Hi Judith,
Thanks for your comments. Green beans are high in beta-carotene and also vitamin C, both nutrients have strong anti-inflammatory effects. This may make green beans helpful for reducing the severity of diseases where inflammation plays a major role, such as fibromyalgia, osteo and rheumatoid arthritis.
Green beans are also an excellent source of vitamin B2, riboflavin, which has been shown to help reduce the frequency of various forms of pain in people who suffer with pain. Riboflavin’s protective role in energy production may explain why. The oxygen-containing molecules the body uses to produce energy can be highly reactive and can inadvertently cause damage the mitochondria (inside the cell) and even the cells themselves. In the mitochondria, such damage is largely prevented by a small, protein-like molecule called glutathione. Like many “antioxidant” molecules, glutathione must be constantly recycled, and it is vitamin B2 that allows this recycling to take place, and one cup of green beans supplies ore than 7 % of the DV for riboflavin. There is always a reason why one food can have such an amazing effect on one patient, and not necesarily another person. I can verify this in the clinic and have seen it time and again. “That raw potato juice did the trick with my heartburn” one person will tell me, whilst another person swore to me that “having a large pinch of Epsom salts is the magic potion” to lots of aches and pains. Sometimes a simple suggestion of 50 to 100 mcg of Molybdenum (not to be confused with Magnesium) can make all the difference in the world for the patient with certain forms of muscle, bone or joint pains.
You are also correct to mention Calcium and Magnesium, Magnesium deficiency within the muscle fibers is speculated to be a significant factor in the development of FM, and daily supplementation of 300 - 600 mg of Mg may result in significant improvements in the number of tender points in FM patients.
As far as calcium is concerned, I find it always worth mentioning for the FM patient to take in a few different forms. Calcium Malate as well as calcium phosphate are both wise choices, for too many biochemical reasons to mention! And, don’t forget the trace elements such molybdenum and manganese. They are very important and often overlooked as far as FM is concerned, and last but not least - get your vitamin B12 level checked, I have seen too many FM patients with rock bottom B12 levels.

Eric Bakker ND

Eric Bakker ND

I agree with Dr. Bakker’s comments about symptoms of poor thyroid regulation. Many of my patients have also had the phenomenon you describe; despite consuming a wholesome diet and exercising to tolerance the weight does not drop. I encourage you to get your resting metabolic rate (RMR) measured to gather more information about your thyroid issues. People with thyroid hormone resistance usually have normal TSH, free T3 and free T4 levels. The value of RMR measurement is that it reflects tissue utilization of thyroid hormone; the blood tests do not. Feel free to use the self-tests for thyroid and adrenal problems on my website, http://www.drginahoneyman.com. The prevalence of people across the globe with thyroid problems is so vast that I consider it a global health epidemic!

Yes - as the thyroid decreases in function, so does your metabolic rate. Things “slow down” in your body, including your ability to burn fat, and many other problems can occur as well. Weight which does not shift inspite of strict adherence to diet and exercise is generally a thyroid issue in my clinical experience. The problem is, if the blood tests come back normal (TSH, T3 & T4) then the patient is deemed to by “normal”. I have found that many hypothyroids have bowel issues like a sluggish bowel including constipation, but also present with tiredness, cold hands & feet, weakness, some have pain in muscles or joints and yes, “puffiness” can certainly be adrenal or thyroid in origin. Many will complain of “brain fog”, poor memory, hair, skin or nail issues as well. With puffiness you have to exclude heart problems naturally, which may cause pitting oedema. It has been estimated that up to 40% of women in NZ have some type of thyroid issue, amazing !