Nature and Wellness

ASTHMA AND NATURAL VITAMINS

2011-08-25T08:56:00.001-07:00

Opening Up for Easier Breathing

Want to know exactly what asthma feels like?

"Pinch your nose shut and breathe through a straw," suggests Nancy Sander, president of the Allergy and Asthma Association/Mothers of Asthmatics. Then try climbing a flight of stairs or chasing after something fast--say, a frisky toddler. You'll soon be gasping for air the way someone with asthma does during an attack. "It's a frightening experience," Sander says.

The usual setup for an attack combines an allergic (or supersensitive) immune system, an inherited trait, with exposure to environmental allergic triggers such as animal dander, mold spores and pollen or to environmental irritant triggers such as air pollution, cold air and cigarette smoke. Other activators can include respiratory infections, colds, laughter, crying, anger, exercise and stress.

There are two major components of asthma. One is noisy--the wheezing, coughing, choking, can't-catch-your-breath feeling. That's the part most people call an asthma attack, or bronchospasm and congestion.

The second part of asthma is quiet. It is called inflammation--the part of asthma that is always present but not always noticed. Just as a sunburn may not be evident until long after you've come in from the sun, airway inflammation is not noticeable until the damage has become so extensive that an asthma attack begins.

During an asthma attack, the muscles surrounding the lungs' bronchial tubes contract, narrowing airways and making it hard to breathe.

People with chronic asthma also have inflammation in their lungs. The membranes lining the inner walls of the air passages become swollen and leaky. And the glands within these walls produce excess mucus. "That makes it harder for the lungs to do their job of gas exchange, picking up oxygen from the air and dumping carbon dioxide out the body," explains Ronald Simon, M.D., head of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation in La Jolla, California.

Asthma is usually treated with drugs that open airways and reduce inflammation as well as by avoiding substances that trigger attacks. For some people, that means finding a new home for a family pet, exchanging the wall-to-wall carpeting for linoleum or steering clear of cigarette smoke, car and truck exhaust and chemical fumes.

Dietary counseling for asthma, especially in young children, may include testing for possible problem foods. But it doesn't often include recommendations for vitamin or mineral supplements, experts say.

Nevertheless, some research suggests that certain nutrients may play roles in asthma by reducing airway sensitivity and dampening inflammation.

Here's what research shows. (Note: If you're feeling well enough to reduce your dosage of asthma medication, do so only under medical supervision, experts warn. Stopping asthma drugs abruptly could lead to problems.)

Magnesium Makes a Difference

"Magnesium has properties that may help people with asthma," says John Britton, M.D., a senior lecturer in the respiratory medical unit at City Hospital in Nottingham, England.

This essential mineral helps reduce inflammation by stabilizing immune cells--mast cells and T lymphocytes--so that they are less likely to break down and dump their irritating contents in the lungs, Dr. Britton explains. It also helps the body eliminate certain lung-irritating chemicals. And magnesium helps produce anti-inflammatory biochemicals, called prostacyclins, in the body.

"All of these functions could help relieve congestion, constriction and hypersensitivity in people with asthma and other lung problems," Dr. Britton says.

A study by Dr. Britton and his colleagues found that people who got about 480 milligrams of magnesiuma day from foods could expel more air from their lungs than people getting only about 200 milligrams of magnesiuma day. (The volume of air that can be expelled is considered an important indicator of healthy lungs.) People getting the larger amount of magnesium were also twice as likely to be able to tolerate the maximum dose of an airway-constricting spray, Dr. Britton says.

"Further studies are needed to confirm that magnesium can help control asthma," Dr. Britton says. But he and other researchers agree that it's a good idea to get the Daily Value of magnesium, which is 400 milligrams. Studies show that most people fall short.

"I recommend a diet of whole, unprocessed foods such as nuts, beans and whole grains," Dr. Britton says. He also suggests "a pint a day of stout, another good source of magnesium." Actually, he adds, any beer will do.

If you are considering trying magnesium supplements, be sure to check with your doctor first if you have heart or kidney problems.

Interestingly, magnesiumis sometimes given intravenously to treat serious asthma attacks. Large doses of magnesiumrelax the muscles around blood vessels and airways. Intravenous magnesiumis helpful for a person having a life-threatening asthma attack called status asthmaticus, which does not respond to the usual drugs. Apparently the trick is to get the magnesium into the body fast, say doctors from Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Food Factors

Reactions to protein or additives in certain foods are the strongest links between asthma and food. Additional factors such as salt and caffeine may also play roles. Here's what you need to know.

Aim for an ideal body weight. "People with asthma who are overweight have trouble breathing. The extra weight makes it more difficult for them to breathe, especially when they exert themselves, because of the abdomen pressing against the diaphragm," explains dietitian Lana Miller of the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine in Denver. "The number one issue is being at a good weight. It's a concern for 95 percent of all people with asthma."

People taking oral steroids need to be particularly vigilant against weight gain, she says, since these drugs can stimulate appetite and cause fluid retention.

Beware the guacamole. Thanks to laws that require sulfites to be listed on labels, it's fairly easy these days for people with asthma to avoid this potentially deadly food preservative. Dried or canned fruits and vegetables, instant food mixes and wine are the store-bought foods most likely to contain large amounts of sulfites, says Martha White, M.D., director of research and pediatrics at the Institute for Asthma and Allergy at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

It's still possible, however, to get unsuspected sulfites. Potatoes, shellfish, shrimp, salads and guacamole (avocado dip) are often treated with sulfites. And imported beers and wines may not list sulfites on their labels, Dr. White says. "People are most likely to be unexpectedly exposed to sulfites when eating out," she says. This is because they have no control over food processing or preparation.

Call ahead to find out which, if any, foods on a restaurant's menu contain sulfites, she suggests.

Stay away from salt. People taking oral steroid drugs for their asthma may need to monitor their sodium intakes because of problems with fluid retention, says Miller.

Your best strategy for cutting back on salt is to avoid processed foods. "Foods with more than 400 milligrams of sodium per serving are considered high-sodium items," says Miller. Canned soups, packaged macaroni and cheese, cottage cheese and lunchmeats are all high in sodium.

Switch to fish.The oil in fatty fish such as mackerel, salmon and swordfish has anti-inflammatory effects that may help some people with asthma. In a study by British researchers, people with asthma who took 18 capsules of fish oil a day had fewer breathing problems a few hours after being exposed to a symptom-inducing inhalant. Some doctors suggest that each week, you simply replace a meal or two of beef or poultry with fish.

Know your trigger foods.Some people, especially children, have asthma attacks soon after eating foods such as peanuts or other nuts, eggs, fish, shellfish, milk, soy, wheat or bananas, says Dr. White.

People who believe they have such food allergies--or who eliminate certain foods from their children's diets in the hope of improving symptoms--should make sure their diets remain balanced, she emphasizes. "If you are eliminating dairy products, for instance, it's important to take calcium supplements," she says.

Drink your milk. Unfortunately, some parents still adhere to the old myth that milk and dairy products create mucus in the lungs, says Miller. There is simply no valid reason to deprive children with asthma of these foods, which are so important for building healthy bones, she admonishes.

Vitamin C May Ease Wheezing

People with asthma sometimes take supplements of vitamin C because they believe in its legendary virus-fighting powers. There's some proof that vitamin C does indeed reduce the duration and severity of colds, an important benefit for people with asthma, whose symptoms often worsen with respiratory infections.

But vitamin C may do more than ease sneezing and sniffles.

A study by researchers at Harvard Medical School found that smokers who got at least 200 milligrams of vitamin C(three oranges' worth) a day had a 30 percent reduced risk of bronchitis or wheezing compared with people who got about 100 milligrams of the vitamin a day.

Another study by the same researchers found that vitamin C helps maintain healthy lungs. People getting about 200 milligrams of vitamin C a day did best on tests that measured their lungs' capacity to expand and draw in oxygen.

"This study suggests that a high dietary intake of vitamin C-rich foods is associated with improved levels of lung capacity," says study co-author Scott Weiss, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine and associate physician in the Channing Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "Getting enough vitamin C may prove to play an important role in reducing your risk of chronic lung disease, including asthma."

In several other studies, taking vitamin C well before symptoms appeared reduced people's tendency to have asthma attacks while exercising.

Vitamin C may protect the lungs in a number of ways, says Vahid Mohsenin, M.D., a researcher in the John B. Pierce Laboratory at Yale University.

First, it helps shield lungs from the damaging effects of chemicals in smoke or smog-laden air. It neutralizes these chemicals so that they can't hurt cells. That's important, because exposure to air pollution often makes asthma worse, Dr. Mohsenin says. Vitamin C can also neutralize the harmful chemicals produced by the body as a result of the inflammation that occurs with asthma, helping to prevent a vicious cycle of increasingly severe attacks.

Vitamin C also seems to act as a natural antihista mine, which means that it helps reduce the lungs' sensitivity to histamine, a biochemical released by cells during allergic reactions. "Vitamin C also reduces lung sensitivity to methacholine, a biochemical that causes airways to constrict," Dr. Mohsenin says. And vitamin C interferes with the body's production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, two potentially harmful biochemicals that can promote inflammation and constriction of the airways, he says.

Doctors recommending vitamin C to their patients with asthma who exercise prescribe 500 to 1,000 milligrams a day. That amount is considered well within the safe range, but higher doses can cause diarrhea in some people.

Prescriptions for Healing

Most doctors use drugs, not vitamins and minerals, to treat asthma. Those who do provide nutritional therapy usually combine it with drugs and with avoiding exposure to substances that can trigger an asthma attack. These are the nutrients that some doctors recommend.

Nutrient Daily Amount

Beta-carotene25,000 international units

Magnesium400 milligrams

Niacin100 milligrams

Selenium100 micrograms

Vitamin B₆50 milligrams

Vitamin C500-1,000 milligrams

Vitamin E800 international units

Antioxidants Shield Lungs

Researchers who say vitamin C is helpful for asthma point out that other nutrients with similar antioxidant properties could be beneficial. These nutrients include vitamin E, seleniumand beta-carotene, a yellow pigment found in carrots, cantaloupe and other fruits and vegetables. "Laboratory work indicates that all three help reduce inflammation-producing biochemicals," says Dr. Simon.

So far, however, only one study has actually looked at any of these nutrients as supplements for people with asthma. In that study, by researchers in Sweden, people with asthma who took 100 micrograms of selenium daily for 14 weeks had stronger lungs and were less sensitive to airway-constricting inhalants than when they were taking placebos (dummy pills).

Seleniumis needed in the body to produce glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme that helps protect cells by breaking down biochemicals associated with inflammation.

"It's too soon to say for sure whether supplementing a regular diet with selenium will help people with asthma," Dr. Simon says. People who want to try it can safely take 100 micrograms, the amount found beneficial in the Swedish study, he says. (The Daily Value is 70 micrograms.)

Studies have shown that people generally get about 100 micrograms a day from the average healthy diet. Don't overdo it with selenium, say nutrition experts. A daily intake of 200 micrograms from foods and supplements is considered the upper limit of the safe range.

People who want to take other antioxidant nutrients can safely supplement with up to 800 international units of vitamin Eand 25,000 international units of beta-carotenea day, Dr. Simon says. It's a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking more than 600 international units of vitamin E daily.

Bs to the Rescue

Some B vitamins--notably vitamin B₆and niacin--have also been reported to help people who have asthma. One study of children with asthma found that doses of 100 or 200 milligrams of B₆ a day dramatically reduced the frequency, duration and severity of asthma attacks. A later study, however, conducted by researchers at the National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine in Denver, found that adults with severe asthma did no better while taking 300 milligrams of B₆ than a similar group who were taking placebos.

Still, some doctors recommend 50 milligrams of supplemental vitamin B₆ a day for their patients with asthma. And one study by researchers in South Africa found that people taking theophylline, a common asthma drug, along with 15 milligrams of B₆ a day were less likely to suffer from the side effects of the drug--irritability, anxiety and faintness. Doses of more than 100 milligrams of B₆ a day can cause nerve irritation, so don't take more than that amount without medical supervision.

Several studies have observed that niacin supplements reduce the incidence of wheezing, perhaps because this nutrient prevents the release of histamine. Harvard University researchers, for instance, found that people who got the most niacin in their diets were significantly less likely to have bronchitis or wheezing than people who got the least. In addition, lower blood levels of niacin were linked to increased wheezing.

Doctors who recommend niacin to their patients with asthma suggest about 100 milligrams a day.

Some studies suggest that in addition to the nutrients mentioned above, calcium, zinc, copper and vitamin D may all play supporting roles in easing the symptoms of asthma. Whew! "There's no doubt in my mind that people with asthma can do better in the long run if they eat a healthy diet," says Sander.

Why Natural Vitamins From Plant Sources

2011-08-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

WHY NATURALS VITAMINS

Synthetic Vitamins & Nutritional Supplements Can Age You

Synthetic vitamins are made in a lab, often from toxic substances, and only “mimick” the real vitamins found in nature. These artificial forms of vitamins might help in the short run, but they can age you faster in the long run, and give you even more symptoms. A good example is that of the B complex. Did you know that most B vitamins are made from petrochemicals? Yes, that’s right, they are mostly coaltar derivatives!

Small Amounts of Natural Food-Based Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements Outperform Large Amounts of Synthetic Vitamins

Research shows that even a small amount of a naturally occurring vitamin can outperform the same synthetic one in much larger amounts. For example, synthetic A (palmitate) is far less effective than the natural vitamin A from butter and cod liver oil and pro-vitamin A that is contained in young grasses. In addition to natural pro-vitamin A, young grasses contain every nutrient known to sustain life; vitamin A palmitate does not. Cod liver oil also contains vitamin D and essential fatty acids; vitamin A palmitate does not. The list could go on and on.

Natural vitamin C, for example, contains bioflavinoids and many other co-factors that help your body absorb the ascorbic acid. Many manufacturers will tell you that ascorbic acid IS vitamin C, but that is just not the case. It is really just the outer protective ring for the entire C complex of nutrients.

Cheap Synthetic Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements are
No Bargain For Your Body

So even if you think you got a “bargain” on your nutritional supplements, your body probably did not. Start taking 100% whole nutrient vitamins and nutritional supplements today! Even vitamins that say “food-based” are usually synthetic with small amounts of food mixed in, so the manufacturer can say “food-based.” In fact, if you type “whole food vitamins” or “whole food supplements” into any search engine, and then closely study the websites that come up, you will see that most of them have some whole foods in the nutritional supplements, but lots of synthetic vitamins and toxic fillers as well!

Synthetic Vitamins Deplete Your Body of Essential Nutrients

In addition, synthetic vitamins are notorious for lacking all the co-factors your body needs in order to make good use of that nutrient. This means your body will take those other co-factors if possible from other areas of your body where they are needed. This depletes your body of other essential nutrients.

A Few Words About Fast Food

2011-08-21T22:52:00.001-07:00

A few words about fast food

Fast food has gained immense popularity with the hard-core professionals who hardly have time to cook a meal. The wide acceptability of fast food across the world reflects the importance of this kind of food. In spite of warnings from the health experts, fast food industry is rapidly flourishing. Little do we realize that fast food is saving our time and energy but taking away the most precious thing from us. Any guesses? Yes, you are correct, our good health and well-being is taken away by fast food at a very fast pace.

Research shows that obesity is on the rise throughout the world only because of junk food. Fast food is often termed as junk food as well. Children are having a tendency to become obese. The sedentary lifestyle that is followed by professionals does not provide the scope to burn out extra calories. Consequently, our body keeps on storing the extra fat, which results in obesity. Accumulation of fat deposits causes cardiovascular diseases, which in turn cause other heart problems. Thus you can very well see that a chain reaction starts off with regular intake of fast food.

Fast food is comprised of the following ingredients:

• Carbohydrates

• Saturated fat

• Proteins

• Sodium

• Sugar

• High fat

You will be surprised to know that all the above nutrients can cause dangerous diseases when taken in excess. Fast food contain higher amount of fats and salts compared to home cooked meals. It is quite difficult for working people to cook meals everyday. Consuming fast food is a good option but the after effects are lethal. A quick glimpse at the diseases caused by fast food provides you with the opportunity to understand the demerits. Fast food causes:

• Obesity

• Heart diseases

• High blood pressure

• Diabetes

• Breast cancer

High carbohydrate content is another major issue with fast food. Carbohydrates, as we know is a great contributor to obesity. Food like burger, noodles, hot dogs, sausages, fries and aerated drinks have high carb content along with several toxic ingredients. Regular intake of the above mentioned food can prove dangerous in the long run. Fast food is easy to cook but does not have any nutritional value. A plateful of noodles or a hot dog might satisfy your hunger, but they don’t have any food value. What you gain after eating them is nothing but loads of extra calories.

Fast food is high in sodium, fats and salts. Cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, fried fish, pizzas, and milk shakes may sound lip smacking. But they are unhealthy food. A meal consisting of a sugary drink, a burger and fries is equivalent of calories required in two days. Oils used in the food are extremely fatty and increases cholesterol content in blood. Fast food is always taken while an individual is on the run. Eating carelessly may cause overeating, which is an important cause of obesity. It is hard to avoid fast food in today’s fast world. But you can always try to do the better.

Hair Fall and Natural Vitamins

2011-08-21T22:45:00.001-07:00

It is such a pleasure to be the proud owner of a healthy head of hair. Each follicle on our scalps produces about 0.35 mm of hair shaft per day. During the anagen phase, there is an intense hair growth. This is followed by the catagen phase, which is a period of regression. Finally, the hair follicle falls out as a resting stage or the telogen stage.

You must consciously include a diet rich in vitamins and minerals for hair growth to take place. Poor diet, stress, toxins in the environment, exposure to the sun, cigarette smoke, alcohol consumption and lack of sleep sap our energies and make our hair thinner and fingernails weak.

The result: dull and lifeless hair or hair with very little or slow growth.

You can help yourself: By taking a rich diet of vitamins and minerals daily, you can keep yourself and your hair healthy. If your body has any nutritional deficiencies, it will have a direct bearing on your hair by causing to thin or it could also lead to baldness. So, it is very necessary to have a proper intake of vitamins such as:

Vitamin A: This is an antioxidant that helps to manufacture healthy sebum in the scalp. Vitamin A can be found in broccoli, cabbage, carrots, apricots and peaches. A daily dose of 5,000 IU is preferred.

Vitamin C with bioflavonoids: Take 60 mg of Vitamin C daily for its anti-oxidant properties that help maintain the skin and hair. You can find this vitamin in citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapple, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes and dark green vegetables.

Vitamin E: This vitamin is known largely for its antioxidant properties that help improve scalp circulation. It is found in cold-pressed vegetable oils, wheat germ oil, soybeans, raw seeds and nuts, dried beans, and leafy green vegetables. Take up to 400 IU daily. If you have been taking good care of your hair, you can get the best out of it by an intake of amino acids and B-vitamins.

Vitamin B-complex: Take 50 mg. of the major B-vitamins that include folate, biotin and inositol.

Vitamin B-6: Take 50 mg of vitamin B-6 to prevent hair loss and to create melanin for hair color. Eat Brewer’s yeast, liver, whole grain cereals, vegetables, organ meats and egg yolk for Vitamin B-6.

Beta-carotene plays a very significant role in improving hair growth. When beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin A, it helps maintain normal growth and bone development with a protective sheath around nerve fibers, and promotes healthy skin, hair and nails. A daily intake of 10,000 to 15,000 IU can go a long way in promoting good hair

Niacin (Vitamin B3): This helps promote scalp circulation and can be found in Brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, fish, chicken, turkey and meat. Take a daily dose of 15 mg for best results.

Biotin: A necessary vitamin for hair growth, it can be sourced in Brewer’s yeast, brown rice, bulgur, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and walnuts. Biotin helps produce keratin, and may also prevent graying and hair loss. An intake of 150-300 mcg will help.

Inositol: This keeps hair follicles healthy at the cellular level. It is found in whole grains, brewer’s yeast, liver and citrus fruits. Take 600 mg daily for best results.

Folic acid: Folic acid is required for DNA synthesis and cell growth. It also helps in forming red blood cells, producing energy and forming amino acids and hair growth.

By taking a regular diet of vitamins either as part of your food intake or as supplements, you can soon boast of a healthy head of hair.

Thyroid & Metabolism

2011-08-20T13:18:00.001-07:00

Many individuals are confused as to whether they have a low or under active thyroid, or some type of thyroid condition such as hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, elevated thyroid auto antibodies, or Hashimotos thyroiditis. Interestingly, many people are simply suffering from rather simple nutritional deficiencies.

The healthy function of your entire thyroid system is a top-level health priority, as sluggish thyroid is now shown to make any other health problem more challenging. A lack of proper nutrition for your thyroid system is a huge metabolic problem. How can your body make energy if it is lacking basic nutrients that make normal thyroid function possible? Is it any wonder that close to half the population is complaining of fatigue and other symptoms of low thyroid?

An amazing array of science now explains how nutrition assists thyroid hormone to work properly in your body. Nutrition helps your body make thyroid hormone and activate thyroid hormone, helps thyroid hormone work inside cells, and assists your brain to better regulate overall thyroid status. Even if you are taking thyroid medication it is likely you can benefit from appropriate nutritional support.

Learn more about Thyroid and Metabolism:

Simple Case Thyroid Problems

A common problem is that your thyroid lacks nutrients to make basic thyroid hormone, known as T4 (thyroxin), or you may lack key nutrients that help convert T4 to the biologically active T3. Your thyroid can be inflamed or stressed, which gets in the way of making T4 at an optimal rate. And your liver can be inflamed or stressed, which gets in the way of converting T4 to T3 at an optimal rate. Cells around your body require basic nutrition to carry out the metabolic instructions that T3 is giving them; otherwise it is no different than not having enough T3.

Any or all of these simple-case thyroid problems can be addressed with nutrition. Optimal nutrition can enhance the formation of thyroid hormone in the thyroid gland, enhance the activation of T4 to the biologically active T3, and enhance the nutritional ability of cells to utilize thyroid hormone.

Selenium needed by your liver to convert T4 to T3. Manganese is also provided to boost specific antioxidant enzymes inside your thyroid gland and in your liver, so that both organs can function in a less stressed and inflamed manner. Tyrosine is added to boost dopamine and nerve related thyroid formation, as well as providing the core molecule of thyroid hormone (T4 is one molecule of tyrosine surrounded by four molecules of iodine).

It is one of the most popular supplements to help individuals warm up. Iodine is needed for thyroid hormone formation. Unlike potassium iodide which can clog the thyroid gland due to its poor solubility.

Multi vitamins/Minerals is a breakthrough in bioactive nutrients, containing all co-enzyme B vitamins and special mineral transporters. I designed this product to enhance cellular uptake of vital nutrients to carry out the instructions of thyroid hormone within cells so that energy is actually made. It is free of the cheap cyanide-producing form of B12 known as cyanocobalamin. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are especially important for the enzymes that make thyroid hormone. A lack of B12 is commonly found in those struggling with thyroid function .*

Quercetin, Vitamin D, Iron, Zinc and Thyroid Function

A variety of other nutrients, if lacking, can impede healthy thyroid function. At the top of this list are quercetin, vitamin D, iron, and zinc. Ensure you are not lacking in these, as anyone of them can be responsible for the symptoms of a sluggish thyroid.

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid common in the plant kingdom, a potent polyphenol antioxidant and immune system modulator. It has a stabilizing affect on the immune system, helping various types of immune cells maintain their composure under stress. It has a modulating effect on immune system signals, helping to calm down inappropriate excess. This helps the tissues and cells in your thyroid gland better tolerate common irritants such as pollution and stress.*

Researchers recently demonstrated that a lack of vitamin D was associated with lower levels of T4 and that irritation of the thyroid gland was more pronounced if vitamin D is lacking. It should be noted that cold weather itself is a temperature stress that makes your thyroid work harder, and the lack of sun in winter months makes it more likely you could be deficient. Most people need 2000 IU of vitamin D per day in the winter months for a variety of health needs, which includes thyroid support.*

When thyroid instructions reach the DNA of your cells it tells them how to set the metabolic pace of the cells activities, in turn setting into motion a number of different genes that carry out these instructions. It has now been discovered that iron is required for up to 80 of these vital gene signals, otherwise thyroid instructions dont get implemented. A lack of iron also impedes proper oxygenation of blood . A lack of iron can cause fatigue, especially muscle weakness, which can readily be confused with thyroid-related fatigue. Vegetarians, menstruating women, and heavy exercisers are most at risk for a lack of iron.*

Zinc is another cofactor mineral that needs to be adequate for thyroid hormone to perform at an optimal pace. A lack of zinc is known to reduce the activity of TRH (thyroid releasing hormone in the hypothalamus), in turn tending to depress thyroid hormone levels. Zinc participates in the conversion of T4 to T3, and zinc is needed to bind active thyroid hormone to the DNA of cells. Zinc is needed for immunity, sex drive, and maintaining leptin status while on a diet. It is lost in sweat and by stress.

Thyroid, Leptin, and Weight Management

It is very common that individuals who are overweight have a majority of the symptoms associated with a sluggish thyroid function. This is especially true for those who have a history of yo-yo dieting or have difficulty losing weight by cutting back on calories and trying to exercise more. Leptin is known as the fat-hormone, as it is made in your white adipose tissue or stored fat. Following a meal leptin is released from your fat, enters your blood, and travels up to your brain delivering a message that you are full and also letting your subconscious brain know how much fuel you have on hand (like the gas gauge in your car).

One of the simple-case leptin problems encountered by any person who is overweight is that their leptin gas gauge is sticky, and leptin is not entering your brain correctly (leptin resistance). This produces a false state of perceived starvation, meaning you feel hungry and your subconscious brain thinks your fuel tank is near empty (even though you have plenty of stored fat on hand). When this happens, leptin sets your thyroid to a lower level so that you dont perish from the famine, and the famine doesnt even exist!

Another simple-case leptin issue involves problems relating to how insulin functions in your body, resulting in food cravings especially for sweets, and easy weight gain from eating carbohydrates.

while closely following the five rules of the Leptin Diet, is the best way to get started addressing body weight in relation to thyroid issues.

One of the key factors that helps induce weight gain and reduces the ease with which you can lose weight is the issue of environmental chemicals, chemicals in food and water, and toxins from low grade infections (like Candida or bacterial overgrowth). This issue is always made worse if your internal plumbing systems arent up to the challenge (constipation, irritable bowel, liver issues, lymph stagnation, chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia, etc.)

Some chemicals like perchlorate, chlorine, and fluoride can directly bind to your thyroid gland and reduce iodine uptake. Many other chemicals, especially the fat-soluble ones, can bind to thyroid cell membranes and participate in thyroid inflammation and thyroid autoantibody production.

Fat-soluble chemicals can readily cross your blood brain barrier and interfere with how your brain senses any hormone level, including thyroid. Endotoxins from infections (lipopolysaccharides or LPS) directly interact in the Thyroid Releasing Hormone (TRH) region of your hypothalamus gland and intentionally turn down TRH production interfering with thyroid hormone production. Endotoxins also make you hungry by elevating your stomachs hunger signal, ghrelin.

Your liver, which is your main detoxification organ, is particularly sensitive to toxic excess. Because T4 is converted to T3 on cell membranes of your liver, fat-soluble toxins readily interfere with thyroid hormone activation by your liver.

If you are trying to lose weight, you must keep detox systems working well as toxins will be released from stored fat as weight is lost. This toxins can crash your thyroid long before you get to your goal weight, if you dont take care to ensure they are smoothly flowing out of your body.

Extra soluble fiber is needed to bind on to these toxins as they are excreted in your bile. Such fiber also helps regularity and reduce cravings for food. No progress on thyroid issues occurs if you are constipated.

In order to make sustained thyroid improvement it is vital to keep internal plumbing flowing along in a healthy way.

Thyroid and Stress

Your stress management system is rooted in the function of your adrenal glands, which operate in an interdependent fashion with your overall thyroid system. Many books on adrenals list all the symptoms of low thyroid as adrenal problems and vice versa. There are differences. Morning energy, stress tolerance, and aerobic fitness are primarily adrenal issues. Thyroid issues are more about afternoon energy level, being too cold, and feeling mentally sluggish or heavy headed (adrenals issues go more with brain fog).

Thyroid sets your basic supply of energy for your body to use. Not having enough automatically stresses your adrenals if there is an increased demand for needed energy. Conversely, tired adrenals make it so your body gets too inflamed from even normal activities forcing your thyroid to go slower than it would like so that you dont overheat and burn up. Ongoing stress can wreak havoc with these problems.

If you are someone who struggles with a long list of adrenal and thyroid symptoms then you have to nurse both systems back on at the same time. A good way to do this is to use basic thyroid support along with basic adrenal support.

In order to get these systems back into good condition you must find an amount of exercise you can do on a consistent basis and then gradually increase the amount. When you can get a refreshing response to aerobic type exercise that is done at least three times a week, then both your adrenal and thyroid system will be working better. Dont push too hard with exercise, be consistent and gradually improve what you can do.

Key nutrients for stress management can be plugged into a thyroid support program, enabling you to have better stress tolerance ( Phosphatidylserine) and less wear and tear from stress (quercetin and vitamin C).*

Thyroid and Sleep

When stress is either extremely intense or has been going on too long, then the relaxed reserves in your nervous system tend to deplete. This gives your brain a wired feeling, meaning you are likely to be more anxious or irritable during the day and have poorer quality sleep at night. This has a major bearing on how your subconscious brain (hypothalamus gland) processes thyroid-related information, directly interfering with the normal production of TRH (thyroid releasing hormone), which in turn regulates your pituitary gland (TSH), and those overall regulation of your thyroid system. This will leave you with a mixture of hyper and hypo symptoms, and unless you cool this off these symptoms, including the lack of quality sleep, remain problematic and induce ongoing thyroid wear and tear.

This combination of symptoms causes you to be tired, irritable/anxious, and hungry during the day and you typically eat more because it brings temporary relief to these feelings. At night, your subconscious brain is set to hyper-vigilant, left over circuitry from evolution so that you do not miss a hunting opportunity. In this inappropriate metabolic pattern thyroid hormone levels are set very slow by your subconscious brain (TRH-related control) so that your body can conserve energy during this misperceived famine. The only way out of this is to relax and un-inflame your system so that it can calm down.

On an exercise basis this is stretching, walking, prayer/medication, stress management, etc. towards the goal of you feeling calmer and more in control of your life. You are not just trying to knock yourself out at bed. You are trying to get a smoother energy production during the day and replenish depleted relaxed reserves. If this problem is locked in, then relaxing lifestyle adjustments are also mandatory. It can take a month or two to unwind a wound up system and thyroid wont work right until you do.

Thyroid and Cholesterol

Proper thyroid function is an important aspect of cholesterol fitness. Every cell in your body uses small fragments of cholesterol for needed metabolic functions, including the support system to maintain the three-dimensional structure of the cell itself. The rate that cholesterol is used by your cells is governed by thyroid hormone. If thyroid function is sluggish then the natural cellular use of cholesterol is reduced.*

While any cell can make its own cholesterol if needed, it is a common practice for a cell to post a sign on its outer surface that tells LDL cholesterol to drop off some of its cholesterol packages (LDL is similar to a UPS truck delivering a package, in this case a cholesterol-containing package). On the other hand, if cell function is going too slow based on sluggish thyroid then extra cholesterol may start to pile up inside the cell. When this happens the cell posts a call tag on its surface, wanting LDL to pick up rather than drop off cholesterol.*

Activate thyroid hormone at the cellular level to naturally support optimal rate of basic cell functions and consequently the use of cholesterol. Exercise also conditions thyroid hormone to work better in cells. These strategies help cholesterol flow to where it is needed, rather than pile up as an unneeded surplus. This concept is another important aspect of cholesterol fitness and is especially important for any person who has sluggish thyroid function.*

In addition to these basic nutrients, a very good supplement for anyone who is concerned about thyroid health and cholesterol fitness is our Daily E.

Thyroid and General Cardiovascular Health

Thyroid hormone controls the rate that oxygen is used at the cellular level to make energy. Your circulatory system is how oxygen is transported to cells. Thus, there is tremendous overlap between a healthy thyroid and cardiovascular system, and conversely, between a stressed thyroid and cardiovascular system.

Indicators of good health include a sense of feeling well oxygenated, reflected in very easy breathing and a head that feels quite awake. Numerous studies in the past year show the extreme importance of maintaining optimal thyroid function so as to support cardiovascular well being with the use of oxygen being a common theme. Additionally, stressed nerves directly irritate both systems, pushing them in the wrong direction (felt as a lack of stress tolerance, irritation, anxiety, racing heart, trouble sleeping, etc.)

Therefore, a relaxed and smooth feeling in your body, accompanied by easy breathing and an awake head, along with plenty of oxygen during exercise, are all signs of a good foundation of oxygen that enhances both thyroid and cardiovascular health.

High quality iron is vital for the transport of oxygen in your blood (Blood Builder, described in the section Quercetin, Vitamin D, Iron, Zinc, and Thyroid Function). Proper function of your hemoglobin also requires vitamin E. The other two best nutrients that support oxygen status are Q10 and Garlic.

Complex Thyroid Problems

Individuals are quite confused by many thyroid-related medical terms that are bantered about: hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, elevated thyroid autoantibodies, or Hashimotos thyroiditis to name a few. Oftentimes an individual will have all the symptoms of a low or underactive thyroid yet lab tests come back normal. In other cases, lab tests do not come back normal but taking thyroid hormone fails to correct how the person is feeling or only partially helps.

Important: Always consult your doctor before changing the dose of thyroid medication. You cannot simply use nutrients and not take a prescribed medication. If you are taking thyroid medication you can typically take any nutrients listed in these sections. If your thyroid system improves you may not need as much medication or any medication but that can only be determined by your doctor and not by your own self-administration. If you have any questions about combining nutrition with thyroid medication please consult your health care professional every persons situation is a bit different.

When you are using nutrition to support thyroid function you are simply trying to nourish your overall thyroid system, as well as other systems that may be stressing your thyroid function. This approach falls under the category of assisting the healthy structure and function of your body and is not the treatment or prevention of any disease or medical condition.

Do not get overwhelmed and think you have to do everything at once. You simply need to get started and see how you do. However, you do need to pay attention to and understand all these related topics especially if you are having trouble in one or more of these areas. If you arent making enough progress you can gradually add more support until you feel you are moving in the right direction.

As you are doing better it is vital to exercise consistently, eat as healthfully as possible.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These article and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About Free RAdicals and Antioxidants

2011-08-20T10:06:00.000-07:00

We've all heard of free radicals and that they are bad, and that getting enough antioxidants is good, but what are they? Why do we need antioxidants? First lets look at free radicals and how they come into being.. Metabolism is defined as the chemical reactions inside your cells that combine foods and oxygen to create energy. Energy is required for every body function from breathing to cell division to the beating of our hearts. Without energy, our bodies would simply stop working. When you drive your car, you burn gasoline by combining it with oxygen in the pistons of the engine. Your car moves due to the released energy, but it also gives off exhaust fumes as a byproduct. Something very similar happens in the cells of your body. When oxygen combines with glucose (made from food) in your cells you make energy, but you also make "free radicals" your body's version of exhaust fumes. Free radicals are unstable, destructive oxygen atoms. They are missing electrons. These radicals injure you body's healthy molecules by stealing electrons to replace their missing electrons and to balance themselves. In the process, the free radicals injure cells and leave damaged cells and tissues in their wake. This process is called oxidation and it's what makes iron rust and fruit turn brown. In excess these free radicals can cause tissue and organ damage, they can combine with innocuous cholesterol into sticky plaque that clogs arteries, they can destroy cell membranes, the protective covering of cells. They can get into the DNA and inflict damage and thus impair the body's cell's ability to divide and repair itself. This can lead to a breakdown of the bodily systems. Human beings and animals have developed mechanisms that can protect against the formation of these dangerous byproducts of metabolism. The body produces antioxidants. When an antioxidant finds a free radical, it grabs hold of it, and escorts it out of the body before it can do any damage. Chemically it helps to neutralize the free radical by offering their own electrons and so protect healthy tissue. Antioxidants are found in the food we eat. However, Foods lose their antioxidant powers when they are processed and cooked. Stress, air pollution, cigarette smoke and chemicals can cause your body to produce even more free radicals. Additionally, radiation, ultraviolet light in sunshine, toxic chemicals, pesticides, excess saturated fats and even the processed foods itself create more free radicals. The best bet is to keep your antioxidant level high by eating foods high in the vitamins needed to create antioxidants. Another way to control the formation of free radicals is to take antioxidant supplements which can help restore the proper balance of antioxidants and free-radicals.

Good Fats Vs Bad Fats

2011-08-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

The most common buzzwords that we come across in magazines, TV cooking shows, etc are “Good Fats” and “Bad Fats”. What are these? And, why one type is good and other type is bad??
Human body forms some significant materials from fats and also use fat to store and transport different vitamins within the body. Fat also take part in sugar and insulin metabolism and thus add towards weight loss and maintenance. Fat is important for healthy diet. And fat makes food tasty and better. But all the fats are not good.
The basic with the fat is that these contain more than twice the calories of an equal amount of protein and carbohydrate. A diet with more fat and / or sugar causes weight gain problem, which further leads to obesity and other health problems. A low fat diet helps in weight reduction.
Saturated fat if taken in excess can lead to a range of disease like heart problems and some time cancers.
Store shelves are now lined with virtually fat-free potato chips, luncheon meats, and cookies, all concocted so people can literally have their cake and eat it too. However, beware – a product that claims to be low in fat may still be high in sugar.
Being “fat-healthy” is not just about avoiding the saturated fats, but its’ about making it sure that you are taking the right kind of fat in appropriate quantity in your diet.

Some of the sources of Good Fats are fish, nuts, avocados, seeds and fresh creamery butter.
Good Fats are naturally occurring fats, which cannot be tampered. The Good Fatsinclude monounsaturated fats and Polyunsaturated fats.

1. Monounsaturated Fats- These are largely found in olive oil, peanuts, canola oil, and avocados. Monounsaturated fat lessen total cholesterol and bad LDL cholesterol level in our body. LDL cholesterol accumulates and blocks arteries. These fats maintain the level of good HDL cholesterol in our body that carries away cholesterol from artery walls and delivers it to the lever for disposal.

2. Polyunsaturated fatty acids also called Omega – 3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fish, flaxseeds, walnuts, almonds and macadamia nuts. Research proves that people who eat much of omega – 3s, for example Eskimos, (whose principal diet is fish), have fewer serious health problems like heart disease and diabetes etc. Omega – 3 fatty acids also helps in prevention and treatment of depression, arthritis, asthma, colitis, and cardiovascular disease.

The following two fats are considered bad:

1. Trans Fat and 2. Saturated Fat

Trans Fat- Trans fat are man made fat formed by turning of liquid oil into more solid fat like shortening and margarine. These are worse type of fat. Trans fat are found in many-packaged food items like margarine, cookies, cakes, doughnuts and potato chips etc. These are worse than saturate fats and harmful to our blood vessels, “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, and waistline.

Saturated Fat-These are naturally occurring fats and found in almost all fatty foods, particularly in fatty red meats, full-fat dairy products, butter and tropical oils such as palm oil and coconut oil. Saturate fat is also contained in Western Foods like pizza, hamburgers, tacos, ice cream, lasagna and cheese.

Only 2% of our calories come from trans fat, while 13% (6 times as much) comes from saturated fat.

While we need to eat less fat we also require balancing the type of fat, which we consume in our diet.

Japanese, European and Mediterranean live longer and face less problems of heart disease etc. The typical fat diet of these people contain two – to – one ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.

Scientists claims that a diet high in Omega – 3 fatty acids can help prevent obesity and a range of health issues and complications like heart problems, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and arthritis problems.

So people need to consume about 1.5 grams of Omega –3 fatty acids a week.

A six-ounce serving of most fish, like, including cod, salmon, rainbow trout, flounder, tuna, clams, catfish, haddock, perch, and halibut, has between 0.2 and 0.9 grams of omega-3 fats. Tinned sardines are particularly high in Omega-3 fats.
People who take diets high in omega-6 and low in omega-3 are much prone to heart disease etc. This is not because the omega-6 fats are this much bad, but the fact is overeating and that too particularly in western countries