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![3D"Cold](3D"http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1102248019695/img/49.jpg") Living
with Hypothyroid
Is it cold? Or is it just me? The thyroid glan=
d is
the thermostat for the body by regulating the hormones that use energy =
and
burn calories. If your thyroid isn't working properly it can make you f=
eel
more than just cold.
&nbs=
p;
Common symptoms of low thyroid function are:
· &n=
bsp;
Fatigue, weakness <=
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bsp;
Inability to handle cold =
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bsp;
Weight gain =
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bsp;
Loss of appetite
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bsp;
Dry skin
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bsp;
Headaches
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bsp;
Muscle cramps
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Depression <=
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bsp;
Constipation
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bsp;
Lifeless hair
· &n=
bsp;
Difficulty concentrating, poor
memory
![3D"Tired](3D"http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1102248019695/img/48.jpg") It
is estimated that this condition affects millions of people, most of wh=
ich
are women, generally between the ages of 30 - 50. In it's most
extreme, low thyroid can become Hashimoto's disease, where the body's i=
mmune
system actually attacks the thyroid gland.
I have received many calls lately from customers that have
been recently diagnosed with low thyroid or hypothyroid from their
doctor. The question is usually "Are there
are healthy, natural ways to improve thyroid
function?" The answer is YES! Natural
solutions include adding coconut oil or milk to your diet, as well as
increasing your iodine intake from healthy foods.
(On our website is a great article, 5 Steps To A Healthy
Thyroid, which includes a couple interesting self tests, if you're
curious.)
=
Natural
Solutions
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil stimulates natural thyroid
function. Most people are immediately alarmed because of the=
bad
hype coconut oil received years ago, which still hangs over the
name. But money- oriented negative "hype"&nbs=
p;
is exactly what it was. This bad rap originated from the vegetable
oil industry who felt threatened because of the incredible benefits coc=
onut
oil offers, as opposed to the detrimental effects of their own veg=
etable
oil products...and of course, because hydrogenated oil is cheap!&n=
bsp;
Health experts agree that at least 30% of your daily
nutritional intake should come from healthy fats. (Emphasis is on=
the
word "healthy"). Coconut oil is a perfect way to fulfill
this nutritional need.
Yes, coconut oil is high is saturated fat, but d=
on't
let that scare you. Not all saturated fats are alike. Becau=
se
of the structure of coconut oil, the body burns it faster, an=
d it
is more easily digested than other fatty acids. Plus, it
assists in giving energy to the liver and lymph system.
One of the powerful anti-viral and anti-microbial
benefits of coconut oil comes from lauric acid. This fatty a=
cid
promotes healthy bones and aids in brain development. People who =
consume
coconut oil experience less sickness, balanced weight control, pro=
per
cholesterol levels, and better digestion. Lauric acid benefits
include relief for high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabete=
s.
Coconut Oil Promotes Weight Loss
Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid. It does not
circulate in the bloodstream like other fats. It goes directly to=
the
liver and is immediately used to produce energy, rather than be stored =
as
fat, speeding up the body's metabolism. So, if you=
're
one of the many thyroid sufferers dealing with stubborn weight gai=
n,
this powerful oil can help promote weight loss, not encourage=
it.
The recommended daily dose for an adult is 2-3 tablespoons=
per
day, preferably taken with meals. Coconut oil is shelf stable and doesn=
't
need to be refrigerated. It is not destroyed by heat and will not becom=
e a
trans fat when heated, so it's fabulous for cooking. If you're not awar=
e of
the detrimental health effects of vegetable oils, read our article
on vegetable oils/trans fats: Trans Fat and Vegetable Oils
What about Coconut Milk?
Coconut milk is a great dairy-free alternative for pe=
ople
who are lactose intolerant. What we're refering to is not the liq=
uid
that is inside a coconut. Coconut diluted milk is the c=
ream
that is pressed from the flesh of a coconut. You can generally fi=
nd
it in stores in the ethnic foods section, or you can make it
yourself. Try to avoid "thin"
or "light" versions as they contain less lauric
acid.
To make coconut milk, take the white meat from the in=
side
of the coconut (peel off the brown skin attached to the meat), cut it i=
nto
small pices and put it in the blender. Add
enough boiling water to cover all the meat. Blend until
finely grated. Cover a bowl with cheesecloth and pour the
mixture into the cheesecloth. Squeeze it to extract as
much of the liquid as possible. This should yield one to two
cups of coconut milk per coconut used. Discard the coc=
onut
meat, and refrigerate the coconut milk. It will o=
nly
last 1-2 days, so drink up!
This yummy milk can be added to smoothies, soups or your
favorite curry recipe. At the end of this article is one of =
my
favorite soup recipes using coconut milk, Thai Chicken and Coconut
Milk Soup, also known as Tom Ka Gai.
Iodine
Iodine is required by the body to help form the thyroid hormone. Recent
studies show more than 50% of the population has low iodine levels.&nbs=
p;
Iodine is important as it helps to increase cellular metabolism,
metabolize fat, and protect the body from the affects of radiation.
Too little iodine can cause goiter and low thyroid problem=
s.
Certain foods in high amounts can act as goitrogens. The
term goitrogen refers to foods that suppress thyroid function
and inhibit the body from correctly absorbing iodine. The followin=
g is
a list of foods that if eaten raw in amounts of more than 4 cups=
a
week can cause problems. Please note that cooking these vegetables
deactivates the iodine blockers.
- Spinach
- broccoli
- Cabbage
- Brussel
Sprouts
- Mustard
Greens
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Lima
Beans
- Rutabaga
- Turnips
- Sweet
Potatoes
- Kohlrabi
- Radishes
Other foods that may also act as goitrogens are millet, ca=
nola
or rapeseed oil, peanuts, pine nuts and soybeans or tofu. Soy is =
very
high in iodine blockers. Please see our website article on the da=
ngers
of soy: Soy: Health or Hype?
Other iodine blockers are:
- Chlorine
- added to water supplies
- Fluoride
- added to water supplies
- Bromine
- a dough conditioner used in baked goods and bottled drinks<=
/o:p>
Foods like seaweed or sea vegetables known under the names=
of
Dulce, Arame, Kelp, Wakame, and Nori (most commonly known as the wrappi=
ng
for sushi rolls) are naturally high in beneficial iodine and help to re=
move
heavy metals from the body. One of my favorite ways to add a little zin=
g to
soups and salads and increase my iodine intake is to make Japanese sea
salt, called Gomashio. It tastes great and is simple to
make. (Recipe below)
We hope you will explore some of these effective and
healthy solutions for underactive thyroid. Once again,=
nature
has provided an array of solutions that are proven to help lessen the
fatigue, depression, aches and pains, chills, and sleeplessness this
condition brings. And unlike drugs, which only alleviate the
symptoms, natural solutions go to work at the root cause,
offering you the potential for permanent relief. =
Be
sure to take advantage of this month's special on our Fulvic Mineral
complex. It's one of the most powerful tools available for
detoxing the thyroid. We have many customers who have r=
eversed
thyroid problems using fulvic, one of which is Jody Ahrens, CEO of Vital
Earth Minerals. You can read how she did it at:=
Jody's Story
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![3D"Vital](3D"March2010_files/image001.jpg")
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