Dr. Shabnam Das Kar MD

Specialist in Functional and Metabolic Medicine

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Thyroid and Weight Loss

Thyroid and Weight Loss

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Common perception implies that hypothyroidism causes excess body weight. But which comes first, excess weight or hypothyroidism? Is your weight loss challenge because of hypothyroidism? Some of you have hypothyroidism , obesity and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) , all three together. Is that a coincidence? But your hypothyroidism has been treated and you still can’t lose weight! What is going on?

How Much of Your Weight is Influenced by Hypothyroidism?

According to the American Thyroid Association (1) 1

Massive weight gain is rarely associated with hypothyroidism. In general, 5-10 pounds (2.2-4.5 kgs) of body weight may be attributable to the thyroid, depending on the severity of the hypothyroidism. Finally, if weight gain is the only symptom of hypothyroidism that is present, it is less likely that the weight gain is solely due to the thyroid.

Once hypothyroidism has been treated and thyroid hormone levels have returned to the normal range of thyroid hormone, the ability to gain or lose weight is the same as in individuals who do not have thyroid problems.

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Vitamin D And Autoimmunity

Vitamin D And Autoimmunity

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(This was posted earlier in June 2016. Updated Oct 2019)

In recent years vitamin D deficiency has become like an epidemic all over the world. .Many people are surprised when I talk about severe vitamin D deficiency in my patients from India. In fact studies (1) 1have shown that the incidence of vitamin D deficiency is 40-99% in India! We have become vitamin D deficient because we do not spend adequate time in the sun. But I am not sure how many of you will be outdoors in minimal clothes at temperatures of 40 degrees C and 90%+ of humidity! 🙂 If vitamin D deficiency is so common, should you be concerned about it?

Consequences Of Vitamin D Deficiency

Most of you are familiar with the action of vitamin D in protecting your bones and maintaining blood calcium levels—the “classical” actions of vitamin D.In fact,Sir Edward Mellanby (1884–1955) discovered Vitamin D and its potential role in preventing rickets about a hundred years ago. (Rickets is a softening and weakening of bones in children, causing severe deformities. This is a consequence of severe and prolonged vitamin D deficiency.) However, scientific studies in the last several years have shown that vitamin D has several other actions as well—the â€śnon-classical” actions.

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Multiple Sclerosis: Looking Beyond Prescription Medicines

Multiple Sclerosis: Looking Beyond Prescription Medicines

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(This post was previously published on my old website April 2019. Updated September 2019)

This is how a conversation with me goes. “Dr. Kar, I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis by my Neurologist ……..at (name of some well-known hospital ) and I have been recommended ……….(name of medicine). I have researched on the internet and found out that MS is not curable and I will need long-term treatment. I have profound fatigue and my doctor says that is a part of my disease and nothing much can be done about it. However, I also found out that many people have benefited by Functional Medicine treatment. I want to know what else I can do to feel better”.

My perspective is that of a Functional Medicine doctor. My modalities of treatment fall in the category of “what else I can do to feel better”.Can I help you “cure” your disease? It depends on your definition of cure! Can I help you reach NEDA (No Evidence of Disease Activity)? Quite possible! I am not an alternative medicine practitioner. My perspective is that of a practitioner of Western Medicine who uses science to back up recommendations. This goes beyond using ONLY prescription drugs. I am not against the use of prescription drugs, but very often many of you are unable to continue the medications, either because of the cost or because of side effects from the drugs. Or you may have early symptoms that do not justify the use of potentially toxic medicines. In such a situation what else can you do?

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