Do I Have a Low Thyroid?

Do I have a low functioning thyroid?

This is a question many people should ask, because the symptoms
of low thyroid are so common today. Read on to learn about the symptoms and what you can do about it.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped gland in your neck. It controls your rate of metabolism and has powerful effects in the functioning of your body. The effects of a low thyroid are felt in almost every part of your body because every cell in your body has a receptor on it’s cell membrane for the thyroid hormones.

So, everything you can think of that your body does, has a thyroid involvement.

The symptoms of low thyroid function, then, can be wide spread. The two most common symptoms are fatigue and depression. Since these are pretty general symptoms, low thyroid is often misdiagnosed as a female hormonal problem or a neurotransmitter serotonin problem.

The other symptoms that are classic for low thyroid are: loss of hair, hair thinning, dry rough skin, intolerance to cold, feeling abnormally cold, constipation, morning headaches, lack of motivation, low libido, and brain fog. Not much fun.

The most common way to confirm the diagnosis of low thyroid or hypothyroid as it is called in the medical community, is an elevated TSH. TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone and is a hormone that is sent out from the brain to the thyroid to tell it to make thyroid hormones. So, if your thyroid is not working the way it should, and the amount of thyroid hormones being pumped out is low, the brain will increase the message to the thyroid gland and it will manifest as a high TSH.

How high? Well, the standard lab ranges are .5-4.5, but I consider anything above 3 to be suspicious. I actually saw a person with hardly any symptoms have a TSH of 128! So you can not always determine the severity of the hypothyroid by the symptoms.

The first step is diagnosis, the second step treatment. For most people, going to a doctor with the above symptoms will result in a blood test and a confirmation of low thyroid output. Because doctors are trained in a certain way, the treatment is almost certainly going to be…. thyroid hormone replacement. That is to say, if a hormone is low, add more hormone to the body. While this can help alleviate symptoms, it often overlooks the reason the hormones are low in the first place.

It is extremely useful to find a health care practitioner that is experienced in managing thyroid disorders. A person that can encourage the thyroid to make the thyroid hormones rather than just replace them. However, some times the low thyroid state has gone on so long, the thyroid is incapable of producing more hormones because so much thyroid tissue is lost.
Hormone replacement in this case makes a lot of sense.

Regardless of the therapy used to prove that the TSH- Thyroid-Brain hormone loop is normalized, it is important to realize that there are many other global effects of having a low thyroid.

One of the most important questions is:“ how long after the appearance of symptoms did you get treated for a low thyroid? “ The longer that period of time, the more degeneration has occurred and the more body systems you need to support.

I talked with a woman this afternoon who told me that 15 years had elapsed before she got diagnosed and treated for low thyroid. Yikes!

The most important issue is to seek help if you have the symptoms I listed above and get the proper diagnosis. Treatment can range from thyroid hormone replacement(synthetic and natural), to iodine and selenium supplementation, thyroid glandular tissue supplement, homeopathic treatments or quieting down an overzealous immune system.

All have their place depending on the person, their symptoms and their lab tests.

Blood Sugar Control Myths

If you are concerned about controlling your blood sugar, and you should be, you need to know………

The Great Myths of Blood Sugar Control

1. Conventional wisdom says if you’re not having
symptoms, your blood sugar control problems are not such
a big deal, they’re wrong! If you do not have symptoms now here is a sampling:
Foggy thinking, memory lapses, low energy levels, cravings for sugar,
kidney problems and high blood pressure and cholesterol
levels are just a few of the symptoms you might not be
attributing to unbalanced blood sugar… but should be.

2. Conventional wisdom says low-fat dieting can control your
blood sugar. Wrong again!
Fat is not the cause of America’s epidemic of insulin
resistance, sugar and excess carbs are and most people are in the dark about
it. The average American consumes roughly 32 teaspoons
of sugar each day, much of it hidden in the processed foods
we eat. Ingesting too much sugar is acid-forming and wreaks
havoc on your health leading to unbalanced blood sugar.

3. Conventional wisdom says natural solutions won’t work
for blood sugar. Wrong, dead wrong!
The pharmaceutical companies have plenty of drugs to help
you deal with blood sugar imbalances. The trouble is… the
side effects of some of these drugs can be WORSE than the
disease they’re supposed to treat!
For example, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
recently mandated the use of a “black box” warning on the
diabetes drug Avandia.
This strong warning label emphasizes the drug, “may cause
or worsen heart failure in certain patients.”
Despite this disturbing admission, an agency advisory panel
voted 22 to 1 in favor of allowing continued sales to U.S. patients!
But here’s some good news. You can balance your blood
sugar naturally, simply by using nutrients straight from Mother
Nature.

Nutrients for Healthy Blood Sugar
It might seem hard to imagine that a few herbs can help you
win the battle of blood sugar imbalance–but it’s TRUE!
Let’s examine each of these super nutrients individually…
Gymnema Sylvestre
For more than 2,000 years, people in India have used the
herb Gymnema sylvestre to help control blood sugar. In fact,
the leaves of this climbing plant are highly valued by practitioners of
Ayurvedic medicine–the ancient system of healing developed
in India and practiced by the renowned doctor Deepak Chopra.
The herb is also called “gurmar,” which literally means “destroyer
of sugar” in Hindi. This name describes the way that chewing the
leaves interferes with your ability to taste sweetness. Because
this amazing herb decreases the sensation of sweetness in many
foods, this may reduce your cravings for sugary snacks. In addition, this versatile herb improves insulin receptor sensitivity.

Chromium
Another weapon in nature’s arsenal of sugar fighters is the
mineral chromium. Chromium aids in digestion and helps
move blood glucose from the bloodstream into the cells for
energy. It also helps turn fats, carbohydrates, and proteins
into energy.
What’s more, chromium is critical for healthy insulin function.
Without enough chromium in your body, insulin just doesn’t
work properly.
Chromium exists in many foods, but research shows that 90%
of American adults have a chromium deficient diet! This could
be a key reason why an increasing number of Americans suffer
blood sugar problems.

Banaba Leaf Extract
Traditionally, people living in the Philippines, South Asia, and
India have brewed a banaba leaf tea to help regulate blood sugar.
Medical scientists believe that banaba leaf’s beneficial effects
on blood sugar are due to its high concentration of corosolic
acid, a natural compound extracted from its leaves.
Corosolic acid mimics insulin by moving sugar out of your
bloodstream and into your cells. And numerous scientific
studies have proven banaba leaf’s effectiveness.

Fenugreek
Modern science is shedding new light on another traditional
folk remedy which delivers excellent health benefits.
Fenugreek is an herb native to the Mediterranean, Ukraine,
India, and China.
Practitioners of Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine
have used the herb for more than 2,000 years. Modern
scientists now know fenugreek helps balance your
cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose.
Fenugreek seed stimulates insulin release. This helps food
sugars reach your cells properly.

BitterMelon
Although it may be unknown to most people in the West–bitter
melon has long been used in South America, the Caribbean,
East Africa, and the Orient as both food and a natural medicine.
And scientific studies prove its value for treating blood sugar
problems.
Studies have show bitter melon could play a key role in
helping to balance insulin in your body and had positive effects
on the serum glucose levels of those taking it–which of course
means healthy blood sugar control.
So if you’ve resigned yourself to a life filled by downing daily
prescription medications, jabbing yourself with insulin, and
praying that you don’t succumb to kidney failure, loss of vision or extremities,

I want to introduce you to these natural compounds that represent a breakthrough for balancing your blood sugar.

Imagine avoiding the dangers of pharmaceutical agents while you:
● Balance your blood sugar
● Control insulin and help your body use it more effectively
● Keep your cholesterol healthy
● Boost your immunity
● Support healthy weight loss
● Eliminate sugar spikes
● Protect your kidneys
● Banish tired, sluggish feelings
● Reduce sugar and food cravings
● Plus, dozens more benefits!

All these powerful nutrients are great for blood sugar control but it does not give you a license to eat sweets regularly or to go long periods of time without eating. Both of these practices will imbalance your blood sugar leading to multiple health problems, not the least of these is diabetes. There is a huge laundry list of diseases and health problems that have blood sugar imbalances as their underpinnings.
So, look to balance your carbs with proteins and take a supplement that has bitter melon,chromium, gymnema and fenugreek. Your body will thank you by performing better in your daily life.