Japan

A few weeks ago, I indulged in one of my addictions, which is shopping online for beauty and health products on my favorite site, Lucky Vitamin.  I put one of my “can’t do without” products in my cart only to find out a week later it was on backorder. As of this writing, it’s still not arrived, but I think I figured out why. But before I figured this out, I searched online and found other online stores were also completely out!  What I discovered was people have been buying excess amounts of iodine due to the recent earthquake in Fukushima, Japan. If you’ve been keeping up in the news, you know the earthquake affected a nuclear power plant which released massive amounts of radiation into the area. Iodine prevents the thyroid from absorbing radiation and can even prevent future thyroid cancer. People in Japan and on the West Coast of the US decided to turn to potassium iodide (a.ka. iodine) for protection. I’ve been taking this miracle substance for a while and was lucky enough to find two bottles at my local nutrition store. I’m glad I called and begged the guy to put them on hold for me! So why do I take iodine?

My Story

For years I had a problem with my weight and never thought my thyroid was the culprit. More recently, I began experiencing dry skin, hair loss and bouts with depression. Have you ever been unhappy and just couldn’t figure out why? That was me and I found out exactly why. I went to a local naturopath and had a Bio-meridian assessment. BMA measures the body’s energy meridians and is able to provide feedback on organs and nutritional deficiencies. My practitioner told me my thyroid was out of whack. As you can see, this was not only affecting weight loss, but also my external appearance.  If you’re feeling some of the same symptoms I did, chances are it could be thyroid related…so do you know if you’re thyroid is slow or fast and how can you tell?

The thyroid is a gland located in the neck.

Hypothyroidism Cause and Treatment

What I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, I didn’t understand what it was. Hypothyroidism means your thyroid is not making enough hormone…in other words, low thyroid function. Why is this important? The thyroid runs the body’s metabolism…if your metabolism is running slow (and you have difficulty losing weight) then you may have hypothyroidism. Over 10 million Americans and as many as 10% of women may be suffering with this issue and not even know it. Hypothyroidism is caused by an inflammation of the thyroid gland. This inflammation damages cells which prevents them from making sufficient hormones. If you have thyroid problems in your family, it may be hereditary, but I tend to believe environmental factors play a larger role.

Some of the symptoms you may experience if you suffer from hypothyroidism are:

• Fatigue

• Weakness
• Coarse, dry hair

• Dry, pale skin
• Depression
• Irritability (I definitely had that one!)

I felt hopeless nothing would help me overcome these effects. Besides the depression, one of the worst effects was the hair and skin problems. No matter what shampoo or facial cream I used, my hair was dry and unmanageable (and was falling out) and my skin looked dull. I did find something to help however, which I will discuss later in the article.

The treatment for hypothyroidism is thyroid replacement, which may be natural or synthetic. I prefer to use natural options so my practitioner suggested a glandular hormone (from bovine sources) and bio-identical hormones. This can help greatly….I strongly recommend seeing your doctor for diagnosis and treatment options.

Hyperthyroidism Treatment

Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of Hyper- in this case, the thyroid makes too much hormone.  The immune system can attack the thyroid gland (this is called Grave’s Disease) and to fight back, the thyroid increases it’s hormone production.  Some of the effects include:

• Weight loss

• Nervousness

• Moodiness

• Sweating

• Rapid Heartbeat

Some  treatments include beta blockers, radioactive iodine, and anti-thyroid medicine.

Speaking of Iodine….

I’ve been hinting a bit at my miracle cure for hypothyroidism. It’s iodine! People are extremely iodine deficient nowadays. In the past, breads and salt contained iodine and people were able to get their iodine through the foods they ate. Today, most salts are iodine free and most breads are made with bromine, which leaches iodine from the body! The lack of iodine in the diet plays a key role in the development of serious diseases. Areas with low iodine consumption have higher breast cancer rates and mental deficiencies. It can also cause Goiters, or enlargement of the thyroid gland. To make matters worse, fluoride is added to the water supply and it’s absorbed in the thyroid. In years past, fluoride was used as a treatment for hyperthyroidism…..until it was later discovered to alter thyroid function. In reality fluoride is a toxic poison which has no business being in our water or our toothpaste. It serves no function other than being a detriment. So where does iodine come in? Iodine plays a key role in thyroid function. If you take an iodine supplement, it can counteract the fluoride and help “push” it out of the thyroid so it can function properly. A note of warning though…talk to your doctor or naturopath before beginning an iodine supplement as too much iodine can be unhealthy.

Get Iodine Naturally Through Foods

There’s a reason why the women is Japan have much lower incidences of breast cancer than the US. Their iodine consumption is off the charts! People who eat sea vegetables, kelp, or chlorella obtain healthy amounts of natural iodine through the foods they eat. People in the US don’t typically eat these foods…but with thyroid problems on the rise, maybe it’s time to start! Along with eating sea vegetables, you can use salts such as Real Salt, a salt which is not bleached like most commercial salt products. You may also want to eat kelp noodles…which may sound gross, but they are actually white noodles similar to pasta. You can substitute them in your favorite recipes and get all the healthful benefits. I made a dish with kelp and chicken and it was delicious! Here are some iodine rich foods:

• Kelp

• Kelp noodles

• Chlorella

• Seaweed

• Brown algae

• Red Algae

When I began integrating more iodine rich foods in my diet as well as supplementing with iodine, I felt better. Know what else happened? My hair and skin improved as well. It’s true what you put into your body effects the outside. You could be the healthiest person ever yet thyroid issues may still affect you. Sometimes we can’t control environmental factors influencing our health. If this is the case, you have to take charge of your health and use supplements and good nutrition practices to combat them. Through my research for this article, I also was reminded of another thyroid helper: coconut oil. I am speaking of the organic unrefined variety. Many testimonials as to its thyroid strengthening power exists online. You can cook or bake with it or just take it as a supplement each day (3 tablespoons a day.) Have you been affected with thyroid disease and how have you handled it? Let’s share our experiences. I’d love to hear your story and know what you think of mine.

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

Howdy, Toxic Beauty readers!

I recently watched a groundbreaking film, Food, Inc. This documentary is a must see for all people because it applies to each and every one of us. Everyone eats!  Food, Inc. uncovers the deplorable treatment of animals and just what is in the food you eat (horrifying!)

If this movie doesn’t turn you into a vegetarian, nothing will! I was almost in tears to see how cows and pigs are treated as if they were garbage. In addition, you will find out how the food industry is not looking out for you or your health, but for their own profit!

You might be thinking…what does this have to do with a beauty blog? What you eat impacts how you feel as well as look.  Everything you put into your mouth as well as on your skin can affect your health AND beauty. I know my skin looks a lot better when I eat organic, whole foods from the earth. So as soon as you have a chance rent Food, Inc. and be aware of how the food industry is pulling the wool over your eyes about the food you eat. Check out the trailer below for a preview of what you will see in the movie. Feel free to leave some comments. Let’s discuss!

Stay natural…Stay beautiful…Go green!

Robin

Soon we will be sitting down to a fabulous feast, gathering with family and giving thanks for all we have. It’s the perfect time for me to offer my readers a very special gift. I have available for you to download absolutely free a copy of Stanley Burrough’s The Master Cleanse. You may have heard of this cleanse before, as Beyonce did it right before starring in Dream Girls. She lost 20 pounds and her skin was glowing!

Losing weight is just a side effect of the cleanse, also known as the Lemonade Diet. The primary purpose of the Master Cleanse isn’t to lose weight however, it is to detox the body. By doing this cleanse for at least 10 days, you can improve your weight, your skin and your overall health. All you need is a few simple ingredients.

I did this cleanse a year ago and lost 15 pounds! I felt great and you can too!

You can download the ebook by clicking on the Master Cleanse book cover in the right sidebar.

Enjoy the book!

Stay natural…stay beautiful…go green!

Robin

IODINE?  4 Top Reasons Why You Need It….NOW!
By Sheila Newth

Ok, so you’ve generally heard about Iodine…I mean your mom used to pour it on your cuts and scrapes when you were a kid, right? Ouch, you still remember that, don’t you? But did you also realize that Iodine plays a GIGANTIC role in your body’s over-all health…and I mean it effects everything from your thyroid, heart disease, cancer rate, hormones, reproductive issues, depression, mental retardation, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and so much more! Phew, that was a mouthful!

If you are shocked by this, hey, you are not alone! Millions of people out there have NO IDEA how important it is. In fact, Iodine used to even be in our breads up until a few decades ago, then the greedy bread makers decided to use BROMINE instead. Bromine is the arch-enemy of iodine, and will literally suck it right out of your body! *snaps fingers* Just like that!

Oh, and by the way, if you think your so called “iodized salt” is enough to fix your iodine deficiency, think again! There isn’t enough iodine in there for what your body needs, and white salt is pretty harmful to your body in other ways. So be sure to stick to “sea salts” and get your iodine from other methods!

Okay, so let’s get to it! Here are the 4 Top Reasons Why You Need Iodine…NOW!

Reason #1) Just Say No to Breast Cancer!
That’s right! Iodine can be your lifesaver (literally). It can prevent, and possibly even reverse breast cancers. You see, the iodine is generally soaked up by the thyroid gland first, and then by the breast tissue itself, helpful to relieve any issues there. People that get breast cancers have been tested to show LOW iodine stores in their bodies…hmmm. Could there be a correlation here, I think so!

Reason #2) I’m SOOOO Tired! Not Anymore!
Yup!  Another amazing thing Iodine is known for is helping with chronic fatigue, PCOS, Fibromyalgia, and just plain low energy. Do you feel tired all the time, and just don’t know why? Well, check your iodine reserves? Are you low? Probably. Fix that and fix the tiredness!
NOTE: You can do a quickie test to see if you are “low” on iodine by getting the iodine tincture at the drugstores. This is for external use only! Just put a 2 inch round swab of iodine on your arm somewhere and if it’s gone in a few hours, it GENERALLY means you are low. But I always recommend getting checked by a qualified doctor for more detailed info!

Reason #3) Ovarian Cancer….Your Enemy Is Here!
Ok, you guess it! Iodine is spectacular when it comes to fighting off ANY type of reproductive issues, such as ovarian or uterine cancers, or even painful ovarian cysts. Iodine is your “knight in shining armor” especially when it comes to these type of issues, but it’s generally great at helping with most types of cancer prevention.

Reason #4) Heart Disease? Iodine Can Help!
Iodine is absolutely amazing at healing your heart problems. Thousands of people have said it helps their heart become more regular, and stopped any heart arrhythmia or palpitations. Iodine is great for regulating your blood pressure and blood sugar issues as well. It has even been known to help with Type 2 Diabetes too!
NOTE: Always, always check with your doctor to see if iodine supplementation is for you. NEVER stop taking any medication without your doctor’s prior approval!

So there you have it! Those are 4 AMAZING (if I do say so myself) reasons why Iodine is sooo important to your health. If you want to get even more info on Iodine, please be sure to read “Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It” By David Brownstein. This is a super book on everything you need to know about Iodine.

So get out there, and start to take charge of your own health. If you don’t, who will?

About the author:
Sheila Newth has recently written an e-book on how to cure lice naturally called “Lice-nse To Kill Naturally”. It kills the lice, the lice eggs, gets the eggs out easily, and prevents lice for GOOD! Please visit www.licetokill.com for more info!