#datis kharrazian

[iamnaturalnana]

Autoimmune Patients, Have You Heard of Th1 and Th2 Dominance?

by Dana Trentini I remember the day I was reading the book Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal by Dr. Datis Kharrazian and came across the section on the importance of Th1 and Th2 dominance in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. I had never heard of this concept before and found it intriguing. I recently came across Mickey Trescott’s explanation of Th1 and Th2 dominance and…

[ears-awake-eyes-opened]

🌻

[topbooksinhealth]

Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal - Datis Kharrazian, PhD, DHSc, DC, MS, MMSc, FACN http://dlvr.it/RJJKq1 http://dlvr.it/RJJKq1

[realfoodgangstas]

BEWARE OF IODINE AND TYROSINE FOR THYROID HEALTH If you have been on a journey to heal your thyroid gland, chances are you have come across the idea of supplementing with tyrosine and iodine, unfortunately it is never that straight forward or simple. The information below offers great examples as to why you cannot treat the body in a “this for that” manner. Dr. Datis Kharrazian PhD states, “iodine stimulates the activity of thyroid peroxidase enzyme, which triggers thyroid hormone production. Hence why so many thyroid supplements contain iodine. For most people with Hashimoto’s, TPO also happens to be the site of autoimmune attack, and surrounding thyroid tissue is damaged in the process. So everytime TPO production is stimulated, the immune system, which perceives TPO as a foreign invader to be eradicated, responds more aggressively and amps up the attack. Supplementing with it has been shown to trigger autoimmune thyroid conditions, and will also exacerbate an existing autoimmune thyroid disease, such as Hashimoto’s.” “Tyrosine is an integral part of thyroid hormone production, but supplementing with it has the potential to suppress thyroid activity. Tyrosine will increase the adrenal hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline that create that wired, energetic feeling, which may feel like progress when a person has been plagued with the fatigue and fogginess of hypothyroidism. However, for the person in an elevated stress response, this stimulating effect on the adrenals will also suppress TPO activity and, consequently, thyroid hormone production, just as caffeine and other adrenal stimulants do.” . . #thyroidhealth #thyroidsupport #thyroidsupplements #iodinedeficiency #tyrosine #datiskharrazian ##restorationthyroidnutrition #eastwesthealing #realfoodgangstas   https://www.instagram.com/p/BzszMuKAxgZ/?igshid=1izk45smp44xl

[cristinamorenoworld]

Es culpa de la tiroides 

“¿Y has tenido algún accidente últimamente?, ¿mucho stress? A veces algún cambio drástico propicia cambios en el metabolismo”, me preguntó la doctora Christine Contreras hace un par de semanas cuando fui a consultar porque he traído síntomas que indican que la tiroides está fuera control. -Pues casi nada, pensé: ya no estoy en la empresa en la que estuve 23 años, de hecho, cambié mi residencia a…

[mrmrsvegan]

"According to Dr. Datis Kharrazian, author of Why Isn’t My Brain Working?, the brain starts to literally digest itself for the raw materials it needs to create essential brain chemicals when you don’t eat enough dietary fat. Neurologist Dr. David Perlmutter, author of the bestselling book Grain Brain, found that nothing was worse for his patients’ brains than a low-fat diet." Is it true? :-(

sounds like their brains aren’t working.  ask them what passes the blood brain barrier & when the brain has grown to full size.  they are basing their opinions on bullshit on the internet.  If I was in charge I’d have their licenses revoked for such easily debunked nonsense they propagate, but hey we live in a free country where people can possess opinions that harm millions.

[cristinadonaldson]

Stage 2  2016

I had heard from a friend whose mother sadly had Alzheimer's that one of the best ways to prevent it was to take vitamin B 6 and vitamin B12.  My acupuncturist told me not to get synthetic ones. Having found the right ones online, none of the companies, who stocked them, would sell them to me, they kept telling me that I could only order them through a health practitioner where was I going to find one of those.

Audible, my major source of pleasure and wisdom, offered in a sale in May 2015, the Book Why isn't My Brain Working by Dr. Datis Kharrazian. What a discovery. I have listened to it about 6 times and am now on my 7th listening. There was so much interesting and relevant information in it. I had never heard of Insulin Resistance and what it does to the brain by overloading with sugar. I had always been a passionate eater as my weight testified. I had also lived in Italy for 41 years. It truly is the land of delight for as they say " a good fork person".

 Dr. Kharrazian explained how vital it was to reduce Insulin Resistance and any form of inflammation in the body, for Brain Health. One of the most common sources of inflammation was leaky gut caused by little holes in the cheesecloth lining of the gut. These tiny holes allowed particles of food through them into the bloodstream at each meal. Once there, these food particles with their accompanying bacteria were considered by the Immune System to be invaders and were duly attacked thus causing difficult digestion problems as well as Brain Fog.

I had suffered from excessive wind in the stomach while digesting all my life. As had both my mother and father and I had considered it hereditary and taken it as part of life.

Dr. Kharrazian clearly explained in his " protocol" on how to handle both Insulin Resistance and Leaky Gut both of which produce Brain Fog.

[oscarhgreene]

Thyroid Disorders on the Rise?

Why has the topic of thyroid become so prevalent?  I myself have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis- a problem I probably suffered symptoms for some 25 years before a correct diagnosis and protocol dramatically improved my health.

An estimated 27 million Americans suffer from thyroid related illnesses, the majority of them women, and the number is growing.  Why is the topic now becoming so prominent?  Probably because it’s becoming more apparent that thyroid related diseases are often poorly diagnosed, and there is much about their treatment that warrants greater clarification and study, and the fact that these undiagnosed or poorly managed thyroid disorders are the root of so many chronic diseases (i.e. fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, chronic fatigue, etc.).

Though it weighs less than an ounce this butterfly shaped gland is a huge force in the intricate physiology of the human being.  Its function or malfunction seems to affect everything.  The thyroid is the spark plug for energy production, controlling its rate and intensity.  It maintains body temperature, helps regulate the growth of a child and profoundly affects brain chemistry, thus influencing mood (think depression) and emotions.  And this is just the tip of the iceberg.  Everything slows down in hypothyroidism, (a slow functioning thyroid).  The immune system is affected, the gall bladder slows down and starts to malfunction, the liver can’t detox, you can’t make enough red blood cells and you get constipation, which in itself causes a constellation of other symptoms.

When one sees the thyroids function within the intricate physiological and biological matrix of the human body, one starts to understand why the medical model of thyroid hormone replacement therapy appears to be insufficient and failing the vast majority of today’s thyroid patients.  How can one medication affect a balance in all of these systems: it can’t.  And let me just state right here I’m not anti-medicine nor am I saying that thyroid hormone replacement therapy is never indicated.  But given the complexity of the body and taking into account the reciprocal relationship between  the immune system, hormone balance, and brain function, it becomes more apparent that addressing the entire body- all at once- not piece by piece, is a very logical way to support the thyroid.

Back to the 27 million Americans suffering from thyroid dysfunction (this is accorded to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists).  Half of these, not unlike myself, go undiagnosed.  Of the detected cases of hypothyroidism it is estimated that between 50 and 95 percent (according to an almost two year old lab corp. memo) are due to an autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s disease, in which the immune system attacks and destroys thyroid gland tissue.  Where I feel the present model of care is weak, I believe, is that no one seems to ask the question of why did the thyroid gland quit working?  Indeed to my knowledge- with the exception of cancer- the question rarely comes up.

Thyroid symptoms are there for a reason.  They are there to hopefully steer you in the right direction as to what is wrong:  But the standard for thyroid management today in both conventional and alternative models, often treats the thyroid as a car part that simply needs replacing or “lubricating”.  Thus “bioindentical” or “natural” or synthetic human replacement therapy (HRT) is administered in hope of wiping out a number of symptoms in one fell swoop.  Problem is this approach doesn’t work most of the time.

A much better approach would seem to be to ask what the dysfunctioning thyroid says about the entire body and vice versa, and then proceed from there.  In functional medicine this approach addresses the conditions that caused the thyroid to slow down (or in some cases, speed up) in the first place.  Frequently we will find supporting the gland itself either isn’t necessary or requires only basic herbal and nutritional therapy for a few months.  The conditions creating the thyroid symptoms, however, more than likely call for lifestyle changes and lasting support.  I understand some doctors and patients too, might wish to immediately begin with a thyroid “prescription”, whether conventional or alternative.  After all, popping a pill seems much easier than making lifestyle changes.  Functional medicine prescriptions for wellness are not always easy, and they rarely are quick, which is why our patients are required to commit to following our clinical protocols for at least six months (People who want quick fixes invariably seem to return after a year or two of trying other methods).  Pill popping is easier on both the patient and the doctor, lifestyle changes are not.  But life style changes based on specific history, and examination findings as well as blood, saliva and stool testing adopted to that patient’s specific nutritional needs and requirements produces consistent long term results and returns the “power” or control over one’s health back to the patient by producing precise dietary, neurological and/or herbal protocols to control and manage thyroid symptoms on their own well into the future.

This article is not about criticizing other approaches, including the use of thyroid hormones.  In fact in my own practice it’s not uncommon to come across a person whose thyroid dysfunction is so advanced that thyroid hormone replacement is necessary.  Nevertheless it remains still crucial to address the above mentioned factors by addressing the biochemical matrix of the whole body to maximize the potential of the medication and prevent further damage.  For many people however, drugs simply aren’t necessary.

  References: -Kharrazian, Datis, DHS,DC,MC, Why do I Sill have Thyroid Symptoms When my Blood Tests are Normal. -Facts about thyroid disease 2005 American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists  http//https://ift.tt/2Nl60Ec

Thyroid Disorders on the Rise?

[sofiawright4411]

10 Reasons Why Your Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Isn’t Healing

10 Reasons Why Your Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Isn’t Healing Dr. Datis Kharrazian, Guest Thyroid Nation Managing Hashimoto’s Autoimmune

There is not one easy fix to successfully managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, an autoimmune thyroid disease. As many people have learned the hard way, using thyroid hormones to get TSH within lab ranges certainly doesn’t guarantee a fix for most people, although it can help. For Hashimoto’s patients to truly manage their autoimmune Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, it’s important to understand the factors that contribute to it.

10. Immune Reacting Fillers in Thyroid Hormone Replacement

Many thyroid supplements use corn starch or modified food starch that contains gluten. You need to make sure your thyroid hormones are gluten-free and free of corn starch if you react to corn. If your medication is in capsules make sure the capsules are gluten-free. Otherwise you could be taking hormones every day with dietary proteins that stimulate your autoimmunity.

9. Taking Immune Enhancing Supplements

Nutritional supplements can either help or flare up your autoimmunity based on an individual’s T-helper dominance (whether you have a TH-1 or TH-2 dominance). Supplements such as echinacea, green tea, acai, astragalus, licorice, and a variety others. can either help or aggravate autoimmunity depending on your dominance. If you are unaware of this you may be taking supplements that promote an autoimmune response. Please refer to Chapter Three of my thyroid book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? for more information and lists of supplements and herbs to be aware of.

8. Fixating their focus on thyroid hormone replacement only

Many thyroid patients believe that if they could only figure out the perfect version of thyroid hormones (natural versus bio-identical or T3 versus T4) they can correct all of their symptoms. Unfortunately, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism is a complex autoimmune disorder and thyroid hormone replacement is only one part of a large puzzle. However, if you need help learning more about thyroid hormone variations please refer to a previous newsletter article titled, Which thyroid hormone is right for you?

7. Increasing Stress

Emotional stress activates pathways involving the inflammatory immune messengers IL-6 and TH-17. This activity creates an autoimmune flare-up. Unhealthy relationships with your spouse, co-workers, or friends can promote autoimmune flare-ups, as can a bad work environment, or other significant and chronic lifestyle stressors. If you have Hashimoto’s you need to create a healthy emotional environment for yourself. Bad personal relationships or poor work environments can be detrimental to Hashimoto’s patients.

6. Not Strictly Gluten-Free

You are either 100 percent gluten-free or you’re not gluten-free. Choosing to eat gluten-free only when it is convenient is not a gluten-free diet. If you are not strict about your food being 100 percent gluten-free when you eat out and you continue to consume condiments that have gluten, regular beer, and foods fried in fryers that use the same oil for breaded foods, then you are still being exposed to gluten. Gluten is a major trigger for most Hashimoto’s patients and many cannot improve until they are 100 percent gluten-free.

5. Not avoiding gluten cross-reactive foods

Although a strict gluten-free diet is a great place to start, if you are still eating foods that cross-react with gluten you may not recover well. Cross-reactive foods have proteins similar in structure to gluten and can trigger the same immune response as if you were eating gluten. The most commonly ignored cross-reactive food is milk (casein), followed by rice, corn, sesame, and gluten-free oats. In fact, it is best to avoid all grains and adopt a diet such as a Paleo diet when you have Hashimoto’s.

4. Ignoring their brain health

The most common form of collateral damage in chronic Hashimoto’s patients is accelerated brain degeneration. Brain degeneration leads to identical symptoms of hypothyroidism, including fatigue and depression. I strongly suggest all thyroid patients become experts in identifying and supporting their brain health by referring to my second book, Why Isn’t My Brain Working?

3. Ignoring insulin sugar spikes

Surges of insulin that follow eating or drinking something sugary or starchy (sweet coffee drinks, desserts, bowls of pasta or rice, bread, etc.) trigger the inflammatory TH-17 activity, which promotes autoimmune flare-ups. Eating sweets throughout the day or overeating promotes insulin surges, which can be identified by symptoms of fatigue or sugar cravings immediately after eating. If you have those symptoms after eating it means you are not managing your insulin levels and your Hashimoto’s autoimmune response will be hard to tame.

2. Missing meals

When blood sugar gets too low it raises the inflammatory messenger IL-6 and promotes autoimmune flare-ups. Symptoms of low blood sugar are most noticeable between meals or if you skip meals and include shakiness, blurred vision, crankiness and irritability, and loss of function. If you feel a jump in your function and energy after eating it confirms your blood sugar was low—when your blood sugar is stable the only thing you should feel after eating is not hungry. Constantly skipping breakfast and missing meals will aggravate your autoimmune response and promote autoimmune flare-ups.

1. Passive attitude

The passive patient does not question or challenge her doctor. If you are a passive Hashimoto’s patient and you do not take your health into your own hands you may not fare as well as the person who educates herself. The conventional model is based only on lowering your TSH with whatever thyroid medication your insurance plan or doctor prefers. Once TSH is within lab ranges, this model has nothing more to offer except to check your TSH once a year. It takes time and effort, but the thyroid patient who wants to feel better needs to roll up her sleeves and master the various mechanisms of Hashimoto’s. The more you understand Hashimoto’s the more likely you are to successfully manage your health.

Stay up-to-date, get tips, articles and stories that inspire, on all things thyroid!

About the Author

Dr. Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, MNeuroSci, FAACP, DACBN, DABCN, DIBAK, CNS is considered one of the leading experts in non-pharmaceutical applications to chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders, and complex neurological disorders. Patients from all over the world fly into his practice located in San Diego, California to understand his perspective regarding their condition and to apply natural medicine alternatives to help them improve their quality of life. Dr. Kharrazian has become the referral source for many doctors nationally and internationally when their cases becomes too complex to evaluate and diagnose. Dr. Kharrazian’s first book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal? quickly became the best-selling thyroid book.  It has been listed as the number-one selling thyroid book on Amazon since its release in October of 2009. Dr. Kharrazian earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York with honors and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree graduating with honors from Southern California University of Health Sciences, where he was distinguished with the Mindlin Honors at Entrance Award, the Dean’s List, and the Delta Sigma Award for Academic Excellence. He has earned a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, a Master of Neurological Sciences from the Carrick Institute of Graduate Studies, and a Doctor of Health Science from Nova Southeastern University. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in health sciences with doctoral research in immunology at Nova Southeastern University. Be sure to like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Source

PLEASE take a moment to ‘Like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Pinterest. You can also listen to Tiffany and I on Thyroid Nation RADIO.

Questions or anything to add? We want your thoughts, please. You might just help someone else in need. https://ift.tt/2MOAlvl

[robertharris6685]

10 Reasons Why Your Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Isn’t Healing

10 Reasons Why Your Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Isn’t Healing Dr. Datis Kharrazian, Guest Thyroid Nation Managing Hashimoto’s Autoimmune

There is not one easy fix to successfully managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, an autoimmune thyroid disease. As many people have learned the hard way, using thyroid hormones to get TSH within lab ranges certainly doesn’t guarantee a fix for most people, although it can help. For Hashimoto’s patients to truly manage their autoimmune Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, it’s important to understand the factors that contribute to it.

10. Immune Reacting Fillers in Thyroid Hormone Replacement

Many thyroid supplements use corn starch or modified food starch that contains gluten. You need to make sure your thyroid hormones are gluten-free and free of corn starch if you react to corn. If your medication is in capsules make sure the capsules are gluten-free. Otherwise you could be taking hormones every day with dietary proteins that stimulate your autoimmunity.

9. Taking Immune Enhancing Supplements

Nutritional supplements can either help or flare up your autoimmunity based on an individual’s T-helper dominance (whether you have a TH-1 or TH-2 dominance). Supplements such as echinacea, green tea, acai, astragalus, licorice, and a variety others. can either help or aggravate autoimmunity depending on your dominance. If you are unaware of this you may be taking supplements that promote an autoimmune response. Please refer to Chapter Three of my thyroid book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? for more information and lists of supplements and herbs to be aware of.

8. Fixating their focus on thyroid hormone replacement only

Many thyroid patients believe that if they could only figure out the perfect version of thyroid hormones (natural versus bio-identical or T3 versus T4) they can correct all of their symptoms. Unfortunately, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism is a complex autoimmune disorder and thyroid hormone replacement is only one part of a large puzzle. However, if you need help learning more about thyroid hormone variations please refer to a previous newsletter article titled, Which thyroid hormone is right for you?

7. Increasing Stress

Emotional stress activates pathways involving the inflammatory immune messengers IL-6 and TH-17. This activity creates an autoimmune flare-up. Unhealthy relationships with your spouse, co-workers, or friends can promote autoimmune flare-ups, as can a bad work environment, or other significant and chronic lifestyle stressors. If you have Hashimoto’s you need to create a healthy emotional environment for yourself. Bad personal relationships or poor work environments can be detrimental to Hashimoto’s patients.

6. Not Strictly Gluten-Free

You are either 100 percent gluten-free or you’re not gluten-free. Choosing to eat gluten-free only when it is convenient is not a gluten-free diet. If you are not strict about your food being 100 percent gluten-free when you eat out and you continue to consume condiments that have gluten, regular beer, and foods fried in fryers that use the same oil for breaded foods, then you are still being exposed to gluten. Gluten is a major trigger for most Hashimoto’s patients and many cannot improve until they are 100 percent gluten-free.

5. Not avoiding gluten cross-reactive foods

Although a strict gluten-free diet is a great place to start, if you are still eating foods that cross-react with gluten you may not recover well. Cross-reactive foods have proteins similar in structure to gluten and can trigger the same immune response as if you were eating gluten. The most commonly ignored cross-reactive food is milk (casein), followed by rice, corn, sesame, and gluten-free oats. In fact, it is best to avoid all grains and adopt a diet such as a Paleo diet when you have Hashimoto’s.

4. Ignoring their brain health

The most common form of collateral damage in chronic Hashimoto’s patients is accelerated brain degeneration. Brain degeneration leads to identical symptoms of hypothyroidism, including fatigue and depression. I strongly suggest all thyroid patients become experts in identifying and supporting their brain health by referring to my second book, Why Isn’t My Brain Working?

3. Ignoring insulin sugar spikes

Surges of insulin that follow eating or drinking something sugary or starchy (sweet coffee drinks, desserts, bowls of pasta or rice, bread, etc.) trigger the inflammatory TH-17 activity, which promotes autoimmune flare-ups. Eating sweets throughout the day or overeating promotes insulin surges, which can be identified by symptoms of fatigue or sugar cravings immediately after eating. If you have those symptoms after eating it means you are not managing your insulin levels and your Hashimoto’s autoimmune response will be hard to tame.

2. Missing meals

When blood sugar gets too low it raises the inflammatory messenger IL-6 and promotes autoimmune flare-ups. Symptoms of low blood sugar are most noticeable between meals or if you skip meals and include shakiness, blurred vision, crankiness and irritability, and loss of function. If you feel a jump in your function and energy after eating it confirms your blood sugar was low—when your blood sugar is stable the only thing you should feel after eating is not hungry. Constantly skipping breakfast and missing meals will aggravate your autoimmune response and promote autoimmune flare-ups.

1. Passive attitude

The passive patient does not question or challenge her doctor. If you are a passive Hashimoto’s patient and you do not take your health into your own hands you may not fare as well as the person who educates herself. The conventional model is based only on lowering your TSH with whatever thyroid medication your insurance plan or doctor prefers. Once TSH is within lab ranges, this model has nothing more to offer except to check your TSH once a year. It takes time and effort, but the thyroid patient who wants to feel better needs to roll up her sleeves and master the various mechanisms of Hashimoto’s. The more you understand Hashimoto’s the more likely you are to successfully manage your health.

Stay up-to-date, get tips, articles and stories that inspire, on all things thyroid!

About the Author

Dr. Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, MNeuroSci, FAACP, DACBN, DABCN, DIBAK, CNS is considered one of the leading experts in non-pharmaceutical applications to chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders, and complex neurological disorders. Patients from all over the world fly into his practice located in San Diego, California to understand his perspective regarding their condition and to apply natural medicine alternatives to help them improve their quality of life. Dr. Kharrazian has become the referral source for many doctors nationally and internationally when their cases becomes too complex to evaluate and diagnose. Dr. Kharrazian’s first book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal? quickly became the best-selling thyroid book.  It has been listed as the number-one selling thyroid book on Amazon since its release in October of 2009. Dr. Kharrazian earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York with honors and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree graduating with honors from Southern California University of Health Sciences, where he was distinguished with the Mindlin Honors at Entrance Award, the Dean’s List, and the Delta Sigma Award for Academic Excellence. He has earned a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, a Master of Neurological Sciences from the Carrick Institute of Graduate Studies, and a Doctor of Health Science from Nova Southeastern University. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in health sciences with doctoral research in immunology at Nova Southeastern University. Be sure to like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Source

PLEASE take a moment to ‘Like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Pinterest. You can also listen to Tiffany and I on Thyroid Nation RADIO.

Questions or anything to add? We want your thoughts, please. You might just help someone else in need. https://ift.tt/2MOAlvl

[topbooksinhealth]

Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal - Datis Kharrazian, PhD, DHSc, DC, MS, MMSc, FACN https://books.apple.com/us/book/why-do-i-still-have-thyroid-symptoms-when-my-lab-tests/id583573162?uo=2&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr https://books.apple.com/us/book/why-do-i-still-have-thyroid-symptoms-when-my-lab-tests/id583573162?uo=2&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr

[evawilliams3741]

10 Reasons Why Your Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Isn’t Healing

10 Reasons Why Your Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Isn’t Healing Dr. Datis Kharrazian, Guest Thyroid Nation Managing Hashimoto’s Autoimmune

There is not one easy fix to successfully managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, an autoimmune thyroid disease. As many people have learned the hard way, using thyroid hormones to get TSH within lab ranges certainly doesn’t guarantee a fix for most people, although it can help. For Hashimoto’s patients to truly manage their autoimmune Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, it’s important to understand the factors that contribute to it.

10. Immune Reacting Fillers in Thyroid Hormone Replacement

Many thyroid supplements use corn starch or modified food starch that contains gluten. You need to make sure your thyroid hormones are gluten-free and free of corn starch if you react to corn. If your medication is in capsules make sure the capsules are gluten-free. Otherwise you could be taking hormones every day with dietary proteins that stimulate your autoimmunity.

9. Taking Immune Enhancing Supplements

Nutritional supplements can either help or flare up your autoimmunity based on an individual’s T-helper dominance (whether you have a TH-1 or TH-2 dominance). Supplements such as echinacea, green tea, acai, astragalus, licorice, and a variety others. can either help or aggravate autoimmunity depending on your dominance. If you are unaware of this you may be taking supplements that promote an autoimmune response. Please refer to Chapter Three of my thyroid book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? for more information and lists of supplements and herbs to be aware of.

8. Fixating their focus on thyroid hormone replacement only

Many thyroid patients believe that if they could only figure out the perfect version of thyroid hormones (natural versus bio-identical or T3 versus T4) they can correct all of their symptoms. Unfortunately, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism is a complex autoimmune disorder and thyroid hormone replacement is only one part of a large puzzle. However, if you need help learning more about thyroid hormone variations please refer to a previous newsletter article titled, Which thyroid hormone is right for you?

7. Increasing Stress

Emotional stress activates pathways involving the inflammatory immune messengers IL-6 and TH-17. This activity creates an autoimmune flare-up. Unhealthy relationships with your spouse, co-workers, or friends can promote autoimmune flare-ups, as can a bad work environment, or other significant and chronic lifestyle stressors. If you have Hashimoto’s you need to create a healthy emotional environment for yourself. Bad personal relationships or poor work environments can be detrimental to Hashimoto’s patients.

6. Not Strictly Gluten-Free

You are either 100 percent gluten-free or you’re not gluten-free. Choosing to eat gluten-free only when it is convenient is not a gluten-free diet. If you are not strict about your food being 100 percent gluten-free when you eat out and you continue to consume condiments that have gluten, regular beer, and foods fried in fryers that use the same oil for breaded foods, then you are still being exposed to gluten. Gluten is a major trigger for most Hashimoto’s patients and many cannot improve until they are 100 percent gluten-free.

5. Not avoiding gluten cross-reactive foods

Although a strict gluten-free diet is a great place to start, if you are still eating foods that cross-react with gluten you may not recover well. Cross-reactive foods have proteins similar in structure to gluten and can trigger the same immune response as if you were eating gluten. The most commonly ignored cross-reactive food is milk (casein), followed by rice, corn, sesame, and gluten-free oats. In fact, it is best to avoid all grains and adopt a diet such as a Paleo diet when you have Hashimoto’s.

4. Ignoring their brain health

The most common form of collateral damage in chronic Hashimoto’s patients is accelerated brain degeneration. Brain degeneration leads to identical symptoms of hypothyroidism, including fatigue and depression. I strongly suggest all thyroid patients become experts in identifying and supporting their brain health by referring to my second book, Why Isn’t My Brain Working?

3. Ignoring insulin sugar spikes

Surges of insulin that follow eating or drinking something sugary or starchy (sweet coffee drinks, desserts, bowls of pasta or rice, bread, etc.) trigger the inflammatory TH-17 activity, which promotes autoimmune flare-ups. Eating sweets throughout the day or overeating promotes insulin surges, which can be identified by symptoms of fatigue or sugar cravings immediately after eating. If you have those symptoms after eating it means you are not managing your insulin levels and your Hashimoto’s autoimmune response will be hard to tame.

2. Missing meals

When blood sugar gets too low it raises the inflammatory messenger IL-6 and promotes autoimmune flare-ups. Symptoms of low blood sugar are most noticeable between meals or if you skip meals and include shakiness, blurred vision, crankiness and irritability, and loss of function. If you feel a jump in your function and energy after eating it confirms your blood sugar was low—when your blood sugar is stable the only thing you should feel after eating is not hungry. Constantly skipping breakfast and missing meals will aggravate your autoimmune response and promote autoimmune flare-ups.

1. Passive attitude

The passive patient does not question or challenge her doctor. If you are a passive Hashimoto’s patient and you do not take your health into your own hands you may not fare as well as the person who educates herself. The conventional model is based only on lowering your TSH with whatever thyroid medication your insurance plan or doctor prefers. Once TSH is within lab ranges, this model has nothing more to offer except to check your TSH once a year. It takes time and effort, but the thyroid patient who wants to feel better needs to roll up her sleeves and master the various mechanisms of Hashimoto’s. The more you understand Hashimoto’s the more likely you are to successfully manage your health.

Stay up-to-date, get tips, articles and stories that inspire, on all things thyroid!

About the Author

Dr. Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, MNeuroSci, FAACP, DACBN, DABCN, DIBAK, CNS is considered one of the leading experts in non-pharmaceutical applications to chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders, and complex neurological disorders. Patients from all over the world fly into his practice located in San Diego, California to understand his perspective regarding their condition and to apply natural medicine alternatives to help them improve their quality of life. Dr. Kharrazian has become the referral source for many doctors nationally and internationally when their cases becomes too complex to evaluate and diagnose. Dr. Kharrazian’s first book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal? quickly became the best-selling thyroid book.  It has been listed as the number-one selling thyroid book on Amazon since its release in October of 2009. Dr. Kharrazian earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York with honors and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree graduating with honors from Southern California University of Health Sciences, where he was distinguished with the Mindlin Honors at Entrance Award, the Dean’s List, and the Delta Sigma Award for Academic Excellence. He has earned a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, a Master of Neurological Sciences from the Carrick Institute of Graduate Studies, and a Doctor of Health Science from Nova Southeastern University. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in health sciences with doctoral research in immunology at Nova Southeastern University. Be sure to like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Source

PLEASE take a moment to ‘Like’ us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Pinterest. You can also listen to Tiffany and I on Thyroid Nation RADIO.

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10 Reasons Why Your Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Isn’t Healing

10 Reasons Why Your Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Isn’t Healing Dr. Datis Kharrazian, Guest Thyroid Nation Managing Hashimoto’s Autoimmune

There is not one easy fix to successfully managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, an autoimmune thyroid disease. As many people have learned the hard way, using thyroid hormones to get TSH within lab ranges certainly doesn’t guarantee a fix for most people, although it can help. For Hashimoto’s patients to truly manage their autoimmune Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, it’s important to understand the factors that contribute to it.

10. Immune Reacting Fillers in Thyroid Hormone Replacement

Many thyroid supplements use corn starch or modified food starch that contains gluten. You need to make sure your thyroid hormones are gluten-free and free of corn starch if you react to corn. If your medication is in capsules make sure the capsules are gluten-free. Otherwise you could be taking hormones every day with dietary proteins that stimulate your autoimmunity.

9. Taking Immune Enhancing Supplements

Nutritional supplements can either help or flare up your autoimmunity based on an individual’s T-helper dominance (whether you have a TH-1 or TH-2 dominance). Supplements such as echinacea, green tea, acai, astragalus, licorice, and a variety others. can either help or aggravate autoimmunity depending on your dominance. If you are unaware of this you may be taking supplements that promote an autoimmune response. Please refer to Chapter Three of my thyroid book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? for more information and lists of supplements and herbs to be aware of.

8. Fixating their focus on thyroid hormone replacement only

Many thyroid patients believe that if they could only figure out the perfect version of thyroid hormones (natural versus bio-identical or T3 versus T4) they can correct all of their symptoms. Unfortunately, Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism is a complex autoimmune disorder and thyroid hormone replacement is only one part of a large puzzle. However, if you need help learning more about thyroid hormone variations please refer to a previous newsletter article titled, Which thyroid hormone is right for you?

7. Increasing Stress

Emotional stress activates pathways involving the inflammatory immune messengers IL-6 and TH-17. This activity creates an autoimmune flare-up. Unhealthy relationships with your spouse, co-workers, or friends can promote autoimmune flare-ups, as can a bad work environment, or other significant and chronic lifestyle stressors. If you have Hashimoto’s you need to create a healthy emotional environment for yourself. Bad personal relationships or poor work environments can be detrimental to Hashimoto’s patients.

6. Not Strictly Gluten-Free

You are either 100 percent gluten-free or you’re not gluten-free. Choosing to eat gluten-free only when it is convenient is not a gluten-free diet. If you are not strict about your food being 100 percent gluten-free when you eat out and you continue to consume condiments that have gluten, regular beer, and foods fried in fryers that use the same oil for breaded foods, then you are still being exposed to gluten. Gluten is a major trigger for most Hashimoto’s patients and many cannot improve until they are 100 percent gluten-free.

5. Not avoiding gluten cross-reactive foods

Although a strict gluten-free diet is a great place to start, if you are still eating foods that cross-react with gluten you may not recover well. Cross-reactive foods have proteins similar in structure to gluten and can trigger the same immune response as if you were eating gluten. The most commonly ignored cross-reactive food is milk (casein), followed by rice, corn, sesame, and gluten-free oats. In fact, it is best to avoid all grains and adopt a diet such as a Paleo diet when you have Hashimoto’s.

4. Ignoring their brain health

The most common form of collateral damage in chronic Hashimoto’s patients is accelerated brain degeneration. Brain degeneration leads to identical symptoms of hypothyroidism, including fatigue and depression. I strongly suggest all thyroid patients become experts in identifying and supporting their brain health by referring to my second book, Why Isn’t My Brain Working?

3. Ignoring insulin sugar spikes

Surges of insulin that follow eating or drinking something sugary or starchy (sweet coffee drinks, desserts, bowls of pasta or rice, bread, etc.) trigger the inflammatory TH-17 activity, which promotes autoimmune flare-ups. Eating sweets throughout the day or overeating promotes insulin surges, which can be identified by symptoms of fatigue or sugar cravings immediately after eating. If you have those symptoms after eating it means you are not managing your insulin levels and your Hashimoto’s autoimmune response will be hard to tame.

2. Missing meals

When blood sugar gets too low it raises the inflammatory messenger IL-6 and promotes autoimmune flare-ups. Symptoms of low blood sugar are most noticeable between meals or if you skip meals and include shakiness, blurred vision, crankiness and irritability, and loss of function. If you feel a jump in your function and energy after eating it confirms your blood sugar was low—when your blood sugar is stable the only thing you should feel after eating is not hungry. Constantly skipping breakfast and missing meals will aggravate your autoimmune response and promote autoimmune flare-ups.

1. Passive attitude

The passive patient does not question or challenge her doctor. If you are a passive Hashimoto’s patient and you do not take your health into your own hands you may not fare as well as the person who educates herself. The conventional model is based only on lowering your TSH with whatever thyroid medication your insurance plan or doctor prefers. Once TSH is within lab ranges, this model has nothing more to offer except to check your TSH once a year. It takes time and effort, but the thyroid patient who wants to feel better needs to roll up her sleeves and master the various mechanisms of Hashimoto’s. The more you understand Hashimoto’s the more likely you are to successfully manage your health.

Stay up-to-date, get tips, articles and stories that inspire, on all things thyroid!

About the Author

Dr. Datis Kharrazian, DHSc, DC, MS, MNeuroSci, FAACP, DACBN, DABCN, DIBAK, CNS is considered one of the leading experts in non-pharmaceutical applications to chronic illnesses, autoimmune disorders, and complex neurological disorders. Patients from all over the world fly into his practice located in San Diego, California to understand his perspective regarding their condition and to apply natural medicine alternatives to help them improve their quality of life. Dr. Kharrazian has become the referral source for many doctors nationally and internationally when their cases becomes too complex to evaluate and diagnose. Dr. Kharrazian’s first book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms When My Lab Tests Are Normal? quickly became the best-selling thyroid book.  It has been listed as the number-one selling thyroid book on Amazon since its release in October of 2009. Dr. Kharrazian earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York with honors and his Doctor of Chiropractic degree graduating with honors from Southern California University of Health Sciences, where he was distinguished with the Mindlin Honors at Entrance Award, the Dean’s List, and the Delta Sigma Award for Academic Excellence. He has earned a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport, a Master of Neurological Sciences from the Carrick Institute of Graduate Studies, and a Doctor of Health Science from Nova Southeastern University. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in health sciences with doctoral research in immunology at Nova Southeastern University. Be sure to like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

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Can your brain breathe?

Even though you can breathe normally your brain may not be getting enough oxygen. Lack of oxygen in the brain is not something the average person can recognize. However it can cause poor brain function and increase the risk of vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s. The brain can be hungry for oxygen years or decades before dementia sets in. Risk factors include high or low blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, smoking, alcoholism, and high cholesterol.

By learning to recognize symptoms you can take action to increase oxygenation of your brain, improve brain function, and reduce your risk of vascular dementia.

How to tell whether your brain can breathe

The brain contains one of the body’s most dense networks of blood vessels, which carry oxygen. It is very susceptible to any hindrances in blood flow. When the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the brain is hindered, brain cells die and the brain degenerates.

Many conditions can affect blood flow to the brain, things not normally associated with brain function. They include:

•Smoking

•Chronic inflammation (such as chronic pain, an autoimmune disease, or other inflammatory disorder)

•Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

•High blood sugar (insulin resistance)

•Hypothyroidism

•Diabetes

•Anemia

•Chronic stress

•Aging

Symptoms that may alert you to poor flow of blood and oxygen to the brain include cold hands and feet, becoming easily fatigued, brain fog, erectile dysfunction, and chronic toenail and fingernail fungus.

How to help your brain breathe better

Two of the most effective ways to oxygenate the brain are to lower inflammation and stabilize blood sugar. An anti-inflammatory diet is designed to lower overall inflammation in the body, which can boost blood flow to the brain. Be sure to eat a hearty breakfast with protein, eat regularly enough to avoid blood sugar lows (but avoid overeating), and avoid foods that spike your blood sugar, such as sweets or refined carbohydrates. Just focusing on an anti-inflammatory whole foods diet can go a long way to improving blood flow to the brain.

Certain herbs improve oxygenation to the brain. They include Ginkgo biloba, vinpocetine, and Butcher’s broom.

How to exercise to improve blood flow to the brain

Exercise is a great way to improve overall blood flow. High-intensity interval training in particular dilates blood vessels, lowers inflammation, and improves blood flow to the brain. This involves reaching your maximum heart rate with just a short but vigorous burst of exercise, resting, and repeating. It’s important, however, to work within your ability and avoid overtraining or you’ll negate the benefits. Even just a few minutes of high-intensity exercise can improve blood flow in the brain.

Improving blood flow to the brain may also include managing hypothyroidism, anemia, or other conditions. The book Why Isn’t My Brain Working? by Datis Kharrazian covers the topic of brain oxygenation. Ask my office for advice on improving brain health.

PRI Nutrition Plans and Physiotherapy Guided Exercises Programs provide cutting-edge techniques designed to maintain your brain healthy and reverse disease.

Seeking results? Contact PRI clinic. To book an appointment, please call or follow these links.

Tel: (416) 477-1101

E-mail: reception@priclinic.com

Web: www.priclinic.com

[healthinsurcover]

Thyroid Disease Symptoms, Signs & Treatment

Aimee McNew

It is estimated that 20 million Americans have a thyroid problem, and that 12 percent of the general population will develop a thyroid disease in their lifetime. (1) Those numbers only continue to grow. Autoimmune hypothyroidism, or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is the most common autoimmune disorder that exists, primarily affecting women.

So what is causing the little butterfly organ at the base of the neck to be such a widespread problem?

The Thyroid: What It Is and What It Does

The thyroid is a small endocrine, or “hormone producing,” gland that sits at the base of the throat, with two “wings” that sit on either side of the windpipe.

The thyroid is responsible for producing triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), the two main thyroid hormones. T4 is the inactive reserve form that is converted to T3 as the body needs it for energy and metabolism. The thyroid makes hormones when prompted from the pituitary gland, which is located in the brain.

Are you struggling with a Thyroid condition? We’ve created a FREE guide that shows you how you can heal your thyroid. Click here to grab your copy!

The thyroid is well known for being associated with metabolism, but it is responsible for much more than just the ability to lose weight. While it does regulate how the body uses energy—which is why a low-functioning thyroid can have symptoms of extreme fatigue, and those with an overactive thyroid might experience restlessness or an inability to sleep—the thyroid also influences how effectively the brain, heart, muscles, liver, adrenal glands, and reproductive organs function.

How the Thyroid Gets Messed Up

The thyroid, like all endocrine organs, is very sensitive to the overall environment of the body. It can be especially sensitive to stressors and other issues, like inflammation, viral infections, or major hormone changes from pregnancy or menopause.

It is possible for people of any age or gender to experience thyroid problems, but the most common issues are seen in women over the age of 30.

Typical triggers for thyroid disease include:

Infection with a virus such as Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, or certain members of the herpes virus family

Genetics, including a family history of anyone with an autoimmune disorder of any kind or thyroid problems

Pregnancy and postpartum changes

Environmental triggers like toxins or chemical exposure

Food allergy or sensitivity

Effects from another autoimmune or chronic condition, like celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or fibromyalgia

While there may be other causes of an initial onset of thyroid disease, these are the most commonly found.

Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease

Hyperthyroidism occurs when the thyroid produces too many hormones, resulting in cells that are overstimulated. This effect passes throughout the body and can result in a heart that is also overstimulated, resulting in an increased heart rate. It can also result in feelings or symptoms of manic, anxiety, and an inability to be still and rest.

The thyroid has a lot to do with the quality of the mind, and an overactive thyroid often contributes to an inability to concentrate or to slow thoughts down. Thyroid disorders can often be misdiagnosed as mental or brain disorders because of how profoundly it impacts mood and stability.

An overactive thyroid can have its roots in hormone overproduction that is due to non-autoimmune reasons (like medication side effects, viral infections, or toxicity), or which are rooted in an immune system gone rogue, when the immune system produces antibodies to attack the thyroid.

Hormone overproduction from medications can cause an overactive thyroid.

Autoimmune hyperthyroidism is referred to as Graves’ disease. When the immune system is triggered, it attacks the thyroid and causes inflammation that enlarges the gland, resulting in higher levels of thyroid hormones than the body requires.

One of the common symptoms associated with Graves’ disease is an inflamed eye condition referred to as proptosis, where the tissue surrounding the eyes swells and causes the eyeballs to appear to bulge forward. This is reversible if treated early.

Hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease are diagnosed by blood tests, and are typically treated with radioactive iodine or antithyroid medications.

Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid produces too few hormones, resulting in cells that are not receiving enough energy and end up in a slowed or sluggish state that can include mental symptoms like depression and weight gain without lifestyle changes.

An underactive thyroid can be caused by non-autoimmune reasons such as pregnancy or postpartum hormone changes, viral infections, medication side effects, or other reactions, or can be a result of an immune attack, resulting in autoimmune disease.

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, or autoimmune hypothyroidism, is the most common autoimmune disorder that exists, impacting roughly 14 million people, although many experts suspect that there are millions of people who are not getting proper diagnoses. (2)

The immune system responds to proteins in the thyroid gland that it mistakenly targets as foreign, slowly destroying the gland. In some people, the thyroid will completely cease to function, but in others, if diagnosed soon enough, autoimmune causes can be treated, and the disease can be paused or sent into remission. The result may be a partially functioning gland.

Hashimoto’s is diagnosed by blood tests, and in some cases, ultrasound or CT scan. It is often treated with lifestyle modifications to remove offending triggers, and can be modulated with thyroid hormone replacement.

Symptoms of Thyroid Dysfunction

The symptoms of a dysfunctional thyroid are wide and varied, and for most, take many years to become fully apparent. It can sometimes take many years, or even a decade, to get a full diagnosis, since symptoms of thyroid disease can overlap with numerous other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and adrenal problems.

Common symptoms of an underactive thyroid may include:

Fatigue or excessive tiredness

Intolerance of cold, or feeling significantly colder than everyone else in the room

Cold extremities or poor circulation

Low pulse

Dry skin

Hair loss on the head and eyebrows

Brittle nails

Constipation

Weight gain and inability to lose weight

Intolerance of exercise or exertion

Poor concentration and memory

Inability to stay asleep or fall into restful sleep, despite fatigue

Depression

Symptoms of an overactive thyroid can include:

Nervousness

Irritability

Poor concentration and memory

Feeling excessively warm, warmer than everyone in the room, or having hot flashes

Increased heart rate

Diarrhea or irritable bowels

Insomnia or inability to relax and fall asleep

Weight loss without effort

Bulging eyes

Anxiety or panic attacks

Thinning hair

Reduced or irregular menstrual cycle

For some, many of these symptoms will appear, but for others, only one or two prominent symptoms will appear.

Foods to Eat for Thyroid Health

While there can be conflicting opinions as to which foods are specifically good for the thyroid, the general assumption is that fresh, unprocessed foods are beneficial, while processed foods are best avoided.

A diet rich in clean, free-range proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables and fruits is the best way to naturally support hormone function.

Proteins: The thyroid needs the right amount of protein for blood sugar balance and energy, so it’s essential to consume protein regularly. As a nutritionist who specializes in thyroid conditions, I recommend protein with every meal. 10 to 15 grams of protein is a good baseline, but some people need significantly more.

Fats: Thyroid issues can be triggered by inflammation and can also contribute to increased inflammation. Healthy fats are highly anti-inflammatory, and should be consumed regularly. Coconut oil, avocado oil, and oils from fatty, wild-caught fish should be part of a healing diet for any thyroid disorder.

Carbohydrates: While super low-carb diets may be therapeutic for some conditions, thyroid disorders require carbohydrates. The thyroid requires a certain level of carbohydrates and glucose to synthesize hormones. While these can primarily be achieved from vegetables and fruits, they should be consumed in higher quantities than are typically found in low-carb or ketogenic diets.

Foods to Avoid for Thyroid Health

Goitrogens get a bad rap in the thyroid community because they are reputed to reduce the thyroid’s ability to make hormones. The thyroid needs iodine, and it is suggested by some thyroid practitioners that goitrogens interfere with the ability of the thyroid to access iodine.

Foods that are considered to be goitrogens include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Other goitrogens are flax seeds, peanuts, soy, spinach, strawberries, and sweet potatoes.

Goitrogens like Brussels sprouts might not be as bad for the thyroid as previously thought.

Dr. Datis Kharrazian, a well-respected expert in the thyroid community, explains that thyroid enlargement is not caused by goitrogens in foods, but rather from inflammation in general. Unfortunately, many thyroid patients avoid eating all goitrogens and miss out on the anti-inflammatory benefits of cruciferous vegetables, which also help to remove toxins and chemicals from the body that can, in some cases, be causes of autoimmunity in the first place.

Instead of avoiding these healthy vegetables, thyroid patients should instead focus on avoiding foods that can trigger immune sensitivity and cause inflammation. These foods can include:

Processed foods of any kind

Sugar (even natural and artificial sweeteners)

Vegetable oils

Refined carbohydrates

Grains, especially wheat and gluten

Soy

Dairy

Legumes

Because the Paleo diet naturally excludes many of these foods already, it has become a go-to therapeutic food plan for anyone suffering from thyroid conditions.

Lifestyle Factors and Thyroid Health

The thyroid—and all endocrine organs—are extremely sensitive to sources of toxins and chemicals. While food can be a major source of this, chemicals from cosmetics, environmental sources, households, work spaces, and numerous other outside sources can accumulate in the body and contribute to inflammation, chronic conditions, and hormone imbalances.

When it comes to addressing thyroid health, it’s best to avoid synthetic ingredients of all kinds—especially in cosmetics or personal care products that touch the skin and can get absorbed.

Supplements for Thyroid Health

Many patients dealing with thyroid disorders feel desperate to find relief. Supplements can be an alluring option since many make claims to provide relief or support for the thyroid.

While some supplements can definitely be beneficial, it’s essential to run any supplements by a practitioner who is skilled in thyroid wellness. Below I’ve addressed some of the most common supplements recommended for thyroid conditions.

Iodine: Many holistic practitioners recommend iodine to anyone with symptoms of thyroid disorders. This practice should be seriously questioned, however, since supplemental iodine can worsen autoimmunity. When iodine is consumed naturally from food sources, like sea vegetables, it can be highly beneficial. But in supplement form, when it lacks the other whole food components, it can increase inflammation in the thyroid.

Selenium: Selenium is one of the nutrients required by the thyroid to synthesize hormones. It is found naturally in foods like Brazil nuts, sardines, grass-fed beef, and chicken. It could be argued that anyone eating a Paleo diet will consume an ample amount of food-sourced selenium and does not need to take extra. However, in some cases of extreme deficiency, a practitioner may recommend a short course of supplemental selenium.

Magnesium: A mineral that is a common deficiency, magnesium is required for the conversion of T4 into the active T3. Without enough magnesium, thyroid hormone levels will likely not appear normal. Magnesium is found in foods such as leafy greens, avocado, dark chocolate, and seafood, and again, will typically be regularly consumed on a Paleo diet. But since deficiency is common, a high-quality magnesium citrate or magnesium glycinate supplement can often be beneficial for thyroid conditions.

Turmeric: Highly anti-inflammatory, turmeric is a potent medicinal supplement and food that is often beneficial for chronic conditions, including thyroid disorders. While it’s not safe for everyone (pregnant women and those on blood thinners should not take turmeric), it can be integrated into the diet and does not necessarily need to be consumed in capsule form.

Medication & Hormone Replacement

Many thyroid conditions are treated medically. For some, this can take the edge off of numerous unpleasant and life-altering symptoms, but when thyroid problems are due to autoimmunity, medication alone will not be enough to reverse or completely remove symptoms.

Graves’ disease or hyperthyroidism can often be treated with thyroid blockers or radioactive iodine to downregulate the thyroid’s hormone production.

Hormone replacement therapy can help treat hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can often be treated with thyroid hormone replacement. There are a number of prescription medications available, most of which are either T3 or T4 (or a combination of both). Thyroid medication dosing is a temperamental process and there is rarely a one-size-fits-all dosage that works. Thyroid patients need regular monitoring of their levels to ensure that dosage is meeting needs, and not artificially creating hyperthyroid conditions.

Hormone replacement is often a long-term process, especially when Hashimoto’s has destroyed part or all of the thyroid. It’s essential for thyroid patients to work with their practitioner to find a hormone replacement plan that makes them feel well. Sometimes one medication won’t work, and the patient will actually feel worse. Expert thyroid practitioners will use their patients’ feelings as well as lab results to seek out a hormone replacement plan that is effective.

7-Day Thyroid Meal Plan

Day 1

Breakfast: Zucchini Fritters with Kale and Mushroom Sausage Patties Lunch: Sweet Honey-Baked Salmon with Baked Butternut Squash Dinner: Crockpot Rosemary Citrus Chicken with Cauliflower Mashers

Day 2

Breakfast: Salmon Eggs Benedict with Sweet Potato Muffins Lunch: Rainbow Turkey Salad Dinner: Coconut-Crusted Chicken Fingers with No Potato Salad

Day 3

Breakfast: Savory Zucchini Pancakes with Bacon and Chives Lunch: Chicken Mango Lettuce Wraps Dinner: Avocado Bacon Burger with Cajun Sweet Potato Fries

Day 4

Breakfast: Double-Meat Breakfast Burrito Lunch: Salmon Burgers with Mango Jicama Slaw Dinner: Crockpot Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Soup with Paleo Dinner Rolls

Day 5

Breakfast: Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus Dipped in Soft-Boiled Eggs Lunch: Taco Soup with Ground Beef Dinner: One-Pan Maple Dijon Chicken and Brussels Sprouts

Day 6

Breakfast: Bacon and Spinach Frittata Lunch: One-Pan Lemon and Herb Chicken Dinner: Mashed Garlic Cauliflower and Meatballs with Roasted Asparagus

Day 7

Breakfast: BLT Breakfast Lunch: Mushroom-Onion Hasselback Chicken with Brussels Sprout and Apple Salad Dinner: Tangy Sweet Pork Chops with Beet Purée

(Read This Next: The Thyroid-Sleep Connection)

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So I had two days where I had more energy than I’ve had in a while. I used those two days to get a lot down around the house. Man did I pay for it later. Yesterday was a really bad fatigue day. I even took a nap in the middle of the day. I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Then today I was still pretty fatigued. Even now as I’m typing my hands are already tired. My muscles can’t endure a lot these days. Usually I make these posts on my phone but I thought that typing on the computer would be easier. Maybe not. 

I was so tired today I was out of breath from standing in the shower. I’ve been holding onto things to keep myself up all day whenever I was standing. Most of the day I’ve been either sitting or lying in bed. 

I’ve been getting really concerned about my brain and mental function lately. The brain fog is bad some days. I’ll stumble on my words, have a hard time thinking of the word I’m trying to say, take a long time to process things. It’s hard for me to concentrate on anything, even things that interest me. Even when I can concentrate on what I’m doing, it makes me so tired after only a short amount of time. 

During my research, I came across an article about brain fog. Some of it I already knew, like that brain fog means brain inflammation. Some of it I only learned today, like that a lot of early signs of brain degeneration (like that of Parkinson's and Alzheimers diseases) mimic symptoms of hypothyroidism. I don’t want to take any chances or wait until its too late. 

So, I ordered this book that looks really good called “Why Isn’t My Brain Working?” by Dr. Datis Kharrazian. It got really good reviews and it looks like it has information that can actually help people. I’m really excited to start reading it. I know it’s going to take me a long time to get through it and I’m going to have to take a lot of notes if I hope to remember anything I’m reading. 

Its so frustrating that I can’t retain information or understand it as easily as I used to. I’ve always loved learning and reading, especially in the sciences. I love science and reading about it makes me feel like I actually understand something important. Lately I can barely read a menu without getting overwhelmed and distracted. I do get into modes where I can do a lot of research, but even that I find myself skimming sometimes instead of thoroughly reading. For the most part I can focus enough on doing research on my illness. If it weren’t for that, I’d probably have no answers. All the answers I’ve found (mostly), I’ve found on my own. The internet really is an amazing tool when you know how to use it. 

I’m so tired all the time. I’m also so tired of feeling like I can’t function. Going from using my brain all the time and critically thinking, to barely being able to focus on a tv show has really done a number on my self esteem. Even when I was at a higher level of functioning, I still struggled. Chronic anxiety, depression, and OCD has always made it hard to do everything. 

I had an epiphany the other day. Actually, I’ve had many epiphanies recently, but I keep forgetting to write them down. So here’s me trying to keep a record of them. So my most recent one involves my health anxiety. Obviously there are reasons for me to have health anxiety and panic. However, especially now, I don’t feel the panic and anxiety that comes along with the thoughts. I realized that it is my OCD. I have OCD. Duh. It’s easy to forget that when you’ve had it virtually forever. The OCD makes me have these obsessive thoughts about my health. I used to think I was dying every time I felt some pain or a new sensation. Now I recognize things for what they are. Even still, sometimes I have to talk about it out loud for fear that something serious may happen. This is all OCD. It makes perfect sense. I forgot what triggered this epiphany but it was something I read during my research. 

Writing definitely helps, maybe more than I realize. It’s nice to have an outlet. It’s even nicer to have an outlet that isn’t easily accessible by my family. I know people might read this, and I know that some of my friends have my tumblr and might read this, but I don’t mind. What’s really nice is that there’s no expectations. I can just write how I’m feeling. No one is reading this that I see every day or that may read something a bit depressing that I write and immediately have a red flag go up and confront me about it. It’s just an outlet. It’s nice to have somewhere to just write everything that I’m feeling without worrying about censoring myself or worrying about anyone’s feelings.