Dr. John Heary has helped hundreds of patients throughout his career take control of their diabetes and thyroid conditions through functional medicine and functional nutrition. Treating these diseases is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and for the past 22 years, Dr. Heary has been successful at treating these issues with more natural solutions. In the following article, Dr. John Heary Medina discusses ways to potentially reverse Type 2 Diabetes, and various ways to dial back thyroid health issues – lessening the emphasis on drug-related treatments.
Type 2 Diabetes and thyroid issues can cause not only serious health scares, but additional stress to those that suffer from them, which can lead to a recurring cycle of mental and physical unhealthiness. However, Dr. John Heary says that there are ways to break the cycle when learning about reversing these issues with functional medicine and nutrition.
According to Dr. Heary, the symptoms and effects of Type 2 Diabetes can be significantly reversed through nutrition, while also benefiting those looking to reduce symptoms of thyroid issues. For thyroid problems, functional medicine, such as an emphasis on vitamin intake and wellness approaches like stress-relieving activity can also help achieve results.
Functional Solutions for Type 2 Diabetes
Beginning with Type 2 Diabetes, Dr. John Heary explains that it is not always necessary to rely heavily on insulin or pharmaceutical solutions when trying to reverse symptoms or reduce the overall A1C.
In fact, good nutrition can be one of the most effective solutions to reversing diabetic issues. Dr. John Heary Medina reviews just three of the most popular functional solutions to reversing diabetes below:
- Introduce a Plant-Based Diet and Quit Drinking Alcohol
- Exercise With Moderate Cardio
- Maintain Healthy Sleep Patterns
More below on each of these functional medicine and nutrition-related solutions are where the most hopeful results are coming from!
Plant-Based Diet and Quit Alcohol
A diet high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and processed food causes the average American to gain excess fat. It is that excess fat which, in turn, builds up in the cells and causes the body to lose the insulin-related ability to get glucose out of the blood stream.
Dr. John Heary says that replacing this high fatty diet with one of nearly all organic and plant based alone can be a great way to reverse this process on the cellular level. This is because plants are low in fat and high in vitamins. What this means is not only abstaining from dairy, meat, and eggs, but also processed foods that contain white flour or refined sugar in them.
Alcohol contains a lot of sugars, especially wine. By cutting alcohol out of the diet, a patient will limit excess (and frankly, unnecessary) sugars making their way into the bloodstream. Cutting alcohol is recommended for all patients looking to get healthy and reverse medical conditions.
In Dr. John Heary’s plan, the goal is to focus on eating 100% whole grains, whole fruits, legumes, vegetables that are both starchy and non-starchy, and of course, a healthy snack level of seeds and nuts! Don’t forget to stay hydrated! Most patients report that they do not drink enough water – by increasing water intake, cells within the body can perform better.
Exercise with Moderate Cardio
Exercise is not everyone’s favorite word, and chances are, for those who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes, it’s been a word that has been mentioned often in a treatment plan. However, understanding the benefits of exercise over medication when it comes to lowering A1C are simply undeniable!
Dr. John Heary says that once a plan is in place, it is much easier to begin exercising for the benefit of controlling symptoms. Good cardiovascular activity can help the body’s organs to achieve better health and longevity, and of course, to burn fat. Moderate helpful exercise that most everyone can achieve is incorporating walking as a daily activity.
Of course, it is always important to remember frequent blood sugar checks to monitor levels during these beneficial workouts.
Maintain Healthy Sleep
Stress can not only cause cravings that may lead to stress eating (another term for overeating), but stress actually causes inflammation within the body. Inflammation, in turn, leads to weight gain and more storage of that glucose that throws blood sugar levels off their balance.
Altogether, getting adequate sleep that allows the body to fully recover from any stressors during the day can not only greatly lessen inflammation, but improve a patient’s state of mind.
Functional Solutions for Hypothyroid Conditions
Managing hypothyroid conditions can be achieved by the following functional solutions:
Lower Exposure to Toxins
Most people understand that toxins are bad, but actually, contrast dyes, radiation, and even pesticides found on grocery foods can cause problems for the thyroid. Even some seafoods, due to the pollution of the Earth’s water, contain high amounts of mercury that can affect the thyroid gland.
Dr. John Heary says that it’s recommended that patients attempt to avoid tobacco, replace processed foods with an organic variety, and replace chemical cleaning products in the home with a more natural solution.
Intake of Iodine Vitamins
Iodine may cause damage to a thyroid if taken too often, but actually, abstaining from it altogether causes a thyroid to be unable to regulate growth, temperature, energy, and even weight in the body. One of the best ways to take in iodine is through the use of vitamins, but some seaweeds and eggs contain it as well.
Check with a healthcare professional to be sure iodine is not over-used.
Lower Gluten Intake
Finally, gluten-filled foods like crackers, bread, and cookies can be the root cause of thyroid problems. Use good nutrition by eating gluten-free products, such as those that use almond flour instead of wheat flour, may lessen these effects.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, pharmaceuticals are not the only way, or even the most effective way, to reverse the effects of Type 2 Diabetes and thyroid issues. Instead, utilizing functional medicine approaches such as sleep, exercise, and supporting good nutrition can achieve positive results, and may even reverse symptoms entirely. Of course, before attempting the above recommendations, please speak to your doctor.
