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.