Hi, Dr. Sears,
Q: I am 47 years old, weigh 107 pounds and have not felt well since my mid 20s when doctors found I had cracked a rib coughing due to osteoporosis. I also have fibromyalgia, celiac disease, insulin resistance, nodules in my thyroid, and horrible migraines (now down to about three days a month from daily before I started the celiac diet 2 1/2 years ago). For the last 10-12 years I have always felt as if I had inflammation inside around the area of the kidneys. About three weeks ago this inflammation/pain became so bad my husband took me to the emergency room. They checked liver, kidneys and looked for gall stones but all were OK. The only thing they did not check was my pancreas, which I still wonder about. They said it must have been muscular and loaded me up with drugs. I started the Zone Diet a month ago right after finding out about my newly raised insulin levels, and the inflammation feeling inside has subsided. I'm eating the 11 blocks daily but feel hungry quite a bit. How do I get around this? I believe this diet can pull my health back together. I am reading your anti-inflammatory Zone book and have started taking fish oil, but I have not finished the book and thus do not know the correct dosage for me. Is there anything else I should be doing? I also walk 30 minutes 5-6 times a week on my treadmill.
Keran
Dear Keran,
A: Increase your block number to about 13 and take about 7.5 grams of EPA and DHA per day. This level of EPA and DHA will have a significant benefit on your migraines and insulin resistance. The increased levels of EPA will also help block the action of endocannabinoids in the brain that cause hunger.