8 Secrets to Cure Hypothyroidism… and other hormone problems

by Dr. Josh Axe on June 25, 2013

Every week I get questions about hormone imbalance and a slow metabolism.  These are conditions that are chronically plaguing both men and women all across america.   What causes most of these issues?  Problems with the thyroid.

And here I am going to tell you the best natural remedies and natural cures for the thyroid.

Did you know that according to the United States National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health, an estimated 27 million Americans suffer from thyroid disease? Not only that but 13 million of these sufferers are currently undiagnosed. Additionally, the risk of thyroid disease increases as you age and women are seven times more likely than men to be diagnosed with thyroid issues.

The thyroid is a small gland which can be found in the middle of the lower neck that produces a hormone that impacts each and every cell, organ and tissue in the human body. The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating body temperature and the heart rate as well as the production of protein and controlling the rate of your metabolism.

The causes of thyroid issues can be varied, but the 4 most common causes are:

1. Toxicity: Radiation and Heavy Metal exposure

2. Deficiency: In Iodine and Selenium

3. Food Intolerance: Gluten and A1 Casein Allergy

4. Hormone Imbalance – High Cortisol from stress, too many carbs, too little fat in diet.

In just a minute I will discuss the top ways to cure your thyroid problem but let’s first see if you potentially have a thyroid problem.

An underactive thyroid, hypothyroidism, is when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone and an overactive thyroid, hyperthyroidism, is when the vital gland produces too much of the needed regulatory hormone.

Extreme fatigueDepressionForgetfulnessWeight gainIrritabilityNervousnessMuscle weaknessUnexplainable weight lossVision and eye issuesSleep disturbances and problems

Although these are the symptoms associated with thyroid issues, either type of thyroid problem is very difficult to diagnose without a proper urine or blood test.

Dr. Brownstein says, “The commonly used iodine spot skin test is useless. It’s better to get a “spot urinary iodine test” – which test your morning urine to see how much iodine is present. Or, you can take a “24 hour iodine loading test” – which gives you a pretty good idea how much iodine has been excreted and retained. Bottom line: get tested and consult a qualified, holistic medical professional.”

According to Dr. Datis Kharrazian, 90% of people with hypothyroidism have Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune hypothyroid condition, whereby the immune system attacks thyroid tissue. Therefore, to cure thyroid disease, or any autoimmune condition, you have to get to the source of the imbalance; not suppress the symptoms as is done with medication.

Most often thyroid conditions are treated with pharmaceutical’s like Synthroid, which have damaging side effects to your overall health.  The great news is there are all-natural remedies that can help support thyroid function!

So lets talk about the top 7 things you MUST do to cure your thyroid for good.

Here are the 8 Secrets to fixing your thyroid issues:

1. Go Gluten and A1 Casein FREE – the most common allergies and food intolerances today are from wheat and dairy products because of the hybridized proteins of gluten and a1 casein.  These proteins can cause “Leaky Gut” which in turn will cause inflammation of the thyroid and effect it’s function.  Follow a grain-free diet or at least go gluten free.  Then only consume dairy products that come from A2 cows, goat milk, or sheep milk.

2. NO BPA – Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in plastic bottles and can disrupt your endocrine system and effect your thyroid.  I recommend only drinking out of glass, stainless steel, or BPA free plastic bottles.

3. Check Your Iodine Levels – If they are low use a kelp or organic liquid iodine supplement.

4. Heavy Metal Detox - I recommend using a combination of Milk Thistle, Turmeric, Chlorella, and Cilantro to detox these harmful metals from your cells and organs.

5. More Selenium – Make sure you’re getting enough selenium in your diet but also don’t go overboard.  Some of the best selenium containing foods are brazil nuts, salmon, sunflower seeds, beef, mushrooms and onions.

6. Adaptogen Supplements – Can lower cortisol levels and improve thyroid function like Ashwagandha and Tulsi.

7. Silver Fillings Removal – if you have amalgam fillings talk with a DAMS mercury safe dentist about proper removal.

8. Lower Carbohydrate Intake - Lower your intake of sugars and grains and replace them with healthy fats.  Most women especially consume far to many carbs which increase estrogen and negatively effect the thyroid.  Instead consume healthy fats that will balance hormones like: coconut oil, coconut milk, avocado, grass-fed beef, wild salmon, chia, flaxseeds, and hemp seeds.

Sources:

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Recipe: Gambas Al Ajillo

Cook up this classic and simple Spanish dish to start fixing your own tapas at home!

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Maximize Your Health – June 9, 2013

by Dr. Josh Axe on June 24, 2013

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Sweet Alkalizer

This one is loaded with nutrition. It's simple and tasty, yet still is a very good alkalizer.

1 Apple

3 Carrots

5 stalks Celery

1 handful Parsley

1/2 Lemon(optional)

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Alkalizing Smoothie

by Hugh
(Fairfax, CA)

This purple (vitamineral green turns it green) wonder is an amazing alkalizer with figs being one of the most alkaline fruits. The lettuce is also very alkaline and a good source of chlorophyll. I add the grapes for water content and they are alkaline as well. This makes a thick creamy sweet smoothie loaded with excellent nutrition. If you’re looking to alkalize this smoothie is for you.

2 baskets of ripe figs

1 head of romaine lettuce

½ pound of red grapes

1 handful of fresh sunflower sprouts (optional)

1” chunk of fresh ginger root (optional)

1 tablespoon of super green powder like Vitamineral Green (optional) The vitamineral Green is very alkaline also. This is great for traveling when you're not sure about the availability of fresh greens or you just want to make you're alkalized to balance out the acid nature of the stress from travelling.
Nutritional data:

Figs – highly alkaline, highly mineralized, laxative, intestinal cleanser, B1, B5, B6, beta carotene, calcium, copper, manganese, iron, calcium approx. 300 calories per pound

Lettuce (romaine, red leaf, butter, etc.) – vitamin rich, vitamin E, folate, vitamin C, B1, B2, vitamin K, copper, magnesium, potassium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, calcium appprox. 100 calories per pound

Grapes -(seeded varieties best) research today shows that grapes are a profound heart and blood vitalizing food. Red grapes contain the most resveratrol, antioxidants, quercetin and other polyphenols, which also keep blood platelets from sticking together, and they are also a great source of boron to prevent osteoporosis. Grapes contain anti-cancer phytonutrients and have been praised to help with varicose veins, inflammation, anemia and rheumatoid arthritis. Detoxifier, cleansing, iron, magnesium, boron, anti viral, cancer-preventative approx. 300 calories per pound

Sunflower sprouts - super food, rich in minerals, fats, complete protein, immune builder, vitamins D, E, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6

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Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, & Coronary Heart Disease

by Alysia
(APO, AE, Afghanistan)

Q Hello, I’m currently deployed to Afghanistan and I have been inspired by the documentary Fat Sick & Nearly Dead to do the raw food detox for 20 days now and I lost 22 pounds upon completion. I’m really interested in spreading the word starting with my mother. She isn’t the easiest person to influence and there is always an excuse for her not to do something.

So, before I present her with this idea, I want to be able to have a rebuttal to any excuse she might be ready to use in dissagreeance. Starting with her health problems, she has diabetes, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. She always says something about having too much fluid around her heart and lungs. How will this detox affect her physically? the next excuse would be "it costs too much to be healthy" I’m still calculating how much she spends a month on over processed foods then I’m going to compare that to the fruits and veggies she could be buying instead. She already has a juicer which is anywhere from 5 to 10 years old so I’ll buy her a new one if need be.

I just really want to hit her with all of the facts an why it’s such a great idea to follow thru on such a thing. She is 64 and has had 3 heart attacks so far and is a victim/prisoner to fad diets. I’ve got two books for her, 'fit for life' and 'raw food detox diet' I’m willing to spend as much money, time and effort in order to see my mom live past the age of her mother who is 83 and still kicking. Thank you for your response and time reading this; hope to hear from you soon.

A Congratulations on your weight loss and starting a new chapter in your life by improving your health Alysia. Sometimes trying to help others can be difficult, particularly if they happen to be family members. We can share our experience and support them in their actions, but ultimately they have to want it for themselves.

Your personal experience should have a positive impact on your mother and hopefully that along with your loving support will be enough to get her enthused. I think it’s important that you share with her how much you love her and that you want her around for many more years. Perhaps share former presidents Bill Clinton’s move to a vegan diet and what it’s done for him.

As far as her current health issues go, it’s been my experience that all these issues can be healed or reversed at least to some degree with a healthy raw food diet. Basically all of her issues are caused by the same two things, primarily detoxification, and second deficiency, both of which the raw diet will take care of over time. You may want to find a natural health care provider to monitor your mother as far as vitals and any medications she is currently taking.

Take a look at this question sent to me by a man with Diabetes to see the DVD I recommended for him. It might be very helpful for your mother to watch it and see what great results people are receiving from the raw food diet.

When you return home from your tour of duty you might consider spending a few weeks at a raw foods healing center with your mom. Hippocrates Health institute in Florida, Optimal Health Institute in California, and the Living Foods Institute in Georgia are just a few of the hundreds of raw food healing centers located throughout the USA. These healing centers have great education programs, they lend so much credibility to the diet, and it’s a chance to see real life miracles in the lives of those ahead of you in the program.

Please keep me posted as to you and your mothers progress.

Thanks for serving your country Alysia, you’re a true patriot.

Be Well and Wonderful, Hugh

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Which Protein is Better, Whey or Soy?

Whey Protein vs. Soy Protein: Which is the Best Choice?

With thousands of protein powders on the market it’s hard to know which one to choose. Let me start by saying protein supplements are for “supplementing” a diet that is already high in quality sources of protein.  that come from real foods like free-range eggs, poultry, wild caught fish, raw dairy, and grass-fed beef. Check out my superfood plate below for a breakdown of how much protein/fat/carbs I recommend and sources for each.

Real Food Superfood Plate

Now that you’re consuming high quality proteins as part of your diet, you have the green light to search out some quality protein powders.

The top 3 selling protein powders to date are whey, soy, and brown rice.  Let’s break down each one and talk about which one comes out on top.  But before we do that, let’s discuss what protein is and why you need it to get fit and healthy.

The word Protein comes from a Greek word meaning first priority or of first importance.  The Greeks were highly concerned with their physical health and appearance and knew the vital importance of protein in the diet.  Protein is essential to rebuilding cells and tissues, keeping fluids in balance, protecting enzyme functions, supporting nerve and muscle contraction as well as supporting the health of skin, hair and nails!

As more people today are becoming aware of the importance of protein in the diet and concerned with their physique, protein supplementation is becoming more and more popular, even for non-athletes.

One of the most popular protein supplements today is whey. According to a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, whey protein is a great way to increase muscle strength. Recently I’ve written about the benefits of whey protein supplementation, but I want to take it a step further and compare the pro’s and con’s of two very popular protein supplements; whey and soy protein supplements. I’ll also share the protein source I personally use.  Let’s get started with whey protein.

Whey proteins are globular proteins derived as a by product of cheese production.  It ‘s one of two types of proteins found in milk; whey and casein proteins. There are three types of whey protein. These are the following:

Concentrates – containing low level of fat and cholesterol, higher levels of bioactive compounds in the form of lactose.   This is the best and least processed form.

Isolates – the fat has been removed, lower in bio-activated compounds with a mild to milky taste and proteins can be denatured.

Hydro-isolates – with these the cost is higher, and they are less allergenic than the other forms of whey.  However, this is by far the most processed and proteins have been denatured.  I do not recommend this form of whey.

Whey protein is highly digestible and used in a number of common grocery store products.

Whey Protein is Found in:

MilkYogurtMeal replacement productsCheese

Whey protein is one of the most popular proteins used by athletes and bodybuilders alike for its muscle enhancing effects. It is theorized to help not only build muscle and enhance body composition but also to speed the recovery of broken down and stressed muscles (as occurs from exercise). This is attributed to the leucine found in whey protein.

In the study mentioned earlier by the British Journal of Nutrition, whey protein was found to contain “active components that are superior to amino acids for stimulating muscle protein synthesis and initiating translation.”

But these aren’t the only benefits of whey protein. In addition, numerous recent studies point to added health benefits of whey. Some of these include the following:

Appetite suppressionAnti-oxidant properties to fight free radical damagePreventing inherited allergiesReduced risk of heart disease, cancer and diabetes

Side Effects of Whey

As with most supplements, there are certain side effects from whey protein. Some of these side effects include gas, bloating, cramps, tiredness, fatigue, headaches and irritability.  Many of these side effects are blamed on the consumer of whey being lactose intolerant or from the added artificial sweeteners found in some whey protein powders. (Below I’ll explain what you MUST look for and what to avoid when buying a protein powder.)

There are a number of benefits to using a whey protein supplement and studies continue to mount supporting the above mentioned benefits of whey protein. Now let’s discuss soy protein supplementation.

Soy protein is derived from the soybean that has been dehulled and defatted. These dehulled and defatted soybeans are then processed into three forms:

Soy flourSoy concentratesSoy isolates

Soy protein has many uses and was not originally used as a food product but for paper coatings used as a pigment binder. Today, soy is used in many foods and other products as well.

Soy Protein is Found in:

Salad DressingsSoupsBeverage PowdersFrozen DesertsInfant FormulasBreadsBreakfast CerealsPet Foods

For a time, there were a number of health claims about soy protein. Some of these claims stated that soy protein consumption helped lower bad cholesterol, prevented heart disease and even fought off some cancers. However, more recent studies have indicated that many of these health claims are not only false but that there are serious concerns with concentrated soy protein consumption.

Health Concerns with Soy Protein

These concerns have to do with the phytoestrogens found in soy proteins, especially the concentrated soy proteins. Phytoestrogens mimic estrogen. The concern with this is that many people today are becoming estrogen dominated and this can be potentially hazardous to our health. Much of this estrogen dominance has been attributed to plastics that contain a form of estrogen that when heated and undergo extreme temperatures leach into the foods and beverages held in the plastics. When we consume the foods we consume the plastics.  High levels of estrogen have been associated with increased risk of certain cancers in both men and women.

This is my concern with adding more estrogen to the diet and with using soy supplements.

1. Sprouted Brown Rice Protein

I personally mix my protein sources. First, I aim to get the majority of my protein from high quality, organic food sources. When using a protein powder I rotate  between sprouted brown rice protein (Garden of Life) and a high quality whey protein concentrate (Teras Whey). I like raw sprouted brown rice protein because it’s a plant based protein, is easily digested and very few people are allergic to it– unlike whey.

If you’re considering adding a protein supplement to your diet, I recommend starting with 1 scoop Raw Brown Rice Protein (scroll to the bottom of the link to see more flavors) in your morning smoothie. This protein powder contains 17g of protein per serving and meets all seven guidelines I recommend in choosing any protein powder.

2. Whey Protein Concentrate

If you want to rotate your protein sources and add a good whey protein concentrate, I use Tera’s Whey (www.teraswhey.com).

In summary, let’s take a look at what the most important lessons of this article are:

Lessons Learned:

When buying Whey choose a “Whey Concentrate” as it’s the least processed form.Sprouted Brown Rice is superior to soy as a plant based protein.Whey and Rice do not run the risk of increased estrogen in the body as with a soy protein.Follow my seven rules for finding a high quality protein supplement.As always, use organic natural foods as your primary source of protein.

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/whey-protein/NS_patient-wheyprotein

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Whey-proteins-show-blood-pressure-lowering-powers/?utm_source=Newsletter_Product&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BProduct

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23257731

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23388415

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

View the original article here