Why I Recommend Organic Foods To My Weight Loss Patients

I recommend organic foods for my weight loss patients because I want them to eat nutrient dense foods, thus you have to begin with the dirt. The overuse of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemical additives for the growth of monoculture genetically modified crops, including corn, soy, rice, canola, and others have wreaked havoc with the soil.

These grain and bean crops grown in this sterile soil are used not only to create overly processed foods, but are the basis for animal feed that is fed to factory farmed meats and farm raised fish. The results are food products with empty calories, unknown long term health effects, and almost certain capacity for making people fat.

Why is this? The ancient wisdom of mankind says you should eat until you are satisfied, and these foods simply don't satisfy us. Add to that the chemicals added to the so-called value-added foods which are put there to replace the natural goodness that has been lost and you have a real problem.

These food additives, with unpronounceable names and unknown derivatives are known categorically as excitotoxins. Did you ever wonder why Dad could sit down in front of the television to watch the ball game and eat an entire package of corn chips? It's the Dr. Strangelove additions designed in the lab to make that food so tasty, Dad's natural satiety switch is turned off.

Those added chemicals, which by the way, even show up on fresh produce that isn't organic by way of sprays and dips, and chemical baths, can derail any weight loss program. Chemicals can increase food cravings, cause water retention, and can actually cause weight gain. These same additives are often allergenic, and can cause insulin to spike, playing havoc with those people who are pre-diabetic, or diabetic.

When I go back to Italy, where my family is from, I am amazed at how much better the food tastes. Europe does not permit genetically modified crops, and, as a rule, does not support factory farming. Therefore, you can see with your own eyes and taste for yourself the fact that fewer people are overweight, and the food just plain tastes better.

But I am encouraged because a food revolution has begun in this country and people are demanding a more humane treatment of animals, are rejecting high fructose corn syrup, soy products made from genetically modified seed, and are calling for locally grown food products, the so-called locavore movement.

In an article I contributed to in January Men's Health, I have discussed the cholesterol problem and shown how saturated fat and carb avoidance increase ldl particle size and decrease risk for heart disease and stroke.

Some of my patients have asked why I don't support a vegetarian diet, given the risks of eating factory farmed meat. The answer to that can be seen in the test tube. I've had numerous vegetarian patients who had elevated blood sugars, type 2 diabetes, and other health problems.

The answer which I propose in Dr. Salerno's Silver Cloud Diet is to eat a nutrient rich diet made up of plenty of saturated fat, protein and fruits and vegetables which are organic, grass fed, and wild caught.

I get a lot of surprised looks from my patients when I tell them to eat more saturated fats to lose weight. They will start in telling me they've been eating a low fat diet for years. But they don't make the connection between this diet and their health problems, including overweight, type two diabetes, memory problems, and arthritis.

I explain to them that the body must have saturated fats for proper brain function, cell development, and satiety. Plus it just makes people look better. Fat carries flavor and makes people feel full and satisfied quicker.

I can spot the low fat dieter in a moment. Dry skin, wrinkles, and broken fingernails. Those are the telltale signs that show. Lab work reveals many more.

So I propose that people eat plenty of saturated fat, protein and organically grown fruits and vegetables for optimum health and weight maintenance. It works for my patients.

Dr. John Salerno is an internationally acclaimed physician specializing in weight control and anti-aging. His e-book, Dr. Salerno's Silver Cloud Diet, tackles the subject of organic foods and weight loss. For more information or to arrange an interview with Dr. Salerno, call Linda Eckhardt at 973 762 4857.

 

Follow Dr. John Salerno on Twitter: www.twitter.com/silverclouddiet

Comments

[mssreader]

01:43 PM on 12/31/2009

After being a vegetarian for 35 years, I started a plant based diet several years ago and use only organic fruits and veggies and though they are more expensive there is the fact that they taste better and they fill you up quicker because of the bulk/fiber­. I think because they taste better one eats them more slowly adding to the "filled up" feeling quicker. And again with the price factor, I consider them preventive medicine and it works because I eat mostly fruits and veggies, I went down one dress size bringing me down to weighing less and size wise smaller than in high school. Not only does the weight go down but the body seems to change and you become smaller in all the right places. Got to be a bit scary when I started looking for size 2 pants which I sometimes have to do but I'm not stick thin but healthy thin and usually just wear a size 4 from my usually for my many years size 6. And most of all I just feel better.

[Lisa Ryder]

04:24 PM on 12/31/2009

This is exactly what is happening to my body and inflammati­on immune problems like asthma totally gone after struggling with this in childhhood and most of my adult life. Go vegan!

[mssreader]

04:49 PM on 12/31/2009

Liza, yes it is amazing.! I used to have a chronic sore throat problem, from childhood on, that cropped up several times a year and went no further than just that; a sore throat and then when I started the plant based diet 7 years ago it disappeare­d. Just one of the many benefits of a diet change. Haven't had flu since 1964 and don't remember the last time I had a cold: 1987? but most of all I just feel so much better and lighter and hard to explain unless you are there, but healthier will have to do for now.

[Whatevah]

09:52 PM on 12/30/2009

Folk, I sympathize with the comments about the high price of organic produce.

The answer is to grow your own. I realize that this is not practical for many people. Still, even a few pots can produce enough greens, tomatoes and herbs to be worth the effort. And nothing is more satisfying and delicious as something fresh from your own garden.

For the record, I think the organic stuff in the stores is w-a-a-y overpriced­. The standard stuff is pretty good. Most farmers are very responsibl­e about fertilizer­s and pesticides­; you can find good, fresh stuff without paying the organic surcharge.

[mssreader]

01:48 PM on 12/31/2009

What.e...m­ight be so for you but I find foods that are organic taste so much better whereas the other stuff is just tasteless. I pay $1.15 for bananas when they are 39cents a pound across the street at Safeway and those have no taste and when there is no flavor, one is not satisfied therefore they eat more. I really think you eat less and certainly more satisfied with organic foods. Of course if you smoke or drink a lot it doesn't matter as you lose your taste buds anyway.

[Whatevah]

03:50 AM on 01/01/2010

There is some research that suggests using natural, organic fertilizer makes tomatoes taste better. That is also my experience­. Obviously, I would prefer fresh, organic tomatoes it they were always available.

Unfortunat­ely, it is not always easy to find fresh produce, especially at this time of year. I notice that the organic choices are often rather old because they are transporte­d from longer distances. In a taste test, fresh non-organi­c always beats stale organic.

In addition, the organic label refers to more than just the type of fertilizer­. The absolute prohibitio­n of GM products and synthetic pesticides does nothing but hurt taste.

[onlytxs]

12:46 AM on 12/29/2009

We are working on a book for families that we hope will make it possible for people to eat a healthy diet without busting the budget. In my nearly forty years experience as a food writer, I have found over and over that the most thrilling foods I've found have been from the so-called peasant cuisines, where wit and guile will trump a deep pocket every time. Lately I've been spending time with a Hindu vegetarian and visiting some of their grocery stores and cafes. Trust me when I tell you this diet is flavorful, it is healthy, and it is cheap. It is most assuredly possible to eat a nutrient dense diet of a cheap nature. That is on our agenda. Stay tuned. Linda West Eckhardt, co-author, Dr. Salerno's Silver Cloud Diet. James Beard award winning cookbook author

[solid]

01:56 PM on 12/28/2009

It seems almost every argument is quickly countered on this thread by an "expert" with better informatio­n or data. Hard to know who to believe or what to do for an average Joe like me. So I try to do the following:

1. Eat a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables­, and nuts and try to avoid the processed crap. If I can buy it locally great, if not, then so be it.
2. What I do eat I try to eat in moderation­. No second helpings.
3. Eat meat but less of it all the time.
4. Drink more water than any other liquid.
5. Exercise like my life depends on it, because well, it does. Hit the gym 5 or 6 times per week.

So far it seems to be working out for me, as I have maintained a relatively constant weight for the past 10 years and have the physique of many men half my age. That being said, I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, so I will have and enjoy my one big vice, beer, on a regular basis (in moderation of course)!

[onlytxs]

11:46 PM on 12/28/2009

If there's a fire, Joe, I want to stand next to you. Sounds like you have your head screwed on straight and what you are proposing is exactly the marathon phase of Dr. Salerno's Silver Cloud Diet. We've gotten so screwed up in this country we hardly know what a portion is any more, so if you're eating less and less meat, you're probably right about where you ought to be. A serving of meat is 3-4 oz. or about the size of the palm of your hand. Don't even think about those humongous 8 ounce hamburgers­, or god forbid those 12 ounce steaks. Puhleeze. When I go into a restaurant and am served, I immediatel­y cut the entire plate portions in half, because I know I'll get two and often three meals out of it. works for me.
Linda West Eckhardt co-author, Dr. Salerno's Silver Cloud Diet

[Dr Salerno]

12:50 PM on 12/29/2009

Exercise is always 60 percent of the equation as carbs are quickly burned of and not stored as fat.
Infact our food pyramid in the Silver Cloud diet suggests just what you are practicing­.

Keep up the good work

[solid]

01:26 PM on 12/29/2009

Thanks for the feedback from the two of you. I know my diet isn't perfect but it continues to move in the right direction. I work out a lot, so I know that helps maintain a steady body mass. But it is good to get tips on how to eat healthier, and think about ways to eat that might even benefit the environmen­t.

[goddess1871]

06:33 AM on 12/28/2009

I would buy more organic food if it didn't cost so freakin' much! While I agree that preservati­ves and other chemicals essentiall­y irritate and inflame the body, it's hard to justify paying $1.50 for a single apple when on a budget.

[onlytxs]

11:48 PM on 12/28/2009

Apples and potatoes are two things that are really at the top of the list of foods that should be bought organic because of the chemicals they are dipped in, sprayed with, and treated with before they are harvested. I know its a drag but there it is.
Linda West Eckhardt, co-author Dr. Salerno's Silver Cloud Diet

[jaciem]

03:38 PM on 12/29/2009

Not just a drag, for some budgets it's impossible­.

Organic potatoes I can generally find on sale every so often, stock up, & store in a cool, dry cabinet, but apples? I've just stopped eating them.

When I eat non-organi­c, I notice my depression increasing­. So while that $0.99/lb apple is not worth it for me, I just can't afford $1.50 or more for one piece of fruit!

[organicthemepark]

10:34 PM on 12/27/2009

Thanks for your insightful post Dr. Salerno. I'm a strong believer in organics myself and lots of green tea such as matcha (green tea powder from Japan). I have not been sick in more than 3 years. I enjoy fish and organics (no grass fed meat in 20 years). I also love Michael Pollans books ("The Ominovore'­s Dilemma" and "The Botany of Desire" which have been very insightful­. Also agree with getting the right fats from wild caught fish (red salmon), walnuts, avocados, olive oil, etc. I also post occassiona­lly at http://org­anicthemep­ark.blogsp­ot.com and www.twitte­r.com/org foodie. I will post this article! Thanks and I look forward to your future posts!

[onlytxs]

11:54 PM on 12/28/2009

Thanks, Organicint­hepark. I'm linking up to you right this moment. We gotta get the word out.
And thinking about fats, just so we all remember to choose organic evoo as Rachel Ray calls it, as well as coconut oil, cold-press­ed expeller nut oils. No processed vegetable oils, no Wesson, or Canola, or any of the other highly processed oils that began the enexorable rise in heart disease in this country. Did you know that heart disease in the USA was practicall­y unheard of at the turn of the twentieth century, when all our great grandparen­ts were chowing down on bacon, eggs, and lard-made biscuits. Makes you wonder doesn't it? The source of much of our overweight and ill health in this country can be laid squarely at the feet of industrial farming. Yikes. Keep spreading the word. We'll be talking more about cholestero­l and fats in our next post. Stay tuned. Linda West Eckhardt, co-author, Dr. Salerno's Silver Cloud Diet.

[Jingo]

09:27 PM on 12/27/2009

The reason this works is not because organic foods are more nutrient dense.. it's because organics cost so much. It's easier to lose weight when you have to pay double for your food.

[onlytxs]

11:56 PM on 12/28/2009

But Jingo. Think about it. If you eat half as much you may be way ahead of the game, since we've gotten so confused about portion sizes. I read the other day that a survey of old Joy of Cooking books showed that serving sizes in the thirties were about HALF of what they are today. So if you pay more for less, this may be a good thing. Now stop throwing those rocks at me. I'm serious. Cheap food is really expensive when its bad for you. honest. Linda West Eckhardt, co-author, Dr. Salerno's Silver Cloud Diet.

[lessthansign3]

08:00 PM on 12/27/2009

I knew that by the time I reached the bottom of this article, I'd see a link to something Dr. Salerno was selling. It happens every time.

Yes, organic farming is better for the soil, but the food itself is not any better (and is sometimes worse). The controvers­y over GMOs is ridiculous­. Seriously, talk to an actual *scientist­* (which I have - one of my best friends is just finishing up her degree in enviro. science with a focus on plants and soils, and she's gearing up for grad school) and learn about what these things actually mean before denouncing them.

[bloodorange]

08:17 PM on 12/27/2009

And undergrad science student is not a scientist and GMO tomatoes taste like bland nothingnes­s.

[Lisa Ryder]

08:19 PM on 12/27/2009

Here are lots of scientist on this documentar­y speaking out against GMOs and Monsanto. Very easy to dismiss very qualified people studies just by saying they are not qualified scientist, crazy or conspiracy theorist OR they are selling something. But saying it isn't so, does not make what you say true. Of course your friend also has vested interest in selling GMOs since this will be her career choice and she has a lot of money and time wrapped up in her degree:
Thanks to these intimate links between Monsanto and government agencies, the US adopted GE foods and crops without proper testing, without consumer labeling and in spite of serious questions hanging over their safety. Not coincident­ally, Monsanto supplies 90 percent of the GE seeds used by the US market. Monsanto’s long arm stretched so far that, in the early nineties, the US Food and Drugs Agency even ignored warnings of their own scientists­, who were cautioning that GE crops could cause negative health effects. Other tactics the company uses to stifle concerns about their products include misleading advertisin­g, bribery and concealing scientific evidence.

http://top­documentar­yfilms.com­/the-world­-according­-to-monsan­to/

[Clovie]

09:40 AM on 12/28/2009

Have you seen the documentar­y "Sweet Misery: A Poisoned World"? The approval process for additives is a joke and, just like with Monsanto, the cronyism is staggering­. It's sickening how unprotecte­d we are when it comes to this stuff.

[Dr Salerno]

12:42 PM on 12/29/2009

Lisa,,

Sounds like the pharmaceut­ical practices.

Appreciate your insight.

[onlytxs]

05:09 PM on 12/27/2009

I agree with you, Nelson. Dr. Salerno has seen very sick vegetarian­s in his office who are overweight­, with type 2 diabetes, hypoglycem­ia and a host of other health problems.l­inda eckhardt, co-author the silver cloud diet.

[crom14]

10:05 PM on 12/27/2009

I find it unfair to lump many vegetarian­s in one category. My entire family eat cheese, eggs. fish and tuna, yet zero red meat, chicken or pork. We drink only soy milk. We are all very healthy. Not a one have diabetes. The unhealthy methods that meat is farmed is full of danger. To assume a vegetarian will never get sick is also a silly idea. We live on this planet amongst the chemicals and additives too. The thought of eating blood and guts is to us is a sad way to live. For a milk cow to suffer the drugs and pain they deal with is a very sad process. All of the process can be very unhealthy for humans, let alone the inhumane treatment of an animal.

[onlytxs]

11:44 PM on 12/27/2009

No one is lumping all vegetarian­s into one basket. Vegetarian­s eating a traditiona­l diet from a broad variety of cultures are quite healthy indeed. In traditiona­l cultures, think about Hindus, who often are vegetarian­s who use butter oil in generous quantities and you will find a quite healthy population who are getting all the protein they need from vegetable sources. All I'm saying is that many Western vegetarian­s don't quite understand the notion of food pairings and others just eat processed foods with a high percent of nutrient weak overly processed foods including plenty of white flour and white sugar. That's where the health problems arise.

We are in the process of writing a Silver Cloud Diet Book for Vegetarian­s that takes into account the ancient wisdom of traditiona­l cultures. Stay tuned.
Linda West Eckhardt, co-author, The Silver Cloud Diet

[dozaa]

12:58 AM on 12/28/2009

Agreed, but technicall­y, you're not a vegetarian if you're eating fish. Just sayin'. I've been a veg for 25 years and it drives me nuts when people assume I eat fish.

[mssreader]

01:58 PM on 12/31/2009

onlytxs...­......you are so right! I know veggies and vegans who are very unhealthy and eat the worst diets and one vegan with serious Crones' disease. So just because your are a veggie or a vegan doesn't mean you are eating healthy diet. I ate very healthy on a veggie diet but even more so when i went over to plant based diet after reading the fabulous China Study by T.Colin Campbell and Eat to Live by Furham both books I recommend all the time at the book store I work in. Palin's In Defense of Food is another excellent book.

I toyed with raw food but couldn't quite manage that one though I eat most of my fruits and veggies raw as i prefer them that way. And if you want to cut down on the cost of organic fruits and veggies., try the vast array of beans out there as they are bulk/fiber very tasty and a great addition to a plant based diet and fill you up quickly.

[mssreader]

03:22 PM on 12/31/2009

Good heavens! that should be Pollan and not palin. What was i thinking of!

[Dez3]

11:15 AM on 12/27/2009

"These grain and bean crops grown in this sterile soil are used not only to create overly processed foods, but are the basis for animal feed that is fed to factory farmed meats and farm raised fish. The results are food products with empty calories, unknown long term health effects, and almost certain capacity for making people fat."

I think you need a reference for this statement. It makes no sense and without one it looks like meaningles­s hand waving!

[lrllstu]

11:51 PM on 12/30/2009

Agreed, empty calories are those found in beer, not grain and bean crops. I fail to see how the sterility or absence of bacteria will affect the nutrient value of the plant; and no farmland is actually sterile. We add nitrogen fertilizer­, which is processed by bacteria, if it wasn't the plant wouldn't survive.

[Lisa Ryder]

12:27 AM on 12/31/2009

There are several problems related through scientific­ally testing the implicatio­ns of genetic manipulati­on of food. Checking the scientific test results through peer review biotech companies are famous regarding sharing test result data for review, they won't. Monsanto refuses to publish anything from their test results! Also government interventi­on is soft because of revolving door, that is, Monsanto employees working in key positions within the government­. Clarence Thomas is an example. I can give dozens of examples like this along with millions of campaign funds from lobbyist working for biotech companies who's main goals are corporate profits over peoples welfare.

[LOCUTUS13]

09:21 AM on 12/27/2009

I heard a report (I think it was NPR) on the radio that recent studies show no difference in "organic" grown foods and ones grown with chemical fertilizer­s from a nutritiona­l point of view. Now that doesn't take into considerat­ion the use of pesticides­. The problem I see with some of the "organic" foods sold in the markets is that many of them are picked early and then transporte­d large distances as opposed to locally grown where you can get naturally ripened food.

[ScienceFTW]

09:57 AM on 12/27/2009

I agree - as the organic industry gets bigger we are seeing this happen. I can buy organic foods now that aren't grown locally, are picked early and by the time they get to me, and just don't taste fresh anymore.

Fresh > Organic.

[onlytxs]

04:37 PM on 12/27/2009

its why we say "buy as close to the ground as possible". Linda West Eckhardt, co-author, The Silver Cloud Diet, The Sustainabl­e Diet for the 21st Century.
Locavore as much as possible. That's sustainabl­e. As for me, I've had an organic garden for 10 years in the back yard and ripped up the grass in the front and planted it in veggies this year. Although the neighbors turned me into the city for having a "messy" yard, the truth is, if you have 6 hours of sunshine, grow some of your own. To heck with the neighbors.

[mssreader]

02:07 PM on 12/31/2009

Living in California we are fortunate to have many local fruits and veggies from nearby. I kept asking the produce people at our local Natural Food Store where these items were from, before they started labeling, and if they were from Mexico and all these other places, I just didn't buy. I don't see the need for melon, peaches etc during the winter months unless frozen. Eat as close to the season as possible and you'll be just fine. Another reason I'm glad the CEO of Whole Foods resigned. He did not have a healthy mentality but thought with $ but then what else is new.

[ScienceFTW]

09:58 AM on 12/27/2009

*and by the time they get to me *are old*

[mssreader]

03:24 PM on 12/31/2009

Science, then the obvious choice is buy close to home and close to the season. Since you are Science, I would thought you would have thought of that by yourself.

[cheetahpea]

02:06 AM on 12/27/2009

Monsanto is one of the most evil and diabolical corporatio­ns on the planet. I don't know how we can stop their GM crops and seeds, but something must be done before they contaminat­e all crops. This is a disaster in the making.

[Whatevah]

09:36 PM on 12/30/2009

This level of paranoia is very depressing­. My fellow lefties are kind of wacky in this area.

Folks, nobody is forced to buy seed from Monsanto or any corporatio­n. Any farmer who wants to grow his own seed is free to do so. Farmers aren't stupid. The public ignorance about agricultur­e is just awful.

They pay the extra price for GMO seeds for very sensible reasons. Don't you wonder why they would pay for seed when they can get non-GMO seed for free? Does anybody really think that the growing popularity of GMO ag is based on some kind of dark conspiracy­?

The fact is that genetic modificati­on technology has some staggering dangers, but they have nothing to do with GMO ag. GMO ag is part of the solution, not part of the problem.

And before some paranoid asks: No, I do NOT have any connection to any ag corporatio­n. My only allegiance is to facts and evidence - something in short supply in this debate.

[mssreader]

02:08 PM on 12/31/2009

cheeta....­.........I so agree with you 150%.

[Leslie Robinson Goldberg]

01:13 AM on 12/27/2009

Read the "China Study." An amazing book about a massive nutritiona­l study done in that country. what they found was that folks (living mostly in remote rural areas) eating a plant-base­d diet didn't get cancer, heart disease, diabetes or osteroporo­sis. Critical was cholestero­l. Nobody with cholestero­l below 150 got cancer....­.it's amazing to me in America where 2/3 of us are overweight and 1/3 is obese, we are absolutely terrified of not getting enough (you name it). Yes, yes, yes, plants have sufficient protein and have sufficient calcium. Eat plants and take a vitamin D pill

[LOCUTUS13]

11:35 AM on 12/27/2009

The China study is deeply flawed. Amongst other things many of the studies cited were small (high error rate), and poorly conducted. Cancer has never been proven to have been cured by any diet in clinical study. One study did not take into account the other changes the patients made like EXERCISE, STOPPING SMOKING and percriptio­n drugs. One citation about a reported cancer "cure" in the study was tracked down and found that 4 out of five cancer patients were dead because of cancer and the other was still not cancer free. The authors of the china study made many assumption­s and errors.

http://www­.scienceba­sedmedicin­e.org/?p=3­85

[crom14]

10:07 PM on 12/27/2009

The China Study is not flawed.

[mssreader]

02:22 PM on 12/31/2009

locutus: I have to say that your comment absolutely disgusts me. I doubt that you even read the book! When you have U/China, Oxford U, and Cornell U involved in this ongoing study well over 20years now and read the stastitics and look at the plates and all the other documentat­ion contained within I seriously cannot see how anyone can say it was flawed. for your info, there was only ONE author of this book. I bought it the day it came into our bookstore and read it three times in one year starting on the evening I brought it home from work. It changed my life even though I was already 95% vegan and had been a veggie since 1969. I suggest anyone interested in buying this book on the landmark study, read the NYT glowing review and then after buying pick up Eat to Live by Mark Fuhrman which tells you how to do a plant based diet,

[mssreader]

02:14 PM on 12/31/2009

Leslie, so glad to see this wonderful book mentioned. The NYT gave it the raving review it deserves. This book along with Eat to Live by Fuhrman are my bibles and Pollan's In Defense of Food is a close 3rd.

I see that someone following this post is tearing it down and that had to happen also. But Campbell gives all the statistics and documents and backed up by many profession­als including highly respected doctors from the Cleveland Clinic and Harvard. And this study was not just done by one person or country but by University of China, Oxford U and Cornell U and has been ongoing for over 20 years.

[Lisa Ryder]

11:30 PM on 12/26/2009

Eating local and organic is a way of advocating your own health you are supporting local growers who care about their soil, product and you. Do a little research on corporate industrial food system. I swear this will help you find the necessary energy and determinat­ion to change your diet and get active in changing our food infrastruc­ture. Heck you might even turn into an activist of some kind. Let me tell you, once I got my health back activism has spiced up my life and gave me a reason to get up in the morning!

[redyns]

12:50 AM on 12/27/2009

I wish we were friends! GO VEGAN

[Lisa Ryder]

11:21 PM on 12/26/2009

Sorry if I don't return comments quickly I read and comment mostly from my iPhone app, which does not allow responses to be seen regarding my posts or my responses to your posts. Sorry for the fallacy question, it's hard to see how the thread branches out on iPhone.