am very picky about what I recommend. I use "Hemp Oil by Terry Naturally." The optimal dose is three tablets twice a day to optimize comfort and five at bedtime to optimize sleep. We have seen dramatic benefits with this. Once you see what it does, the dose can often be lowered considerably and still be very helpful. Use the one without curcumin, as it has 10 mg of CPD per capsule instead of 5, and is more cost-effective.
Below is an excerpt from the study:
"All the patients reported a significant improvement in every parameter of the questionnaire after the use of MC[Medical Cannabis] and 13 (50%) of the patients stopped taking any other medication for fibromyalgia," the study authors found. At least 10 compounds in hemp have been shown to have profound effects on helping different parts of the pain process, while also helping sleep and mood.
This Week's Featured Items
Hemp Oil
Premium European formula supports endocannabinoid system, is concentrated for enhanced benefits, and with supercritical CO2 extract.* Non-GMO and farmed according to eco-friendly practices.
(MSRP $47.95)
Tri-Iodine™ (6.25 mg)
Iodine supports healthy thyroid function, which is critical for energy, weight loss, preventing muscle pain, and optimizing brain function. It is also critical for healthy breast function.*
(MSRP $26.95)
Iron Complex™
Many people, including women of child-bearing age, may not get enough iron through diet alone. Supplementing with iron helps support many healthy processes in the body. Iron is a significant nutrient for energy and stamina, which affects physical work performance, immunity, body temperature, and cognitive functioning.*
(MSRP $23.00)
CFS/Fibromyalgia-Friendly Recipes
Many people with CFS and fibromyalgia find that they have trouble tolerating wheat and dairy. With that in mind, here's another great FMS-friendly dish from one of my favorite nutritionists, Lauren Hoover-West. (Visit Lauren's blog to see all her Thanksgiving recipes.)
Lauren's Pumpkin Pie
A holiday favorite, this pie is light and silky with all the holiday spices and flavor on a flaky crust. Fabulous a la mode with vanilla ice cream! Also delicious for breakfast with a cup of hot tea or coffee. (Hey, it's a vegetable!)
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.
