Updated June 27, 2014.
Note from Mary Shomon: The May 20, 2003 issue of the weekly newsstand publication, Woman?s World, featured a cover story "The New Thyroid Cure." Since that article hit the newsstand, I was deluged with emails from people who want to know if what the article seems to claim is true: Can coconut oil "cure" your hypothyroidism and ensure rapid weight loss? In May, I asked holistic physician Dr. Ken Woliner to respond to this question, which he did in his article, Is Coconut Oil Really a Thyroid Cure? A Holistic Physician Looks at the Question.
There are some practitioners and experts who believe that coconut oil is extremely beneficial for the thyroid, and Dr. Bruce Fife is one of the more well-known experts who has spoken out in favor of coconut oil. Dr. Fife offered his perspectives on coconut oil?s benefits in his article, Is Coconut Oil Really a Thyroid Cure? Dr. Bruce Fife?s Reply to Dr. Ken Woliner.
Finally, after reviewing Dr. Fife?s response, Dr. Woliner has written this open response to Dr. Fife.
* * *
Dr. Fife and I agree that "Woman's World" is a tabloid. I believe, however, that it does not attempt to report news. It attempts to sensationalize stories to sell issues and paid advertising.
I believe in using the most effective, least toxic therapy, at the lowest cost. I think upstream, and believe in treating causes, rather than simply covering up symptoms. Though I am able to write for prescription medication, but I have many patients that come to me and I discover that they have a thyroid condition caused by one of the items I mentioned at the tail of my "coconut oil" article (such as Selenium deficiency or Mercury toxicity), or that they do not have a thyroid condition at all, but "other things" that are causing their symptoms (such as Insulin Resistance - something that Coconut Oil and other MCT oils would be helpful if used as a calorie source instead of simple carbohydrates or Trans Fats). I do write prescriptions when necessary, but with a bachelor's degree in Nutrition from Cornell University (among other training), I find that I am more effective when using a holistic approach that encompasses behavior changes, diet, exercise, vitamins, herbals, as well as prescriptions, as necessary.
I am not bent at suppressing natural approaches to medicine. If you knew anything about my practice, you would realize that statement is false. I had no "quick way" of contacting you with a deadline of only one week (Mary Shomon asked me for advice directly after that Woman's World article appeared). I attempted to contact you, but despite visiting multiple coconut oil websites, and buying both your "Eat Fat, Look Thin" and "The Miracles of Coconut Oil", I did not have your e-mail address until now. I try verifying my sources, whenever possible. I was able to contact Dr. Layman and included his comments in my article.
I do apologize if I have misinterpreted your financial relationships with the coconut oil industry. The web site for ?Tropical Traditions? makes it appear that you are intimately entwined with that company. As you are not in current practice, your income is derived from writing books and lecturing upon them, with your two most popular titles are in relation to coconut oil. A book entitled, ?Coconut oil is marginally effective at preventing weight gain in compared to eating other oils? would obviously not sell as well ?Eat Fat, Look Thin?, and ?The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil?.
Note from Mary Shomon: The May 20, 2003 issue of the weekly newsstand publication, Woman?s World, featured a cover story "The New Thyroid Cure." Since that article hit the newsstand, I was deluged with emails from people who want to know if what the article seems to claim is true: Can coconut oil "cure" your hypothyroidism and ensure rapid weight loss? In May, I asked holistic physician Dr. Ken Woliner to respond to this question, which he did in his article, Is Coconut Oil Really a Thyroid Cure? A Holistic Physician Looks at the Question.
There are some practitioners and experts who believe that coconut oil is extremely beneficial for the thyroid, and Dr. Bruce Fife is one of the more well-known experts who has spoken out in favor of coconut oil. Dr. Fife offered his perspectives on coconut oil?s benefits in his article, Is Coconut Oil Really a Thyroid Cure? Dr. Bruce Fife?s Reply to Dr. Ken Woliner.
Finally, after reviewing Dr. Fife?s response, Dr. Woliner has written this open response to Dr. Fife.
* * *
Dr. Fife and I agree that "Woman's World" is a tabloid. I believe, however, that it does not attempt to report news. It attempts to sensationalize stories to sell issues and paid advertising.
I believe in using the most effective, least toxic therapy, at the lowest cost. I think upstream, and believe in treating causes, rather than simply covering up symptoms. Though I am able to write for prescription medication, but I have many patients that come to me and I discover that they have a thyroid condition caused by one of the items I mentioned at the tail of my "coconut oil" article (such as Selenium deficiency or Mercury toxicity), or that they do not have a thyroid condition at all, but "other things" that are causing their symptoms (such as Insulin Resistance - something that Coconut Oil and other MCT oils would be helpful if used as a calorie source instead of simple carbohydrates or Trans Fats). I do write prescriptions when necessary, but with a bachelor's degree in Nutrition from Cornell University (among other training), I find that I am more effective when using a holistic approach that encompasses behavior changes, diet, exercise, vitamins, herbals, as well as prescriptions, as necessary.
I am not bent at suppressing natural approaches to medicine. If you knew anything about my practice, you would realize that statement is false. I had no "quick way" of contacting you with a deadline of only one week (Mary Shomon asked me for advice directly after that Woman's World article appeared). I attempted to contact you, but despite visiting multiple coconut oil websites, and buying both your "Eat Fat, Look Thin" and "The Miracles of Coconut Oil", I did not have your e-mail address until now. I try verifying my sources, whenever possible. I was able to contact Dr. Layman and included his comments in my article.
I do apologize if I have misinterpreted your financial relationships with the coconut oil industry. The web site for ?Tropical Traditions? makes it appear that you are intimately entwined with that company. As you are not in current practice, your income is derived from writing books and lecturing upon them, with your two most popular titles are in relation to coconut oil. A book entitled, ?Coconut oil is marginally effective at preventing weight gain in compared to eating other oils? would obviously not sell as well ?Eat Fat, Look Thin?, and ?The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil?.
Source...