Testimonials

How can eating a low-carb traditional diet help you? Read these stories and learn how others have benefited. (All testimonials preserve patient privacy and were printed w/ permission, some names were changed by request).

When cutting fat and cholesterol doesn’t help your levels, cut sugar and carbs: Paul’s Story

After many years of trying low fat, low cholesterol diets and taking Lipitor, I was encouraged by Dr. Sayess, to try the T.R.I.M. program. I was very skeptical but considering that my cholesterol and sugar levels were rising I decided to give it a try. After 3 months, I had my blood work done, and was pleasantly surprised. My triglycerides were the lowest they EVER were (even on meds), my cholesterol numbers were fabulous (Lipitor dose was cut in 1/2), and sugar levels better! I’m sold!

Seeking relief from arthritis and fatigue: Karen’s Story

Office Visit #1

Karen first came to me in 2010 at age 68 with pain in her thumbs and knees that was making it hard for her to do things like button clothes, open jars, climb stairs, and get up out of a chair. She needed tylenol, alleve, osteobiflex, and chromium to control her pains and muscle cramps enough to get through her day.

She’d also been on Zocor, a medication for high cholesterol for over 15 years. I informed her that was longer than any study had ever shown to be safe, and that the Zocor could be contributing to her aches and fatigue. I suggested she cut her heart disease risk naturally by reducing inflammation, which would also reduce her joint pains. Karen thought that sounded logical and wanted to go for it.

Karen’s labs:

Fasting glucose= 112. (Normal under 90)

Total cholesterol 154, LDL 91, HDL 52, triglycerides 86.

Comment on labs:

Even though Zocor made her cholesterol numbers look good, the drug does very little to reduce risk in nonsmoking patients without prior heart attacks because it doesn’t get at the root of the problem. Long term use of Zocor would put her at risk of balance and memory problems (among other things). So I had her taper the drug over two weeks and then stop it.

Notice the high glucose. As I told Karen, that to me was where her real trouble was. Sugar can damage the cholesterol packages called lipoproteins, and it’s really the carbs together with toxic fats from vegetable oils that put you at risk of heart disease.

Office Visit #2: Thinner Already

Off Zocor and with fewer dietary carbs and no more unnatural fats, her weight dropped 7 lbs, and she experienced improvement in joint pain and flexibility. She was motivated to be more active and continue with the changes she’d made. I was impressed by her rapid adaptation of the Deep Nutrition principles, especially since her friends were suggesting her new, low carb diet was dangerously high in fat.

Labs: Fasting glucose=91, total cholesterol=225, LDL 145, HDL 48, triglycerides 113.

Office Visit #4: Bursting With Energy And Cholesterol Controlled

At her latest visit she reported that six months into following Deep Nutrition’s principles she noticed a surge in her energy levels (probably because her inflammation quieted down). Her joint pains were a distant memory, and she no longer needed Tylenol, Alleve or joint supplements.

Labs: Fasting glucose 90, total cholesterol 223, LDL 156, HDL, 56, triglycerides 131.

By now, her friends had stopped calling her new habits ‘radical’ (what’s so radical about chicken soup?) and started asking her for advice!

She also told me she’s been recommending Deep Nutrition to tons of her friends, for which I thanked her kindly.

Transformative Experience

I want to thank you for helping my parents get on the road reclaiming their health!

 

I hope its ok that I’m writing to you…But I just HAVE to thank you!

 

WE CANNOT BELIEVE THE CHANGES! My parents call us to talk about buying grass-fed liver and to brag about their awesome food and lifestyle upgrades. I am SO HAPPY that you were able to help them transition. We get such a kick out of the phone calls (usually from my dad) – “Did you know that sugar feeds cancer?” They are really getting the message! I really appreciate that you don’t let them off the hook – so many of their doctors say unbelievable things to them like “well, I’d rather have you eat McDonald’s than starve” or “there’s nothing you need to do with your diet, eat soup and pizza, avoid vegetables. We’ll may put you on insulin as a preventative.

Say Goodbye to Costly Diabetes Meds: Leanne’s story

Office Visit #1: Decades of Worsening Diabetes

Leanne came to me for help with her weight and her diabetes at age 61. She’d been diagnosed with diabetes in 1997, and on gradually more prescriptions over the years. She’d seen several dietitians who offered the usual food-pyramid misinformation, after which her metabolic imbalances progressed. Leanne was particularly motivated to make changes because her previous physician had just ordered blood work showing progressive glucose elevations and insulin resistance, and advised her to start yet another, very costly, medication.

Medications at first visit: Crestor, Metformin, Glyburide, Nateglinide. Weight 203 lbs.

Labs from the week before ordered by her previous doctor: Total cholesterol 136, HDL=36, LDL=75, triglycerides=191. Fasting glucose 130. A1c

I gave Leanne the handout from my TRIMProgram and a food diary and had her come back two weeks later. I also wanted to see what her cholesterol was without Crestor, so asked her to stop it and then get her blood tested.

Office Visit #2: Thinner Already

When she came back two weeks later, she’d forgotten the blood tests but had already lost 3 lbs just from following the handout. I could tell she was going to be a success, so I did not tell her to restart the Crestor because I decided that no matter what her labs might be right then, they were soon to be much better because she was going to be putting the right things into her body. I had her stop one of her diabetes meds, just to prevent dangerously low blood glucoses (we stopped the most expensive one, Nateglinide).

Office Visit #3: Medication Freedom in Sight

Leanne weighed in at 180 lbs, down over 20 from just 4 months ago. It’s important to understand that she had not cut calories or stepped up her exercise, but simply followed the principles of Deep Nutrition, summarized here: http://www.trimprogram.com/p/10-steps-to-healthier-body.html. She’d cut carbs, added back natural fats, bone broths, bought better quality meats, and even found naturally fermented sauerkraut and pickles. Her glucoses were dropping to the 40s overnight, so we cut the glyburide down to 25% of the former dose. Now she’s only on generic metformin and a tiny generic glyburide, plus a baby aspirin, and is saving hundreds.

Leanne is using some of that to buy better, yummier, healthier food. I’m very excited about her progress and look forward to scratching more prescriptions off her list.

From our 2010 Patient Satisfaction Survey

 

Dr. Catherine Shanahan, M.D. is a rare gem in the NH medical community. Like many of the state’s best doctors, she has extensive clinical experience and an impressive educational background. The difference is that these are the least of her credentials. Dr. Shanahan infuses her traditional medical practices with complimentary cutting-edge science-based knowledge. As an avid food-advocate, I am more than impressed by the depth and breadth of her knowledge. More importantly, as the daughter of one of her patients – I am amazed by her effectiveness. She has worked in a cooperative and communicative way with my mother’s other doctors across the state, from Monadnock Community Hospital to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Dr. Shanahan listens carefully to her concerns and clearly shares and explains health-saving information. In a few short weeks, my mother transformed from a life-long junk food eater to a nutritional maven. She is losing excess weight, showing large improvements in her blood work and – most critically – strengthening the systems of her body to help her as she undergoes chemotherapy and surgery in her ongoing fight against cancer. As a family, we are fortunate beyond measure to have Dr. Shanahan in our corner!

– Lizzie Harris McCormick, Ph.D.

[this page is under construction: more happy stories coming soon!]