posted July 27, 2006 02:39 PM            

Purge junk food from your diet, especially sodas and diet sodas. Limit coffee and tea.

Buy organic moisturizers that don't contain lots of chemicals.

For my night moisturizer, I mix organic coconut oil with some organic orange oil and organic E. Awesome mixture.

Avacado oil (keep it in the fridge!) is also great for a night moisturizer.

posted July 27, 2006 03:02 PM              

Sorry to disagree, but green tea is a natural cleanser-inside & out. Drinking green, & even black tea is hlpful for the body & skin.

I make an astringent with pure water; I brew chamomile, green tea & rosemary then add vinegar & Lavandar oil. I rince my hair with it, & use it all over my body. Vinegar is a natural anti-microbal. It is great for body oder, it doesn't dry out skin or hair & when it dries it doesn't smell like vinegar; it smells like lavendar. It is an all around good addition to any skin/hair regimine.

Don't add too much chamo or tea; it will stain clothes cuz it is a darker color.

posted July 27, 2006 03:49 PM            

You don't need to apologize for disagreeing with me. There is room for everyone's opinion. That said...

I wouldn't recommend drinking green tea to anyone! It is literally loaded with huge amounts of fluoride, even when grown organically. Fluoride is so destructive to our bodies that it is illegal in many countries. If you value your thyroid (and you should), avoid it like the plague.

As for black tea, not only loaded with fluoride, it is also loaded with tannins. Tannins are used to age leather. I don't think it's a great leap of faith to deduce that which ages leather could age our skin.

No matter what tea you drink, at least choose organic.

posted July 27, 2006 08:58 PM              

Those on vegitarian or whole foods diets don't suffer from mercury, arsnic or strychnine poisoning.

If tea is grown w/o pesticides... than there is no reason to fear the "dangerous" minerals. It is a common misconception.

posted July 27, 2006 09:10 PM            

quote:

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It is a common misconception

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I'm not one for common, on any level.

And as for a common misconception...I think not, according to the research I've investigated from myriad sources. I would suggest you consider reading my other thread, as well as the many others on this site discussing this same issue.

There is also a wonderful little book titled Politically Incorrect Nutrition that I would also recommend.

quote:

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If tea is grown w/o pesticides... than there is no reason to fear the "dangerous" minerals.

---

If you were pregnant, would you eat even organic belladonna? Those with thyroids should do what they can to protect them, including research on the affects of fluoride from all sources.

Kim you have your mind made up; I am not arguing with you. I am presenting an opposing view in hopes that others might reconsider becoming victims of a great marketing campaign. I do not claim to be right or wrong; I am not a qualified researcher. But I have read the research, and find it more than compelling. I choose to err on the side of my health.

Marketers will tell you soy is healthy, too. Hey, Asians ate it for years! Well, they ate it in small amounts, and they sure as hell weren't eating the protein isolates found in our overly processed soy burgers, dogs, milk, etc.

Good health to you and all.

posted July 28, 2006 08:15 PM              

We agree on one thing for sure. Soy can be a problem. I developed "Hoshimoto's" (autoimmune induced hypothyroid) when I was doing the soy thing. At that time I wasn't into tea at all.

I admit I was wrong on at least one count. I was taking Kelp tabs to help, but found out that the iodine (organic) content was too high. It made my thyroid even worse. I was told by a holistic doctor to use uniodised sea salt, stay away from soy & cruciferous vegies. He said that the cabbage family had too many nitrates that harmed the thyroid.

In the US factory farming is fertilized with NPK (Nitrogen,phosphorus & potassium). It could be that the crucifirus absorb more nitrogen than some of the other plants.

You made a good point about the belladonna. I don't know what makes it poisonous, but I do know in small quantities that it is used by some as a sleep aid with no harmful effects. I, however, would never take it as a staple to my diet.

I do beleive in moderation in most all things. One exceptions being pure water.

I just thought of another thing. Maybe someone knows about this. I read, from a holistic health article somewhere, that phosphorus can enter the bones with no restraint or barrier. This causes it to push calcium, and other minerals, out of the bones, and perhaps this is one of the reasons for so much osteoperosis despite the increase in calcium intake.

posted July 31, 2006 08:57 AM            

I've enjoyed this exchange very much. Perhaps it is from those with whom we disagree, we learn the most. I hope to read more of your thoughts and research.

I have not read or researched your possible claim about phosphorous, and its possible link to osteoperosis. But it's my understanding, from years of reading the works of Dr. Schulze, Sam Biser, Dr. McDougall and others, that calcium in supplements and calcium in dairy are not readily absorbed or utilized by the body.
Most vitamins are made from things you can't absorb; ask a manufacturer what's in his Vitamin C tablets. You won't get an answer, and if you do, you won't like it.

So while we are taking calcium tablets and assuming milk and dairy are good for our bones...we are once again victims of advertising campaigns and marketing strategies. Calcium for the body is best from vegetables. There may be some organic herbs, too, but that will take some research.

Thank you for the opportunity to stir it up a bit, Kim.

By the way, Hashimoto's is a disease. There are two causes for hypothyroidism, one of which is Hashimoto's, but there is a distinction between the two. Hashimoto's is usually accompanied by a goiter, or at least swelling/discomfort around the throat.

I too am hypothyroid and take the condition quite seriously. I know how I feel when my TSH and T3/T4 are unbalanced.

posted July 31, 2006 11:07 PM            

Check out the cleanses offered on this site.
http://www.dr-schulze.com/home_1024x768.asp

I take Safi Blood Purifier,
and regard it as a wonder product.
http://hm.hamdard.com:5050/star.jsp http://mall.coimbatore.com/bnh/misc/safi.html

although there is controversy, i trust it.
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/70643/

Obviously, the most important thing is to eat a healthy diet.

posted August 01, 2006 08:48 AM            

Goddess does tell me what I need. Everyday. Sometimes I listen by reading, right here.
Everyone, in fact, gets what he or she needs, every second of every minute of every day. Sometimes, when what we need is not what we necessarily think we want, we're just not listening.

posted August 01, 2006 12:12 PM              

quote:

---

Goddess does tell me what I need. Everyday. Sometimes I listen by reading, right here.

---

posted August 04, 2006 09:27 AM            

You may already be well versed in the differences between Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism, but for anyone who isn't, I thought I would provide this link. Mary Shomon is a woman with hypothyroidism who has become a patient advocate. Her knowledge and research are amazing, and I would highly recommend her books for anyone who wants to know more about the thyroid.

That said, I can't sanction her "hypothyroid diet," which is really a modified South Beach, so far as I can tell. For healing the body, I think McDougall, or modified McDougall is the way to go. But that's just my opinion.
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/hypothyroidism/a/hashivshypo.htm?nl=1

Here is part of the article:

A Look at Autoimmune Thyroid Disease and Underactive Thyroid Conditions
Hashimoto's disease is a disease, and hypothyroidism is a condition. Hypothyroidism is most commonly caused by Hashimoto's disease, but the two terms are not interchangeable. Here is more information to help understand the difference.
HASHIMOTO'S DISEASE

Hashimoto's disease, sometimes known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, autoimmune thyroiditis, or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, is an autoimmune disease. In Hashimoto's, antibodies react against proteins in the thyroid gland, causing gradual destruction of the gland itself, and making the gland unable to produce the thyroid hormones the body needs.

Diagnosis

Hashimoto's disease is typically diagnosed by clinical examination that demonstrates one or more of the following findings:

Enlargement of the thyroid, known as a goiter
High levels of antibodies against thyroglobulin (TG) and thyroid peroxidase (TPO), detected via blood test
Fine needle aspiration of the thyroid (also known as a needle biopsy), which shows lymphocytes and macrophages
A radioactive uptake scan, which would show diffuse uptake in an enlarged thyroid gland
Ultrasound, which would show an enlarged thyroid gland
Symptoms
Symptoms of Hashimoto's can vary.

Some people have no symptoms whatsoever, and will have no demonstrable symptoms of the underlying condition. For many Hashimoto's patients, the thyroid becomes enlarged, a condition known as a goiter. The goiter can range from slight enlargement, which may have no other symptoms, to a substantial increase in size.
Some people with Hashimoto's, especially those with a larger goiter, may feel discomfort in the neck area. Scarves or neckties may feel uncomfortable. The neck may feel swollen or uncomfortably enlarged, even sore. Sometimes the neck and/or throat is sore or tender. Less commonly, swallowing or even breathing can become difficult if a goiter is blocking the windpipe or esophagus.

Hashimoto's typically involves a slow but steady destruction of the gland that eventually results in the thyroid's inability to produce sufficient thyroid hormone -- the condition known as hypothyroidism. Along the way, however, there can be periods where the thyroid sputters back to life, even causing temporary hyperthyroidism, then a return to hypothyroidism. This cycling back and forth between hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism is characteristic of Hashimoto's disease. So, for example, periods of anxiety/insomnia/diarrhea/weight loss may be followed by periods of depression/fatigue/constipation/weight gain.

In some cases, the onset of Hashimoto's and elevation of antibodies will be accompanied by a variety of symptoms, including anxiety, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, weight changes, depression, hair loss, muscle/joint aches and pains, and fertility problems, among others.

Treatment

If a goiter causes difficulty swallowing or breathing, or is a cosmetic problem, then thyroid hormone replacement drugs (i.e., levothyroxine or natural desiccated thyroid) will usually be given to help shrink the thyroid. If drug treatment does not work, or the goiter is too invasive, then surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid may be recommended.

Except in the case of a goiter, most endocrinologists and conventional physicians will not treat Hashimoto's disease, as diagnosed by elevated antibody levels, unless other thyroid function tests such as TSH are outside the normal range.

There are, however, some endocrinologists, as well as holistic MDs, osteopaths and other practitioners, who believe that Hashimoto's disease -- as confirmed by the presence of thyroid antibodies -- along with symptoms, are enough to warrant treatment with small amounts of thyroid hormone.

The practice of treating patients who have Hashimoto's thyroiditis but normal range thyroid function tests is supported by a study, reported on in the March 2001 issue of the journal Thyroid. In this study, German researchers reported that use of levothyroxine treatment for cases of Hashimoto's autoimmune thyroiditis where TSH had not yet elevated beyond normal range (people who were considered "euthyroid") could reduce the incidence and degree of autoimmune disease progression.

In the study of 21 patients with euthyroid Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (normal range TSH, but elevated antibodies), half of the patients were treated with levothyroxine for a year, the other half were not treated. After 1 year of therapy with levothyroxine, the antibody levels and lymphocytes (evidence of inflammation) decreased significantly only in the group receiving the medication. Among the untreated group, the antibody levels rose or remained the same.

The researchers concluded that preventative treatment of normal TSH range patients with Hashimoto's disease reduced the various markers of autoimmune thyroiditis, and speculated that that such treatment might even be able to stop the progression of Hashimoto's disease, or perhaps even prevent development of the hypothyroidism.

posted August 04, 2006 03:45 PM              

Thanks for the research. I own the book "The Thyroid Diet". I just havent read it yet. I do not have or ever had a goiter.

I do have CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome) I developed it at least 12 years before I was officially diagnosed with Hashimotos.

When I got low thyroid got really sick, & I gained weight steadily until I made them put me on Armour Thyroid; which, is pig glandular or dessicated thyroid. I was always a thin person til that developed.

I found that Synthroid & Luvoxyl did nothing. I have to be careful of synthetics. That goes for most things in my life.

I am not anywhere near ready to have my thyroid removed. I hold out hope for a cure. I know about Dr Schultz & have a line on several others like him, so I, when I'm able, keep searching for answers.

I did do Dr Schultz' juice fast for 6 monthes, but nothing improved. I found it extremely difficult to digest solid food for quite awhile after that.

Right now I am at a good thyroid level, and I can tell if it's starting to act up. I then Have the level checked & adjust the med amount.

Maybe we can find some solid answers, and put some of the puzzle pieces together. I have thought about researching forign countries like Germany & France who use much more holistic medical aproaches.

Peace-Out

posted August 04, 2006 04:07 PM            

I only have a minute but will try to write more over the weekend.

I too have tried and tried to heal my thyroid, but every time I go off the medication (including for the Schulze body cleanse) my levels go crazy and the fatigue/mind fog just kills me. Like you, I take Armour, because Synthroid did nothing for me. I hate taking Armour, because I am a vegetarian (vegan-ish), but it is a superior product, probably because it also provides T3 and T4, which synthroid does not.

More soon...

posted August 04, 2006 11:43 PM              

Unfortunately, I really like cheese, which makes me break out... but when I can avoid it for a week or so, my skin is blemish-free and glowing.

Also good:
-make a face mask out of yogurt
-dab apple cider vinegar on acne spots
-don't pick at any pimples, and don't wear greasy makeup!

Eating a diet of mostly raw fruits and vegetables works wonders. Not just for your skin, but your whole body. It keeps you hydrated and full of antioxidants. You can go on 100% raw food diet as a detox and then add back in some protein from fish and eggs, sprouted grain bread, etc. to make the diet more sustainable.

posted August 29, 2006 10:15 PM            

I don't think I will ever actually alter my diet in such a way, although part of me wishes I would.

Out of curiosity, how did you begin these diets? How long did it take? How did you find information that was reliable?