Metabolic detoxification is one of the keys to vibrant health and long lasting weight loss.

Our bodies must routinely get rid of metabolic waste and remove toxins, otherwise, we die.  When you have poor cellular detoxification, it results in slowly waning health and multiple subtle symptoms.

From the biochemical perspective, metabolic detoxification occurs in 2 phases:

Phase I Detoxification:

Phase I works using enzymes called cytochrome P450 enzymes. They are found in various tissues, with the liver, the gut lining, kidneys, lungs and brain tissues having the greatest amounts of these enzymes.  The cytochrome P450 enzymes help move toxins from the cells by using the active form of niacin that makes them into more reactive molecules. These more reactive molecules are then ready for phase II, which is excretion.  If they are not taken through phase II, they can be more toxic than the original toxin and cause damage inside the body.  Increased cancer risks and Parkinson’s disease are associated with increased phase I activity without adequate phase II detoxification.

Phase I detoxification requires very little nutritional support to be fully active.  In fact, during fasting and starvation, phase I “detox” can increase substantially.  Enhancing phase I detoxification requires antioxidants.

Phase II Detoxification:

The reactive phase I intermediates are attached to a series of enzymes that make the intermediates more water soluble. The final detoxified molecule can then be excreted in the urine, and via sweat and feces.

Phase II detoxification is very dependent on these various essential nutrients:

• the amino acids glycine, taurine, glutamine, N-acetylcysteine, cysteine, methionine
• vitamin B6, B12, and folate
• essential fatty acids: DHA and EPA

Balanced phase I and II metabolic detoxification processes are essential for proper elimination of toxins from the body.

A proper hypothyroidism diagnosis is often missed among those who are already experiencing many of the symptoms of hypothyroid problems.

A typical general practitioner or family physician will test your thyroid function by checking the TSH and T4 levels through a blood test. If your doctor runs the blood tests and the results show “normal” but you are having many of the signs and symptoms above, you will need to find a doctor who does the complete thyroid testing.

Complete thyroid testing includes free T4, total T3, free T3, reverse T3, TPO, thyroglobulin antibodies, salivary cortisol and DHEA-S, along with TSH and T4. These tests will show a more precise diagnosis of hypothyroidism. It will also help identify if adrenal dysfunction is an underlying cause of the thyroid problem. This may surprise some of you, but even many endocrinologists may misdiagnose hypothyroidism.

Simply Getting Diagnosed with Hypothyroidism Is Not Enough

A hypothyroidism diagnosis is incomplete when the underlying cause of the thyroid problem is not identified. When you don’t identify the root cause, how will you resolve the thyroid problem? In that case, you can only get treatment for symptoms. The typical “treatment” is thyroid medication to address low thyroid.

You will end up with managing the symptoms either with a doctor or on your own. For low energy/chronic fatigue, you’ll be seeking energy-enhancers and/or you’ll adapt a lifestyle to accommodate lots of rest and sleep. For depression, you might get an anti-depressant. For many, it will be years and years (and perhaps, for the rest-of-your-life) of taking stuff or doing stuff to cope with it.

Those given the thyroid medication, levothyroxin (synthroid), often experience the following problem:

Synthroid contains only one of the necessary thyroid hormones (T4). Your problem may be your body isn’t converting the less-active thyroid hormone, T4, to the more active thyroid hormone, T3. Synthroid will not help that process so eventually you’ll be given higher and higher doses because the conversion is the problem.

The conversion is helped by a form of selenium. There are other necessary complementary nutrients that also help this conversion.

Taking this medication is like planting a plant that requires direct sunlight in a shady area. Though you water it and fertilize it (and even talk to it), it will not look healthy and vibrant.

In my experience, the most common root causes of hypothyroidism are adrenal dysfunction and gut problems.

For some, the adrenal glands may be the primary problem, not the thyroid. If they are imbalanced, your body can start making antibodies against the thyroid, and then the thyroid symptoms and lab tests start to show a problem. The antibody markers often not checked are antithyroglobulin antibodies and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO). Since many doctors don’t check adrenal problems until the symptoms and signs are very severe, adrenal problems are often missed.

In my clinic, the hypothyroid patients I’ve diagnosed and treated for adrenal dysfunction, have had their thyroid problems improve.

For others, the gut is the source of the problem. If your gut is not absorbing the nutrients to make the thyroid hormones, you’ll have an on-going low thyroid level. Many hormone imbalances are actually a result of the bad state of the gut.

To read more about these two common sources of low thyroid in this blog post: The Thyroid, Adrenal, Gut Connection

The key to a proper hypothyroidism diagnosis is a complete blood test and determining the origin of the thyroid problem. For more information on hypothyroidism, visit our Hypothyroidism page.

Are you looking for a natural treatment for hypothyroidism?  This article reveals the only effective method to treat hypothyroid naturally without thyroid medication.  Yes, I mean without.

Most common chronic conditions, including hypothyroidism, are due to many years of unhealthy diet and lifestyles.  To reverse that requires a thyroid treatment consisting of a therapeutic hypothyroidism diet and lifestyle based on the underlying cause of the low thyroid condition along with taking into account a person’s biochemical uniqueness.

Unlike the most common “hypothyroid treatment”, this natural method is not about taking specific doses of the thyroid hormone.  It’s about making nutritional supplements, diet and lifestyle changes that will influence your body to produce adequate levels of thyroid, along with other hormones that may also be out of balance too, as shown on blood tests.

Unlike simply making sure that you get adequate T3 and T4 hormones, this natural thyroid treatment intends to identify and correct the root causes of low thyroid production, such as adrenal dysfunction or gut (GI tract) problem.

Unlike using thyroid medication to manage the symptoms, this method focuses on using your body’s healing ability.

With medication, you are likely going to be on the prescription for years to come, maybe even the rest of your life.  On the other hand, with this natural method, you can get better and are likely to get the side benefit of having some of your body systems to also improve.  For instance, a woman who has hypothyroidism and infertility, may not only be able to get rid of the symptoms of hypothyroidism, but also be able to finally conceive.  Someone with persistent GI tract problems, may see the problems eliminated, too.

Do these all sound good?  You can experience some or all of these benefits, but there is a price to pay!  There is a high probability that this natural treatment for hypothyroidism will work, if you do your part in following the therapeutic plan that will be formulated for you.

Lastly, I am not opposed to thyroid medication.  I just recommend it as a last resort when the patient is experiencing challenges with following the natural hypothyroid treatment or is dealing with other challenges.

Is there a hypothyroidism diet that helps correct low thyroid?  Yes!  The most effective is one that is formulated based on your biochemical individuality, your specific nutrient supplement needs, and your lifestyle factors.

In general, most people suffering from hypothyroidism would benefit from the following hypothyroid diet guidelines:

• Eat a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner, with two healthy snacks between meals.  This essentially makes you eat small healthy meals or snack about every 3 hours.  By “healthy” I mean: Your daily food should contain at least 50% dark green and brightly-colored vegetables, 20% concentrated protein containing high omega-3 fatty acids, 15% lentils, beans, peas and/or raw nuts, 10% brightly colored fruits and 5% gluten-free grains.
• Avoid significant amounts of cabbage and avoid soy.
• Do not eat fried, charbroiled, pickled, or breaded foods.
• Do not store food in plastics; use stoneware, glass, pyrex or porcelain.
• Eliminate white flour, white rice, white sugar, white potatoes, corn syrup, honey and all candy.
• Have some concentrated protein with your breakfast, such as a couple of eggs or a little bit of salmon.
• Try to have some unsweetened gluten-free oatmeal or quinoa with the breakfast.   (Quinoa is a gluten-free grain that’s higher in protein than oats.)
• Drink about 8-10 glasses of water per day.
• Have green tea or white tea for beverages, even though it has caffeine.  Avoid coffee except occasionally.
• Eat grass-fed, free-range beef and lamb, cage-free chicken and eggs, and wild salmon for concentrated protein sources. These forms of protein foods have about 7 times the healthy omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally raised meat and fish.  Cook them by sautéing, baking or broiling, not frying.
• As much as possible have gluten-free grains.
• Juice green vegetables:  Blend kale, bok choy, collard greens, mustard greens, broccoli, Swiss chard, carrots, lemons, celery  and cilantro and some frozen blueberries (all organic, if possible).
• Eat brazil nuts 2-3 per day (for selenium).
• Use iodized sea salt.
• Add seaweed to your diet.

The above diet for hypothyroid is based on Functional Medicine and Clinical Nutrition principles.  For a hypothyroidism diet that is therapeutic and focused on your own thyroid and health condition, read the Natural Hypothyroidism Treatment.

Here’s some tips to keep stable blood sugar and energy levels:

• Try to have some green, leafy and/or brightly colored vegetables with as many meals and snacks as possible
• Do not have any grain product (bread, pasta, muffins) alone, but have any grain with a concentrated protein source (milk, yogurt, fish, chicken or meat)
• Drink water throughout the day
• Pack fruits (apples, strawberries, oranges, bananas), vegetables (carrots, celery), and raw, unsalted nuts to eat together for snacks

I recently received this Protein-Packed Almond Fudge recipe from Natural Partners.  If you are looking for a sweet and healthy treat, this one fits perfectly!

Why?

• The coconut milk and butter have beneficial medium-chain triglycerides that actually help keep your arteries from clogging up.
• Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in many fruits and vegetables that has less calories than table sugar.  It is about 66% as sweet as table sugar, but it does not raise insulin levels and it actually helps to prevent tooth decay!
• The Thorne VegaLite Chocolate Protein powder is a non-whey vegetarian powder. VegaLite provides 23 grams of protein per serving from an easily assimilated blend of pea and rice protein.  This is a wonderful alternative to more allergenic casein-, soy-, or egg-based protein sources.

Thanks for Chef Lauren Smith of Natural Partners for this recipe!

You can order Thorne VegaLite here.  If you don’t have an account with Thorne yet, contact us and will provide you with the access code.

These herbal extracts that have been found to be helpful for some menopausal symptoms:

• Black cohash (Cimicifuga racemosa) seems to lessen many of the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, by supporting and maintaining hormonal levels. Black cohash does not seem to have any estrogenic activity, and therefore may be safe in some cases with women with a family history of breast cancer.

• Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) has been used for many years in China by perimenopausal women for helping maintain the balance of estrogens and progesterone. It does not seem to have any estrogenic activity however. Dong quai is not recommended for any woman having heavy menstrual bleeding.

• Rhapontic Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum L.) root extract is a less well known herb that can be very helpful for many of the common menopausal symptoms, including difficulty sleeping and hot flashes. Caution must be taken by any woman with either a personal history or a family history of estrogen sensitive breast cancer since Rhapontic Rhubarb extract does seem to have estrogenic activity.

• Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) extract is in many perimenopausal and anti-menstrual cramping herbal formulations. A study (Climacteric. 2001 Jun;4(2):144-50) reporting the use of wild yam for menopausal symptoms showed minimal benefit, though some studies have shown benefits for high blood pressure.

When considering using herbal substances for menopausal symptoms consult with a well-trained health professional who is knowledgeable and experienced in the use of herbal formulations, especially if you are on any over the counter or prescription medications.

Do more than simply regard this month as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Follow these 7 practical ways for preventing breast cancer:

1. Eat more of the Brassica vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy, and mustard greens.

   Brassica vegetables contain some powerful anti-cancer phytochemicals, including indole-3-carbinol, diindolylmethane, sulforaphane glucosinolate, and glucarate.

   
   Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) inhibits:

   • the growth of estrogen receptor-positive and estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells ¹

   • estrogenic activity by competing with estrogen for estrogen receptor binding sites on the cell ²

   • the ability of human breast cancer cells to metastasize ³

   Furthermore, it increases the “beneficial” estrogen metabolites” and decreases the “harmful” estrogen metabolites ⁴.

   Diindolylmethane (DIM) increases the “beneficial” estrogen metabolites” and decreases the “harmful” estrogen metabolites. It also provides all of the benefits of I3C, though at lower dosages. Many research studies show it does this more safely and effectively at a lower dose than I3C ⁵, ⁶.

   Sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS) provides all the benefits of I3C and DIM, in an even more effective and beneficial way. SGS induces programmed cell death in cancer cells⁷. SGS greatly increases the removal of toxins from the body far more effectively than either I3C or DIM⁸. SGS is also an antioxidant.

   Glucarate, aka D-glucarate, D-glucaric acid or calcium-D-glucarate, has detoxifying and anti-carcinogenic properties. This is due to its abilities to rid the body of cancer causing toxins. Animal studies have shown calcium-D-glucarate alone, and in combination with retinoids inhibits breast cancer cell formation by up to 70 percent⁹.

2. Eat more fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants. Vegetables with high antioxidants are Brassica vegetables and tomatoes, and fruits with high antioxidants are oranges, apples, grapefruit, grapes and berries.

   Fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants contain the following phytonutrients with cancer prevention properties:

   • Glucarate – This is found in significant levels in oranges, apples and grapefruit. Glucarate has the ability to help detoxify estrogens.¹⁰
   • Resveratrol – This has a powerful antioxidant found in grapes and other deep, brightly colored fruits. Resveratrol inhibits the activity of COX-2 inflammatory enzymes in human breast and oral tissue cells¹¹. Resveratrol also inhibits an enzyme which is critical in the conversion of androgens to estrogens¹². By doing so, it helps prevent growth of estrogen sensitive cancers.
   • Lycopene – Tomatoes are a rich source of lycopene. Studies have shown that people who eat large amounts of lycopene-containing foods have a reduced risk of certain cancers. Animal studies have shown that lycopene protects against the damaging effects of radioactivity exposure.

3. Take these nutritional supplements:

   • Diindolylmethane (DIM) or Sulforaphane glucosinolate (SGS) – If both are available to you, go with SGS.
   • Calcium-D-glucarate
   • Resveratrol
   • Fish oil or Krill oil
   • Multi-vitamin/mineral

4. Decrease your sugar consumption. Cancer cells use sugar to grow and divide. Avoid any concentrated sugar, any foods with added sugar or any foods consisting of primarily sugar (such as candy), any artificial sweeteners or any foods containing artificial sweeteners.

5. As much as possible eat cage-free chicken, cage-free chicken eggs, free range and grass-fed beef,and wild fish (not farm raised). Free range poultry and grass-fed beef have about 7 times the amount of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids as conventionally raised meat.

6. Exercise regularly. This provides multiple benefits for decreasing the risk of cancer development.

7. Manage stress and your emotions. This helps stabilize blood glucose levels. More stable blood sugar is associated with decreased cancer cell development.

References:

What is your most important message to women suffering hormonal imbalance?

A vast majority of hormonal imbalance cases can be resolved through diet, nutrition and lifestyle changes.

What are typical signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance?

In both sexes, the typical symptoms are fatigue, headaches, digestive complaints, poor sleeping, easy weight gain and decreased sexual desire.

In pre-menopausal women, common symptoms are: menstrual cramping, pain and irritability, emotional fragility, salt and sugar cravings, breast cysts, endometriosis and uterine fibroids.

In post-menopausal women: weight gain around the waist/torso with loss of fat and muscle in the legs, salt and sugar cravings, intolerance to cold or hot environments, drying and thinning of head hair, vaginal dryness and pain with sexual intercourse, increased irritability and emotional instability, “brain fog” and poor concentration.

There are multiple signs on laboratory tests indicating hormonal imbalances in pre- and post-menopausal women, but some of the most common are alterations in adrenal and thyroid hormone function, an increased amount of harmful 16-alpha-hydroxyestrones, a decreased amount of protective 2-hydroxyestrones, increased propensity of blood clotting, increased markers of inflammation, imbalances in fats required to make hormones, and imbalances in immune system indicators.

What are the typical causes of hormonal imbalance?

Poor dietary habits with insufficient dark green leafy and brightly colored vegetables,  too little lean proteins, too much  starchy carbohydrates and sugar, too little omega-3 fatty acids, and persistent mild dehydration.  On top of that, a large toxic load on the woman’s body system from multiple unresolved environmental toxic exposures such as pesticides, volatile chemicals in beauty salons, bad chemicals in cosmetics, and estrogen-like compounds in plastics. Inadequate amount of exercise is a prevailing cause.  Also, over commitment to caring for others’ needs with insufficient care for self is a very common factor in mothers with young children.

What are the other things that contribute to the development of hormonal imbalance?

In today’s society, adequate dietary supplementation is absolutely necessary to realistically prevent hormonal imbalances in pre- and post-menopausal women in particular.  Some of the most important basic supplemental factors necessary are extra B-vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, essential fatty acids and indole-3-carbinol.  Indole-3-carbinol  and its metabolite DIM, is a particular nutrient that lowers production of harmful estrogens and increases production of protective estrogens.   Another factor that is not often discussed is intake of synthetic hormones in birth control pills and   hormone replacement therapy (HRT), anti-depressant drugs, overuse of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s).  Cigarette smoking is a very powerful contributor to hormonal imbalances.

Besides prolonged suffering from symptoms of hormonal imbalance, what could occur if it is left untreated?

In pre-menopausal women:  Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroid cysts, cystic breasts disorders, infertility, dysmenorrhea (aka, painful menstrual cycles), early menopause, onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia.

In post-menopausal women:  Extreme difficulty going through menopause and extreme loss of bone density, increased propensity of autoimmune disorders, increased likelihood of  Alzheimer’s dementia, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, increased risk of breast, uterine ovarian cancers, and increased risk of certain head and neck cancers.

What are the natural modulators for balancing hormones?

Indole-3-Carbinol is a naturally occurring substance found in cruciferous vegetables that prevents the build-up of harmful estrogens and balances the production of protective estrogens. Its derivative, diindolylmethane (DIM) also does this.  This is a very effective substance that acts in a similar, but much safer way, as the anti-breast cancer aromatase inhibitor drug Tamoxifen (Nolvadex ®).  Taking indole-3-carbinol or DIM can have measurable improvements on lab tests confirming that it effectively helps balance estrogens in as little as one month. This is one of the most effective natural substances to balance hormones in women and men.

Other substances that are very effective for balancing hormones are the essential fatty acids DHA and EPA found in fish oil.  I recommend getting supplemental fish oil from sources that follow high standards to avoid taking ones with toxins.  I say supplemental because it will be quite difficult to eat enough fish to get the therapeutic dose to affect hormonal imbalance.  In addition, you will likely consume higher amounts of mercury along with having to consume a lot of fish.

There are other naturally-occurring hormone balancing modulators, but these two are the most important.

Consult a Clinical Nutritionist and/or a Functional Medicine doctor regarding which ones are appropriate for you, including therapeutic doses of these hormone balance modulators.

How long does it usually take to correct hormone imbalance through natural alternative means?

This varies due to multiple factors.  In my clinic, the typical time frame of patients who are not dealing with additional health issues is 2 to 6 months.  In hormonal imbalances associated with adrenal gland problems, it often takes anywhere from 6 to 18 months.