HYPOTHYROIDISM IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF MERCURY POISONING

[Guest guest]

if u need your silver amalgam (mercury) fillings, etc... removed by a

biologic dentist at a price u can afford, let me know.

Torrie

www.bikerchick.freehomepage.com

858-279-5072

[Guest guest]

Please, Torrie, I'd like to know.

Pamela

Harleygyrl A Bikerchyck <aharleygyrl@...> wrote:

if u need your silver amalgam (mercury) fillings, etc... removed by a

biologic dentist at a price u can afford, let me know.

Torrie

www.bikerchick.freehomepage.com

858-279-5072

[Guest guest]

please look into this big time---you have to really prepare your body

when you take out the fillings---you can leak mercury into your body

big time if done wrong---and that would be much worse!!!!!!!!

> if u need your silver amalgam (mercury) fillings, etc... removed by

a

> biologic dentist at a price u can afford, let me know.

> Torrie

> www.bikerchick.freehomepage.com

> 858-279-5072

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thyroid Health: A Key to Weight Loss

By Cherie Calbom, M.S.

Many Americans suffer from symptoms such as cold hands and feet, low

body temperature, sensitivity to cold, a feeling of always being

chilled, headaches, insomnia, dry skin, puffy eyes, hair loss,

brittle nails, joint aches, constipation, mental dullness, fatigue,

frequent infections, hoarse voice, ringing in the ears, dizziness,

loss of libido, and weight gain, which is sometimes uncontrollable.

Approximately 65 percent of the U. S. population is overweight; 27

percent is clinically obese. Research is pointing to the fact that an

under active thyroid might be the number one cause of weight

problems, especially among women.

The Truth About Fats and Oils

Many dietary oils can negatively affect thyroid health. We cook with

them almost every day and they are plentiful in commercially prepared

foods. Expeller-pressed or solvent-extracted oils only became a major

part of the American diet in the last century. It is possible they

are among the worst offenders when it comes to the thyroid. They are

known as vegetable oils or polyunsaturated oils. The most common

source of these oils used in commercially prepared foods is the

soybean.

Large-scale cultivation of soybeans in the United States began after

World War II and quickly increased to 140 billion pounds per year.

Most of the crops are produced for animal feed and soy oil for

hydrogenated fats such as margarine and shortening. Today, it is

nearly impossible to eat at restaurants or buy packaged foods that

don't have soy oil in the ingredients. Often labels simply

state " vegetable oil. "

Ray Peat Ph.D., a physiologist who has worked with progesterone and

related hormones since 1968, says that the sudden surge of

polyunsaturated oils into the food chain post World War II has caused

many changes in hormones. He writes:

Their [polyunsaturated oils] best understood effect is their

interference with the function of the thyroid gland. Unsaturated oils

block thyroid hormone secretion, its movement in the circulatory

system, and the response of tissues to the hormone. When the thyroid

hormone is deficient, the body is generally exposed to increased

levels of estrogen. The thyroid hormone is essential for making

the `protective hormones' progesterone and pregnenolone, so these

hormones are lowered when anything interferes with the function of

the thyroid. The thyroid hormone is required for using and

eliminating cholesterol, so cholesterol is likely to be raised by

anything that blocks the thyroid function. (1)

There is a growing body of research concerning soy's detrimental

affect on the thyroid gland. Much of this research centers on the

phytoestrogens ( " phyto " means plant) that are found in soy. In the

1960s when soy was introduced into infant formulas, it was shown that

soy was goitrogenic and caused goiters in babies. When iodine was

supplemented, the incidence of goiter reduced dramatically.

However, a retrospective epidemiological study by Fort, et al. showed

that teenaged children with a diagnosis of autoimmune thyroid disease

were significantly more likely to have received soy formula as

infants (18 out of 59 children; 31 percent) when compared to healthy

siblings (nine out of 76, 12 percent) or control group children

(seven out of 54; 13 percent). (2)

When healthy individuals without any previous thyroid disease were

fed 30 grams of pickled soybeans per day for one month, Ishizuki, et

al. reported goiter and elevated individual thyroid stimulating

hormone (TSH) levels (although still within the normal range) in

thirty-seven healthy, iodine-sufficient adults.

One month after stopping soybean consumption, individual TSH values

decreased to the original levels and goiters were reduced in size. (3)

For more information about the effects of soy in the modern diet, see

the Weston A. Price foundation Web site:

http://www.westonaprice.org/soy/index.html

Coconut Oil: A Healthy Choice

Traditionally, polyunsaturated oils such as soybean oil have been

used for livestock feed because they cause the animals to gain

weight. These oils are made up of what is known as long chain fatty

acids--the kind of fatty acids that promote weight gain. (4)

Coconut oil, on the other hand, is a saturated fat made up primarily

of medium chain fatty acids. Also known as medium chain triglycerides

(MCTs), medium chain fatty acids are known to increase metabolism and

promote weight loss. Coconut oil can also raise basal body

temperatures while increasing metabolism. This is good news for

people who suffer with low thyroid function. There have been scores

of testimonies to this effect.

One happy individual writes:

I am just now jumping on the coconut oil bandwagon (about three weeks

now) and I'm really starting to feel GREAT! I have suffered from

severe migraines for the past 25 years, the last 15 becoming

increasingly severe, coinciding with the addition of soy and the " low-

fat mentality " to my diet. Nothing helped! I should be experiencing

my pre-menstrual migraine by now and instead I feel like I could

climb Mt. Everest! Also I wondered if it decreased the waist to hip

ratio because mine has gone from 7.2 all my life to 7 (or something

like that). I think I had the sluggish thyroid too, with a low body

temperature of between 96 and 96.8. Now it's starting to climb for

the first time in years.

Thank you ... Sincerely, V. Potter

For more stories and information, see the coconut-info discussion

group.

How MCTs Promote Weight Loss

Several studies have shown that medium chain triglycerides (MCTs)

promote weight loss. One study showed that rats fed long chain fatty

acids (LCTs) stored body fat, while rats fed MCTs reduced body fat

and improved insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance... (5) In

March of 2003, this same journal published findings that Medium-chain

triglycerides increase energy expenditure and decrease adiposity in

overweight men. The study was conducted with twenty-four healthy,

overweight men with body mass indexes between 25 and 31 kg/m. They

consumed diets rich in MCT or LCT for 28 days, each in a crossover

randomized controlled trial. Those consuming MCTs lost more weight

and had more energy than those consuming LCTs (in this case olive

oil).

An earlier study in 2002, The Journal of Nutrition came to the same

conclusion. They reported that MCTs are more readily oxidized in the

liver than LCTs, which leads to more energy and less weight gain. The

study concluded that MCTs increase energy expenditure, may result in

faster satiety, and facilitate weight control when included in the

diet as a replacement for fats containing LCTs.

Scores of people have discovered the benefits of MCTs firsthand.

Sharon writes the following to the coconut discussion group:

I have had the same problem with sluggish metabolism and weight gain

since having children. Even a no-calorie diet (fast) for 5 days did

not work. As soon as I started taking Virgin Coconut Oil the fat

began to melt and I have lost 20 pounds. Over the same period of

time, my 13- year- old daughter who was very chubby and very worried

about it, but could not bring up the self-control to renounce some of

her favorite fatty foods, lost about 10 pounds. She now has the

perfect figure, to her great joy! Pants she was bulging out of a year

ago hang loose on her!

Coconut Oil and Oxidative Stress

One of the reasons the long chain fatty acids in vegetable oils are

so damaging to the thyroid is that they oxidize quickly and become

rancid. Food manufacturers know about this propensity towards

rancidity and, therefore, highly refine their vegetable oils.

Considerable research has shown that trans fatty acids, present when

vegetable oils are highly refined (hydrogenated or partially

hydrogenated), are especially damaging to cell tissue and can have a

negative affect on the thyroid as well as health in general. Because

the longer chain fatty acids are deposited in cells more often as

rancid and oxidizing fat, impairment of the conversion of thyroid

hormone T4 to T3 occurs, which is symptomatic of hypothyroidism. To

create the enzymes needed to convert fats to energy, T4 must be

converted to T3.

Dr. Ray Peat says:

When the oils are stored in our tissues, they are much warmer, and

more directly exposed to oxygen than they would be in the seeds, and

so their tendency to oxidize is very great. These oxidative processes

can damage enzymes and other parts of cells, and especially their

ability to produce energy. The enzymes which break down proteins are

inhibited by unsaturated fats; these enzymes are needed not only for

digestion, but also for production of thyroid hormones, clot removal,

immunity, and the general adaptability of cells. The risks of

abnormal blood clotting, inflammation, immune deficiency, shock,

aging, obesity, and cancer are increased. Thyroid [hormones] and

progesterone are decreased.

Since the unsaturated oils block protein digestion in the stomach, we

can be malnourished even while " eating well. " There are many changes

in hormones caused by unsaturated fats. Their best understood effect

is their interference with the function of the thyroid gland.

Unsaturated oils block thyroid hormone secretion, its movement in the

circulatory system, and the response of tissues to the hormone.

Coconut oil is unique in its ability to prevent weight-gain or cure

obesity, by stimulating metabolism. It is quickly metabolized, and

functions in some ways as an antioxidant.

Because coconut oil is saturated and very stable (unrefined coconut

oil has a shelf life of about three to five years at room

temperature), the body is not burdened with oxidative stress as it is

with the vegetable oils. Coconut oil does not require the enzyme

stress that vegetable oils do, preventing T4 to T3 hormone

conversion, not only because it is a stable oil, but also because it

is processed differently in the body and does not need to be broken

down by enzyme dependent processes as do long chain fatty acids.

Also, since the liver is the main place where damage occurs from

oxidized and rancid oils that cause cell membrane damage, and since

the liver is where much of the conversion of T4 to T3 takes place,

eliminating long chain fatty acids from the diet and replacing them

with medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil can, in time, help

in rebuilding cell membranes and increasing enzyme production that

will assist in promoting the conversion of T4 to T3 hormones.

More research in this area is necessary. In the meantime, those

switching from polyunsaturated oils to coconut oil are reporting many

positive results. For example, Donna has experienced encouraging

improvements in her thyroid health. She writes:

I've been on coconut oil since September, 2002 and, although, that

doesn't seem like long, it has changed my life and the lives of my

family and friends. My weight actually went UP when I started on

coconut oil but I felt so GREAT! Being hypothyroid, I was on

Synthroid and Cytomel and had been for years, but with inconsistent

results and feeling worse. Other changes besides the addition of

coconut oil were the complete removal of soy (and that is a major

challenge in itself!), all trans fatty acids, no refined sugar, and

organ cleanses seasonally.

My thyroid meds were discontinued with my doctor's knowledge as I was

getting too energetic and having trouble sleeping! [imagine], from

being a " sleepaholic " couch potato that was cold! My weight stayed

steady until the last three weeks and it has now started the downward

move. My goal was health and just believed the weight would come off

when I found the right diet and exercise routine that my life was

comfortable with. I've tried removing the coconut oil but my energy

drops and I don't feel as good. Donna

Lori writes:

I have been taking VCO [virgin coconut oil] for about two to three

months. Before the VCO, my thyroid results were borderline low. After

two months of one tablespoon a day[of coconut oil], they are now mid-

normal range. They have never been this high. I do NOT take any

thyroid. ALSO my cholesterol is still the same as well as my LDL. BUT

my HDL [the good cholesterol] rose 10 whole points from 43 to 53!

This is a miracle for me. Lori

Coconut oil has helped scores of women who are menopausal. Several

women who were post-menopausal suddenly began having their menstrual

cycles start again, which is evidence that coconut oil does indeed

increases hormone production.

Another happy lady writes:

I have experienced the same problems as you. Body temperature not

going above 97 degrees, cold hands and feet, can't lose weight,

fatigued, slow heart rate, can't sleep some nights, dry skin,

etc. ... My doctor did the same test and it came back normal. I am

also 46 and peri-menopausal. My Naturopath symptomatically diagnosed

me with hypothyroidism. She explained the blood tests currently used

by allopathic medicine are not sensitive enough. I started on the [

coconut] oil 5 weeks ago.

In the first week I noticed my body temperature had risen and my

resting heart rate had gone from 49 to 88 beats per minute. This has

since settled to 66. My energy is now really high and I am slowly

losing the weight--three pounds in the past five weeks. I also had

been taking flaxseed oil and gamma linoleic acid oil but have stopped

eating every other oil but what Peat recommends, which is

coconut oil, olive oil and butter (obviously using the last two very

sparingly). I take 3 tablespoons of coconut oil daily. I have

discussed this with my Naturopath and have given her all the written

material on it. She's very open to knowing more about it.

These testimonies are from the coconut-info discussion group.

Hypothyroidism Reaching Epidemic Proportions

In 1995, researchers studied 25,862 participants at the Colorado

statewide health fair. They discovered that among patients not taking

thyroid medication, 8.9 percent were hypothyroid (under-active

thyroid) and 1.1 percent were hyperthyroid (over-active thyroid).

This indicates 9.9 percent of the population had a thyroid problem

that had most likely gone unrecognized. These figures suggest that

nationally, there may be as many as 13 million Americans with an

undiagnosed thyroid problem. (6)

In her book Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't

Tell You ... That You Need to Know, Shomon quotes

endocrinologist Blanchard, M.D., of Lower Newton Falls,

Massachusetts as saying, " The key thing is ... doctors are always

told that TSH is the test that gives us a yes or no answer. And, in

fact, I think that's fundamentally wrong. The pituitary TSH is

controlled not just by how much T4 and T3 is in circulation, but T4

is getting converted to T3 at the pituitary level. Excess T3

generated at the pituitary level can falsely suppress TSH. " Hence,

many people who are simply tested for TSH levels and are found to be

within " normal " range are, in fact, suffering from thyroid problems

that are going undetected.

Ridha Arem, M.D., associate professor of medicine in the Division of

Endocrinology and Metabolism at Baylor College of Medicine, agrees.

He says that hypothyroidism may exist despite " normal range " TSH

levels. In his book The Thyroid Solution he says:

Many people may be suffering from minute imbalances that have not yet

resulted in abnormal blood tests. If we included people with low-

grade hypothyroidism whose blood tests are normal, the frequency of

hypothyroidism would no doubt exceed 10 percent of the population.

What is of special concern, though, is that many people whose test

results are dismissed as normal could continue to have symptoms of an

under active thyroid. Their moods, emotions, and overall well-being

are affected by this imbalance, yet they are not receiving the care

they need to get to the root of their problems. Even if the TSH level

is in the lower segment of normal range, a person may still be

suffering from low-grade hypothyroidism.

Thus, if we were to include those who may be suffering from " low-

grade hypothyroidism, " the number could well be double the 13 million

estimate.

Thyroid Cancer

The statistics on thyroid cancer in the United States also tell a

disturbing tale. Since 1990, cancer statistics (see

http://seer.cancer.gov/) show that the overall thyroid cancer

incidence across all ages and races in the United States has been

subject to a statistically significant annual increase of 1.4

percent, per annum. That increase was highest amongst females (1.6

percent per annum). Also worth noting is the fact that between 1975

and 1996 the incidence of thyroid cancer has risen 42.1 percent in

the United States. This increase was particularly notable in women

and most recent figures as of 1996 show that the incidence of thyroid

cancer has climbed to 8.0 per 100,000. The National Cancer Institute

(NCI) notes that " the preponderance of thyroid cancer in females

suggest that hormonal factors may mediate disease occurrence. "

Especially alarming is the rate of thyroid cancer among children. The

NCI publication Cancer Incidence and Survival among Children and

Adolescents: United States SEER Program 1975-1995 has reported that

the most prevalent carcinomas in American children and adolescents

younger than 20 years was thyroid carcinoma at 35.5 percent--more

prevalent than the highly publicized melanomas (30.9 percent).

Approximately 75 percent of the thyroid carcinomas occurred in

adolescents 15 to 19 years of age.

What is Causing This Epidemic?

While more research needs to be done, it is generally accepted that

diet plays a major role in thyroid health. For decades we have known

that low iodine intake leads to low thyroid function and eventually

to goiter. Iodized salt was intended to solve this problem, but it

has not been the answer. There are a number of foods known as

goitrogens that block iodine. Two goitrogens are quite prevalent in

the American diet--peanuts and peanut butter and soybeans used most

often in prepared foods as textured vegetable protein (a refined soy

food) and soybean oil.

The rise of industrialization, corporate farming, and mass production

of food has drastically changed our food supply from what our

ancestors ate. Many studies show the detrimental effects of refined

sugars and grains on our health. These foods are very taxing on the

thyroid gland, and we consume them in large quantities.

Environmental stress such as chemical pollutants, pesticides,

mercury, and fluoride are also tough on the thyroid. A growing body

of evidence suggests that fluoride, which is prevalent in toothpaste

and water treatment, may inhibit the functioning of the thyroid

gland. Additionally, mercury may diminish thyroid function because it

displaces the trace mineral selenium, and selenium is involved in

conversion of thyroid hormones T4 to T3.

Correcting Thyroid Problems

Rather than simply taking thyroid medication, it is very important to

identify the underlying causes of low thyroid. You may need to take

medication until you have corrected the underlying problem, but

simply taking thyroid hormone replacement drugs for a lifetime does

not feed the thyroid or correct the problem. Frahm, N.D.

says, " instead of feeding the thyroid and bringing it back into full

function in the body, they're [medications] simply by-passing it. "

(7)

He says that this does help increase energy to some degree when the

body is supplied with some of the hormones it is supposed to make on

its own, but none of these drugs actually restore thyroid function.

Since the thyroid makes a hormone called calcitonin that allows for

absorption of calcium, people who just take thyroid hormone

replacement drugs won't fix the underlying problem and calcium

absorption will be impaired. Often these people will experience bone

loss, and this is the best explanation as to why many people with

hypothyroidism also experience osteoporosis.

Before discontinuing thyroid hormone replacement medication, always

check with your doctor. In the meantime, there are a number of things

you can do to feed your thyroid and improve its health. You may not

have been diagnosed with hypothyroid, but you may experience a number

of the symptoms associated with this condition that result from an

undernourished thyroid gland. As you incorporate thyroid supporting

solutions into your daily routine, watch for signals that your

thyroid is beginning to improve such as rapid heartbeat and a rise in

body temperature. Dr. Frahm addresses such symptoms as

a " healing crisis. " At this point, if you are taking thyroid

medication, it would be wise to consult your physician for retesting.

Determining Low Thyroid

If you've read this article and some of the symptoms ring true for

you, but you are not sure if you have low thyroid, take your body

temperature for four mornings in a row before you get out of bed.

Shake down a glass thermometer to below 95 degrees and place it by

your bed before you go to sleep. Upon waking, place the thermometer

in your armpit for a full ten minutes. It is important to move as

little as possible during this time. Remain still with your eyes

closed. Don't get up for any reason. After ten minutes, record the

temperature and date. This should be done for four consecutive

mornings. Individuals with normal functioning thyroids have a basal

body temperature between 97.6 and 98.2. Basal body temperatures below

this range may reflect hypothyroidism.

What You Can Do to Nourish Your Thyroid

A number of nutrients and foods have been shown to contribute to

healthy thyroid function. As you incorporate these into your diet,

you should notice an improvement in your thyroid health.

Eat Only Healthy Fats and Oils

A number of health professionals now recommend that we eat only

coconut oil, virgin olive oil, and butter. It is best to eat olive

oil and butter sparingly. Coconut oil can be used in place of butter

on toast, for example. Coconut oil is one of the most stable oils

because of its medium chain triglycerides. It will not easily turn to

trans fatty acids when heated, making it one of the best oils for

cooking. Avoid all other cooking oils. Never eat margarine. And read

every label on packaged foods. If vegetable oil or soybean oil is

listed, don't buy it.

Be aware that most commercial salad dressings contain soybean oil or

another polyunsaturated oil. You could benefit from preparing your

own salad dressings and taking them with you when you travel or eat

out. If that is not possible, ask for lemon slices and olive oil and

prepare your own on the spot. Restaurant fried foods are particularly

worrisome because the oils used are heated to very high temperatures

and often used over and over for deep-frying. They are loaded with

trans fatty acids. Whenever you can, prepare your own healthy foods

at home and control the ingredients.

Many people have improved their thyroid health, have lost weight, and

increased their energy by including two to three tablespoons of

virgin coconut oil in their diet. There are a number of ways to do

this. Cooking with the oil is the obvious method and it tastes great

with every food from sautéed onions or vegetables to eggs to baked

dishes. You may also want to add one or two extra tablespoons of the

oil to your diet daily. Smoothies are one way to accomplish this. You

could try my Low-Carb Coconut Smoothie. I have also developed 101

smoothie recipes available in The Ultimate Smoothie Book. You may

also wish to try my Coconut Treats recipe.

Consume Plenty of Iodine-Rich Foods

Iodine is most abundant in sea vegetables, fish, seafood, and eggs.

You can find a variety of dried sea vegetables at most health food

stores, Asian markets, and some grocery stores. Add a strip of kombu

to soups or bean dishes; sprinkle black seaweed on salads or add to

soup. Season foods with dulse or kelp powder in place of salt. Eat

more fish, especially the smaller coldwater fish such as salmon

(avoid farm raised), mackerel, halibut, sole, and snapper. Avoid the

larger fish such as tuna and swordfish; they tend to be higher in

mercury. Choose cage-free, hormone and antibiotic-free eggs; they're

healthier.

Take Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

A number of nutrients have been shown to contribute to thyroid

health; they include zinc, selenium, B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin

E, and vitamin A. Margaret Ames, Ph.D. says in her paper Thyroid

Health: Do You Have Hypothyroidism? that individuals with

hypothyroidism have been shown to have an impaired ability to convert

beta carotene to vitamin A, so care should be taken to include

supplementation of vitamin A in addition to beta carotene. " She also

adds that selenium is involved in conversion of T4 to T3 and low

selenium levels could lead to low T3 levels. Because mercury will

displace selenium, I would suggest a heavy metal detoxification

program especially if you have had mercury amalgam fillings, have

eaten a lot of tuna, or have been exposed to mercury in any other

manner.

Juicing Can Help

Vegetable juicing can be particularly helpful in restoring health to

the thyroid as well as the entire body. Radishes and radish juice can

be quite beneficial. A sulphur compound found in the radish is a

regulator of thyroixine and calcitonin (a peptide hormone). When

enough of this sulphur compound is circulating in the bloodstream,

the thyroid is less apt to over- or under-produce these hormones. A

steady diet of radishes and radish juice can be quite beneficial. Try

my Thyroid Tonic, which is the juice of carrots or cucumber, celery,

radishes, and lemon. To that you can add a dash of powdered kelp or

dulse for a boost of iodine.

Cranberry is another helpful juice. Because the bogs of Massachusetts

where cranberries are grown are near the sea, cranberries contain

iodine--35 parts per billion according to The Journal of Biochemistry

(79:409-11; 1928). You can juice cranberries with a low-sugar apple

such as pippin or Granny and add a squeeze of lemon for an

absolutely delicious cranberry juice cocktail and, unlike the store-

bought cranberry juice (except for cranberry concentrate), it will

not have added sugar. For other juice recipes, see my book The Juice

Lady's Guide to Juicing for Health (Avery, 1999).

Lifestyle Modifications

As we nourish our thyroid, we also want to avoid the foods and

substances that can tax this important gland or interfere with

nutrient absorption. Following are a few suggestions that can make an

important difference in thyroid health. Additionally, there are some

lifestyle interventions that can be very beneficial for the thyroid.

Avoid Goitrogens

Excessive ingestion of certain foods can block iodine from being

absorbed by the thyroid gland; these include: turnips, cabbage,

mustard, cassava root, pine nuts, millet, peanuts, and soybeans.

Until your thyroid health is restored, you may want to avoid these

foods completely. When your thyroid is healthy again and you no

longer have symptoms, you could include them occasionally, but I

recommend that you never eat them daily. The foods to watch out for

most are soybean oil in salad dressing, textured vegetable protein

used as a filler, and peanut butter.. These products are included in

many commercially packaged foods. It is interesting to note that in

Asian cultures soy is only eaten in small quantities and in forms

that have been fermented.

Omit All Refined Grains, Sugar, and Substances that Tax the Thyroid

Foods that are the most taxing on the thyroid are foods many

Americans eat every day such as refined grains, sugar and sweets,

caffeine (coffee, black tea, sodas, and chocolate), hydrogenated and

partially hydrogenated oils, and alcohol. Avoid all refined grains

such as white and wheat bread, rolls, biscuits, pancakes, pizza

dough, pasta, and buns. The peanut butter sandwich is a perfect

example of a really bad choice for the thyroid--refined grain bread

and peanut butter--a goitrogen.

Avoid sugar in all forms such as white granulated sugar, brown sugar,

corn syrup, maple syrup, honey, molasses, fructose, and brown rice

syrup. Use stevia, an herbal sweetener, instead that can be found at

most health food stores. Avoid desserts. In addition, emotional

stress (anger, grief, guilt, anxiety, fear) can be very taxing on the

thyroid. Other things that are taxing include: giving birth,

environmental stress such as industrial pollutants , pesticides (a

clear case for buying organic foods!), heavy metals, Candida albicans

(yeast overgrowth), and medical stress (radiation, X-rays, and drugs).

Limit Exposure to Fluoride and Mercury

It is beneficial to avoid fluoride and mercury as much as possible.

To that end, a water filtration system that removes fluoride and

other chemicals is worth the purchase. Buy toothpaste from a health

food store that is fluoride free. Get mercury amalgam fillings

removed from your mouth. And choose smaller coldwater fish such as

salmon and halibut that usually have less mercury.

Cleansing Protocols

Many people have benefited greatly from various cleansing programs

such as colon cleansing, the liver cleanse, gallbladder cleanse,

kidney cleanse, and the heavy metal detox. My 7-Day Liver Cleanse may

be particularly helpful because a well-functioning liver can really

benefit your thyroid since much of the T4 is converted to T3 in the

liver. A congested liver will not perform functions such as this

efficiently.

Exercise

Exercise is particularly important in the healing of hypothyroidism.

Exercise stimulates thyroid gland secretion and increases tissue

sensitivity to thyroid hormones. Choose exercises that fit your

energy level. You may start by walking and perhaps taking a stretch

class. Weight-bearing exercise is particularly important to prevent

osteoporosis. Work up to exercises such as step aerobics or fast

walking that get your heart rate up--excellent for the cardiovascular

system. Exercise has been shown to increase metabolic rate, an

important aspect in weight loss. Jumping on a rebounder (mini

trampoline) is very beneficial for the organs and lymphatic system.

Whatever you do, get up and move. Your energy will improve as you do

more exercising, even if it's just for 15 minutes to begin.

How Long Will it Take to Restore Thyroid Health?

" The beneficial effects of a comprehensive treatment of

hypothyroidism are usually evident within two to three weeks after

starting therapy, " says Margaret Ames, Ph.D. " However, it is

important to emphasize that, while symptoms may be alleviated and

people with hypothyroidism may experience a greater sense of well-

being, in most cases, treatment for this condition requires a life-

long commitment. " It's worth it. You can look forward to a life of

vibrant health and lowered risks of degenerative disease.

Conclusion

In conclusion, thyroid dysfunction has reached epidemic levels in the

U.S. and is a major cause of obesity. Our modern diet is the main

culprit. The best approach to maintaining a healthy thyroid and

proper weight management is to follow the advice I have offered in

this article. By eating healthy foods that will nourish and not

damage the thyroid, adding the nutrients recommended, avoiding the

foods and substances that tax the thyroid, and cleansing the body you

can expect to see improvement in thyroid function in just a few

weeks. Perhaps the single most important dietary change you can make

is to replace soy-based vegetable oils and other polyunsaturated oils

with healthy oils, the best being coconut oil. If you need to lose

weight, the pounds should melt away naturally as you follow these

suggestions. And, you can look forward to living a higher quality of

life.

Copyright 2003 Cherie Calbom

Cherie Calbom, M.S. is a nutritionist, researcher, and the author of

eleven books including the best-selling Juicing for Life. She has

practiced as a clinical nutritionist and is widely known as " The

Juice Lady " for her work with juicing and health, juice therapy and

cleansing programs. She can be reached at 1-866-8GETWELL and at

www.juicinginfo.com.

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Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Thyroid disease can affect almost every aspect of health, so

understanding more about your thyroid, and the symptoms that occur

when something goes wrong with this small gland, can help you regain

your health.

This is a major issue, as in my experience the majority of women in

this country are walking around with impaired thyroid function. I

highly recommend that you read through my article, " Is Your Thyroid

Out of Balance? " (the first link below) for more details on this

important issue.

Additionally, as the article mentions coconut oil is a truly

excellent tool for increasing metabolism and promoting healthy

thyroid function. However, coconut oil can vary widely in terms of

the types of coconuts used, the manufacturing processes used to make

the oil, and more, and all of these factors play a major role in the

effectiveness of the oil.

Because of these variations my team and I here researched coconut oil

extensively until we found the ideal source. I now highly recommend

and offer you what is clearly the premier brand of virgin coconut oil

in the United States, Tropical Traditions. This virgin coconut oil is

not only certified organic, but it also met all our other

requirements, including no GMO ingredients, bleaching, deodorizing,

refining or hydrogenation. Tropical Traditions also uses fresh

coconuts (not " copra " or dried coconuts like most oils) that come

from a rural region of the Philippines untainted by urban pollution.

I urge you to try this virgin coconut oil and experience the health

benefits for yourself. If you do choose another brand, please be sure

that it meets these requirements.

many sick ppl u see, a lot of times it is mercury. u can still take

natural thyroid. it has t1 t2 t3 and t4. the doctors prescribe the

synthetic version which only has t3 or t4. they r not smart enough to

know there is a natural one. http://www.antiaging-

systems.com/home1.htm

https://secure.wsa.u-net.com/www.antiaging-

systems.com/acatalog/Online_Store_United_States___Buy_Here_1.html

but, if u take thyroid, your thyroid will eventually stop working and

u will b dependent for life. i don't take it. i take eldepryl and

metforal.

here r the other companies i order from if u r interested:

http://www.biogenesis.co.za/index.asp

http://anti-aging-drugs.com/

Torrie

www.bikerchick.freehomepage.com

> if u need your silver amalgam (mercury) fillings, etc... removed by

a

> biologic dentist at a price u can afford, let me know.

> Torrie

> www.bikerchick.freehomepage.com

> 858-279-5072

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

tina,

FYI: dr morales had a clinic w/ hal huggins and he was trained by

him. we take out mercury all week long for like 14 yrs. we use the

huggins protocol.

Torrie

www.bikerchick.freehomepage.com

> > if u need your silver amalgam (mercury) fillings, etc... removed

by

> a

> > biologic dentist at a price u can afford, let me know.

> > Torrie

> > www.bikerchick.freehomepage.com

> > 858-279-5072

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >