Tips for Hyperthyroidism!

Tips for Helping Hyperthyroidism!


Firstly get a blood test done! Check your Vitamin D level, free t4, tsh, testosterone,progesterone,check for food allergies, check for Graves disease, pituitary gland problems and maybe check your iodine levels.

• The most common causes for hyperthyroidism are a chronically inflamed thyroid (thyroiditis) and an autoimmune condition called Graves Disease. Both inflammatory and auto-immune disorders are caused by an over-active and under-coordinated immune system. 

• Several key factors such as intestinal dysbiosis, common food & environmental allergens, nutritional habits, vitamin D levels, & heavy metal toxicity must be addressed with any inflammatory and auto-immune disorder and should be checked for.

The most common food allergens to avoid include gluten containing grains such as :

• wheat
• barley
• rye
• oats
• kamut
• & spelt

Also Other allergens Problems are:

• Soy products
•  different nuts
• eggs
• and heavy proteins are often not tolerated well. 

Obviously all processed and man-made foods need to be avoided at all costs. 

Other common allergens include those of the nightshade family such as:

• eggplant
• tomatoes 
• & onions

Anyone with auto-immune reactions or excessive inflammation should get tested for food allergies or try an elimination diet to see if the conditions improve.

• An anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle are critical for full recovery from these conditions. Anti-inflammatory foods help to modulate the immune system giving it a more accurate pair of eyes so as to not over-inflame when stimulated. To effectively de-inflame, it is key to completely avoid man-made foods, sugars, and food allergens as listed above. The long chain omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA powerfully de-inflame the body by restoring natural balance to the lipid wall of the cell membrane. So getting those omega 3 fatty acids are recommended to help any inflammation you have.

Great anti-inflammatory foods which help Overactive Thyroid include:

•  coconut products
•  berries
•  and non-denatured, whey protein from grass-fed cows and goats. 

The Non-dematured,Whey protein source from grass fed cows and goats are also loaded with L-glutamine and enhances cellular glutathione stores which are both necessary for rebuilding the gut and de-inflaming the body. 

Anti-inflammatory herbs such as:

• tumeric
• ginger
• cinnamon
• rosemary
•  & oregano among others should be used as much as possible.

Goitrogens block thyroid hormone production and thus help to slow down the thyroid. Therefore anyone suffering from Hyperactive Thyroid would benefit greatly from eating raw cruciferous veggies.

Certain foods such as cruciferous vegetables like:

• broccoli
• cabbage
• & kale among others contain goitrogens in their raw state. 

Vitamin D deficiencies are a common day epidemic. Vitamin D helps coordinate the immune response by allowing the body to recognize between foreign and self proteins. This reduces inflammation and auto-immune reactions. A healthy range for vitamin D3 (25-hydroxy cholcalciferol) is between 60-100 ng/ml which is much higher than the medically acceptable 32 ng/ml. Be sure to know your levels and get them over 60 ng/ml. Spend 20-30 minutes a day in the sun or supplement with 10,000-50,000 IU of high quality emulsified vitamin D3 for a period of time until you reach the desired levels. Keep track of your levels of vitamin D through bloodwork, you don't want too low vit D, but also not too high vit D either.
Other factors that dramatically affect the immune system and thyroid gland include environmental toxicity.

This could be in the form of heavy metals, overexposure to:

• pesticides
• herbicides
• household molds
• personal hygiene products
• household cleaning agents
• tap water
• non-stick coated pans, and others.

Overview:

• eat cruneferious vegetables
• Avoid enviromental toxins as much as possible by buying organic foods,cosmetics and cleaning supplies, drink filtered water and cook in pfoa  free pans. 
• Make sure your house is free of mold and if not possible to fully remove the mold get an air purifier in rooms you are in most, especially your bedroom. And put a dehumidifier in your basement to help keep moisture undercontrol to help limit mold growth.
• Make sure your vitamin D is Normal.
• Eat an anti-inflamatory diet.
• Get a food allergy test and avoid those foods.
• Get a good amount of Omega 3's in your diet.
• Avoid Processed foods!

Hair Loss: Causes and Solutions!

Your hair can offer clues about your health. Up to 60 percent of women may experience hair loss at some point or another. One of the focal points of my practice is to help women reverse hypothyroidism, autoimmune issues, and hormone imbalance. Hair loss or thinning hair often accompanies these imbalances, so I am frequently offering tips on how to reverse it and encourage new hair growth. By addressing hormones, diet and lifestyle, you can stop the shedding!

Is this you?

• Noticing clumps of hair coming out in the shower
• Increased shedding
• Thinning hair around hairline
• Easier to see scalp
• Reduction in hair volume
• Changes in hair texture (more coarse, brittle)

Many women spend hundreds of dollars on magic potions to apply topically, but unless you address the underlying imbalance, you’re wasting your money. These conditions can contribute to hair loss:

• hypothyroidism/Hashimoto’s
• hyperthyroidism (contributes to fine hair)
• low iron levels, low B12
• high or low estrogen or low progesterone levels, or dropping hormone levels associated with menopause
• high testosterone
• stressors such as sudden weight loss, post-pregnancy (a happy stress, but a stress nonetheless), surgery or extreme stress
• certain medications: anti-depressants, beta-blockers, or NSAID pain relievers
• PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)
• scalp conditions, alopecia
• chemical treatments or harsh styling
• chemotherapy

Causes

Hormones

The most common causes of hair loss I see in my practice are due to hypothyroid, hormone imbalance, and PCOS. The good news is that these conditions are completely reversible over time with proper nutrition and a hormone balancing protocol. The body depends on a normal functioning thyroid gland for all metabolic functions, including hair growth and skin regeneration. If the thyroid falters, the body slows down, and weight gain, constipation, fatigue, and lack of hair growth–or hair loss– can result. Dropping female hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone) may cause hair loss, as is the case after menopause in some women, or an increase in androgenic hormones (testosterone or high DHEA) can also cause hair loss. This is typically what happens with PCOS.

Post-pregnancy is another time when hair can start falling out. Typically the thinning will slow and resolve on its own, but make sure and use the natural products I recommend below (especially important for pregnancy and nursing so you don’t introduce chemicals into your body and into fetal tissue or breast milk!). If you continue to experience hair loss after several months, coupled with fatigue and weight gain, have your thyroid checked. Pregnancy can trigger hypothyroid or Hashimoto’s autoimmune hypothyroidism.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Low iron (ferritin) levels or a deficiency in the B vitamins can contribute to hair loss or brittle, breaking hair. It’s easy to get iron levels tested, but it’s also important to determine what’s causing the deficiency. Are you vegetarian/vegan and not getting the iron and B vitamins you need? It’s difficult to find absorbable forms of iron in a vegetarian diet, and B vitamins are richest in animal foods and eggs. Do you have inflammation in the gut that’s preventing you from absorbing nutrients from your food? Inflammation in the GI tract can affect probiotic bacteria levels which can adversely affect B12 synthesis. Are you lacking in high quality protein and the right fats? Make sure you’re getting a variety of proteins such as wild fish, grass fed beef, eggs and lamb, for example, and essential fatty acids from fermented cod liver oil, wild salmon and grass fed beef, for example. These foods are essential for balanced hormones, too.

Other Conditions

Specific autoimmune conditions or severa candida overgrowth can cause hair loss. If you have a diagnosis, you can work with a practitioner to determine how to address the condition and determine the best diet to support hair growth.

Now let’s look at some solutions.

Diet

What you eat matters! As I mentioned above, if you have vitamin and mineral deficiencies because of a poor diet, the health of your skin, hair, and nails will suffer.

• Get at least 15 grams of protein from organic animal sources at each meal.
• Drink Bone Broth for the collagen and gelatin– it’s great for skin and hair!
• Plenty of leafy and starchy veggies will provide minerals.
• You can supplement with floradix,Excellent iron supplment or take a B-complex to boost those levels.
• Try gelatin from grass fed cows in smoothies.
• Get plenty of probiotic foods, such as fermented raw kraut, to boost the good bacteria in your gut so that you’ll digest better and absorb all the nutrients from your food. You can try a probiotic supplement, too.
• I also recommend taking essential fatty acids. You can get them from fermented cod liver oil or fish oil. I only recommend Green Pastures or Nordic Naturals. Adding a biotin supplement can help, too. Other important nutrients are calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc.

I also often recommend Comedix, which can help boost hair growth while you’re addressing the root cause.

It pays to address any digestive issues and fix your gut, because you aren’t only what you eat, but more accurately, what you absorb. If you’re not absorbing all the nutrients from your food because your gut is inflamed or leaky, deficiencies develop. 

Help for Hormones

If you suspect hormone balance is the issue, you can do saliva testing to determine if your hormones are out of whack. I offer this in my practice. Once I have the results, I can design a hormone balancing protocol and adjust your diet to support healthy adrenal and female hormones. The saliva testing also checks DHEA and cortisol levels, so if stress is a factor (isn’t it always?), we can rebalance cortisol, too. You can do thyroid testing through your doctor or order testing yourself through Direct Labs. This is a good route if you have trouble requesting the right blood tests from your doctor. See the resource section below for more on hypothyroid issues.

Your Products Matter

Hair loss can result from harsh chemical treatments and styling treatments. Time to detox your cosmetics and shampoos and go au naturel. Which is a good thing anyway, because all those chemicals can build up in your body and cause endocrine disruption and infertility. You can make your own shampoo!You can also use apple cider vinegar as a rinse once weekly to remove build up which can slow hair growth. Also use a good hair mask weekly. I like a mash of avocado, olive oil and egg yolk.

I also really like the Genuine African formulas line of shampoos and conditioners. Check out their “let it grow” formulas. I use the shampoo and conditioner and Spray tonic on my hair every night.

Resources

Supplements I recommend for hair loss/encouraging hair growth:

• Floradix for Iron (important: do NOT take if you have sufficient iron levels. Get tested!)
• Cosmedix
• B-Complex
• Fermented Cod liver oil or Nordic Naturals Fish oils
• Biotin
• Probiotics for a healthy gut
• Gelatin from grass fed cow 

*** All this awesome information i got from: http://www.maryvancenc.com/2013/08/solutions-for-hair-loss-in-women/

My Blood-Test Results!

Ok, so I just got my results back, I was tested for PCOS, Free T4 and TSH and Vitamin D.


My Results:
Thyroid results were High 
Testosterone was High 
Cholesterol both HDL and LDL- Normal
Triglycerides- High
Vitamin D- Low
Progesterone-64(Normal)

I have an appointment on June 6, my Dr. says he wants to see me and talk about what I can do for my abnormalities, but that it's not urgent. He says my levels are Mildly high.

When I look at these results it tells me that I probably have a Thyroid problem, which in turn is effecting my testosterone levels and in turn is messing with my bodies metabolism and hormonal balance and causing my triglycerides to be high because of my poor metabolism and making my cycles irregular from the elevated testosterone and making it harder for me to get pregnant and in the past probably in making it harder for me to not miscarry. This Then made me question what could be causing the thyroid problem? what can i do to improve this? What should i take to get my thyroid hormones balanced? Should I be Eating differently then I am now and If so What should I change?

My Symptoms:

• shakey when going longer periods of time without food
• heat intolerence 
• fatigue mid-day
• trouble losing weight
• trouble falling asleep at night
• irregular cycles
• Headaches behind my eyes
• hirsutism (chin,upper lip and belly button)
• achey bones/joints
• blood pressure fluctuates from normal to high
• 2 miscarriages with Low Progesterone in both cases

Apparently through research I've found the most common cause of Overactive Thyroid is Graves Disease.Where the bodies immune system attacks the thyroid causing it to produce too much thyroid hormones.

All about the thyroid gland:

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system and is responsible for producing and releasing thyroid hormones into the bloodstream.

Artwork showing the location of the thyroid gland in the neck, in front of the windpipe. The voice box sits just above it.

Where is my thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. It is butterfly-shaped and consists of two lobes located either side of the windpipe. A normal thyroid gland is not usually outwardly visible or able to be felt if finger pressure is applied to the neck. 

What does my thyroid gland do?

The thyroid gland produces hormones which regulate the body’s metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development and bone maintenance. Its correct functioning depends on having a good supply of iodine from the diet.  

The release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland is controlled by thyrotrophin-releasing hormonefrom the hypothalamus in the brain and by thyroid stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary gland. This forms part of a feedback loop called the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. 

What could go wrong with my thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland can become overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism). This may, rarely, occur from birth, or develop later on in life. Hypothyroidism is often accompanied by an enlargement of the thyroid gland known as goitre.

Thyrotoxicosis is the term given when there is too much thyroid hormone in the bloodstream. It may be a result of overactivity of the thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) as in Graves’ disease, inflammation of the thyroid or a benign tumour. Symptoms of thyrotoxicosis include intolerance to heat, weight loss, increased appetite, increased bowel movements, irregular menstrual cycle, rapid and irregular heart beat, palpitations, tiredness, irritability, tremor, hair loss and retraction of the eyelids resulting in a ‘staring’ appearance. 

Hypothyroidism is the term given when too few thyroid hormones are produced by the thyroid gland. It may result from autoimmune diseases (when the person’s immune system starts to attack itself), poor iodine intake or be brought on by use of certain drugs. Since thyroid hormones are essential for physical and mental development, hypothyroidism during development (ie, before birth and during childhood) can result in learning difficulties and reduced physical growth. Hypothyroidism in adults results in decreased metabolic rate. This causes symptoms which include fatigue, intolerance of cold temperatures, low heart rate, weight gain, reduced appetite, poor memory, depression, stiffness of muscles and infertility.

How Hyperthyroidism Affects Ovulation

The more common of the two main thyroid disorders is hyperthyroidism, the over-production of thyroid hormones. This can happen over either a short or long period of time, and it can affect many different functions of the body because of the thyroid's influence over metabolism.

When the thyroid produces too much hormone, it can send the body into a state of over-activity, including high blood pressure, an increased appetite, and intolerance to heat and frequent sweating, as well as other side effects. When it comes to a woman's ovulation cycle, hyperthyroidism can cause irregular or even a complete lack of menstrual cycles.

Most instances of hyperthyroidism are cause by Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that directly affects the thyroid. It is often treated by correcting the body's output of thyroid hormones [source: PubMed Health].

It is not impossible for a woman to get pregnant if she shows signs of hyperthyroidism. But, if she does have hyperthyroidism, it has to be treated and monitored by a doctor to protect both her and the baby during pregnancy.

Left unchecked, hyperthyroidism can lead to complications like preeclampsia, a spike in blood pressure late into the pregnancy, as well as premature birth, a low birth weight or even miscarriage [source:NEMDIS]. But these are only symptoms of severe hyperthyroidism. For women who have a mild case of the condition, treatment is not generally needed during pregnancy .

Treatments:

A rarer condition that occurs in only 0.5 percent of women is an overactive (rather than underactive) thyroid, or hyperthyroidism. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is Graves' disease, an autoimmune condition in which the body produces an antibody that causes the thyroid gland to release too much hormone.

Untreated hyperthyroidism can lead to infertility as well as miscarriage, maternal heart failure, preeclampsia, premature delivery, and stillbirth. 

Women with active Graves' disease need to receive appropriate treatment. Two antithyroid drugs – propylthiouracil and methimazole – provide the mainstay of treatment of Graves' disease during pregnancy. These drugs work to reduce the amount of hormone that the thyroid gland releases.

Propylthiouracil is recommended in the first trimester because methimazole has been associated with rare birth defects. In the second and third trimesters, however, your doctor may consider switching to methimazole, as it may be the safer treatment at that point.

Your doctor will give you the least amount of drug necessary to achieve control of your thyroid hormones.

The care of a pregnant woman with Graves' disease is complicated. For one thing, the dose of the medicine needed diminishes as the pregnancy progresses. In fact, many (but not all) women are taken off all antithyroid drugs before delivery.

In addition, both of these antithyroid drugs cross the placenta and can affect the developing baby. (To complicate matters even further, the antibody that causes Graves' disease also crosses the placenta and can affect the baby. Even women who have been successfully treated for Graves' disease may still have this antibody and require special monitoring during pregnancy.)

After your baby arrives, your doctor will continue to monitor you to make certain that your medication is adjusted correctly. It's not uncommon for Graves' disease to flare in the postpartum period.

Your baby's doctor will also monitor your newborn for thyroid problems that may be present at birth. This is a rare occurrence, but your doctor has to watch out for it, nevertheless.

All Natural Deodorant, No Hormone Disrupting Chemicals! :) by Mama Natural

DIY Thieves Spray - All-Natural Germ Killer by Mama Natural!

How to Lower your Cholesterol with Food :)

The first step is to understand the role cholesterol plays in your body. You may be surprised to learn that cholesterol is essential to every cell in your body. Cholesterol is important to cell membranes, metabolism, and for the synthesis of hormones. Cholesterol is so important, in fact, that your liver would make cholesterol if you did not consume any foods containing cholesterol.

Most people in the United States consume much more cholesterol than their bodies need. Cholesterol is a fatty, wax-like substance that can build up in your bloodstream and increase your risk for heart disease. High cholesterol contributes greatly to the high rates of heart disease among Americans.
Many people try to rely on medications to lower cholesterol levels artificially. These cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins, work by blocking a substance your liver needs to make cholesterol. While some find these drugs beneficial, others worry about the associated risks of statins, which include cognitive impairment, increased risk for high blood sugar levels and the development of type 2 diabetes, and muscle damage, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .
Once you know how to lower cholesterol  using foods, you can keep your cholesterol levels under control without resorting to dangerous drugs.

Eat a bowl of oatmeal 

Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which reduces the amount of cholesterol put into your bloodstream. Mayo Clinic recommends you consume 5 - 10 grams of soluble fiber each day. A 1 cup bowl of oatmeal provides about six grams of fiber. Add another four grams of soluble fiber by tossing in bananas or other fruit. (Oatmeal is High in Fiber but also High in Carbs, so if you have PCOS or Diabetes I'd have a HIGH FIBER, LOWER CARB option Like a Bowl of Fruit(with the skins on).

Get fruity

Eat apples, grapes, strawberries and citrus fruits. These fruits contain pectin, a special type of soluble fiber known to lower cholesterol levels.

Eat fish twice a week

The American Heart Association (4) recommends you eat at least two servings of fatty fish per week. Fatty fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, known to improve heart health. The following fish contain the most omega-3 fatty acids:

• Albacore tuna
• Halibut
• Herring
• Lake trout
• Mackerel
• Salmon
• Sardines

For best results, enjoy fish baked or grilled rather than fried. Cook with low-sodium, low-fat oils and seasonings.

Go nuts over walnuts and almonds

Eat a handful of nuts on most days of the week - about an ounce and a half a day will do. Walnuts, almonds and some other nuts are also rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids that keep blood vessels healthy. Do not go too nutty, though, as nuts are high in calories and could lead to weight gain.

Switch to olive oil

Olive oil contains a potent mix of antioxidants to lower your cholesterol. Replace two tablespoons of butter, lard or mayonnaise with olive oil each day. Again, olive oil is high in calories so go easy on the amount.

Eat Food fortified with sterols and stanols

Sterols and stanols prevent your body from absorbing cholesterol from the food you eat. Food scientists extract sterols and stanols from plants then add them to foods, granola bars, fruit juices and even chocolate. The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide says that consuming 2 grams of plant sterols each day can reduce your unhealthy cholesterol levels by as much as 10 percent.

2014 Clean Fifteen!

THE ‘CLEAN 15′ PESTICIDE FREE FOODS

All the produce on “The Clean 15” bore little to no traces of pesticides, and is safe to consume in non-organic form. This list includes:

• onions

• avocados

• sweet corn

• pineapples

• mango

• sweet peas

• asparagus

• kiwi fruit

• cabbage

• eggplant

• cantaloupe

• watermelon

• grapefruit

• sweet potatoes

• sweet onions