Hyperthyroidism: Symptoms, What Causes It, and How to Treat It
Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid, is largely caused by Grave’s Disease, an autoimmune condition that provokes thyroid growth and hormone secretion. This condition can cause sexual dysfunction, anxiety, increased blood pressure as well as other ills. Research suggests that gut dysbiosis, gluten sensitivity, chronic infections, and other lifestyle factors and conditions fuel hyperthyroidism. A paleo diet, thyroid-supporting nutrients like selenium, vitamin D, and other natural therapies can treat this issue.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Has Been Linked with Six Unhealthy Eating Behaviors
University of Minnesota Medical School’s Dr. Melissa Simone explains that “eating disorders have one of the highest mortality rates across all psychiatric health concerns,” and COVID-19-related stressors and financial challenges have fueled unhealthy eating patterns that could ultimately jeopardize lives. Individuals from diverse ethnic and lower socioeconomic backgrounds are particularly vulnerable.
Cruciferous Vegetables and Thyroid Disease
The thyroid gland produces hormones that control metabolism as well as influence other essential systems in the human body, such as the cardiovascular system, the immune system, and calcium homeostasis.
Those with autoimmune thyroid disorders and those with low thyroid function . . . are often advised to avoid consumption of cruciferous vegetables, spinach, radishes, peaches and strawberries due to their goitrogenic properties. Because the consumption of cruciferous vegetables correlates with diverse health benefits . . .
Gut Microbes May Antagonize or Assist in Anorexia
You are likely familiar with the serious consequences of anorexia for those who experience it, but you might not be aware that the disorder may not be purely psychological. A recent review from researchers at the University of Oxford in the open-access journal Frontiers in Psychiatry examines the evidence that gut microbes could play a significant role in anorexia by affecting appetite, weight, and psychiatric issues . . . [T]he study also examines the potential for microbial treatments for anorexia . . .
Arthritis & Joint Pain
Gout: An Overview
What is gout?
Gout is a type of arthritis (inflammation of the joints) that mostly affects men age 40 and older. It is nearly always associated with an abnormally high concentration of uric acid in the blood. People with chronically high blood levels of urate (commonly referred to as uric acid), may develop gout. These high blood levels of uric acid may cause crystals to deposit in the body’s tissues, especially in joints. An attack of gout manifests itself by a suddenly painful and inflamed joint. It most commonly affects . . .
KNEE ARTHRITIS Relief (10 Simple Steps to Take)
Knee arthritis pain can be crippling, hurting with every step. Imagine if you could improve your knee pain without surgery, without pills, wouldn’t that be wonderful? Knee arthritis has been shown to improve with certain diet changes. Use these simple steps to reduce inflammation and pain in your knee. Knee arthritis doesn’t have to keep you down.
Release Fear and Anger to Heal Arthritis
Plus 9 Alternative Therapies to Heal Joint Pain
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every three Americans – or an estimated seventy million people! — is affected by arthritis. In fact, arthritis is the leading cause of disability in the United States.
Many people think that arthritis goes with the territory of aging and that after a certain age it can’t be avoided. As an ageless goddess, I am here to tell you . . .
6 Steps to Recover from Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects over 1.5 million adults. This condition can affect anyone, but it most often affects women between the ages of 40 and 60 years old.
What is rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that occurs when the body begins attacking the joints, mistaking them as foreign invaders. The body attacks the thin membrane surrounding joints . . .
8 Natural Treatments for Arthritis Symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 50 million Americans now suffer from arthritis. That equates to one in five people over 18 having some form of arthritis! Arthritis is characterized by stiff, aching, hard to move joints and bones. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which affects about 33 million American adults.
The Difference Between Omega-3 and Omega-6 and Knee Arthritis Pain
New research supports the notion that eating more Omega-3 rich foods and fewer Omega-6 rich foods can lower inflammation and arthritis pain.
The study, published in this month’s Clinical Journal of Pain, looked at 167 adults with knee arthritis. The researchers . . .
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms + 5 Natural Treatments
As I’m sure you’re well aware, an estimated 52.5 million U.S. adults suffer from some sort of arthritis, and one common form is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). How wide does this disease cast its net? Rheumatoid arthritis affects a staggering 1.3 million to 1.5 million Americans at any given time.
Can Vitamin D Relieve Joint Pain?
A vitamin D deficiency can affect both physical and mental health, but many people have low levels of vitamin D without realizing. The physical symptoms of a deficiency may include muscle pain in the joints, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pain, which often occurs in the knees, legs, and hips.
Autoimmune Disease
5 Steps to Reverse Lupus
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is an autoimmune disease that can impact multiple systems in the body. This debilitating and sometimes life-threatening condition affects an estimated 5 million people worldwide. It can be a burden to the skin, joints, internal organs, and nervous system.
As with all autoimmune conditions, lupus is a disease of the immune system. Your immune system has a sophisticated mechanism to identify foreign substances . . .
What to Eat (and Not Eat) to Reverse Autoimmune Disease
Conventional doctors told me–and they’ve probably told you too–that autoimmunity is a condition that you just have to live with . . . I want you to know that there IS another way. Conventional medicine failed me, and I have made it my mission to not let it fail you too. What your doctor won’t tell you is that autoimmune disease can be prevented and reversed through diet and lifestyle.
Chronic Fatigue
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Judging from the great number of exhausted patients I see, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is an extremely common medical problem. . . .
Millions of Americans suffer from fatigue and need medical help. To complicate matters further, CFS is not a single disease with a sole cause or a simple cure. Rather, it is the manifestation of one or more underlying health problems, such as infections, hormone imbalances or numerous other conditions. The goal of treatment . . .
Exhausted? 8 Natural Ways to Overcome Chronic Fatigue for Good
We live in a society of extreme exhaustion. According to the CDC, 1 million to 4 million Americans suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome. But it’s estimated that of them, less than 20 percent have been formally diagnosed.
Chronic fatigue is characterized by a number of related symptoms . . .
Chronic Inflammation
Have More Sex and Other Fun Ways to Calm Inflammation + Balance Your Immune System
The bad news: A fatal heart attack happens every 60 seconds and 50 million Americans live with an autoimmune disease. In other words, inflammation is an epidemic. The good news: When balanced, your immune system’s inflammatory response could save your life.
Inflammation has the power to help heal injuries and infections. The monkey wrench in this well-oiled machine is chronic inflammation, which doesn’t subside when its job is done and rages uncontrolled . . .
Are You Inflamed? 5 Signs to Look Out for
If you are striving to keep yourself healthy for now and many years to come, and you want to know what single thing you should be paying attention to more than anything else, it is this: inflammation.
The reason inflammation is so critical is that it has been found to be a player in almost every chronic disease, which affect approximately 133 million Americans, representing more than 40% of the total population of the United States.
Reducing Inflammation for Better Health
The leading causes of death and disability worldwide are chronic degenerative conditions. These familiar diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and type II diabetes are increasing globally . . . in every region, and in all socioeconomic classes. [C]hronic degenerative conditions exceed deaths caused by famine, war, and even infectious diseases. . . .
To understand why these conditions are now so widespread . . .
17 Ways to Tame Inflammation
Inflammation – it’s the starting point for so many life-altering conditions and diseases. It’s also avoidable, yet every day millions of Americans prime themselves for health disasters – like cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many autoimmune diseases – by making choices that unwittingly promote chronic inflammation.
Chronic inflammation is the result of an immune system imbalance.
Cooling Brain Inflammation Naturally with Food
Get to the root cause of psychiatric disorders without medications.
Is your brain on fire—and not in a good way?
A staggering one in six Americans now take psychiatric medication . . . We tend to think of psychiatric problems as “chemical imbalances” in neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine . . .
But what if we targeted inflammation instead? It is now well-established that inflammation plays a significant role in psychiatric disorders.
Inflammation: How to Cool the Fire Inside You That’s Making You Fat and Diseased
How can you . . . get dramatic relief from all the symptoms you thought you had to live with the rest of your life? . . .
I’m going to tell you about the . . . hidden culprit that’s linked to everything from obesity to all the chronic diseases of aging. And I’ll give you the key to solving this problem — and unlocking good health.
Anti-Inflammatory Juice Recipe
We now know that most diseases today are due to inflammation. Inflammation damages your cells and arterial walls and can cause all kinds of problems including chronic inflammatory conditions like cardiovascular diseases and arthritis.
By reducing inflammation, your body is better able to heal from disease.
Fibromyalgia
Could Alterations in the Gut Microbiome Mediate Chronic Pain in Patients with Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia (FM) is . . . characterized by chronic, widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep problems, gastrointestinal disturbances, and alterations in mood and cognition. It affects 2-4% of the adult population . . .
[A] new study published in the journal Pain suggests that profiling gut bacteria may be a highly accurate way to detect FM, and may also pave the way for much-needed therapies.
New Study Identifies Changes in the Gut Microbiome in Patients with Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is an intriguing medical condition characterized by chronic widespread pain of unknown origin. Since musculoskeletal integrity is commonly well preserved in people with fibromyalgia, clues point to heightened pain perception as the prevailing cause.
It is known that physical or emotional stressors may trigger and sustain pain, but these . . .
Multiple Sclerosis
Prevention of Multiple Sclerosis
In this video, Dr. David Perlmutter, MD, discusses multiple sclerosis, or MS.
“MS is an autoimmune condition, and this is a disease that actually has its origin in the gut! The gut, as you know, regulates inflammation in the body and plays a huge role in regulating immunity. As it relates to MS, we want to implement a diet that improves gut health and preserves the gut lining.”
Listen to get the doctor’s disease-fighting tips!
Reversing Multiple Sclerosis Through Low-Carb Nutrition
In this enlightening video, Dr.Terry Wahls,MD, discusses her struggle with and eventual triumph over multiple sclerosis. Her journey required that she abandon traditional medicine, revamp her diet, and embrace specific therapeutic interventions in order to experience health and vitality again. This empowering story provides inspiration and hope for all those suffering with this condition.
Getting to the Root Cause of MS and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
“I was diagnosed with MS about 15 years ago,” our reader writes. “I haven’t taken any of the medication . . . I have weakness in my left leg. I’ve eliminated dairy, grains, gluten; and I’m not sure what else I should do at this point.” . . .
I want to tell you about my friend and colleague Dr. Terry Wahls, who was diagnosed with MS and used the power of Functional Medicine and food as medicine to help heal her body.
Dietary Approaches to Treating Multiple Sclerosis-Related Fatigue with Terry Wahls, MD
Research continues to suggest a significant role for modifiable lifestyle factors in arresting and reversing neurodegeneration. Terry Wahls, MD, has been a longtime leader in lifestyle interventions for multiple sclerosis (MS). Dr. Wahls presents the latest research on modifiable lifestyle factors that can help patients with MS manage fatigue.
Other
How to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease Naturally
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease afflicts more than 100 million Americans and is the most common liver disease among children, according to the American Liver Foundation. Dr. Jason Fung, MD, explains that under certain physiological conditions, the body will store excess dietary glucose and fructose as fat in the liver, causing the organ to become inflamed and ultimately leading to cirrhosis and liver failure. Research indicates that certain dietary changes can reverse this condition.
These Lifestyle Choices Can Reduce the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease
Active lifestyle choices such as eating vegetables, exercising and quitting smoking can reduce the risk of chronic kidney disease, a new study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and Griffith University in Australia, reports. The study is published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Debunking Five Common Fertility Myths
Dr. Taz discusses the five fertility myths that she commonly encounters in her practice. She asserts that fertility is a “vital sign” and essentially a “reflection” of your overall health. Lifestyle habits either support or hinder fertility, according to Dr. Taz, and she explains that both men and women should be examined when ascertaining the root causes of infertility. Glean more details and insights in the video.
Has Antibiotic Overuse Caused a Celiac Disease Epidemic?
Celiac disease is on the rise, and the population-wide overuse of antibiotics could play a key role in triggering disease onset.
In the US, rates of CD have increased at least 5-fold over the past few decades . . .
We know that there’s a strong genetic component to celiac disease (and our ability to detect the disease has vastly improved), but the rising rates have occurred too quickly to be explained by a genetic shift in the population. . . .
Clearly, something has changed in the environment . . .
Natural Treatments for COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) encompasses lung diseases such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis and is America’s third leading cause of death.
As the condition worsens patients often end up on supplemental oxygen, tethered to an oxygen tank or concentrator. According to many experts, oxygen is the only therapy proven to extend life in COPD patients.
It’s high time this misinformation is laid to rest. There are other therapies that have been demonstrated in scores of clinical trials . . .
Celiac Disease and the Dangers of Isolation
As people with celiac disease struggle to maintain a gluten-free diet, dietary restrictions can lead to isolation and withdrawal.
Research indicates that having additional medical conditions is associated with a lower quality of life. One study looked at the combined influence of having a chronic disease and perceived quality of life and wanted to see if it had an impact on suicide-related ideations or suicide attempts. Depression was clearly linked . . .
Do Nutritional Factors Play a Role in Central Sensitization and Chronic Pain?
Acute pain has long been understood as beneficial throughout evolution as it enables us to both identify and prevent encounters with harmful stimuli. However, once pain progresses to a chronic state it can cause a variety of issues for the individual and society as a whole. Up to 30% of the Western population is estimated to experience some sort of chronic pain, which is much higher than any other chronic disease. Research in the neuroscience field . . .
4 Natural Treatments for Cystic Fibrosis
If I told you there’s a disease that about 12 million Americans currently carry the gene for and that this same disease affects more than 30,000 children and young adults in the U.S., you’d want to know about it, right? Of course you would, and that’s why you need to know about cystic fibrosis.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder that disrupts normal functions of epithelial cells, the cells that line the passageways . .
Thyroid Conditions & Thyroid Health
7 Common Hypothyroidism Causes
Dry skin and hair loss. Cold intolerance. Mental fog, cognitive slowing, and dementia. Weight gain. Constipation. Irregular menstruation and infertility. Painful and stiff muscles. Depression. Taken alone, any one of these symptoms would cause major problems—but for people with hypothyroidism, several of these symptoms could be present at once . . . The first step to effectively treating a thyroid disorder (and eliminating these symptoms) is understanding the root cause of your hypothyroidism.
*See Publisher’s NoteAncestral Solutions for a Sluggish Thyroid
Do you feel tired? Is your mood unusually low? Do you have steady weight gain despite eating well and exercising? If you answered “yes,” your thyroid may be struggling to keep up with the demands of daily life.
Your thyroid gland effectively sets your body’s thermostat and metabolism. It can be sluggish when the conversion from your body’s primary thyroid hormone – thyroxine (T4) – to the “active” or useable form – triiodothyronine (T3) – is impaired.
This condition is often termed subclinical hypothyroidism . . .
The Silent Thyroid Epidemic
Perhaps you are one of the millions of Americans who have one or more signs and symptoms of low thyroid such as fatigue, weight gain, dry skin, poor memory and focus, and depression. Yet your doctor runs a basic thyroid test and tells you that all is well. Things just do not seem to add up. There is a good chance you do have a thyroid problem…but just not what your doctor thinks.
I have found in my 26 years of practice and research that the frequency of thyroid disease in America is closer to 25% . . .
How Hypothyroidism Affects the Entire Body
The thyroid is integral to health and affects nearly every cell in the body. Its influence can be seen in how the body relays information, triggers activity, regulates various substances, and oversees many other aspects of wellness. Therefore, a malfunctioning thyroid often results in a cascade of symptoms that can appear nearly anywhere in the body. The deep interconnectivity of the body means that the areas directly affected by poor thyroid function . . .
What Does Your Mouth Have to Do with Your Thyroid?
You probably know by now that what you eat plays a huge role in thyroid health. However, food isn’t the only thing you put in your mouth, and your dental choices can also have a big impact on thyroid function. This week, we take a look at why that is!
The Iodine Connection
As I explain in my latest book, The Thyroid Connection, iodine and tyrosine are the primary building blocks of thyroid hormones. Your thyroid converts . . .
Histamine and Hashimoto’s
At the beginning of my healing journey with Hashimoto’s, I experienced many allergies and sensitivities. It truly felt like I was allergic to everything . . .
Many readers in this community also report symptoms of histamine intolerance, which can be challenging to differentiate from other food sensitivities and imbalances in the digestive system. The good news is that many seemingly different symptoms will have the same root causes.
The Low FODMAP Diet for SIBO, IBS, and Hashimoto’s
From my own personal experience with Hashimoto’s, I know that diet and food are one of the best ways that we can address Hashimoto’s symptoms, feel better, and even put the condition into remission. . . .
One of the diets that I have found to be helpful for a percentage of people with Hashimoto’s — especially those dealing with SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) — is the low FODMAP diet.