The term ‘gluten free’ is a very popular trend at the current moment. Although gluten free diets are good, many of us are being lead down the wrong path.

The purpose of being gluten free is to eliminate many of the inflammatory foods commonly seen in normal diets. Inflammatory foods are linked to an array of chronic health conditions, not to mention they cause damage to the body. Part of why the gluten free trend is so popular is because it advocates eating healthy. Let’s face it, almost anything in our society that advocates a healthier lifestyle is an instant hit.

Herein lies the problem. Many people decide to follow gluten free diets religious and automatically think the term ‘gluten free’ means healthy.

We are being lead down the wrong path (somewhat) with gluten free dieting. Foods such as corn, buckwheat, quinoa and a few others are so closely related to the wheat molecule that oftentimes your body cannot tell the difference. Basically, your body treats them as if they where gluten, which causes the same reaction in the body as if you actually ate gluten. If you have sensitivities to these foods, it’s relevant to know they can be counterproductive to your gluten free diet. Although some foods say ‘gluten free’ they’re not always healthy in every sense.

In addition, corn poses a major issue with being ‘gluten free’. Corn is genetically modified and is widely accepted into gluten free diets. Across the board, corn causes trouble for the body. It cannot be broken down into nutrients because in most cases the body doesn’t even recognize it as food – it views it as a foreign substance. Although it’s gluten free, it’s not healthy.

Two things you should do as a gluten free enthusiast, and ESPECIALLY if you have a chronic health condition that isn’t getting better are: First, understand that not EVERYTHING gluten free is good for you. Inflammatory foods are still present in these diets. Second, find out if you have sensitivities to gluten related foods by having a doctor run food sensitivity tests. Work to eliminate these foods.

If you’ve never had a food sensitivity test or you feel that even though you are gluten free your health conditions are not getting better, call my office for an evaluation: 714-731-7680

Our goal is to improve the overall quality of life for chronic health patients. Remember, nothing will change until you do!

When dealing with a chronic health condition, have you ever wondered why your symptoms suddenly get worse? If you’re overwhelmed with brain fog, constant fatigue, or have been diagnosed with serious conditions such as cancer, MS, and autoimmune disease, realize there are many triggers that cause these to occur. Sometimes it feels as if these problems are gone one day and here the next. The truth is they usually stem from a combination of small mishaps in the body. The biggest predisposition that we have towards any health condition is our genes. Genes make up our composition and certain triggers turn different ones ‘on’ or ‘off.’ A part of our body often responsible for chronic health conditions are Methyl Groups.

Methyl Groups are tiny compounds in our body that are vital for cell production at the DNA level. DNA is where our genetic makeup is located, which in essence are our ‘genes.’ Contrary to belief, not all genes are good. Some genes are responsible for triggering serious health conditions such as thyroid dysfunction, cancer, MS, autoimmune disease and plenty more. In addition to the bad, we have many good genes that help keep us healthy. Tumor suppressing genes are an example, as they work to rid the body of malignant tumors. Methyl groups interact with genes and either turn them on or off. When you have sufficient methyl groups, good genes like tumor suppressor genes are turned “on” and bad genes, which cause health complications, are turned “off.” It is when methyl groups become depleted that an individual will see the onset of chronic health problems.

Regulating Methyl Groups in the body is closely tied with the presence of HCL (hydrochloric acid). HCL has a role of maintaining methyl groups and preventing their depletion. Hydrochloric acid is found in the stomach where it is used to break down food to pass into the bloodstream. Many patients who suffer from serious chronic health conditions are unaware of the problems present in this region of their body. When symptoms don’t get better or chronic health conditions all of the sudden appear, the stomach may be the culprit. If the stomach does not function properly, the body is depleted of HCL and food begins to rot in the stomach – causing acid reflux. This may seem harmless, but when examining the bigger picture, the depletion of HCL in the stomach leads to depletion of methyl groups as well. These methyl groups that were once promoting cell production in DNA no longer perform this function. At this point, chronic health conditions set in as good genes are turned off and bad ones are turned on. The goal for these patients is to get the stomach working so the body can regulate good and bad genes to right off serious health problems.

The body is a complex system similar to a puzzle. No one piece completes the puzzle, rather a collection of many pieces working together. To combat chronic health conditions, all organs must be working properly because other bodily functions are reliant on this. To diagnose a serious health condition, everything the body does must be taken into consideration. Something as tiny as a Methyl Group can be responsible for the onset of cancer. The depletion of Methyl Groups can stem from something as unnoticeable as acid reflux. If symptoms of chronic health conditions continue to get worse, or if they appear suddenly, it’s imperative to look at all possible triggers.

Methyl Groups often get overlooked, yet, their affect on 5he body is substantial. If you feel your doctors are not addressing your Methyl Groups, please call us at the Tustin Chronic Condition Center for a consultation: (714) 731-7680

Remember, nothing will change until you do!

Treating chronic health conditions is complex; there are many pieces to the puzzle. If the body and its parts don’t work in unison, an array of health problems can occur. These problems have a drastic effect on the individual’s health especially if suffering from a chronic health condition. The traditional medical model treats chronic conditions on a sign and symptom basis which often leads to an improper diagnosis of the problems source. Alternative medicinal practices aim to treat the body as a whole, and find the source in order to correct it. With many chronic conditions, the stomach can be the source of the problem which is why evaluation is necessary, regardless of where physical symptoms are felt.

The stomach has important responsibilities in maintaining overall body health. 90% of people, who have GI dysfunction, have it because their stomach is not functioning properly. Among the stomach’s responsibilities, regulating the flow of hydrochloric acid is one of its most important duties. Hydrochloric acid (HCL) helps break down and dissolve food in the stomach. Food must be broken down so that it can be digested and pass into the blood stream. Through the blood, the body absorbs nutrients and maintains normal function.

Without suitable amounts of HCL in the stomach, the body faces serious health issues. When food sits in the stomach and is not dissolved by HCL, it continues to sit there, eventually rotting and putrefying. The putrefied food begins to produce harmful, acidic gases that travel up the esophagus and cause burning sensations to the throat. This is commonly referred to as acid reflux. Additionally, putrefied food destroys the lining of the stomach, due to its acidity, and can lead to stomach ulcers. Anyone with a preexisting chronic health condition will suffer from worsened symptoms if the stomach behaves erratically. Whether or not the stomach is the source a chronic health condition, it still needs to be evaluated to ensure its working properly.

The lack of HCL in the stomach can be caused by a variety of triggers. The most common occurrences are brought on by bacteria, poor diet, or the existence of an autoimmune condition. Diet can be treated by eating healthy, non inflammatory foods and bacteria can be eradicated through a series of different procedure. If autoimmune disease is triggering stomach dysfunction, the treatment process becomes more difficult. The other organs of the body must be evaluated as part of the entire bodily system. Chronic health conditions are brought on by the domino effect – one organ triggers one problem which causes another organ to trigger another problem and in turn worsens the autoimmune condition. Heightened autoimmunity can then lead to stomach dysfunction.

Traditional medical approaches towards a lack of HCL in the stomach treat only the symptoms felt by patients. Doctors frequently prescribe drugs (Nexxum, Prilosec) to help decrease acid reflux caused by putrefied food. This method treats acid reflux symptoms yet neglects the problem at hand, which is a lack of HCL in the stomach. In this scenario, food will still rot in the stomach and cause further damage. Alternative medical approaches seek to restore the production and release of HCL in the stomach to ensure it works properly. Proper dieting, eradicating harmful bacteria, or introducing supplements that help produce HCL are all methods to promote a health stomach. The alternative method is centered around restoring normal body function by correcting the problem at its source, not simply treating symptoms.

If you are experiencing stomach related symptoms and think that your stomach may be affecting your chronic health condition, please reach out to the Tustin Chronic Condition Center for an evaluation. (714) 731-7680

Remember, nothing will change unless you do!

Chronic health conditions have many pieces to their puzzle and oftentimes traditional medical approaches will overlook a specific piece. Since every piece plays such an important role in overall health, neglecting one can cause patients to continually experience symptoms. Thyroid patients are so frequently misdiagnosed by traditional doctors that they experience difficulty understanding how all of their organs work together to keep them healthy. The body is designed for everything to work in unison and when one organ falls out of balance, the body begins to break down. That breakdown translates into increased or prolonged symptoms for anyone suffering from a chronic health condition such as thyroid dysfunction.

The liver is an important organ in the body as some of its primary functions include regulating and purifying the blood. Without a liver, or with serious liver complications, a human being cannot survive. This goes to show that proper liver function is important for overall health. Another function of the liver is the conversion of the thyroid hormone T4 into T3. This conversion is especially important because cells use the converted T3 to maintain all normal body functions. T4 and T3 stand for thyroxine and triiodothyronine respectively.

T3 is an essential hormone that every cell needs. Each cell in the body has a specific receptor for T3 and they use it to facilitate every important body function. The process starts with T4 being released from the thyroid gland which is then converted by the body into T3 for cellular use. 60% of this conversion occurs within the liver which is why the liver must be functioning properly for this conversion to take place. An improperly functioning liver can and will lead to more serious health side effects.

Among the reasons that cause liver dysfunction, the most common are alcohol, medications and the presence of inflammatation. In addition, patients who have had their gallbladder removed are at increased risk for liver related troubles. Once the gallbladder is removed, some of its functions are taken over by the liver, which increase the liver’s already hefty workload. Identifying and avoiding the triggers of liver dysfunction is a key component to reducing symptoms of chronic health conditions.

The first step to take in the process of healing the liver is detoxification, which can be accomplished through several means (supplementation, coffee enemas, detox flushes, etc.) As the second step, a patient must be aware of how to adequately treat his or her body in terms of diet. Inflammatory foods are the liver’s worst enemy and must not be included in the patient’s diet program. Another major trigger is alcohol. Alcohol severely damages the liver and must be taken in moderation or not at all so that a patient can ensure proper liver function.

If you are concerned your doctors are not looking into the liver and how it can be affecting your chronic health condition, call my office to schedule a consultation: (714) 731-7680.

Remember, nothing in your life will change until you do!

Inflammatory foods are one of the underlying causes of Leaky Gut Syndrome as well as the destruction of the stomach (gut) lining. Diet is the most important factor in maintaining gut health. In our bodies, the gut holds about 80% of the immune system. It’s very important to have a healthy gut in order to maintain a healthy life. Developing a plan that reduces the amount of inflammatory foods ingested into the body is the best way to stay healthy.

The term “dieting” can be a misleading topic in today’s health world. A proper diet, especially for someone who is suffering from something like Leaky Gut Syndrome, must take into consideration foods that are cause inflammation. The most common food group responsible for this is gluten (along with all of its derivatives).

The foods we eat now and the foods our grandparents ate are entirely different. Much of today’s food is genetically modified to the point where our bodies have difficulty recognizing it as food. Gluten foods have undergone massive amounts of genetic modification making them particularly difficult to break down and digest. A genetically modified food causes a number of health problems for the body – the most common being inflammation. Inflammation is a Leaky Gut patient’s worst nightmare because it doesn’t allow the gut to heal properly. Since gluten (basically wheat) has been associated with a vast amount of health problems, the gluten free diet has subsequently become popular.

Following a gluten free diet can sometimes be a tiny bit misleading. For example, many patients come to me who suffer from a leaky gut and say “Dr King, I have Leaky Gut Syndrome and I am gluten free, but I still have all these symptoms. What’s going on?” Unfortunately a piece to the puzzle is missing. I find they are unaware of all types of foods that cause inflammation. Four common foods, besides gluten, are: DAIRY, SOY, EGGS and RICE. However, a standard gluten free diet still incorporates corn, rice and buckwheat. These are cross reactive foods, that are so closely related to the gluten molecule the body cannot determine the difference. Eating them produces the same effect as eating gluten. Other foods that further perpetuate inflammation are nightshades, which include eggplant and peppers.

The biggest issue I see with patients is that he or she can be on a completely gluten free diet, yet, still be eating harmful foods unknowingly.

The methods to correct the ill effects of genetically modified foods and gluten is two-fold. The first is testing for food sensitivities. Many doctors will use the IgA test (immunoglobulin A) to look for gluten sensitivities. This test is accurate, however, lacks comprehensiveness. At the Tustin Chronic Condition Center we use a more thorough test, Cyrex Labs, which tests for gluten sensitivities and its derivatives. Establishing what foods are contributing to inflammation in a patient’s body often comes a surprise to the patient. However, without this knowledge it’s nearly impossible to make a positive impact. The second approach is to implement an anti-inflammatory diet. This type of program creates a customized food plan for each patient based on their test results. The goal is to have patients enjoy a healthier lifestyle. This process does exactly that and it also educates them in the process.

If you are concerned your doctors are not looking into the inflammatory foods and the role they play in helping you heal from your chronic health condition, call my office to schedule a consultation: (866) 375-4641.

Remember, nothing in your life will change until you do!

Thyroid dysfunction affects roughly 27 million American while GI (gastrointestinal) dysfunctions affect roughly 70 million Americans. These conditions are the most overlooked dysfunctions within the medical world. Time and time again, patients suffer from such conditions and medical screenings will misdiagnose or completely miss the problem at hand. 90% of patients with thyroid dysfunction are misdiagnosed by their doctor and are suffering from an autoimmune condition. Traditional tests seem to miss many pieces of the puzzle, allowing the symptoms of the patient to get worse. Untreated thyroid dysfunction can lead to fatigue, joint pain, memory loss/brain fog, hair loss, diminished sex drive, sporadic unhealthy fluctuations in weight, depression, among many others.

Poor digestive health is extremely common in this country and a major contributor to low thyroid function. Most thyroid dysfunction is actually an autoimmune disease and it is believed that an unhealthy gut triggers all autoimmune diseases. The reason is that much of the immune system (80%) is located in the digestive tract, so naturally if that area of the body is unhealthy, it becomes susceptible to disease and more chronic health conditions.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease that, in short, is when the body attacks the thyroid gland. This disease is so frequently misdiagnosed by the traditional medical world that patients can be living with it, yet not know they have it. A misdiagnosis serves as the number one reason why people with any type of thyroid dysfunction continue to experience their symptoms. An important reminder is that, to begin combating thyroid dysfunction a patient needs to maintain a healthy gut. Without one, thyroid symptoms will continue to progress.

Over the counter prescriptions and drugs are offered to help deal with symptoms of thyroid dysfunction but they don’t deal with the causes of the disease. They simply mask the symptoms and ignore the root. Holistic approaches help to relieve symptoms the best, because they take into account the human body as a whole. For many thyroid patients, one piece of the puzzle lies within the gut, and traditional approaches ALWAYS overlook this.

If you are concerned your doctors are not looking into the possibility that you are suffering from an autoimmune condition, call my office to schedule a consultation: (714) 731-7680.

Remember, nothing in your life will change until you do!

Yesterday, two patients asked me the same question, “Dr. King, why are the foods so bad for us now, when they were not bad for us years ago?”

Most of you know, that is a loaded question. The simple and short answer is this…our foods are now being GENETICALLY MODIFIED to the point where our bodies CAN’T break them down and assemble them. We are losing essential vitamins and nutrients in our foods. Supply and demand (and MONEY) is the reason companies are now doing this.

If one were to trace chronic health conditions back to when they first started appearing, one would learn that the farming industry really took off around that time (along with the demand for more food). Since then, foods like our grains have been genetically mutated and modified to the point our bodies don’t recognize them as food anymore, but as foreign substances.

Our immune systems then go on ‘high-alert’ and start declaring war on the substances, leading to destruction and inflammation. The substances, themselves, are inflammatory to our gastro-intestinal linings as well, creating irritable bowel syndrome and leaky gut syndrome (a condition I personally grew up struggling with). If you have read any of the previous blogs were I have discussed our immune system, you will remember that our GI-system comprises 80% of the immune system, 80%!

Now, citizens of the United States are having to fight for our right to know what is in our foods, especially in California. Proposition 37 is devoted to just that. However, companies like Monsanto are throwing money around to vote against the labeling of genetically modified foods. They have contributed $4.2 million in this fight, along with other big money companies.

You see, companies like Monsanto are trying slide genetically modified foods into our grocery stores. AND, they think we have absolutely ZERO right to know!!!

Here is the link to some data where you can see who is fighting against our rights to know what we are feeding ourselves and our children…

Please SHARE with your friends and family members and help fight against companies like Monsanto!

Did you know that 90% of those who have been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid gland, hypothyroidism, actually are suffering from an autoimmune condition?

According to Dr. Datis Kharrazian, leading functional endocrinologist, 90% of those hypothyroid patients have been mis-diagnosed are are suffering from an autoimmune condition, where the body’s immune system is attacking itself! 90%??? This is amazing, considering the rise of hypothyroid conditions is on the rise, over 25 million Americans each year!

What does autoimmune mean? Autoimmune (AI) means your body’s immune system is not protecting you anymore, it is destroying your tissue. The body goes after the weakest link first…this could be the thyroid tissue, nerve tissue, joint tissue, gut tissue, etc. You MUST understand that if you have one autoimmune condition, you will eventually develop more if the ‘flames’ of the AI condition are not put out. Before you can do that, you must figure out what the ‘gasoline’ is that is being poured onto the ‘flames’.

What is the gasoline?

It could be medications, leaky gut syndrome, food sensitivities/allergies, parasites/bacteria/mold/yeast/fungi, hormones, nutritional deficiencies and environmental toxins.

How do you know if you have any of the above?

Your doctor’s MUST be performing the right tests on you! If you are still struggling with thyroid symptoms and you have been on your medications…then something is missing, and I bet your doctors have not tested you thoroughly enough.

I would highly encourage you to attend one of my Life Changing Thyroid Gland Workshops, where I cover this information in more detail, and show you the bigger picture as to why you are still struggling with your condition. CLICK here to schedule a consultation online, or call my clinic at (714) 731-7680 to reserve your seat(s).

I see it every day, patients come into the clinic suffering from thyroid gland disorder and they are on medications, but they are still suffering from fatigue, gastro-instestinal dysfunction, insomnia, weight gain/loss, loss of hair, lack of sex drive and depression.

Yet, the endocrinologist/primary care physician HAS NOT ran a complete blood test on them. If your doctor is not running adequate blood tests and saliva tests, you will be mis-diagnosed, and ultimately…mis-managed in your attempt to achieve the health results you deserve.

You must think of your body like a jig-saw puzzle

If a couple of the pieces are left off the table, then the picture will never be complete. For instance, most doctors only run TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and T4 on their patients (8 times out of 10, this is what I see). However, they are on medication (Synthroid, Armour, Levothyroxine, etc). and are still having symptoms. Did you know that 90% of those diagnosed with hypothyroidism are suffering from an autoimmune condition? The only way to determine this is by running the TPO and TBG anti-bodies.

Has your doctor ran your TPO and TBG anti-bodies to determine if you are suffering from an autoimmune attack onto your thyroid gland? No? Then one piece of your puzzle just ‘fell’ onto the floor!

Did you know that the adrenal glands affect your hypothalamus and pituitary gland?

…which, ultimately affects how much TSH is released? Your adrenal glands are the ‘stress glands’ of the body: chemical, emotional, and physical stress. Did your doctor run a salivary test to take samples of cortisol through out the day? If not, this could be a piece of your puzzle missing from the equation. One good marker that helps to evaluate the cortisol stress response is reverse T3.

Have you been on any hormones through out your life?

Birth control or hormone replacement therapy? If so, this could have affected how the pituitary gland releases TSH. Did your doctor run your free T4, free thyroxine index, free T3 or reverse T3? These are more pieces to your health puzzle.

Did you know there is a gut connection with the brain?

That if ‘activated’ can also affect the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland? More to come on this in a future blog.

If you are still suffering from thyroid gland symptoms and you are taking medications, but you are still not reaching your health goals…I highly encourage you to contact my staff at (714) 731-7680 to schedule your consultation.

At AskDrKing, we know that a thyroid condition involves more than just your thyroid gland. Many doctors only look at the thyroid when diagnosing the condition, but we know that the thyroid does not work in a vacuum; as with other conditions, our body needs several parts working together well to function optimally.

Your adrenal glands sit right on top of your kidneys, and are shown in our diagram as “A”. They are also known as your “stress glands”, as they respond to physical, chemical and emotional stress. They release hormones to your hypothalamus (located in the center of your brain) and pituitary gland (located below the hypothalamus).

Your pituitary releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to act onto your thyroid to work so your thyroid will release T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), therefore increasing their levels in the blood. If your adrenals are not working properly—which could be due to triggers such as stress from a bad relationship, a high-pressure job, blood sugar imbalances (diabetes) or even having taken prescription drugs over a prolonged period of time—they aren’t feeding back into your pituitary gland properly. Without the stimulation from the adrenals, the pituitary can’t release TSH like it should, and the cycle continues without balancing.

Your pituitary gland can also suffer from dysfunction as well. For instance, high cortisol, which is released from your adrenal glands, will make your pituitary gland sluggish, as can oral contraceptives.

There’s also an autoimmune component…

If you are suffering from an autoimmune disorder, that will wreak havoc onto your adrenals, your pituitary AND your thyroid glands. All of these diagnoses need to be taken into consideration when looking at a person’s thyroid condition.

If your doctors aren’t analyzing how your adrenal glands and pituitary gland are working, then they are missing a huge part of the puzzle in managing your health care needs.

How do we find the missing pieces in your puzzle?

One of our tools is an Adrenal Salivary Test, which measures the levels of stress hormones DHEA and cortisol, and provides an evaluation of how cortisol levels differ throughout the day. In fact, this test can uncover biochemical imbalances that are the underlying causes of conditions like anxiety, chronic fatigue, obesity, diabetes, depression and insomnia, among others. Our patients are very happy that this test is non-invasive, and only involves collecting saliva into a test tube.

Are you ready for a health-care professional that understands your condition and looks at it from a holistic perspective? Are you ready to have the cause of your symptoms managed properly, not just the symptoms as they happen? Are you ready to feel better and get your life back? If so, please contact us immediately to schedule a consultation: (714) 731-7680.

Can Stress Affect Your Thyroid Condition?

One thing almost all thyroid patients tell me is this, “Dr. King, I have had a very stressful life!” It doesn’t matter if you have Hashimoto’s Disease, Grave’s Disease, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, adrenal gland dysfunction will make your symptoms worse. Whether it has been a physical, chemical or emotional stressor, stress will drive the adrenal glands into an abnormal state of function, causing excessive amounts of cortisol to be released.

Insomnia is normally the result of adrenal gland dysfunction. I have worked with hundreds of patients over the last 10 years that had sleep disturbances due to adrenal gland dysfunction.

Many patients know that cortisol stores belly fat. Excessive cortisol is the culprit for many thyroid patients’ metabolism frustrations.

Cortisol will eat away at the gastrointestinal lining, causing Leaky Gut Syndrome/Intestinal Permeability (I grew up with this). Healthy GI function is EXTREMELY important for a healthy immune system (the GI tract makes up for 80% of the immune system). He is a big secret; a majority of Hashimoto’s patients struggle with GI dysfunction that is due to adrenal gland dysfunction.

One thing we know, cortisol in excessive amounts will pass your blood brain barrier. You have a barrier that surrounds the brain protecting it from large foreign particles. Alcohol, medications, and hormones are some of the chemicals that will pass the blood brain barrier. We all know what happens when alcohol passes the barrier! When cortisol passes the barrier, it destroys neurons! Specifically, it targets the hippocampus, which when destroyed will cause dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease (I watched my grandfather struggle with this the last five years of his life due in part to Type II Diabetes).

Abnormal stress will contribute to these conditions. Why is this important to you? Because the adrenal glands impact the thyroid gland via the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. If the adrenal glands are not functioning properly, neither will your thyroid gland. If your adrenal glands are not functioning properly, you are predisposing yourself to dementia, Alzheimer’s.

Adrenal gland dysfunction is one of the main “pieces” to thyroid gland patients’ puzzle. If this piece of the puzzle is not understood, and not tested properly, your health will continue to deteriorate. You must make sure that your adrenal glands are working and functioning as they were intended to in order for your thyroid gland to work properly.

If you would like to talk more about your health condition, give my staff a call (866) 375-4641 to schedule your complimentary phone consultation.