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5 Steps to a Healthy Thyroid
Naturally Repair and Restore Proper Thyroid Function

Do you think you may be one of the 13 million people in the United States with an undiagnosed thyroid condition? What do you do? There is a simple self-test that you can perform to see if your thyroid might be malfunctioning.  This thyroid self-test is not intended to replace a visit to your healthcare practitioner; you may use this tool as a starting place to discuss your issue with your practitioner. You will need an ordinary thermometer to perform this self-test.

1. Upon waking, while still in bed, place thermometer under armpit for 10 minutes
2. Normal temperature is between 97.8 and 98.2
3. Less than 97.8 indicates low thyroid
4. Above 98.2 may indicate hyperthyroidism

You should administer this self-test every morning for at least 7 days. Record your temperatures each day for evaluation.

Many hypothyroids are due to iodine deficiency. There is another self-test you can perform to determine if you’re iodine deficient.

1. Paint a 1” diameter area of 2% iodine solution on your skin where it won’t show (inner thigh is good)
2. The iodine stain will remain for about 24 hours
3. If the iodine disappears sooner, you may have an iodine deficiency.  Note:  Hashimoto’s victims should not take extra iodine as it can attack the thyroid. Once again, this information is not to be used in lieu of a visit with your healthcare practitioner, it is meant to be used as educational or to open dialog with your practitioner.

Once you have determined that perhaps your thyroid is not working as it should there are a few things you can do to naturally restore proper thyroid function.  The five steps outlined below offer natural alternatives to help restore proper thyroid function. These steps are not intended to replace advice from your health care practitioner.

Step One:  Detox
Various toxins are known to cause thyroid problems. Eliminating chlorinated water, soda pop, fluorine and fluoride are important first steps to eliminating toxins. Eat organic so you are not ingesting pesticides and herbicides. Fulvic Mineral Complex is a natural detoxer which removes heavy metals and environmental toxins from your body in a safe and natural manner.  It is best to start slow with this powerful detoxer.  It is best to start with one half ounce and gradually work up to one or two ounces per day.

Step Two:  Diet
 A healthy diet is critical for proper thyroid function.  It is important to eliminate all processed foods, food additives, preservatives, artificial colorings, hydrogenated oils, Monosodium Glutamate (MSG), caffeine, refined white flour, and sugar.  Soy is also a poison to the thyroid and must be avoided. Fermented soy is the only safe form of soy. Hypothyroids should limit their intake of cruciferous vegetables, (broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower) as they suppress thyroid function if consumed too frequently and eaten raw.  Three or four servings of raw cruciferous vegetables per week should be ok. Cooking cruciferous vegetables removes the goitrogenic properties so they don’t suppress thyroid function. Try to eat as many of your fruits and vegetables raw when possible.  The enzymes from living foods help the body to maintain proper metabolism.  When food is heated above 118 degrees, the enzymes are destroyed.

Foods that should be eaten include:  quality proteins like free range chicken and turkey, wild caught salmon, sardines and eggs.  Red meats should be limited or avoided. If you eat red meats make sure they are from organic free range livestock. Legumes like kidney beans, lentils and black beans are good but avoid lima beans.  Leafy greens and organic vegetables are a good healthy choice.  Radishes have been shown to improve thyroid function.  Organic fruit is good but avoid peaches, pears and strawberries if you are hypothyroid as they suppress thyroid function.  Sea vegetables (seaweeds) are great for hypothyroid due to their iodine content.  Coconut oil has been shown to be beneficial to thyroid.  Coconut oil and olive oil are the only safe oils to use regardless of thyroid condition.

Many people do not understand what processed food is.  If it comes in a box, or package, it is probably processed. Organic produce is best because it is pesticide and herbicide free.  Organic produce has also been proven to contain more nutrients than traditionally grown produce grown with synthetic fertilizers.

Step Three: Aim for Alkalinity
Neutralizing the acids in your body and eliminating acid-forming substances from your diet will give your thyroid a chance to heal.  Vital Earth’s Fulvic Mineral Complex is an alkaline product that helps to remove acid from body fluids.  Avoiding caffeine, sugar, and processed foods will also help alkalize your body as will eating plenty of leafy greens.  Deep breathing exercises also help make your body alkaline.  As your acid levels fall, your thyroid function will improve.  Research has shown that disease (of any type) cannot thrive in an alkaline environment. 

Step Four: Exercise
When you are not feeling great, exercise is the last thing you think you can do.  Stress and emotional events (such as death or illness of a loved one) are known causes of thyroid malfunction.  Exercise is the best known form of stress relief.  Yoga, and Tai Chi are non strenuous forms of exercise have been proven to help restore thyroid function and reduce stress.  Walking is another good form of exercise. Meditation is also very beneficial to the thyroid health. 

Step Five: Supplementation
Proper nourishment is crucial for a healthy thyroid.  Unfortunately, it is difficult to get all the nutrients you need by diet alone.  Traditionally raised crops are lacking nutrients not to mention they are loaded with pesticides and herbicides; which is why eating organic is so important.  Chances are if you have a thyroid problem, you also have some form of nutrient deficiency.  There are several supplements shown to improve thyroid function.
Supplements for thyroid:

• Vital Earth’s Fulvic Mineral Complex – Detoxes and nourishes, helps with alkalinity

• Vital Earth’s Super Multi – Therapeutic strength multi-vitamin to nourish and replenish

• Vital Earth’s Neptune Krill Oil – Powerful Omega 3 and antioxidant

• Vital Earth’s Cal-Mag Liquid or Cal Mag Caps – Calcium is very alkalizing

• Vital Earth’s Vital Greens – Very alkalizing

• Guggulsterone– From the Indian herb Commiphora Mokul can increase the concentration of thyroid hormones in the blood.

• DHEA–Low DHEA levels are generally found with low thyroid

• Thyrosine – Poor quality protein intake or conversion problems during digestion can limit tyrosine intake

• Natural thyroid glandulars – Used for hypothyroidism, the best glandulars come from livestock raised organically in New Zealand.

• Zinc– Thyroid or hypothyroids are generally low in zinc

A healthy thyroid is attainable if you work at it. The five steps listed above are guidelines to help you follow a natural approach to thyroid health.  These steps are not intended to replace your healthcare practitioner’s recommendations.  These guidelines are intended to help you reach maximum thyroid health.

“Vital Greens in combination with Cal-Mag,
Super Multi and Fulvic Minerals makes me more energized, better mental clarity, and I can tell
my immune system is stronger, I no longer
fear sickness!” – Tia R.
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Vital Earth Minerals offers maximum absorption, liquid fulvic ionic minerals, a high potency liquid multi-vitamin, liquid joint/arthritis support, highly absorbable liquid calcium/magnesium, as well as a living "Greens" formula in capsule form, and Neptune Krill essential fatty acids, all formulated for superior utilization and effectiveness.