Category: Thyroid Function

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Healing Hashimotos with Herbs

I’ve been living with Hashimotos for five years now. I’ve been able to manage it naturally. Are you surprised?

One thing we all need to remember is, the drug companies are in business for one reason and one reason only. To make money. They make it sound like they have your best interest at heart, but nothing could be further from the truth.

It is for that reason that I was determined to heal my thyroid. If you’ve been following my story, you’ll know I did just that in one month. When I share that with you, it is not to soothe my ego. It is only to show you that it can be done.

Having said that, I was basically healthy when I was diagnosed. Of course, I was overweight, and didn’t eat right. And I didn’t exercise either. Outside of that I was healthy. I wasn’t on any medications, so I wasn’t working with having to heal multiple conditions or diseases.

You all know that I changed my eating habits and cleansed my body of all the junk I had been ingesting for years. But I also looked to natural remedies. Herbal remedies in particular. Herbs ae a much safer alternative and provide better result in healing. Below you can see some of the herbs that you can use to assist in healing your hormonal health.

Selenium is a natural supplement that is essential to thyroid health. Our bodies needs selenium to build enzymes and selenium helps to removes substances that can harm the thyroid. You can find selenium in Brazil nuts and dairy products.

Magnesium can be found in leafy greens such as broccoli, spinach, and kale. Magnesium is necessary for growing bones, balancing blood sugar levels, synthesizing critical proteins, and aids natural sleep. Some say you should stay away from the Brassicas, but I’ve had no issues with them

Schisandra  berry is an effective traditional Chinese medicine. You can find it in the form of supplemental powders that you can mix in any food or drink. It is good for an under-active or inactive thyroid and helps build immunity. It also normalizes your stress level.

Bladderwrack is high in iodine compared with other seaweed species. It is a good support for a healthy thyroid. It is also available in powder form

Ashwagandha Is one herb I keep in my arsenal of healing remedies. I find this to be a wonder supplement. It has the potential to normalize TSH levels while increasing the T4 levels. This herb is rated as one of the best natural supplements with its antioxidant properties. It fights free radicals reduce oxidative stress. The root of the herb contains virtually all the active compounds. You can an as well access it in powder form.

Cayenne pepper Capsaicin is the chemical property that gives Cayenne pepper its spicy kick, This plays a key role in treating Hashimoto’s disease. It’s effective in restoring the regular production of thyroid hormones. It also reduces pain and improves blood circulation.

Kelp is effective enough to reduce blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Kelp also contains amino acids, minerals, necessary vitamins, and more. All essentials needed in the body. It is an active counter and best thyroid supplement for weight loss.

The herbs I mentioned above are not the only herbs good for treating Hashimotos. Holy Basil (Tulsi) along with others work wonders to help manage Hashimotos. I’m not a doctor and would never tell you what you should take to heal your thyroid. Do your research and talk to your health care provider to see what might be the best option, for you.

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Who Has Hashimoto’s?

It’s been almost four years since I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. It was a realization that changed my life. Before I was diagnosed, I ate everything and anything. I ate bread like it was going out of style. Cheese was something I couldn’t do without and ring dings were a mainstay. I never thought food would be the catalyst for the destruction of my thyroid.

You may read these words and think it’s impossible. But I assure you nothing could be further from the truth. We all know the phrase, “You are what you eat.” That being the case there was nothing natural about my being. Most of what I ate was processed in one form or another. My eating habits were what drove me to the brink of what was near disaster.

I don’t think we often associate what we eat with how we feel. That is until we get physically sick. Unfortunately for me, it took years of eating “junk” before I felt the effects of such a lifestyle. Each year I got worse. I remember when I was twenty-nine years old, I went to the doctors with complaints of exhaustion and total body pain. My joints ached, I was unfocused and felt tired most of the time. The doctor diagnosed my condition as Fibromyalgia. That didn’t help the way I felt, it just gave me an excuse to feel the way I felt.

I moved through the next twenty years in a fog. My migraines got worse. I would dose them with sinus medication, Excedrin Migraine, and a bottle of coke. By the time this concoction made it through my system, I was nauseous, jittery, crabby and I didn’t sleep for two days. In the beginning, it made the pain of the migraine tolerable, but as time passed the headaches got worse and my makeshift meds, didn’t touch the pain. I couldn’t take traditional migraine medication, because I was hypersensitive and reacted to everything my doctor prescribed.

Not only did the pain of the fibro make it difficult to enjoy life, but the migraines made it nearly impossible. It took all I had to keep up with my two girls. Beyond that, I couldn’t focus or find enough energy to “have fun” or “enjoy life.”

I tell you this because most symptoms we experience can be a misdiagnosis for another condition, illness or disease. In my blog BLOG POST HERE, I list some of the symptoms of Hashimoto’s, some of which are confusion, numbness, exhaustion and total body aches and pains. Then there is weight gain and a feeling of desperation that steals away your joy.

My husband used to joke about my wearing socks and sweats to bed in July. Yes, I was cold all the time. Then there was the contest to see who could leave the most hair in the corners throughout the house, the dog or me.

Listen to me when I say, if you experience these symptoms, consider your thyroid as the source. Listen to your body. If you think something isn’t right, chances are something is wrong. Remember, your regular doctor can draw blood and send it off to the lab, but the results will not be accurate. Your TSH results may come back normal and yet your T3/T4 and antibodies could be out of control.

In the next few posts, I will be discussing more of what it means to live with Hashimoto’s and how it affects your life. I hope anyone who reads this series will share it with mothers, daughters, wives, husbands, and sons. Yes, that’s right, men are not immune from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Look at your children and consider the possibility that their behavior issues could be driven by their thyroid. We will discuss that possibility too.

I hope some of you will share your experience in the comments. Your story could help another to seek out and get diagnosed so they can start living again. In the next post I will talk about how, as Hashimoto’s gets worse, we become disassociated from the life we used to love. I hope you will read it.

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10 Ways to Balance Hormones Naturally

 I often talk about how we are what we eat. I don’t claim credit for the phrase however, I believe in the premise. What we put in our bodies becomes absorbed into cells and tissue. Basic biology teaches us about the basic building blocks of life. I like to think of it as the energy of life. All life form is made up of the same matter-energy. Proton, neutron, electron; positive energy, negative energy, etc.

This leads us to my next point. The human body is meant to absorb what it consumes. If the body doesn’t recognize what we put in it, it gets confused (sort of). The body tries to accommodate what it receives and, in the process, changes its make-up to do so. This is where the problem begins.

This change causes the body to revolt, bringing illness and disease into play. If we return to eating what we were meant to eat, our bodies can heal. So today share 10 ways to balance hormones naturally.

  1. Heal Leaky Gut – Leaky gut is exactly what you would think. Undigested particles leak through your gut into your bloodstream. The result is inflammation of the entire body, including the thyroid. It not only affects your digestive tract but causes hormone issues and can target the thyroid. Remember the thyroid regulates hormones.
  2. Eat Coconut Oil and Avocados – Eat foods high in short and long-chain fatty acids. These fats, are essential fats are fundamental building blocks for hormone production and they speed up your metabolism, promoting weight loss. I love salmon. Wild-caught Alaskan salmon is the main staple in my diet along with coconut oil and avocado oil.
  3. Supplement with Adaptogen Herbs – One of the first things I did when diagnosed with Hashimoto’s after beginning my research, was to begin a course of Ashwagandha and Holy basil. These herbs are unique in that they promote hormone balance and protect the body from disease. Not only do they boost the immune function and fight stress, but they enhance the balance of hormones by improving thyroid function, lowering cholesterol, reduce anxiety and depression, stabilize blood sugar, and support adrenal glands.
  4. Balance Omega’s- Many people don’t think about the ratio of omegas 3 and 6. This lack of consideration has increased the number of those suffering from chronic and inflammatory diseases in our society. In short, using too much vegetable oil (safflower, sunflower, corn, canola, soybean, and peanut) have caused an imbalance in the body. When we reduce the ratio of vegetable oil and increase the ratio of omega 3’s (wild fish, flaxseed, chia seed, walnuts, and grass-fed animal products) the body returns to balance and disease is decreased. When considering Omega 3’s you might try GLA supplements (gamma-linoleic acid). I take evening primrose, but there are other options such as borage oil and hemp seeds.
  5. We are what we absorb- Not only should we consider what we put in our mouths, but we should pay attention to what we place on our skin. Many skin care products today are saturated with toxins, such as DEA, parabens, propylene glycol and sodium lauryl sulfate. Try to stay away from them. You should also replace plastic bottles with glass or stainless steel (BPA’s). Switch out your Teflon cooking implements for stainless steel, cast iron or ceramic. Your hormones will thank you.
  6. Supplement with Vitamin D3 – I believe many of know that those living in parts of the world that experience more hours of darkness than light, have a higher risk of depression and other health disorders. Supplementing with vitamin D3 helps the symptoms of seasonal depression. We are all happier when we are out in the sun. We absorb vitamin D from the sun. When we take a supplement of 2,000 IU to 5,000 IU daily of vitamin D3 we are supplementing the sunlight we lose in the winter months. I take up to 10,000 IU daily in the winter because I have Hashimoto’s. Ask your doctor about the increased dosage if you have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s.
  7. Limit Caffeine – I hate to break it to those coffee drinkers, but if you have a thyroid condition, too much caffeine isn’t good for you. It elevates your cortisol levels and lowers your thyroid hormone levels. Holy hormones! You can replace the high caffeine in coffee with two cups of matcha green tea or maybe tulsi tea. There are additional benefits in the tea such as cancer-killing benefits, balanced hormones, and possible weight loss.
  8. Exercise – Interval exercising is a great benefit to your health. Exercising helps jump-start your hormones. We all know exercise boosts endorphins, testosterone, growth hormone, and insulin., but burst training also helps reduce stress, enhances the immune system, regulates metabolic function, and helps maintain a healthy weight.
  9. Sleep – We could all use a little more sleep. You should be sleeping for seven to eight hours each night. Lack of sleep is one way to disturb hormone balance. Do you know cortisol, the stress hormone, is regulated at midnight? So, going to bed too late keeps you from getting that deep sleep that gives you a break from the fight or the flight stress response.
  10. I realize many will not like this one, but birth control pills raise estrogen levels dangerous enough to cause an increased risk of breast cancer, blood clotting, heart attack, stroke, migraine, gall bladder disease, weight gain, mood change, and many more. You only need to read the product warnings to see the effect birth control pills have on the body. I know this one is controversial. I’m not looking to start an argument I’m only communicating what I have learned. You will know what is best for your lifestyle and how much you want to risk for convenience and comfort.

These ten suggestions are options you can try to balance your hormones naturally. There are many resources out there that may offer additional information on how you can live a healthier better life. I hope what I share will help and add ammunition to your arsenal of healthy resources.

References:

•              Kris-Etherton PM, et al. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in the food chain in the United States. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71(1):179S-188S.

•              Carrington J. Using hormones to heal traumatic brain injuries. [Internet]. Available at: http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2012/jan2012_Using-Hormones-Heal-Traumatic-Brain-Injuries_01.htm.

•              Kresser C. How too much Omega-6 and not enough Omega-3 is making us sick. [Internet]. Available at: http://chriskresser.com/how-too-much-omega-6-and-not-enough-omega-3-is-making-us-sick.

•              Panda S, et al. Withania somnifera and Bauhinia purpurea in the regulation of circulating thyroid hormone concentrations in female mice.  Journal Ethnopharmacology 1999; 67(2):233-9.

•              Panda S, et al. Changes in thyroid hormone concentrations after administration of ashwaganda root extract to adult male mice. Journal of Pharmacology 1998; 50:1065-1068.

•              Kalani A, et al. Ashwagandha root in the treatment of non-classical adrenal hyperplasia. BMJ Case Reports 2012; 10(1136).

•              Agrawal P, et al. Randomized placebo-controlled, single blind trial of holy basil leaves in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1996; 34(9):406-9.

•              Gholap S, et al. Hypoglycaemic effects of some plant extracts are possibly mediated through inhibition in corticosteroid concentration. Pharmazie 2004; 59 (11):876-8.

•              Khan V, et al. A pharmacological appraisal of medicinal plants with antidiabetic potential. J Pharm Bioallied Sci 2012; 4(1):27-42.

•              Norman A. From vitamin D to hormone D: fundamentals of the vitamin D endocrine system essential for good health. Am J Clin Nutr August 2008; 88(2):491S-499S

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Living with Hashimoto’s

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease that can sap you of your energy and your will to live. It doesn’t have to, though. If you’ve been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, there is hope. You can heal. You only need to stop doing what you’re doing and make some changes.

When you begin the process, you will be in shock; I won’t lie. If you’ve lived a life filled with bread, cheese, and the processed “goodies” (or should I say baddies, not a word, I’m sure), you will find it challenging to change initially. Once you get “clean,” you will find it easier to choose foods that are healthy for you.

I went all out. I stopped eating everything, did a massive body cleanse, and stopped eating anything deemed harmful to my thyroid. I probably went overboard. The good thing about this is I cleaned my body of toxins, which made it easier to stay away from “junk food.” You don’t have to be so extreme.

You can start slow. You can eliminate certain foods that might be triggers. Once you see improvement, you’ll know you are on the right track. I define improvement as feeling better. You will have more energy, focus, and hair will grow back. Eventually, with continued care, you can take your condition into remission.

If you want to take the slow path, you will have to recreate a food journal. Go back as far as you can remember (a difficult task when you have Hashimoto’s) and write down foods that you eat or ate and then a corresponding reaction. You will be looking for stress, illness, mood, hair loss, and overall health. When you see some consistency, remove those foods from your diet. You’ll see improvement when you feel better; then, you’ll know which foods to eliminate permanently.

I took the route I did because I didn’t want to be on medication. My doctor said she would give me thirty days to get a handle on my situation if I could do it – no meds, if not – well, I don’t have to worry about that now. I’m doing well right now, and I take one day at a time. I started with a detox plan (depending on your gut makeup; this may not be an option for you). Then introduced organic, grass-fed foods free from pesticides and hormones – no processed foods. I supported my diet with adaptogens and vitamins to support a healthy lifestyle and got plenty of rest.

One of the best ways to live with Hashimoto’s is to start with a healthy diet. Figure out which foods are harmful and stay away from them. Encourage yourself to eat fresh organic food as often as possible. Balance your adrenals by providing support with adaptogens such as ashwagandha and tulsi (holy basil). Remember your vitamin D and vitamin B (Stress formula). Changing your lifestyle is a lot of work, but when you compare it to a lifetime of illness and a life without joy, the choice is simple.

I encourage anyone suffering from Hashimoto’s to live a good life, medication-free, if possible. I recommend working with your endocrinologist to find a balance in your life so you can live with Hashimoto’s in remission. Change is never easy, and when it comes to your health, you have to take it seriously. Talk to your doctor about alternative options and work with your health care provider to heal so you can laugh again.

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Hashimoto’s and the Road to Recovery

Life is a journey. Each step you take in life is a step that either brings you to a life of pure living or causes you to stop dead in your tracks because your body can’t process the chemicals you ingest daily.

We live in a world of contradiction. On the one hand, we are blessed to experience such advanced technology that we can clone organs and animals. On the other hand, we experience a barbarism inflicted by big business where they brainwash the public to believe if they take more and more medicines, that medicine will cure them.

Nothing could be further from the truth. What makes us think that injecting the human body with chemicals or swallowing synthetic versions of herbs, will make us healthy?

The human body is made to consume and absorb plant-based products — healthy fruits and vegetables. Our bodies are screaming for that which grows naturally in soil free from pesticides. If we don’t return to the earth and nurture what we sow, we will be doomed to a life of illness and disease.

Cancer is on the rise, not because of global warming or spending too much time in the sun. Cancer is increasing because of the chemicals we put on our skin and in our bodies. We eat processed foods that are foreign to our bodies. Our cells are reacting to the toxins and pollutants by mutating and changing our genetic makeup, which presents itself as cancer.

Diabetes is running rampant in the world on an epidemic level that should be making the medical community stand up and take notice. For years doctors have told patients that insulin is the answer. The reality is if that patient is educated on the way the pancreas and liver process sugar, they will be able to cure themselves. Real food is the answer.

Autoimmune disease is another condition that is increasing. Our guts are screaming at us to clean up our act before our bodies shut down.

Pick your poison; cancer, diabetes, or autoimmune disease, all of these are curable. I know the medical community can’t claim any disease is curable. But if everything is “mind over matter” than minding what we eat, will matter. If we have a positive mindset, we can heal our bodies. If we live a healthy lifestyle in conjunction with positive thinking, then we can rid our bodies of the diseases that dominate and control our lives.

The path you chose will be the road you travel that leads you in either the path to good health or a direction that makes you dependent on the medical community. Take time today to reach out to any of the many resources available to help you on your journey to healthy living.

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Hashimoto’s and Emotional Upheaval

It’s bad enough when we begin to feel like were going crazy. What’s worse? When your family and friends believe it. This feeling of going crazy may not be the first symptom for you, but it may be the first one that those around you notice.

In the beginning, you feel the pain and frustration, the exhaustion and memory loss, but you can hide it. Your family remains in the dark believing you are in a bad mood or overtired so seem over-emotional. But then it happens. One day you wake up and there is a wall between you and the life you once enjoyed.

The feelings you once expressed are dead. You stop interacting with those around you. You become paranoid, believing no one likes you or they’re out to get you. When your family gets together you may feel like they are ganging up on you or ignoring you.  I remember standing in the doorway of the kitchen, looking into the dining room, watching everyone eating and talking. I felt like I was watching from another plane. I felt like I was an outsider looking in. I could speak and no one would hear me or respond to my presence.

Eventually, I stopped “feeling.” I became dissociated from not only everyone else, but myself. I became numb and unable to feel emotion. When I was younger, I enjoyed painting. I never painted. I think the last picture I painted was in 1993. I didn’t paint again until 2016 after I was diagnosed and changed my lifestyle.

For years I isolated myself. I made every excuse I could think of to keep from socializing. It got to a point where I was completely uncomfortable around others. When things went wrong, I would allow the “wrong” to consume me like a dark cloud. I never laughed.

I didn’t want anyone to know how I really felt. I was dying inside but put on a brave face so no one would know how much pain I was in. In hindsight, I realize it would have been better to be open about what I felt.

Many years later I remember the pain. I see it through clear eyes now, and I hope to help others bull back the blinders and find the joy they once experienced in life. Life is a journey that isn’t meant to be traveled alone. I’m sharing this information to help others get beyond the darkness and finally step into the light.

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10 Dysfunctions of Hypothyroidism

When you consider the size of the thyroid, it is amazing to think about the role it plays in keeping the human body healthy. If the thyroid isn’t functioning properly, the whole body is in disfunction. Some people may not know there is a problem. They may think they are overworked, didn’t eat enough, ate too much, and the like.

There are many reasons one could experience issues with the thyroid. Though the thyroid breaks down, it doesn’t mean it is permanent. Once you start correcting or changing your lifestyle, you will see marked improvements in your life and the healing of the thyroid. When one considers some of the dysfunctions it is possible to see that they are caused by vitamin deficiencies due to the autoimmune disease such as feeling cold which could be due to low iron and or low vitamin B12. I mentioned more symptoms in “Let The Thyroid Lesson Begin.”

More and more people have common complaints of insomnia, lethargy, inability to focus, loss of memory and the list goes on. It isn’t a coincidence that these complaints continue to grow. There are many reasons for the breakdown in thyroid function. That isn’t the subject of today’s blog. In this blog, we will review 10 common dysfunctions of the thyroid.

  1. The thyroid regulates the temperature of the body. Some people experience what they believe to be hot flashes, excessive sweating, and the inability to tolerate heat. The cause of these symptoms is related to a change in thyroid function causing the metabolism to temporarily speed up. The medical term for this change is hashitoxicosis, which is the release of excess thyroid hormone. Some women mistake these as menopausal symptoms.

  2. I think we have all become familiar with the word neurotransmitters. When we think of neurotransmitters we think mainly about epinephrine and norepinephrine which are affected by altered thyroid function. Some of the main symptoms associated with the change in neurotransmitters are depression, anxiety and emotional swings resulting in an inability (or decreased) to handle stress. Consider the role of epinephrine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters stimulate the breakdown of a fat called lipolysis. Even with exercise, it is may, be difficult to lose weight. You can read more about thyroid and diet at http://thyroidinwomen.com/thyroid-and-weight-gain/. Liptan and Insulin resistance are also related to ineffective neurotransmitter function.
  3. Hypothyroidism affects blood sugar regulation in three ways. It slows the insulin response to glucose when you eat carbs and sugar. It slows glucose uptake into cell and tissue, and it slows the absorption of glucose from the intestinal tract. The amount of glucose in the blood may be enough but it isn’t able to enter the body tissues and cells putting extra stress on the adrenals and pituitary glands.
  4. Metabolism slows down. People with hypothyroidism experience decreased cellular metabolic rate. This decrease results in low energy. One might feel fatigues all the time and have a difficult time recovering from stressful situations. The increased stress makes it difficult for the body to fight infection making one susceptible to illness. One might see these as signs of aging.
  5. Stomach problems. It is possible that there is a connection between an underactive thyroid and gut health. Low levels of stomach acid (hypochloridia and hypochloric acid) are a common finding in Hashimoto’s patients. This could lead to the sluggishness of the gastrointestinal tract caused by decreased enzymes in the intestines.
  6. To continue with digestion complaints, on might experience issues clearing the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts which lead to diminished gut motility, impaired nutrient absorption, and detoxification process.
  7. Hypothyroidism is the most common disorder that can either be a cause of depression in women or a major contributing factor. https://outsmartdisease.com/thyroid-dysfunctions/
  8. Anemia. Patients with Hashimoto’s can develop one or more types of anemia. Iron deficient anemia causes one to lose the ability to absorb iron. This could stem from stomach problems (#5). Normocytic normochromic anemia (there’s a mouth full) which occurs when hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBC levels are low (depressed), but MCV, MCH and MCHC are normal (See download for more information). Vitamin B-12 deficiency (Pernicious anemia) which is common in those who have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s disease.
  9. Impaired lipid balance which results in increased cholesterol and triglycerides in those with Hypothyroidism. Returning to a healthy diet restores thyroid function and cholesterol and triglycerides return to normal.
  10. Women experience low progesterone symptoms even when tests read normal levels. Low progesterone levels may cause issues and make it difficult for one to get pregnant. PMS is a common condition related to low progesterone levels in Hypothyroid patients. Hormonal imbalance of estrogen and progesterone may contribute to underactive thyroid and weight gain, which could make it impossible to lose body fat.

There are many symptoms of Hashimoto’s. Some I mentioned in an earlier blog Let The Thyroid Lesson Begin.” Those discussed here are only a few and are summarized. If you experience these symptoms or those discussed in other blog posts, talk to your doctor. If your thyroid is causing your quality of life to diminish, there is help.

I recommend you talk to your doctor and research any condition/illness/ disease before resorting to medication. With a proper diet, it is possible to heal many diseases or illnesses. The key is to ask questions, research and find the right provider.


References:

Why Stomach Acid Is Good for You: Natural Relief from Heartburn, Indigestion, Reflux and GERD by Dr. J.V. Wright, MD, L. Lenard, PhD, M. Evans and Company, 2001

The Thyroid Alternative: Renew Your Thyroid Naturally by Dr. N.R. Hedberg, D.C., D.A.B.C.I., Renew Your Health, LLC, 2011

Help, My Body is Killing Me: Solving the Connections of Autoimmune Disease to Thyroid Problems, Fibromyalgia, Infertility, Anxiety, Depression, ADD/ADHD and More by Dr. K. Conners, AuthorHouse, 2010

Reversal of lower esophageal sphincter hypotension and esophageal aperistalsis after treatment for hypothyroidism. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1982 Aug;4(4):307-10

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3915449/

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Getting Clean With Hashimoto’s

Once diagnosed with Hashimoto’s you realize you must make some drastic changes in your life if you don’t want to have to take medication. In some cases, it may not be avoidable, but if you work with your healthcare provider and discipline yourself, you should be able to accomplish it.

I think the biggest change one must make is diet. I don’t mean, go on a diet. I’m saying you will have to eat reasonably healthy. Cheat when you can without affecting your health. I’m including somewhat of a guideline I created for diet. I have experimented a lot over the last three years and I’m happy to share what I have learned.

There are many natural or organic options out there for things we already consume. There are organic cheeses that are good if you absolutely can’t quit cheese. I found a brand of rice pasta that is not too bad, and I’m finding more and more organic fruits and vegetables all the time. Some things are still a challenge. I buy coconut milk for shakes and baking. If you decide to use it, be mindful of the sugar content when planning meals. I replace sour cream with coconut (milk) yogurt. I buy Bob’s Mills Hemp Protein.

I cook with olive oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, or rice bran oil (difficult to find the rice bran oil in my area). Remember to pay attention to the temperature at which each will burn. I still use butter (organic) on occasion, and I haven’t had trouble with eggs (free range). I don’t consume eggs on a regular basis, but when unavoidable in a recipe I use free range/cage free/organic eggs. It is getting easier to find organic meats.

Things to consider when planning your new diet regiment:

Start with a diet that excludes gluten, dairy, soy, and meat that is not organic or grass fed. If you can do this for 30 days, you can then incorporate (some) foods back into your diet. Focus on how you feel as you incorporate each one individually. If you feel sluggish or unfocused, avoid the food that triggered that feeling.

  • You should eat a low-carb diet which should be easy if you eliminate gluten.
  • You should do a heavy metal detox (check with health care provider before trying a  
  • heavy metal cleanse. You could have a reaction) or body cleanse
  • Use coconut oil and avocado oil in everything…. (Get creative J )
  • Eat only meats that are grass-fed and organic
  • If you like salmon, you should eat lots! But make sure it’s Pacific or Alaska and not farm raised.
  • If you eat eggs, be sure they are organic cage free
  • Eat sweet potatoes. White potatoes are okay if they are organic and eaten in moderation (carbs, lectins)
  • If you take a multivitamin, be sure it is soy free and does not include chromium or selenium if you are taking it as a stand-alone supplement

If you want to learn to regulate your thyroid, a good way to start would be to take your temperature throughout the day (Wilson Syndrome tracks temperature but I found it a good way to determine if I was moving in the right direction). You can find a fill-in chart if you choose to use it, on my website, for your convenience. You should take it first before you get out of bed in the morning. If it is low, you are probably experiencing hypothyroidism. When I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s I took my temperature every three hours, every day for a month. This is how I knew what I was doing was helping. When I had my TSH tested it went from 5.2 to 3.1 in 30 days. I went back every 30 days for testing, then every three months. I stopped polluting my thyroid, and it performed again…

So now we come to my eating habits. This is just a general outline of how I eat. The most important thing is what I eat for breakfast. It makes a difference in how the day progresses.

First thing in the morning:

Take Red Marine Algae with 8 ounces of water.

When you have a thyroid condition, it is important to incorporate 25 grams of protein into   

your breakfast. This is how I get the protein I need to start the day.

Morning Breakfast Shake:

·         ¼ cup hemp protein

·         1-3Tablespoon chia seeds (omit if you have tummy trouble).

·         ½ cup coconut milk

·         ½ cup of frozen berries

·         1 Banana

I take my supplements with the shake. Below are some that may help. You may have to experiment:   

  • Ashwagandha, Tulsi, L-tyrosine (one or combination of) – These are adaptogens which help regulate stress
  • Rhodiola – Adaptogen
  • Licorice Root
  • Ginseng – Adaptogen
  • Holy Basil -Adaptogen 
  • Chromium (10 micrograms) (be careful with this make sure it isn’t in any other supplement if you take it as an individual supplement)
  • Selenium (200 micrograms)
  • B-Complex to include B-12 and thiamine (600mg)
  • Vitamin D (4000IU in am 4000 with lunch in winter)
  • Coconut Oil
  • Zinc
  • Co Q10
  • I take feverfew because of the migraines (not necessary if you don’t experience
  • them)
  • You may want to take a probiotic 50 Billion CFU
  • L- Arginine (3x daily)

There are supplements on the market that combine some of the above. If you find something you like, be sure there is no soy in the product.

Lunch: 

·         A serving of organic meat or fish

·         Veggies

·         Sweet potato or white organic potato or rice pasta.

Take second supplement (Vitamin D, Ashwagandha, Coconut Oil, L-Arginine, etc.)

Dinner:

·         Serving Organic meat

·         Veggie

I try to avoid carbs at dinner. They have a tendency, to hang around. If I’ve had a busy day and am feeling hungrier than usual, I will double up on my veggie.

Take evening supplements (Coconut Oil, L-Arginine, Calcium, Magnesium)

You may not like eating the same thing every day. You can substitute the fruits and meat. You can also swap out the shake if you are getting the 25 grams of protein and you don’t over-do it with the carbs. I followed the above diet for 30 days. I was desperate to get clean and because I was new at planning and purchasing, I took the easy route. Boring, maybe, but it was simple, so I was able to stick to it.

Please note: the information in this post is a guideline of my eating habits. These are things that have helped me to heal and live a better life. Please check with your medical provider before making any lifestyle changes based on what I provide here. I’m not a doctor and do not mean the information to be considered medical advice or treatment. I wish you the best in finding what works for you.

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Your Children and Hypothyroid

I recently read an article, 5 Surprising Facts about Low Thyroid in Children and Teens, which confirmed what I believe is partially the result of poor diet in our children. When I say, “poor diet,” I don’t only mean the diet only of the less financially fortunate, but also children from affluent families who are always on the go.

We Are What We Eat

Some affluent families in our communities are generally on the move. Running to sports events, attending meetings scheduled late into the evening, and spur of the moment vacations. This hurry, hurry lifestyle, leaves these families eating on the go. They buy foods that are quickly and easily prepared. Foods that are as quickly consumed. These foods are highly processed and don’t digest well.

Some Low-income families with children are forced to eat foods that are considered “affordable.” Their budget only allows for foods that can be purchased “on the cheap.” These foods include highly processed foods with foreign ingredients. If you read many of the labels, you will find ingredients that are next to impossible to pronounce.

These families eat synthetic foods and foods that are mass produced including, beef, and dairy injected with hormones and antibiotics, and genetically altered fruits and vegetables sprayed with pesticides.

The Body Makes Do With What it is Given

Children are consuming these poisons in large quantities. The chemicals move through their digestive tracts and into the bloodstream, not to be absorbed into the body, providing nutrients for growth, but poisoning their cells causing virus, illness, and mutated genes. I know, mutated genes? Sounds excessive.

 Well, you may think that ridiculous, but the human body is meant to digest natural compounds. How do you think the body digests something it doesn’t recognize? How do you think the body reacts to the inability to absorb and process these chemicals? It can’t. So, the body does what it can to “make do” with what it’s given.

Our children are most susceptible to these chemicals. Their little bodies are still growing and developing. Their cells are adjusting to their environment. The result?

An Increase in Hypothyroidism in Children

Well, one result we are seeing is an increase in children with hypothyroidism. Yes, I said hypothyroidism; an adult disease, affecting our children. The number of children thought to develop hypothyroidism was one or two per 100 children, now is believed to be two to three in 100 (JAMA Pediatrics). Other autoimmune diseases are on the rise in children too.

To be clear, my belief isn’t based on scientific fact. I don’t believe any producer of processed food would back up such a study. My hypothesis is based solely on common sense. What happens when we subject plants to chemicals and poisons? They mutate. They take on a different form or alter their genetic makeup to compensate for the stress caused by the toxins. The human body is made up of the same building blocks as plants. So, what should we expect to happen?

Consider This

More children and teens are diagnosed with hypothyroidism today than ever. Their little thyroid glands are damaged, slow and can’t produce enough thyroid hormone to grow properly. Low thyroid interferes with normal growth and development. It causes fatigue and can interfere with performance at school.

If you have a child, you should be aware of the following information:

  • Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid disorder in babies, kids, and teens.
  • Statistics show the one in every 1500 – 3000 newborns test positive for hypothyroidism.
  • It can develop later in childhood or as teens.
  • Girls are 4 times as likely to be diagnosed as boys.
  • Families with histories of autoimmune disease, Down Syndrome, Turner Syndrome, type 1 diabetes, or celiac disease are at greater risk of developing hypothyroidism.
  • Some medications can damage the thyroid such as lithium, some epilepsy drugs and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (some chemo drugs), and in some instances, iodine deficiency.

Watch your children for the following symptoms:

  • tiredness
  • feeling cold
  • constipation
  • dry skin and hair
  • Delayed growth (puberty)
  • irregular menstrual periods
  • anxiety
  • attention deficit disorder
  • Excessive weight gain in children and teens isn’t typically the result of a thyroid problem, but it never hurts to ask the question. If your child is carrying extra weight it could be the catalyst resulting in thyroid disorder.

Now What?

You as a parent are your child’s only hope for a healthy future. They are too young to realize their thyroid could be affected by what they eat, and what environmental toxins will pollute their bodies. Their best hope is for you as a parent to advocate for them.

Keep watch over your children. Monitor their moods and behavior. Ask questions and demand answers. It is easier to keep them healthy than it is to treat a disease or disorder. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/hypothyroidism

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=hypothyroidism-in-children-90-P01963

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=hypothyroidism-in-children-90-P01963

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Hashimoto’s and Hair Loss

Anyone who has Hashimoto’s knows that hair loss can be a big concern. I know it was for me. Right before my doctor diagnosed me with Hashimoto’s, I was losing a lot of hair. I would find large clumps of it in the shower. Each pass through my hair with the comb was a death sentence for my hair. Every day I’d look in the mirror and notice the skin on the sides of my forehead becoming more noticeable. It got to the point that I was afraid to comb my hair.

It didn’t dawn on me that my hair loss might be due to Hashimoto’s. Other warning signs pointed to Hashimoto’s, but I didn’t make the connection. I thought I was getting older and my body was not functioning optimally; when we get older our body’s slow down. Right?

Not necessarily. I’ve learned a lot since my diagnosis. I’ve spent many hours researching and educating myself on Hashimoto’s. I may not be a doctor, but I know enough now to be able to share my experience and any information I’ve learned about coping with Hashimoto’s.

Hair Loss and Hypothyroidism

I mentioned at the beginning of this blog my ignorance about the reason for my hair loss. I had many symptoms of hypothyroidism which I discuss in my blog “Let the Lesson Begin.” If you look at those symptoms, you will realize they are symptoms that could be related to many disorders and illnesses. Hair loss is one in the long list of symptoms.

Thyroid imbalance is the most common form of hormonal imbalance leading to hair loss. It is also the most underdiagnosed hormonal disorder. Many people are diagnosed and treated for (let’s say) depression when they have a thyroid disorder. It’s scary but true.

When I was twenty-nine, my doctor diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. My symptoms were those that mirrored hypothyroidism. I didn’t know it at the time because my labs came back within the normal range for a thyroid condition. That statement brings me to my next one.

Confusion and Thyroid Labs

Conventionally recommended labs for thyroid ranges are too broad. Many doctors look at the lab, versus the symptoms and condition of the patient. The oversight causes many doctors to overlook a lot of thyroid-related symptoms.

Thyroid symptoms can be too high (hyperthyroid) or too low (hypothyroid). Hypothyroidism occurs when your thyroid is unable to process the thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) necessary for healthy functioning body systems.1 Often hypothyroidism is caused by Hashimoto’s which is an autoimmune condition. I go into more detail in my blog “Let the Thyroid Lesson Begin.” Hyperthyroidism is the overproduction of the thyroid hormones (T3 and T4). We will be focusing on hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s for this post.

Keeping Your Hair With Hashimoto’s

Thyroid function affects every part of your body. We are talking about hair loss here, so we’ll leave other functions and symptoms for another post. Hair loss is one way your thyroid affects your hair. Hair loss usually follows earlier conditions such as brittle and dry hair. We are all familiar with the make-up of hair. Each strand of hair is made up of medulla, cortex, and cuticle. The root of the hair is lodged in a follicular involution of the epidermis or “follicle.”3 The hair follicle has a receptor site for the thyroid hormone, which binds to the receptor site. The thyroid hormone that resides within the receptor site is what turns on and off, normal hair growth. It doesn’t matter if it is insufficient or excess thyroid hormone production, the disruption will cause hair to shed.

Adequate T3 and T4 hormone cause the hair follicle cycle to last longer causing increased or healthy hair growth. The T3 and T4 hormone also encourage pigmentation of the hair. When T3 and T4 levels are inadequate, you see thinning all over the head or in some cases on the sides of the head. I experienced hair loss on the sides of my head along the temple area.

Complete Thyroid Testing Requires More Than the Thyroid Panel

If you are experiencing hair loss along with any of the symptoms of Hashimoto’s, you should check with your doctor. You should ask your doctor to test the following 2:

•    Thyroid panel: TSH, Free T4, Free T3, Reverse T3, TPO Antibodies, Anti-TGB Antibodies.

•    Vitamins and minerals – these are key in converting T4 (inactive) hormone to T3 (active hormone): Ferritin, vitamin D and B12 at the very least.

•    Sugar levels: glucose (fasting blood sugar), HA1C and insulin.

•    Lipid Panel: total cholesterol, LDL, HDL triglycerides.2

Part of having healthy hair is being healthy. The best way to accomplish good health is by changing your diet. I discuss diet in my blog “Healthy With Hashimoto’s.” When we change our diet, we affect the symptoms of Hashimoto’s and begin to feel better.

Looking Good, Feeling Good

We live in a society that constantly reminds us of how important it is to look good. More importantly, we should feel good. Part of feeling good is having a healthy body and properly functioning body systems. If you have Hashimoto’s you know how difficult it is to focus on feeling good and looking good. When we lose our hair, our confidence is affected. When our confidence is affected, we feel worse and accomplish less.

If you are looking at your hair loss as a symptom of Hashimoto’s, I encourage you to look at all options available to help you return your body systems to normal. Talk to your doctor about natural alternatives to synthetic medications on the market. You may be surprised when you realize it is possible to control your symptoms naturally.

Resources

1. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/93/11/4381/26272732. 2.https://hormonesbalance.com/articles/what-thyroid-labs-to-ask-for-in- order-to-manage-your-thyroid-and-hashimotos-disease/ 3.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair