What is it?
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects some 18 million Americans and can be very serious if not treated. People with this disorder stop breathing for 10 to 30 seconds at a time while they are sleeping, possibly as many as 400 times each night. These periods of not breathing often wake people from deep sleep, seriously reducing the amount of necessary rest they are actually getting.

Those with sleep apnea typically suffer progressive fatigue, tiredness, malaise, depression, and muscle stiffness. Sleep apnea is associated with increased of risk heart attack and stroke. In addition, this common disorder can lead to disability and death (e.g. falling asleep at the wheel while driving).

Treatment typically involves use of dental devices, equipment that increases air pressure to increase restful breathing during sleep, and weight loss.

What causes it?
Obstructive sleep apnea is what 9 out of 10 people with sleep apnea have and is caused by something blocking the passage or windpipe (called the trachea) that brings air into your body. That something may be:

• The tongue, tonsils, or the uvula (the small piece of flesh hanging down in the back of the throat).

• Excessive fatty tissue in the throat; many of those with sleep apnea are obese.

• Abnormally relaxed throat muscles, due to poor function of the nerves from the lower brain that control breathing and swallowing. Evidence suggests that the poor nerve function is related to abnormal metabolism.

What role might cytokines play?
The exact role that cytokines have on sleep in unknown. Studies show that most sleep apnea patients have excess levels of cytokines associated with inflammation, which attach directly to nerve cells in the brain, including the areas that control breathing and swallowing.

What results could I expect with MNT?
MNT is the first line of treatment recommended in obese or overweight patients with sleep disorders. Patients using the Plan note improvement in fatigue by the end of Food Phases 1 and 2 of the 7 to 14 day Plans.

With MNT many patients can eventually discontinue annoying and expensive sleep devices. To many people’s surprise, nutritional diets appear to be far more important that weight loss in treating sleep apnea. In most patients, improvement in fatigue and snoring diminishes long before large weight loss is noted. In fact, patients who undergo gastric bypass operations often can stop using special breathing devices for sleep apnea within weeks – long before they experience significant weight loss.

How can I measure symptom change on the plan?
First, you need to be clear about what may be causing your sleep apnea. Although rare, there is a second type of sleep apnea (central sleep apnea) that occurs when the muscles you use to breathe fail for some reason to receive the signal to do so from your brain. You should work with your physician to clearly identify which type of sleep apnea you have and what would be the best treatment approach. Talk with your doctor about the effects that MNT may have on your treatment. Next, you want to measure how severe each of the two key sleep apnea symptoms are for you. This will give you a baseline to compare with future measurements.

Most importantly, you (and your doctor) need a way to measure progress over time. Talk with your doctor at each regular visit about your symptoms and how they might change using the Plan.

What is it?
Fatigue, characterized as physical and/or mental weariness, occur either as a symptom of illness or as a side effect of medication. Normal fatigue occurs as a result of exertion, stress, or dealing with illness (e.g., fighting off a cold).

What causes it?
Common, reversible causes of fatigue are sleep disorder, depression, cardiac disease, anemia, and hypothyroidism. High blood pressure, depression, antihistamine, sleeping, and anti-anxiety medications may also cause fatigue related side effects.

What role might cytokines play?
Cytokines most likely impact fatigue via disturbances in brain function with resultant sleep disturbances, such as sleep apnea. Additional fatigue occurs when there is a malfunction in the cardiopulmonary system that results in restless sleep due to poor breathing. Finally, fatigue may be due to stress hormones (adrenalin and cortisone) induced by excess cytokine production in fat and liver cells. Improvement in symptoms is clearly related to improvement in toxic cytokine levels (TNF, IL-1 and IL-6, CRP, and others).

What results could I expect with MNT?
Fatigue often responds to the MNT Plan, regardless of cause. It is also one of the symptoms to return quickly with overeating/ weight gain.

Fatigue is an important symptom to follow with each progressive Phase, typically responding to the first two Food Phases of the Plan.

How can I measure symptom change on the plan?
First, you need to be clear about what may be causing your fatigue. Your physician may need to evaluate you for cardiac illness, hypothyroidism, anemia, or major depressive disorder.
Because many medications associated with fatigue side effects are prescribed for other conditions that respond to MNT, you and your doctor may find over time that your need for these medications will diminish. Take a baseline measurement of your fatigue and re-measure after each Food Phase or every four weeks.

Most importantly, you (and your doctor) need a way to measure progress over time. Talk with your doctor at each regular visit about your symptoms and how they have changed using the Plan. As with any medical condition, treatment traditionally means taking medications to reduce symptoms. With MNT, you may find that you will need to take less medication OR perhaps discontinue your medications entirely. If you are taking prescription medicines, talk to your doctor about when and how to cut down on what you take BEFORE you make any changes.

What is it?
Dyspnea, or breathlessness, is any perceived difficulty breathing or pain you feel when breathing. It can be a symptom of many disorders, especially:

• Cardiac disease (coronary obstruction, CHF, valve disease, other)

• Pulmonary disease (asthma, emphysema, other)

• Kidney and/or Liver disease with edema (swelling)

• Anemia (iron deficiency, B-12 deficiency, other)

• Hypothyroidism

What causes it?
Breathlessness may be caused by medical conditions or simply by excessive weight. Breathlessness may be a symptom of underlying cardiac disease. Physician evaluation is recommended, including a cardiac stress test and cardiac ultrasound exam. A chest x-ray is also indicated, especially in smokers.

If breathlessness resolves during Food Phase 1 or 2, cardiac causes are still possible. One would not expect breathlessness from excess weight to improve within 4 weeks of treatment, as only a minimal amount of weight would be lost relative to total needed to lose.

What role might cytokines play?
Cytokines are intimately involved with the function of small blood vessels and inflammation. While dyspnea is a symptom, it is related to cardiopulmonary function. Relaxing of the pulmonary (lung) small blood vessels and the small blood vessels downstream from the heart improve circulation, improve oxygen exchange, and therefore improve dyspnea or breathlessness.

What results could I expect with MNT?
In our experience, dyspnea improves very rapidly, in most cases, regardless of the primary cause (with the exception of emphysema). Most symptoms are measurably better in the first week. It’s very reinforcing to track your ability to breathe better after each Plan phase. At the very least, improvement should be noted within four weeks. Breathlessness beyond this point is usually not improved by MNT.

Occasionally, a specific food may precipitate fluid retention, blood vessel spasm, or bronchial spasm leading to relapse of breathlessness. If breathlessness recurs when adding any specific food group, restart Food Phase 1 (with physician notification and supervision) and continue until symptoms resolve. Add the subsequent Food Phases slowly (every one to two weeks) and cautiously.

How can I measure symptom change on the plan?
First, visit your physician to determine the cause of your breathlessness. Next, take a baseline measurement of the degree of discomfort you feel. Most importantly, you (and your doctor) need a way to measure progress over time. Talk with your doctor at each regular visit about your symptoms and how they might change using the Plan.

As with any medical condition, treatment may mean that you are taking medications to reduce your dyspnea symptoms. With this Plan you may find that as your symptoms lessen, you will need to take less medication OR perhaps discontinue your medications entirely. If you are taking prescription medicines, talk to your doctor about when and how to cut down on what you take BEFORE you make any changes.

What is it?
Acid Reflux or GERD occurs when acid from the stomach flows backward in the swallowing tube, or esophagus. Typically, this happens because the muscle (sphincter) that keeps the lower end of the esophagus closed once food/liquid passes through to the stomach relaxes more than normal. This reflux often causes stomach pain, heartburn, indigestion, and/or bloating; sometimes, people experience chest pain or difficulty swallowing as a result. Left untreated, GERD can cause serious damage to the esophagus.

What causes it?
Physicians really don’t know why reflux occurs more in some people than others. One cause can be mechanical – a hiatal hernia (dislocation of the stomach through the hiatus of the diaphragm and into the chest) allows acid to penetrate the esophagus. Stress causes excess acid secretion, which can make the reflux more likely and more severe. Some medications (such as those often prescribed for arthritis) can dissolve the stomach’s mucous lining, allowing damaging acid to eat away at the stomach. Finally, we know that a bacteria named H. Pylori damages the protective mucous barrier and directly inflames the stomach lining.

All four mechanisms – mechanical, stress, medications, and bacteria – may be present. In addition, the interrelationship of obesity, diet, and GERD is complex and hard to define.

What role might cytokines play?
One theory is that fat cell-produced cytokines influence acid secretion, inflammation, and the ability to move food/liquid through the digestive system. When cytokine-producing diets change to cytokine-balancing diets, these functions improve.

What results could I expect with MNT?
In our clinic, 67% of all patients at initial evaluation use some type of antacid medication for symptom relief. Within three months of beginning the PrescriptFit MNT Plan, 87% no longer suffer from GERD symptoms and can discontinue taking antacid medication.

How can I measure symptom change on the plan?
First, you need to be clear about what symptoms of GERD you might have. Next, you want to have a measurement of how severe each symptom is for you. This will give you a baseline to compare with future measurements. Most importantly, talk with your doctor at each regular visit about your symptoms and how they might change using the PrescriptFit Plan.

As with any medical condition, treatment for GERD often involves taking medications to reduce symptoms. With PrescriptFit, you may find that as your symptoms lessen, you will need to take less medication OR perhaps discontinue your medications entirely. If you are taking prescription medicines, talk to your doctor about when and how to cut down on what you take BEFORE you make any changes.

What is it?
Headache is a common symptom that may result from a number of different problems or illnesses. Headaches are classified as either primary or secondary. Primary headaches are those that occur without appearing to be caused by another illness, such as tension headaches or migraines. Secondary headaches can result from a number of conditions. These may range from life threatening brain tumors, strokes, and meningitis to less serious problems, such as caffeine or pain medication withdrawals.

What causes it?
There are 3 types of headaches:

[MIGRAINE] A throbbing headache that usually originates in the front or side of the head. Its cause is really not known; however, a number of triggers have been identified, such as stress, sleep disturbances, hormones, bridge or flickering lights, certain odors, cigarette smoke, alcohol, aged cheese, chocolate, monosodium glutamate, nitrites, aspartame, and caffeine.

[PSEUDOTUMOR CEREBRI] is a condition due to excess spinal fluid pressure; it is most common in people who gain weight and become obese, especially women. The cause is unknown.

[MUSCLE TENSION HEADACHES] often appear to be related to posture problems that occur in those with large abdomens or breasts and improve with treatment for the neck muscles involved. Muscle tension or traction headaches from excess weight may take longer to resolve and be related to total weight loss.

What role might cytokines play?
Migraine is due to swelling and inflammation of brain blood vessels. This swelling and inflammation cause irritation of brain nerve fibers which then convey pain across the head and face. The swelling and inflammation are mediated by proteins in the cytokine class. As in other illness, genetic factors play a role. It is possible the inflammatory and swelling related cytokines generated from fat cells, liver, and intestine contribute to these genetic migraine trigger in obesity.

Why pseudotumor respond to MNT is also unknown. Hormones and cytokine proteins control spinal fluid regulation in the brain. Cytokines from fat tissue may influence formation or removal of spinal fluid. Only a spinal puncture can diagnose psuedotumor. If headache responds to the PrescriptFit MNT Plan, pseudotumor should be considered likely, even without a spinal puncture.
Since pseudotumor predominately affects women, hormones obviously play a role. Exactly how fat-produced cytokines and hormones interplay to prevent removal of spinal fluid is unknown. However, it is likely that cytokines mediate the process. Why? Because headache improves and pressure measures from spinal puncture register decreases in days or week after starting the PrescriptFit Plan, long before substantial weight loss occurs.

Muscle tension headaches will only improve at the rate that the mechanical strain that causes it improves. Weight loss and decreased inflammation will help alleviate mechanical strain sooner. Headaches that improve rapidly on the Plan are probably due to another cause.

What results could I expect with MNT?
Clinical experience with MNT and headache varies with the cause. Pseudotumor responds within days or weeks but requires a spinal puncture for confirmation. Migraine may respond quickly; however, it has many triggers and a naturally variable course. Therefore, long-term response can be gauged only by recording headache scores on the Disease/Symptom Questionnaire (Workbook Calendar) over time (e.g., monthly for at least a year). Muscle tension headaches should respond based on total weight loss.

hat is it?
People who suffer from insomnia get either too little sleep or the sleep they get is not very restful and refreshing. The problem does not necessarily have anything to do with the number of hours you sleep at night; it has to do with the quality of that sleep. For some, the problem is having trouble falling asleep in the first place. For others, the chronic tiredness comes from waking up too early in the morning. Some people fall asleep with no trouble, but wake up several times during the night and struggle to get back to sleep.

No matter what the pattern, insomnia leaves you feeling tired, sometimes even after sleeping 7 to 8 hours. This lack of adequate rest causes problems during the day – excessive sleepiness, fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed/irritable.

What causes it?
Insomnia may be a temporary problem induced by situational stress at home or at work, having a poor sleep environment (too much light, noise, or a partner who snores), or even certain medications. This type of short-term or occasional insomnia can last from a single night to a few weeks or occur from time to time.

If insomnia persists for at least three nights a week for over a month or more, you should see your physician about possible underlying medical causes. If this is not the case, your physician can help you identify patterns (working erratic shifts, not exercising, drinking caffeine or alcohol too close to bedtime, etc.) that might help positively alter your sleep patterns.

What role might cytokines play?
How MNT improves insomnia is unknown. A majority of patients presenting to our clinic complain of insomnia. A majority improve sleep when following the Plan. Some improvement may be due to other related medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, acid reflux, or even improved oxygen exchange from better blood flow. No specific cytokines have been related to general insomnia related to anxiety. Perhaps, improved metabolism related to balanced cytokine production (see other disease sections) lowers adrenalin and cortisone levels, which are known to aggravate insomnia.

What results could I expect with MNT?
Those suffering from insomnia often note improvement on the MNT Plan. Why this occurs is unknown; however, we suspect that improved brain function is related to improved nutrition or improved metabolism. Also, we know that branched-chain amino acids benefit patients suffering from a number of conditions that cause insomnia (depression, acid reflux, sleep apnea, arthritis, etc.), and not getting enough restful sleep complicates these conditions. Because of this interplay, you don’t know if your insomnia got better because your arthritis symptoms eased (for example), or whether your arthritis symptoms improved because you’re finally getting a good night’s rest on a regular basis.

How can I measure symptom change on the plan?
First, you need to be clear about what might be causing your insomnia. Talk to your doctor about your medical and sleep history. Find out if there is an underlying medical problem that needs attention.

If you have chronic insomnia, you will want to measure how severe each symptom is for you. This will give you a baseline to compare with future measurements. Most importantly, you (and your doctor) need a way to measure progress over time. Measure your symptoms again after four weeks of following each Food Phase. Take the results to your doctor and discuss how your symptoms have changed using the Plan.

What is it?
Edema is visible swelling in certain parts of the body, especially the feet and legs. This swelling occurs as a result of excess fluid accumulating under the skin in the spaces around blood vessels. Edema is a symptom of serious disease until proven otherwise, requiring complete medical evaluation and physician monitoring.

What causes it?
Edema can occur as a result of certain situations (e.g., being pregnant, prolonged standing, or long airplane rides), obesity, age, or injury. Certain conditions, such as failure of the heart, kidney, or liver, a blood clot in the leg, insulin resistance syndrome (IRS), varicose veins, burns, bites, malnutrition, or surgery, can cause swelling in one or both legs.

What role might cytokines play?
Fat tissue produces a cytokine protein (angiotensinogen) that causes salt retention. Synthesis or release of this protein can be induced by a single meal if high in calories, fat, and/or carbohydrates. Fluid retention is maintained chronically by continuing to eat a high-fat, high-sugar, high-calorie diet. Inflammatory cytokines damage small blood vessels and cause them to leak with resultant fluid retention. Cytokines also affect hormones secreted from the adrenal gland, heart, and brain that further promote fluid retention.

What results could I expect with MNT?
Edema from any cause typically responds to the MNT Plan, usually by Food Phases 1 or 2. Patients on diuretics (fluid pills) or vasodilators (heart or high blood pressure medication) should be very alert to hypotension (low blood pressure) in Food Phase 1 or 2. Rapid fluid loss may occur, requiring discontinuance of medication. After your edema subsides in Food Phase 1 or 2, stay alert for signs of relapse. Depending on cause, relapse may occur after a single meal of a higher fat, higher carbohydrate food or for other reasons (e.g., large salt intake, menstrual swelling, or certain arthritis medicine). Swelling should quickly resolve with resumption of the plan.

How can I measure symptom change on the plan?
Talk with your doctor about what may be causing your swelling – cardiac illness, hypothyroidism, hypertension, OR perhaps a medication. If the latter, MNT will not reduce your symptoms; however, it can help determine if your edema is related to medication, depending on how quickly you see results without reducing medication dose or discontinuing altogether. Take a baseline measurement before beginning the Plan and again after each Food Phase or every four weeks.

What is it?
Joint pain in the hip, knee, or feet all typically occur in those who are obese. The joints associated with these areas bear the weight of our frame and help to keep us upright. Stress on these joints, as our bodies adapt to changes in weight and body shape, can often lead to debilitating discomfort.

The most common joint complaint is knee pain. The knee bears the brunt of increased weight and abnormal angle-stress from obesity. The knee is also subject to sudden twists and bends of unexpected slips and falls. This is often a problem for those who are obese and perhaps not as agile or flexible due to the excess weight. Minor tears in the ligaments, tendons, and cartilage (that result from these slips and falls) promote inflammation and swelling.

Foot pain is a frequent complaint of obese patients. Foot pain can arise from the ankle joint, the nerves to the foot, and ligaments (plantar fasciitis or heel spur). All three conditions are more common in obesity for the same reasons noted with knee pain. The human foot was designed to bear weight down the shank of the leg and heel, rather than towards the toes (as it must do in obesity because of having a larger abdomen).

Hip pain is the least frequent and most severe type of joint damage related to obesity. Pain from the hip joint is typically felt on the front of the hip. Hip pain requires expert diagnosis and rehab; you will need to see a joint specialist and possibly a physical therapist as well.

What causes it?
Joint pain and obesity are bedfellows. Joint pain may occur from increased strain and tearing of joint support (ligament, tendon, cartilage, bone) due to excessive weight and from abnormal joint angles from distorted weight distribution.

On another level, joint pain is related to your body’s ability to repair damaged collagen – the support protein for the ligaments, tendons, cartilage, and bone. Obesity is associated with changes in your body’s hormone levels – the ones that impact your ability to repair collagen. Those who are obese tend to have low testosterone levels and low growth hormone levels, both of which are essential to collagen repair. Obesity is also associated with elevated level of cortisone, which destroys collagen. As we age, our ability to repair damaged collagen also decreases, making obesity and aging a very troubling combination.

What role might cytokines play?
Fat cells produce cytokines that promote immune inflammation that damages joint structures. The combination of increased weight, abnormal angles of movement, and increased immune damage with diminished collagen repair destroys joints and causes pain with disability. Those who are obese have more problems with joint injury because their bodies produce too much of a protein enzyme (metalloproteases) that destroys collagen. Since overproduction of this enzyme is linked to out-of-balance cytokines, PrescriptFit can offer significant benefits.

What results could I expect with MNT?
Knee pain often improves with the MNT Plan via decreased weight and diminished inflammation. In our clinic, decreased pain and medication requirements are seen long before major weight changes. Expert rehabilitation is vital. Abnormal weakness is just as important as obesity in promoting abnormal knee-angle stress. Ab strengthening should be a practiced daily in those with back, hip, knee, or foot pain.

For improving foot pain, the Plan fosters weight loss and positive changes to posture that occur with reducing abdomen size. In addition, exercise and physical therapy as well as heel pads and arch supports will likely speed recovery. In our clinic, those using the MNT Plan often note improvement in foot pain, although usually at a slower rate than those experiencing improvement in knee pain.

How can I measure symptom change on the plan?
First, you need to be clear about what might be causing your joint pain. Talk to your doctor about what type of pain you have, when you first noticed it, the severity, and what treatment combination might be best for you. Next, you want to have a measurement of how severe the joint pain is for you. This will give you a baseline to compare with future measurements.

Most importantly, you (and your doctor) need a way to measure progress over time. Talk with your doctor at each regular visit about your symptoms and how they might change using the Plan.

What is it?
Back pain is an ongoing aching, soreness, and/or strained feeling in the back anywhere from the shoulders to the hips. It occurs in everyone at some point in life. It can result from some acute injury as well as chronic strain from poor posture, excessive weight, or both. Some health conditions, such as kidney infection, can cause severe pain and soreness in the mid portion of the back. You should always consult with your doctor about any unexplained back pain to be sure that you are not suffering from some illness that requires immediate treatment.

What causes it?
For chronic back pain that results from ongoing strain due to weight, cause is related to your body’s attempts to adjust your form to your changing body shape. As weight increases, abdominal size expands forward, causing stress along the ligaments and muscles connecting the vertebrae and collagen discs; the result – chronic pain.

What role might cytokines play?
There is evidence that cytokines produced by fat cells may lead to direct injury of collagen, weakening the ligaments, tendons, and spinal discs. Fat cells also produce inflaming cytokine proteins that may damage the lining of joints, including the small joints separating each vertebrae that allow you to easily bend, twist, and stretch the spine.

What results could I expect with MNT?
The MNT Plan will reduce the excessive weight and cytokines that contribute to back strain. Based on over a decade of clinical experience, 67 percent of patients who visit our clinic can discontinue medication for back pain within six months after they begin using the MNT Plan combined with physical therapy or rehabilitative exercise. For those taking anti-inflammatory medications for back pain, there’s an added bonus of stomach complaints improving – both from the reduced need to take the anti-inflammatory medications AND from eliminating irritating foods using the MNT Food Phase approach to identify those causing digestive problems.

How can I measure symptom change on the plan?
First, you need to be clear about what is causing your back pain. If you’re overweight, work in a job that requires lifting and other strenuous activities, or have recently strained your back, you should talk to your doctor about the benefits of the MNT Plan as well as physical therapy / rehabilitative exercise. If your back pain has occurred recently without explanation or apparent cause, your doctor will need to determine if there might be a more serious illness causing your discomfort that requires treatment.
Next, you want to have a measurement of how severe your back pain is on a daily basis. This will give you a “baseline” to compare with future measurements.

Most importantly, you (and your doctor) need a way to measure progress over time. Talk with your doctor at each regular visit about your symptoms and how they have changed using the Plan.
As with any medical condition, treatment traditionally means taking medications to reduce symptoms. A number of prescription and over-the-counter medications can be taken to reduce the pain and inflammation in your back. With MNT, you may find that you will need to take less medication OR perhaps discontinue your medications entirely. If you are taking prescription medicines, talk to your doctor about when and how to cut down on what you take BEFORE you make any changes.

What is it?
Depression is a chronic psychiatric condition that can be very debilitating or even life threatening. People who are depressed will typically feel sad and hopeless, may have changes in eating and sleeping patterns, and may move and think more slowly than usual. If severe, they may think about or plan suicide. The most common symptoms include being fatigued and unable to get motivated to participate in or enjoy activities that used to be pleasurable (including sex).

What causes it?
We don’t know exactly what causes depression; however, experts agree that some people are more prone to depression than others and that certain events or situations can put these people at risk for suffering from the illness. What we do know is that there are chemicals in the brains that impact how we handle stress, and these chemicals appear to be out of balance for those diagnosed with depression.

Many medical conditions and some medications can contribute to symptoms of depression. People with depression often struggle with anxiety or mood swings as well. In addition, poor nutrition may contribute to depression. People who are depressed often either eat too much because it’s soothing or eat too little because they have no appetite or energy for eating. Nutritional balance certainly suffers either way.

What role might cytokines play?
Brain chemicals (called neurotransmitters) are intimately influenced by cytokines produced by fat, liver, and immune tissues. Depression is more common, for instance, in patients who overproduce C-Reactive Protein (or CRP) – common in those with metabolic syndrome, heart disease, and diabetes. Other cytokines called “interleukins” (IL-6, IL-2, and others) are closely tied to depression. The most dramatic example is the adverse side effect experienced by some when taking interferon (related to interleukin). Interferon is used for treating viral hepatitis; the profound depression that results in many cases often requires discontinuing the treatment.
Other cytokine hormones (leptin, ghrelin, cholecystokinin) have dramatic effects on eating behavior, which in turn, may lead to metabolic problems that contribute to depression.

The brain’s nerve cells have receptors that are very sensitive to changes in cytokine production, nutrition balance, and external factors. The common receptors known to affect depression (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine) are also intricately tied to energy metabolism. Most antidepressants cause weight gain by impacting how these neurochemicals affect eating behavior and energy expenditure (exercise and activity). Many of these antidepressants also raise cytokine levels, occasionally dramatically, and can even cause or precipitate diabetes.

What results could I expect with MNT?
The symptoms of depression most likely to improve with MNT are fatigue (lack of energy), joy, motivation, and sex drive. Based on over a decade of clinical experience, these symptoms most dramatically improve during Food Phase 1 of the Plan.

Because some antidepressant medications may contribute to weight gain and sexual dysfunction, it’s important to talk to your doctor about how possible medication side effects might impact your general health. MNT may play a vital role in managing side effects that could occur with those medications that may best treat your depressive symptoms.

At the very least, the Amino Solution offers balanced nutrition for balanced brain function while reducing the levels of toxic cytokines known to be associated with depression. A lower, leaner weight will improve self confidence, make movement (exercise) easier, and will gain more favorable social interaction from others – factors all known to effect depression.

How can I measure symptom change on the plan?
First, visit your physician to determine what might be causing your depression. Next, rate your level of depression in the Workbook Calendar. This will give you a baseline measurement of how depressed you feel.

Most importantly, you (and your doctor) need a way to measure progress over time.

As you progress through the Plan, note how you feel when adding each food category. If a particular food seems to be related to when you experience symptoms of depression, share this information with your doctor and use the knowledge you gain to modify your diet.

As with any medical condition, treatment may involve taking medications to reduce your depression symptoms. Many of these medications require close physician supervision to change the dose or stop taking them. With PrescriptFit, you may find that as your symptoms lessen, you will need to take less medication OR perhaps discontinue your medications entirely.