Not only do they increase your risk of developing heart disease and 30 other health conditions and diseases, but they’re also behind the obesity epidemic.

In fact, I wrote about the research that confirmed it’s these foods, not lack of exercise — as previously thought — that’s fueling rising rates of obesity.

But what’s truly disturbing is their impact on reproductive and metabolic health…

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Weight gain is just the beginning

A 2025 study at the University of Copenhagen has confirmed that no matter how little of them you eat, ultra-processed foods lead to weight gain.

Researchers compared the health effects of an unprocessed vs. an ultra-processed diet on the same person, in order to get the most accurate results.

Forty-three men spent three weeks eating each of the two diets, with a cleansing period in between.

The unprocessed and ultra-processed diets had the same amount of calories, protein, carbs, and fats. But half the men were given an extra 500 calories per day.

Regardless of whether those extra 500 calories were involved, men on the ultra-processed diet gained about 1 kg (just over 2 pounds) more fat mass than those on the unprocessed diet.

But it doesn’t end there…

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“Our results prove that ultra-processed foods harm our reproductive and metabolic health, even if they’re not eaten in excess. This indicates that it is the processed nature of these foods that makes them harmful,” says Jessica Preston, lead author of the study.

Men on the ultra-processed diet showed:

• An increase in levels of phthalate cxxMINP, a hormone-disrupting chemical typically found in plastics.
• A decrease in testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, both essential for sperm production. In addition to affecting fertility, low sperm count impacts a man’s sex drive and can be a cause of erectile dysfunction.
• An increase in LDL (“bad” cholesterol) levels.
• Altered thyroid hormones.
• Altered markers of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress.

And in case you’ve forgotten, chronic inflammation causes the cellular damage behind a range of diseases from cancer to Parkinson’s disease to diabetes, not to mention an accelerated aging process that makes your body old before its time.

“We were shocked by how many body functions were disrupted by ultra-processed foods, even in healthy young men. The long-term implications are alarming and highlight the need to revise nutritional guidelines to better protect against chronic disease,” says the study’s senior author, Professor Romain Barrès.

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The choice is clear

I hope you don’t need any more convincing.

Whole foods are the best alternatives to ultra-processed foods. But for success, ease into eating more of them and fewer ultra-processed foods.

Ultra-processed foods are made to “hook” you, so don’t blame yourself if it’s hard to let them go. That being said, see about ditching the two ultra-processed foods considered the worst ASAP.

According to Heartfoundation.org, whole foods and minimally processed foods, like these, are what we all should be eating:

• Fresh, frozen and canned vegetables and fruit
• Dried, canned and frozen beans and legumes like lentils and chickpeas
• Whole grains like oats, brown rice, barley and quinoa
• Fresh and frozen poultry and meat
• Fresh, frozen and canned fish and seafood
• Milk and plain yoghurt (try sweetening with honey)
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds.

An easy way to identify ultra-processed foods is that they are quick, easy, and require little to no preparation — the very definition of “convenience foods.”

They include foods like sweetened cereals, soda and white bread; frozen French fries, chicken nuggets and pizza; processed meats, like hot dogs and bacon; pre-packaged baked goods, like cookies and cakes; and microwaveable meals.

Make the choice today and start taking back your health and your longevity.

Sources:

Why ultra-processed diets make you gain fat even without extra calories — Science Daily

Effect of ultra-processed food consumption on male reproductive and metabolic health — Cell Metabolism

Here’s What Eating Processed Foods for Two Weeks Does to Your Body — Time

Five ways to eat less processed food — Heart Foundation

The post Ultra-processed foods: A metabolic and hormonal disaster for men appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

It didn’t hurt, so I really didn’t think much of it. It’s a condition known as crepitus, and it usually just means there are air bubbles popping in the joint.

When air is the cause, crepitus is harmless. But I’m tempted to get my knee checked out anyway because I’ve discovered there are other causes of crepitus that aren’t as benign…

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Calcium crystals can damage cartilage

Knee osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, affects 34 million people in the U.S., and there are no available treatments to prevent its progression. Its symptoms include pain, inflammation, swelling, instability and weakness in the joint — and a crackling sound that’s been compared to Rice Krispies.

There’s another type of arthritis that causes symptoms similar to knee OA — calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD). Also known as “pseudogout,” CPPD involves the formation of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals in the blood that then settle in joint cartilage. These CPP crystal deposits trigger an inflammatory attack in the joint, causing pain, stiffness, swelling and (you guessed it) a crunching or crackling sound.

Calcium crystals can also be found in the joints of people with knee OA. Until recently, they were believed to be harmless and potentially something that happens with old age.

But U.S. researchers using computed tomography (CT) found that calcium crystal deposits in the knee can contribute to the worsening of joint damage. The researchers are the first to use computerized X-ray imaging, which are more sensitive to detecting calcium crystals than regular X-rays.

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The study evaluated participants from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) study for intra-articular mineralization (IAM) based on its location within the knee. They then examined the effect on cartilage via MRI over two years. The average age of the participants was 60.

With CT, the researchers were able to detect a higher amount of deposits than previously found by plain X-rays. Study results showed an increased risk of cartilage damage on follow-up, including in knees without any damage to begin with, supporting the theory that calcium crystal deposition in the joint was the cause.

“The cartilage damage is most likely to occur in the same locations where the crystals are deposited, suggesting a localized effect,” says corresponding author Dr. Tuhina Neogi, a professor at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

“We have also shown that these crystals can contribute to knee pain in another recently published paper,” Neogi says. “Taken together, these findings highlight the important role of calcium crystals in structural damage and symptoms in knee osteoarthritis.”

Neogi adds that with the identification of this link, researchers can focus on identifying ways to prevent these crystal deposits from occurring with the hope of relieving pain and limiting progression of joint damage in OA.

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What causes calcium crystal deposits?

While it’s not definitively known why CPP crystals form, there are theories. It’s believed excess iron or calcium, low magnesium, and an overactive or severely underactive thyroid gland may be contributing factors. A healthy functioning thyroid is important for mineral metabolism, especially bone tissue mineral density.

So if you’re looking to lessen the risk of these painful conditions, it’s a good idea to make sure your thyroid is functioning properly, your magnesium levels are optimal, and you’re not getting too much iron or calcium. You also want to check your levels of vitamins D and K2 (part of an emerging group of vitamins that fight a common contributor of unhealthy aging), both of which make sure calcium is being directed to the bones, where it’s most beneficial.

There are nutrients that support good thyroid function: iodine, copper, selenium and zinc. Iodine is particularly important, as the thyroid needs iodine to produce thyroid hormone. Some good sources of iodine include organic yogurt, cranberries, iodized salt, navy beans and sea vegetables like kelp and wakame.

Be aware that it gets more difficult for your body to absorb iodine as you get older, so you may need an iodine supplement to ensure you’re maintaining healthy levels of the nutrient. Also, you can increase thyroid hormone efficiency by combining iodine with the amino acid L-Tyrosine.

Sources:

Calcium crystal deposits in the knee found to contribute to joint damage — Medical Xpress

Intra-Articular Mineralization on Computerized Tomography of the Knee and Risk of Cartilage Damage: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study — Arthritis & Rheumatology

Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD) — American College of Rheumatology

Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition — Arthritis Foundation

Knee, shoulder & elbow cracking or popping (crepitus) — Aurora Health Care

Common Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms — American Knee Pain Centers

Snap, Crackle & Pop: Why Do My Knees Make Noises—And Should I See A Doctor? — Henry Ford Health

The post That snap, crackle and pop in your knee may start with your thyroid appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

So what could explain this?

For some people, obesity isn’t just about willpower or lifestyle choices — it’s often tied to genetics. More research is uncovering how our genes can play a significant role in weight gain and loss.

While previous studies have pointed to genes like CRTC1 and MC4R in relation to obesity, a recent study has brought attention to another gene: SMIM1…

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The SMIM1 Gene and Weight Gain

Researchers first discovered the SMIM1 gene about ten years ago while searching for the gene responsible for a specific blood type known as Vel. About 1 in 5,000 people don’t have this gene, making them Vel-negative.

A team from the University of Exeter studied nearly 500,000 participants, finding 104 people with a variant of the SMIM1 gene that doesn’t work properly. By analyzing blood samples from both those who have the gene and those who don’t, they noticed an interesting trend.

Those with the SMIM1 gene variant tended to weigh more — on average, about 4.6 kilograms more for women and 2.4 kilograms for men. One reason for this might be that these individuals burn fewer calories when at rest.

They also exhibited other signs associated with obesity, such as higher fat levels in the blood and lower thyroid hormone levels.

The implications of these findings are pretty significant—this genetic variant might be playing a part in obesity for around 300,000 people worldwide and could lead to new treatment options.

Unlocking the Thyroid Connection

What’s particularly interesting is how this research connects to thyroid health. The researchers are now considering whether a common medication for thyroid issues, called levothyroxine, could aid in weight management for individuals who don’t have both copies of the SMIM1 gene.

As lead researcher Mattia Frontini explains, “Our findings highlight the need to investigate the genetic cause of obesity, to select the most appropriate and effective treatment, but also to reduce the social stigma associated to it.”

However, it may take some time for clinical trials to be completed. In the meantime, if you’re facing challenges with weight gain and suspect thyroid issues, there are steps you can take to support your thyroid.

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Taking Care of Your Thyroid

In a previous study, Penn Medicine professor Dr. Mitchell Lazar noted about the thyroid, “… thyroid hormone doesn’t just turn things on or off, as the canonical model suggests, but instead more subtly shifts the balance between the repression and enhancement of gene activity. Yet, as people with hypothyroidism know, the lack of thyroid hormone can have profound effects on the body.”

The thyroid relies on specific nutrients to function optimally. One of the most crucial elements for thyroid function and healthy metabolism is iodine. You can find iodine in foods like sea vegetables, cranberries, raw milk, eggs, yogurt, and beans. Other nutrients that support the thyroid include:

Copper: This mineral can help stimulate the thyroid and prevent excess thyroid hormone from building up in the body.

L-Tyrosine: This amino acid works alongside iodine to produce the hormones that your thyroid needs to function well.

Selenium: This mineral helps convert inactive thyroid hormone into its active form.

Zinc: This essential mineral supports the transformation of one key thyroid hormone to another and helps release stored vitamin A from the liver, which is beneficial for thyroid health.

Additionally, you might want to consider taking ashwagandha root. It’s a powerful antioxidant that helps protect your thyroid function, allowing it to produce more necessary hormones.

In summary, understanding the link between genetics, thyroid health, and weight gain can pave the way for better treatment options. By focusing on your thyroid health and nutrition, you may find a more balanced and effective approach to managing your weight.

Sources:

New genetic cause of obesity could help guide treatment — ScienceDaily

SMIM1 absence is associated with reduced energy expenditure and excess weight — Med

The post New gene link to obesity and a thyroid connection appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, depression, brain fog and more, but it can be hard to get an accurate diagnosis since these symptoms mimic many other conditions.

Still, roughly 23 million are treated with a drug called levothyroxine, sold as Synthroid, making it one of the most commonly prescribed thyroid medications across the country.

However, it turns out that while the drug might help patients manage their thyroid levels, it could also be eating away at their bone health, leaving them at risk for osteoporosis and life-threatening fractures.

Here’s what you need to know to reduce your risk if you’re taking thyroid medication…

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Loss of bone mass and density

According to Elena Ghotbi, M.D., a postdoctoral research fellow at Johns Hopkins University, “Data indicates that a significant proportion of thyroid hormone prescriptions may be given to older adults without hypothyroidism, raising concerns about subsequent relative excess of thyroid hormone even when treatment is targeted to reference range goals.”

And since previous studies had already proven a link between high levels of thyroid hormone and increased bone fracture risk, her team set out to determine whether taking levothyroxine could present a danger to skeletal integrity.

The researchers started with data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) — the longest-running study on aging — and assessed 81 patients taking levothyroxine and 364 non-users.

After following up for over six years, the scientists determined that people who used levothyroxine suffered a greater loss of total body bone mass and bone density — even if they had normal thyroid levels.

Is taking levothyroxine a good idea?

Because of this heightened bone risk, study co-author, Jennifer Mammen, M.D., Ph.D., advises that adults taking levothyroxine should discuss their treatment with their doctor. “A risk-benefit assessment should be conducted, weighing the strength of the indications for treatment against the potential adverse effects of levothyroxine in this population,” she said.

She also recommends requesting regular tests to monitor your thyroid function since their data shows that sometimes, patients have been taking levothyroxine for many years. Yet, it’s not clear why it was initially prescribed or even if it’s still necessary.

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Natural thyroid support

Most doctors will test levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels if they suspect a thyroid issue. But experts have suggested that the standard TSH range could be missing as many as 75 percent of people with low thyroid.

For this reason, people who have felt they had to find their own relief, have turned to natural options for their low thyroid.

For optimal health, the thyroid requires specific nutrients found in a healthy well-rounded diet or through supplementation. Those include:

• Iodine — Essential for healthy thyroid function and efficient metabolism. It’s also the fuel the thyroid needs to create critical T3 and T4 hormones.
• L-tyrosine — A powerful amino acid that partners with iodine to create T3 and T4 hormones.
• Selenium — A naturally occurring trace mineral that helps convert relatively inactive T4s to the active thyroid hormone T3.
• Zinc — An essential mineral in converting the T4 hormone to the more active T3, which helps support a healthy metabolism. It also releases vitamin A stored in the liver to help support a healthy thyroid.
• Copper — Another mineral, it helps stimulate the thyroid and protect against too much (T4) building up in the blood.

Finally, avoid BPA and phthalates as much as possible since these chemicals lower thyroid levels. That means avoiding canned foods with a lining, plastic bottles, bowls and dinnerware, and going organic in your fruits and vegetable choices.

Sources:

Common thyroid medicine linked to bone loss — EurekAlert!

Hypothyroidism: More Patients and Less Treatment? — Paloma Health

The post The bone-weakening effects of a common thyroid medicine appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Fortunately, it was nothing serious. However, that experience taught me a valuable lesson: when it comes to my health, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

It’s possible to experience symptoms like headache, fatigue, and nausea and have nothing seriously wrong. Or, it’s possible that these could each be a symptom of one of the ten major health problems listed below.

What you learn here could save you a lot of pain and trouble. It could also quite possibly save your life.

Frequently misdiagnosed conditions and their symptoms

1. Cancer. Fatigue, weight loss and pain are symptoms that often go part and parcel with cancer. But they are also found in so many other conditions.

• Breast cancer is often written off as benign fibroids.
• Lung cancer can be mistaken for COPD, especially in smokers.
• Colorectal cancer has the same abdominal discomfort and bowel changes as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
• Prostate cancer can easily be mistaken for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a benign enlargement of the prostate.
• Bladder cancer shares symptoms with urinary tract infections, such as pain while urinating, frequent urination, and pelvic pain.

2. Heart attack. Age and gender play a huge role in the misdiagnosis of heart attacks. No one expects someone in their 30s or 40s to have a heart attack, and symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath and indigestion are often attributed to other conditions.

A woman having a heart attack may not present with chest pain or arm pain. She may simply be nauseous, fatigued, and/or have jaw or back pain. These atypical symptoms are prevalent in women and are often easily attributed to other causes.

3. Stroke. Again, it’s the less-than-classic symptoms of a stroke that cause it to be dismissed as something else.

Rather than classic symptoms such as sudden numbness in one side of the body, slurred speech, and confusion, some stroke victims (women in particular) may look like they’re experiencing migraine, vertigo or an anxiety attack. They’ll have atypical symptoms, including dizziness, nausea and headache.

4. Thyroid conditions. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can cause fatigue, weight gain and feelings of sadness or apathy, while hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) may cause anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. Clearly, these symptoms occur in other disorders.

5. Carpal tunnel syndrome involves compression of the median nerve running through the wrist. Misdiagnosis of CPT as tendinitis or arthritis can cause a patient to delay surgery until it’s too late, leading to permanent nerve damage and irreversible weakness and numbness of the hand that affects its use.

6. Appendicitis. The abdominal pain of appendicitis is not always severe and can be mistaken for gastrointestinal discomfort. Some people experience nausea, vomiting and a mild fever, while others do not. A delay in diagnosis can quickly become a medical emergency if the appendix bursts.

7. Celiac disease. Both celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) cause abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. But a person with celiac disease must eliminate all gluten from their lives or risk damage to the lining of the small intestine, which ultimately leads to malnutrition.

8. Lyme disease. The bite of the tick that causes Lyme often produces a “bullseye” rash. If the rash isn’t present, Lyme is usually misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, whose symptoms are similar (fatigue, joint pain, headaches and neurological issues).

9. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often misdiagnosed as other conditions, including fibromyalgia, ALS, migraines and Vitamin B deficiency. If you are experiencing a combination of muscle weakness, fatigue, vision problems, and balance issues, make sure to have your doctor evaluate you for MS.

10. Depression is challenging to diagnose, as it looks different for different people. Symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, changes in sleep patterns, and alterations in appetite can mimic other physical conditions, including hypothyroidism or vitamin deficiencies.

Becoming a self-advocate

I hope that the information I’ve presented here will turn you into a fierce self-advocate. Doctors aren’t infallible, and being informed helps when you talk to them.

Never leave your doctor’s office until you’re satisfied with the answer you receive. If you have an unusual symptom or if you’re not feeling comfortable with the explanation you get, don’t let a doctor dismiss it as “nothing serious.”

Source:

Top Ten Health Conditions That Are Easily Misdiagnosed osmosis.org

The post The 10 most frequently misdiagnosed conditions appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Sadly, many folks might soon face this concern due to a lack of a crucial mineral, iodine.

That’s because goiter may be making a comeback — one no one really wants to celebrate.

Let’s dive into why iodine is so essential for our health, why women are at greater risk, and what you can do to ensure you’re getting enough of this vital nutrient.

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A Quick History of Goiters

So, what exactly is a goiter? It’s a swelling in the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland, and this usually happens when there’s not enough iodine in our diets.

In the early 1900s, people didn’t fully understand the importance of iodine for thyroid health. This led to numerous cases of goiter — especially in the 1920s, when some places reported that 70-100% of schoolchildren had goiters.

Many men were even disqualified from military service during World War I because their goiters were so large that they couldn’t button their uniforms.

Thankfully, over time, experts began to understand iodine’s significance better. A pediatric professor suggested adding iodine to table salt, which proved to be a game-changer. This simple step remarkably decreased goiter cases, helping many people avoid iodine deficiency.

Why Is Iodine Deficiency Making a Comeback?

Unfortunately, iodine deficiency is rearing its head again, and it’s happening for a few reasons.

One surprising factor is the growing popularity of health trends. Many people are swapping regular table salt for gourmet versions, like pink and Himalayan salt, which often don’t contain added iodine.

Moreover, folks who steer clear of meat, fish, and dairy — key sources of iodine — might find themselves lacking this essential mineral, especially if they’re turning to plant-based milk alternatives.

But even if you’re not trying to eat healthier, you’re at risk. The standard American diet includes a lot of processed foods heavy in sodium content, but they generally lack iodine.

A shocking study found that around 68% of people worldwide aren’t getting enough iodine. This is particularly concerning for pregnant women, who actually need about 50% more iodine to ensure that their babies thrive. Yet, research from 2021 showed that around one in four pregnant women in the U.S. were iodine deficient — along with half of non-pregnant women.

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What Happens When You Don’t Get Enough Iodine?

Iodine deficiency doesn’t just lead to goiters — you may be surprised to know that it can also affect your overall well-being.

Iodine is vital in helping the thyroid create hormones that regulate metabolism, heart health, the nervous system and calcium regulation, plus it supports growth, development and brain health.

When the thyroid can’t produce enough of these hormones, a condition known as hypothyroidism or low thyroid, it works overtime and expands, leading to the goiter we discussed. People with Hashimoto’s disease, an often misdiagnosed condition, are especially susceptible to goiter.

Early signs of iodine deficiency can include weight gain, tiredness, muscle weakness, hair loss, dry or puffy skin, and changes in heart rate.

How to Boost Your Iodine Intake

The good news is that if you’ve got reason to suspect your iodine intake is insufficient, there are some simple ways to boost it and improve your health.

First, aim for the recommended daily amount of iodine — 150 mcg/day for adults is a good baseline, but if you’ve been deficient for a while, you may need more to truly thrive. Aiming for around 500 mcg/day from nutritious food sources can be beneficial.

You can find iodine in seaweed, fish, dairy products and iodized salt (check the label: only 50% of salt sold in the U.S. is iodized). If food sources aren’t enough, consider iodine supplements like Lugol’s iodine or sea kelp.

Don’t forget about the other minerals — zinc, copper and selenium — which also support thyroid health. If it has been deprived of adequate iodine for a while, it could use the help.

In conclusion, understanding the importance of iodine is crucial for preventing deficiencies and maintaining overall body health. With a bit of knowledge and some mindful dietary choices, you can take steps to ensure you get enough iodine, keeping goiter and other complications at bay.

Sources:

A growing iodine deficiency could bring back America’s goiter – MSN

Hypothyroidism in Older Adults – NIH

The post The deficiency threatening to bring back goiter appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

As soon as an additive is linked to health issues, European regulators tend to err on the side of caution.

For example, you may remember when I wrote about five food additives they’ve banned across the pond and beyond, but are still being fed to us in America — chemicals linked to cancer, endocrine disruption and type 2 diabetes.

Well, it looks like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is finally coming around on at least one of those additives found in drinks enjoyed by almost 65 percent of Americans daily — and linked to thyroid toxicity…

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The additive that makes sodas toxic

In November 2023, the FDA proposed a measure that would ban the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in the U.S.

Used to keep the citrus flavoring in beverages from separating, until now the FDA has considered its use in small quantities as safe.

But the agency was prompted to revisit this safety classification after scientific evidence from toxicology studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that an accumulation of BVO is toxic to the thyroid.

Your thyroid produces hormones that are instrumental in helping control blood pressure, body temperature, metabolism and response to other hormones. Disrupting the function of the thyroid means throwing these key processes out of whack.

And that’s not all. Brominated vegetable oil has also been linked with skin and mucous membrane irritation, fatigue, loss of muscle coordination and memory problems.

BVO was given the “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) designation by the FDA in the 1970s. However, as a result of these recent findings, the FDA now deems the continued use of BVO in food as unsafe.

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Some beverage manufacturers jumped ahead of the game to remove BVO from product formulations a few years ago when questions first began to arise about its safety. One prominent example is PepsiCo, which removed BVO from its citrus-flavored Gatorade in 2013 because consumers perceived the product in a negative light.

But according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), up to at least 90 products common on your grocer’s shelves contain BVO — mostly sodas, sports drinks and juice-like drinks with a citrusy flavor, including regional and store brands. You can view EWG’s complete list here.

The state of California has already made moves to ban the use of BVO and three other food ingredients within its borders: potassium bromate, propylparaben and FD&C Red No. 3, or red dye No. 3. By 2027, manufacturers will no longer be able to use these four ingredients in food sold in California.

The FDA says it continues to assess the safety of various chemicals in food based on the latest scientific findings and legal requirements, including the recent California law. In fact, the agency is in the process of reviewing FD&C Red No. 3 and says a decision on the chemical is forthcoming.

Going forward, the FDA plans to streamline the process of evaluating chemicals in the food supply by creating an “Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation.” This office is part of the agency’s proposed Human Foods Program (HFP) transformation to enhance its review of food chemical safety.

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Dodging brominated vegetable oil

While the FDA’s announcement about BVO is good news, it could take a while for its proposed ban to take effect.

Until then, you’ll want to check your beverage labels to make sure BVO isn’t an ingredient.

Of course, one surefire way to reduce the danger of accidentally ingesting BVO is to ditch sodas —and it’s far from the only reason you should…

A large study found that postmenopausal women who drank one or more sweetened beverages per day were 78 percent more likely to develop liver cancer, compared with women who didn’t (or consumed less than three servings per month). The researchers also concluded that even consuming just one a day increased the likelihood of liver cancer by 73 percent!

And of course, aspartame, the most commonly used artificial sweetener in sodas has been listed as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization.

These reasons add up to why sweetened beverages are considered one of the two worst ultraprocessed foods for our health.

It looks like giving them up altogether is the wise thing to do.

Sources:

FDA moves to ban drink additive linked to thyroid issues, memory loss — UPI News

California bans four food additives linked to health issues — UPI

FDA Proposes to Ban Food Additive, Continues Assessments of Additional Chemicals — U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Why Is Red Dye No. 3 Banned in Cosmetics but Still Allowed in Food? — Consumer Reports

The post The thyroid-poisoning additive in popular drinks appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But the signs of mental exhaustion can be harder to recognize — even though they impact an awful lot of us.

Because of this, we don’t always know when to stop to try to recover. Instead, we often push past the point of no return, leading to burnout.

So how can you know that your brain is throwing up red flags, begging you to take a step back and get some much-needed time and outside support?

Here are the top 10 mental exhaustion warning signs you should heed…

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#1 – Anger or impatience

When your brain is drained, your mood can suffer. You might wonder why you feel so short-tempered. But mental exhaustion makes it harder to control your emotions.

So, if you snap at others because you’re easily irritated by small things that would usually not bother you, you could be well on the way to mental exhaustion.

#2 – Inability to get your work done

Mental exhaustion can make even small tasks feel insurmountable.

You may be unable to concentrate long enough to complete projects or get distracted. Or you could even lack the motivation to get things off the ground in the first place.

If that sounds familiar, check off this sign that you’re mentally overwhelmed.

#3 – Zoning out

Pushing the limits of mental fatigue can make your mind wander and even lead to drowsiness.

While this can cause problems at work and in your daily life at home, it can become dangerous when you need to pay attention and react quickly, such as when driving, operating machinery or caring for children.

Don’t ignore this mental exhaustion warning sign for your safety and that of others.

#4 – Lack of sleep

While it might seem like you would sleep better when your brain is overworked, it’s not so simple.

Research has shown that the reverse is true, with increased mental exhaustion leading to insomnia. Even worse, this can cause a negative feedback loop, with lack of sleep worsening mental exhaustion.

Don’t let this sign of mental exhaustion take over.

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#5 – Depression

You can feel numb or hopeless when you’ve pushed your brain past its limits. You might even feel like you’re moving in slow motion because you lack the energy to get through your daily tasks.

If any of these problems or low moods last for more than two weeks, it could be a signal that your depression is more serious and that it’s time to talk to your doctor.

#6 – Increased worrying

If you’ve been feeling increased levels of worry, it could be a sign you’re mentally exhausted.

That happens when your sympathetic nervous system, which kicks off your ‘fight or flight’ response, is triggered by mental exhaustion. Fight or flight is meant to be temporary.

But when cortisol, the stress hormone that kickstarts it, stays elevated, it suppresses serotonin (a key feel-good hormone). This imbalance creates a cycle of stress, worry and depression.

#7 – Difficulty exercising

Everything feels harder when your brain is at a breaking point, especially exercise. Many researchers believe this is because mental exhaustion decreases your tolerance for exercise.

This can make it feel like your regular exercise routine is more difficult than usual and requires more effort. That can cause you to give up on something actually good for relieving mental stress.

#8 – Changes in healthy habits

Mental fatigue can leave you grasping at straws to feel better. You could snack more often or choose unhealthy options like sugary, fatty or salty foods to “feel better.”

On the other hand, some people suffering from mental exhaustion may not have an appetite at all. Either of these changes could lead to corresponding changes on your bathroom scale.

Additionally, mental exhaustion can cause some people to turn to unhealthy habits like alcohol and drugs to manage their stress.

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#9 – Making mistakes

Because mental exhaustion can decrease focus and increase distraction, you can make more mistakes than usual. It also makes it much harder for you to catch and fix your mistakes.

#10 – Higher pain levels

Finally, one of the biggest flashing warning signs that you are mentally exhausted is experiencing pain more acutely.

This can include everything from headaches and fibromyalgia symptoms to back pain, sore muscles and even stomach and GI concerns. If your pain levels go up, your brain could be begging for a mental health break.

Turn mental exhaustion around

Taking a temporary break from stressors is a good step toward relief from mental exhaustion. But if you’ve dealt with these signs for a long time, you may have developed adrenal fatigue.

Years of constant excess cortisol production sets off an autoimmune inflammatory response in your entire body, affecting the adrenal-hypothalamus-pituitary feedback loop.

When I experienced mental exhaustion and adrenal fatigue in my early adulthood, I was led by an integrative doctor to adaptogenic herbs. As their name implies, they help our bodies adapt to changes, like those brought about by stress, worry and depression. I’ve found relief using a formulation that includes:

• Ashwagandha
• L-theanine
• Rhodiola
• Holy Basil
• Boswellia

Take mental exhaustion as seriously as you do physical exhaustion. The effects on your health and quality of life can be just as potent.

Sources:

Signs You’re Mentally Exhausted – WebMD

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And I was thrilled to catch up with Michelle — even though the visit was rushed…

She stopped on her way out to her new home several hours north of me, and she was racing the movers to get there first. This would be her third cross-country move in five years since she’d accepted a high-level position with a national company.

As good friends do, we caught up as if no time had passed. But one thing about Michelle had changed quite a bit…

She had gained weight. It was especially surprising because Michelle has always been extremely fit, loved to run marathons, practiced yoga and took care of herself.

As we talked, she broke down and said that she just didn’t know what to do anymore. It was like the pounds had come on out of nowhere and now that they were there, she couldn’t lose the weight no matter what diet she tried.

And, to make matters worse, her doctor said she was on the verge of insulin resistance and advised exercise. But she just didn’t have the energy for it. She was constantly exhausted, even when she first woke up in the morning — far too tired to go for a run or hit a yoga class.

Having little time or energy to work out and after disappointing results dieting, Michelle felt hopelessly stuck — tired, overweight and unhappy. And, she said she’d even noticed that her hair was getting thinner… she felt old!

It was a story I’d heard all too many times. In fact, it’s a story I understood firsthand — and I immediately recognized what was happening to Michelle… I knew that more than likely, she was not only suffering from a low thyroid but that her adrenal function was probably in the toilet too.

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The thyroid–adrenal connection

You see, there’s a connection between the function of your thyroid gland and that of your adrenals…

The adrenals are your “lifesaving” organs because they control your body’s hormones and help you survive in stressful situations. They act as a control center for your “fight or flight” response and secrete many of our most important hormones including pregnenolone, adrenaline, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and cortisol.

When your adrenals are constantly stressed, this sets off an autoimmune inflammatory response in your entire body. The adrenal-hypothalamus-pituitary feedback loop regulates the secretion of cortisol. All of your organs and your immunity are impacted negatively by the resulting constant assault of cortisol.

Low adrenal function can cause someone’s thyroid problem to be much worse than it would be otherwise.

Some of the most common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, depression, sensitivity to cold, muscle or joint aches, brain fog, poor memory, brittle hair and nails, shortness of breath, thinning hair, PMS, significantly calloused heels, chronic yeast infections, low libido, infertility.

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Herbal support for low thyroid and adrenal problems

And that’s where Ashwagandha comes in.

I had researched the herb when I was going through my own thyroid problems and I knew the reputation it had to not only support thyroid hormones but also relieve stress on the adrenals… just the things to help make losing weight and feeling more energetic easier.

Ashwagandha is what’s known as an adaptogenic herb — one that’s extremely effective at helping balance your system during stressful periods.

From lab studies with mice, scientists at D.A University, India, have found that ashwagandha root can stimulate thyroid hormones and boost serum concentrations of thyroid hormone. That alone could make weight loss efforts easier.

Another study found that ashwagandha prevents the loss of cortisol in the adrenal glands — giving you more energy throughout the day.

And, yet, another study says it’s been shown to provide anxiety-relieving effects.

I’ve heard of people using ashwagandha in teas, tinctures and smoothies. But I’m not sure about how to measure the herb or the results that way. Supplementing is probably the easiest way to get ashwagandha in your diet.

The post The herb that helps you get your groove back appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

There are a few things that can cause an underactive thyroid, but the most common cause is Hashimoto’s disease. This condition occurs when your immune system basically attacks and kills your thyroid gland so it doesn’t function the way it’s supposed to.

Hashimoto’s is believed to affect 1 to 2 percent of people in the United States. But some experts say it is not uncommon for it to be misdiagnosed for other conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, fibromyalgia, PMS or an anxiety or bipolar disorder.

Understanding the risks, causes and symptoms, as well as testing, is important for getting a proper diagnosis and relief.

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Causes and symptoms

The people most at risk of Hashimoto’s are women, in whom the disease is five to 10 times more common than men. And though it can occur at any age, it’s most often seen in middle age. Other risk factors for Hashimoto’s include having a close relative with Hashimoto’s or another autoimmune disorder.

What causes Hashimoto’s is unclear, though it’s believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Some potential non-genetic triggers for the disease include changes in sex hormones (particularly in women), viral infections, certain iodine-rich medications, exposure to ionizing radiation, eating large amounts of animal protein or foods that have large amounts of iodine — such as kelp, dulse, or other kinds of seaweed — may cause hypothyroidism or make it worse. Iodine is a substance involved in the production of thyroid hormones.

One of the first signs of Hashimoto’s disease, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or autoimmune thyroiditis, is an enlargement of the thyroid known as a goiter. Depending on how big the thyroid gets, it can cause the neck to look swollen and may interfere with breathing and swallowing.

Other symptoms of Hashimoto’s include:

• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Sensitivity to cold
• Weight gain
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hair thinning
• Pale, puffy face
• Slow heart rate
• Memory problems
• Dry skin
• Irregular periods

People with Hashimoto’s disease are at increased risk of developing other autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, vitiligo, Addison’s disease and pernicious anemia. Hashimoto’s can also significantly raise your risk of dementia.

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Testing and Management

If you suspect you may have Hashimoto’s, you should talk to your doctor about testing. However, don’t be surprised if your doctor says your tests came out normal.

Sometimes Hashimoto’s doesn’t show up on a typical thyroid hormone test, so make sure your doctor checks for other factors like an enlarged thyroid that could indicate Hashimoto’s.

Whether you have Hashimoto’s or not, it’s always a good idea to take steps to protect the health of your thyroid. As with most things health-related, it all starts with getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet. The green Mediterranean and keto diets in particular have been associated with reduced inflammation in the body.

This matters because the immune system attacks the cells in the thyroid gland over a long period, causing inflammation. So, overall, it’s important to avoid foods that can trigger excess inflammation, including processed foods, breads, sugars, snack foods and frozen meals high in preservatives and food dyes. If it’s got a name in its ingredient list that’s hard for you to pronounce, you should probably leave it on the shelf.

Another advisable step is to get tested for gluten sensitivity or cut down on gluten-containing foods. Gluten has been found to contain proteins that interact with thyroid antigens and may worsen symptoms. A gluten-free diet also reduces inflammation and decreases antibody levels.

Some supplements that support good thyroid health and lower inflammation levels include:

• Selenium, a trace mineral that helps convert relatively inactive T4s to the active thyroid hormone T3.
• Ashwagandha root, which works as an immune modulator to help regulate autoimmune inflammation that contributes to Hashimoto’s.
• Copper, which helps stimulate the thyroid and protect the boxy from too much thyroxine (a thyroid hormone) building up in the blood.
• Omega 3 fatty acids, which help manage inflammation and reduce your risk of developing autoimmune disease.
• Vitamin D3, another great inflammation fighter that lowers your autoimmune disease risk.

Sources:

Hashimoto’s disease — MedlinePlus

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: What you need to know — Medical News Today

The post Hashimoto’s: An often misdiagnosed thyroid disorder appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But that’s not all that the eyes can reveal…

It turns out that our eyes can provide a glimpse into what else can be going on in the body, including hints about many health ailments — and not just those affecting the eyes.

In some cases, they can even lead to life-saving early detection.

Here are 10 of them…

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Brain tumor

A simple visual field measurement can reveal abnormalities, but often patients are either unaware of them or consider them so benign that they don’t bother to report them. It’s important to make note of any visual field abnormalities because they can indicate brain tumors, such as pituitary adenoma.

Diabetes

Screening for diabetes is an area that’s ripe for improvement, especially since it often is not diagnosed until six to 13 years after its onset. An eye exam might speed that up — as well as prevent vision loss…

Lesions, characteristic of diabetes, can appear at the back of the eye before other symptoms are known. Slashing this delay is crucial because, within five years of diagnosis, 25 percent of patients with type 1 diabetes and 40 percent of those with type 2 diabetes who are treated with insulin will develop eye lesions that can have a major impact on vision.

Early identification and rigorous monitoring of eye health significantly reduce the risk of blindness, which can happen when diabetes goes untreated.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol

High blood pressure and high cholesterol can significantly increase the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke. Yet high blood pressure, referred to as a “silent killer,” can go unnoticed until it’s a significant problem.

As strange as it might sound, the eye can be used to diagnose both of these conditions. This is because the eye is the only part of the body where blood vessels can be seen without requiring an incision or invasive techniques.

For instance, high blood pressure can be identified by unusual bends, kinks, or bleeding from blood vessels in the back of the eye, as well as definite signs on the retina. Hypercholesterolemia creates cholesterol deposits and atherosclerosis creates Hollenhorst plaques, both of which are visible inside the eye blood vessels. Cholesterol can also be seen in the cornea or the adnexa of the eye.

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Lupus

This inflammatory disease, in which the body attacks its own tissues and organs, can be indicated by dry eye, as well as by swelling in the white part of the eye, the middle layer of the eye or the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.

Lyme disease

This infection is transmitted by ticks and results in inflammation throughout the body. Many people with Lyme disease experience inflammation of the optic nerve, as well as an increase in “floaters,” small specks that drift across their field of vision, at the onset of infection.

Multiple sclerosis

About half of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have optic neuritis, a condition in which the optic nerve becomes inflamed. Symptoms can include blurry vision, the sight of “washed out” colors and eye pain for a few days when you move your eyes.

MS can also be indicated by double vision or involuntary eye movements.

Cancer

Cancers that affect the eye, like retinoblastoma, can also cause metastases to the lungs and liver. The disease often develops without symptoms until it’s too late, so early detection is crucial.

Another cancer clue visible in the eye is congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigmented epithelium (CHRPE). It appears as a shape that looks similar to a bear’s paw and may be associated with colon cancer, which is often not diagnosed until the later stages.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Red eyes with deep, severe pain can be a harbinger of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This symptom indicates scleritis, a painful inflammation of the sclera, the white part of the eye, that requires treatment. Many people with RA also suffer from dry eye.

Thyroid disease

Hyperthyroidism can cause protruding eyeballs and retracted eyelids. This is most commonly caused by Graves’ disease, a condition in which the thyroid produces too much or too little hormone. This condition can also be accompanied by dry eye, blurry vision, or vision loss.

Get your eyes checked

If you have abnormal eye movements, asymmetric pupillary responses, sudden reading problems or the appearance of double vision, it’s time to visit your optometrist. They can help determine whether you need to be seen by an ophthalmologist for further diagnosis and treatment. Your ophthalmologist can refer you to another specialist if the condition extends beyond the eyes.

Sources:

Your Eyes Can Shed Light on Underlying Health Problems — Science Alert

MS eye and vision problems — MS Society

20 Surprising Health Problems an Eye Exam Can Catch — American Academy of Ophthalmology

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The most shocking might be perchlorate, a chemical found in rocket fuel (yes, you read that right!), fireworks, flares and matches.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to set a limit on perchlorate levels in water even though anyone with common sense might think any rocket fuel — at all — is way too much, considering the chemical has been linked to brain damage in infants and children and can damage our thyroids.

As if drinking rocket fuel isn’t bad enough, you and your family may be eating it as well…

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Perchlorate in your food

A study from Consumer Reports indicates perchlorate has contaminated our food supply. Scientists analyzed 196 samples of 63 grocery store products and 10 fast food items. About 67 percent of the samples had measurable levels of perchlorate ranging from just over two parts per billion (ppb) to 79 ppb.

When looking at general categories, these had the highest levels of perchlorate:

• Baby/kid food, averaging 19.4 ppb
• Fruits and vegetables, averaging 9.3 ppb
• Fast food, averaging 7.7 ppb
• Baked products and grains, averaging 6.9 ppb
• Dairy, averaging 6.2 ppb
• Meat products, averaging 5.3 ppb

How much ‘rocket fuel’ is safe?

According to Consumer Reports, in 2005, the EPA established an “official reference dose” for perchlorate of 0.7 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day. This means the EPA considers this to be a safe exposure level.

However, many food experts think this level is too high. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set a tolerable daily intake of less than half that amount: 0.3 micrograms per kilogram of body weight.

While none of the foods tested had perchlorate levels high enough for one serving to exceed the EFSA or EPA’s suggested daily limits, children may be especially vulnerable because of their lower body weight.

For instance, a serving of the boxed mac and cheese the scientists tested would hit nearly 50 percent of the EFSA limit for perchlorate in a child between 1 and 2 years old. And servings of the baby rice cereal, baby multigrain cereal and organic yogurt tested would each hit about a quarter of the EFSA limit. That means with one serving of each of those foods, a child would exceed the EFSA’s safe daily limit.

And even if you’re feeding your child healthy food, they still may quickly go over the limit. One serving of cucumbers, baby carrots and collard greens would each exceed 50 percent of the EFSA daily limit for children between ages 1 and 2.

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Danger to the thyroid

Now for the bad news: there isn’t much you can do to avoid consuming perchlorate through your food. Even eating a healthy diet can put you at risk, since perchlorate is found in fruits and vegetables. You can (and should) wash your fruits and vegetables in filtered water before you consume them, which might at least remove any surface-level contaminants.

Also, it’s best to avoid consuming fast food, mac and cheese and processed chicken products like chicken nuggets, since those all contain high levels of perchlorates and are unhealthy for other reasons. And definitely don’t feed those to your kids.

Consuming unsafe levels of perchlorate can affect the thyroid by interfering with iodide uptake into the thyroid gland. Iodide is the salt form of iodine, a mineral crucial to proper thyroid function. This disrupts thyroid functions and could lead to a reduction in thyroid hormone production. That makes perchlorates endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

“Thyroid hormones affect metabolism, and having bad thyroid function could lead, in this case, to type 2 diabetes,” Dr. James Rogers, director of food safety research and testing at Consumer Reports, told USA Today. Disruption of the thyroid can also affect the development of the central nervous system in fetuses and infants.

While you may not be able to avoid eating rocket fuel, you can help protect your thyroid function by getting enough iodine. You can eat foods rich in iodide like iodized salt, organic yogurt, cranberries, navy beans and sea vegetables like kelp and wakame. Or you can supplement if your iodine levels are dangerously low.

Also, you can help optimize thyroid function and increase thyroid hormone efficiency by combining iodine with the amino acid L-Tyrosine.

There is one bit of good news: the EPA says it will set limits on perchlorate by Nov. 21, 2025, according to Consumer Reports. Hopefully, they will begin to regulate the disposal of this dangerous chemical so those perchlorate levels don’t go any higher. We may be stuck with what of it has already polluted our waters and soil as it is a “forever chemical.”

Sources:

Is your family eating rocket fuel? Consumer Reports study finds chemical in food, water — USA Today

Why Rocket Fuel Has Been Contaminating Our Food and Water for Years — Consumer Reports

Perchlorate in Food — U.S. Food and Drug Administration

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One of the worst is chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS.

It’s an illness that leaves many women with overwhelming fatigue, no matter how much rest they might get. It can bring with it symptoms ranging from the inability to concentrate to pain, dizziness and trouble sleeping.

Sadly, according to the world’s largest study of the disease, women aren’t just more likely to live with CFS, but women who suffer long-term — more than 10 years — are likely to experience increasingly severe symptoms with age…

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome gets progressively worse

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh followed a massive population of 17,000 people with CFS, finding that the experiences of women with chronic fatigue (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME) differ greatly from those of men.

Not only did they discover that women with CFS tend to have more symptoms and co-occurring conditions than men, but after living with it for more than 10 years, they’re more likely to experience much harsher symptoms.

Let’s break down what they found…

First, it’s important to note that the study once again confirmed the fact that yes — chronic fatigue is more common in women than men, with women making up almost 84 percent of CFS patients in the study.

Additionally, the study showed that more women with CFS than men (66.7 percent compared to 52.7 percent) also suffer from a co-occurring condition.

The most common conditions that women with CFS live with are:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (41.3 percent)
• Clinical depression (32.4 percent)
• Fibromyalgia (29.5 percent)
• Anemia (14.1 percent)
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) (12.8 percent)

The researchers also found that in general, women experienced more problematic symptoms with CFS. On average, women complained of 42 separate symptoms, while for men that number was 36.

The most common symptoms included brain fog, poor sleep and muscle pain.

Finally, the study showed that after a decade of living with CFS, women are more likely to suffer from a worsening of their symptom intensity.

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Finding an answer for chronic fatigue

Fortunately, research into CHS in recent years has helped draw attention to this very real condition, whereas in years past, doctors and even family and friends of those afflicted wondered about its validity.

However, there is still no specific diagnostic test or cure — but it may be possible to manage symptoms.

In 2016, researchers at Cornell University identified biological markers of the disease in gut bacteria and inflammatory microbial agents in the blood as well as possible links to leaky gut syndrome capable of triggering an autoimmune response.

Though it’s hard to know which may have come first, both hypothyroidism and IBS (two of the most commonly reported CFS symptoms) share a possible root cause—an imbalance of bacteria in the gut.

For some going gluten-free can provide some relief. Researchers have reported a link between chronic fatigue and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. But giving up gluten can be difficult. It’s far easier to support the gut’s microbiome with probiotics and prebiotics.

Optimizing thyroid function may help as well. Chronic fatigue not only can go hand in hand with a thyroid condition, it can simulate it in many ways. This makes making sure your thyroid is optimal through the use of nutrients that benefit thyroid activity vital, including selenium and iodine.

Lastly, consider a graded exercise program. A gradual increase in activity over a 12-week period has been shown to greatly benefit CFS suffers. Just make sure not to push too hard, or too fast. Post-exertional malaise is a delayed dramatic worsening of symptoms following minor physical effort that affects people with CFS.

Sources:

Women more severely affected by ME/CFS, study shows – EurekAlert!

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Playing sports, gardening or even just sitting in the sun for a while on a humid day can make you sweat. You’re losing water, and that water must be replaced in order to avoid dehydration.

Your body responds to being hot and sweaty by making you thirsty, sending you a clear message to drink some water to replace those fluids.

But there are other reasons you might feel thirsty, and if it seems like you’re always thirsty, no matter how much you drink, this could be the sign of a more serious problem.

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5 illnesses that cause thirst

Never ignore the onset of extreme and unquenchable thirst, especially if it comes along with any other troubling symptoms. It could be due to a more serious condition.

Diabetes. Extreme and constant thirst is often the first sign of diabetes.

When your body doesn’t make enough insulin, or doesn’t use it properly, too much glucose builds up in your body. Glucose in the urine draws in more water, causing you to urinate more frequently. Your body dehydrates, making you thirsty.

Anemia. Anemia means your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells, either because too many are being destroyed or lost, or because not enough are being made.

Mild anemia probably won’t make you thirsty, but if it becomes severe, you may find yourself constantly wanting to drink water. You may also feel dizzy and weak, and you may sweat more.

Kidney disease. Damaged kidneys cannot hold on to fluids well, and in order to prevent dehydration, the body prompts you to drink a lot of water.

However, it’s a delicate balance. If you have chronic kidney disease, watch for swelling or an increase in blood pressure, which could indicate that too much water is being retained and placing a strain on your heart.

Thyroid problems. When you produce too little or too much thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism), you can experience anxiety, dry mouth and other symptoms that lead to increased thirst.

Diabetes insipidus. The only things this rare condition has in common with Type 1 or 2 diabetes are its name, that they both make you thirsty and that they make you urinate a lot.

In most people, the kidneys pass about a quart or two of urine a day. Someone with diabetes insipidus can pass as much as 20 quarts of “insipid” urine a day, that is, urine that does not look or smell much like urine since they’re basically just eliminating water.

Other things that can make you thirsty

There are personal lifestyle choices and medications that can also cause excessive thirst.

Smoking. Tobacco can affect how much saliva your body makes. You can end up with a dry mouth and a feeling of thirst all the time. Also, smoking can make your saliva thicker and less like water, so it doesn’t do a very good job of keeping your mouth moist.

A low-carb diet. The ultra-low-carb keto diet can make you thirsty since carbs absorb and hold on to water in the body. Without them, you’ll urinate more often, and feel thirsty more often.

Diuretics. Diuretics, or water pills, are frequently prescribed for high blood pressure as well as congestive heart failure. Diuretics are designed to eliminate excess fluid from the body, which they do quite well. But the result, of course, is that you’re thirsty a lot.

The bottom line: Pay attention to your body

Pay attention to the signals your body is sending you.

If you’re thirsty, don’t ignore it. Have a glass of ice water with lemon, or maybe a glass of iced tea. When you’re no longer thirsty, stop drinking. Just like with your appetite for food, don’t force things.

Also, pay close attention to any other changes in your body that accompany thirst, especially if you’re more thirsty than normal. When in doubt, call your doctor.

And as a bonus, here’s a summer-friendly recipe for a fun thirst-quencher. It’s especially geared to people with kidney disease since it helps quench thirst without drinking too much. Anyone can enjoy it. I know I’ll be trying this healthy, thirst-quenching treat, based on my favorite candy, before the summer is out! Enjoy!

Sources:

1. Why am I always thirsty? — Web MD
2. 10 unexpected reasons why you’re thirsty all the time — prevention.com
3. Diabetes insipidus — Web MD
4. What to know about diuretics — Healthline.com

The post 5 serious conditions that can make you really thirsty appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Or at least, that’s what the mainstream wants you to believe. That’s why, if it were up to them, everyone would be taking statins as if they were vitamins or something.

Unfortunately, there are two very big problems with just whipping out that prescription pad.

The first is that these drugs come with some major side effects, ranging from milder symptoms like headache, dizziness, difficulty sleeping, muscle aches and pains, nausea and constipation — to even more severe problems, including memory loss, confusion, high blood sugar and extreme muscle inflammation that can lead to kidney failure.

If that list of side effects wasn’t bad enough on its own, there’s the fact that you may not even need those drugs in the first place…

You see, your high cholesterol could actually be the result of a completely different health problem.

Yet, if you get this health problem under control, your high cholesterol may be a thing of the past, all without those prescription drugs and their scary side effects.

High cholesterol — a thyroid problem in disguise

According to the American Thyroid Association, an estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Up to 60 percent of these people are completely unaware of their condition. And, women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems.

Despite these figures, while most people’s yearly blood work at their doctor’s office includes a check on their cholesterol levels, many never receive a full thyroid screening.

This means that while you’re often aware that you have a cholesterol problem, you have no idea that your thyroid function is compromised. And, it just might be at the root of your other health issues.

The reason that an underactive thyroid could be behind your high cholesterol is because it is the gland responsible for producing the hormones that control your metabolism. If your thyroid gland slows, your metabolism slows with it.

This slowing metabolism results in your body being unable to clear out the extra cholesterol in your bloodstream. Instead, the cholesterol is deposited in your arteries and around your heart, increasing your risk for heart disease.

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Even the Mayo Clinic has said, “Hypothyroidism may also be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, primarily because high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol, can occur in people with an underactive thyroid. It is not unusual that when low thyroid function is addressed, (high) cholesterol will often return to normal levels.”

With this known connection, you would think it would be standard practice for anyone with high cholesterol to have a full panel of blood work performed to check on thyroid function, especially in women, who are much more likely to suffer from thyroid problems.

However, for most patients even with a diagnosis of high cholesterol, they are still not screened for an underlying thyroid condition. This leaves them to suffer for years, not only from the effects of high cholesterol itself and the side effects of the prescription drugs they’ve been given for it, but also from all of the other symptoms a low thyroid can present, including:

• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Dry skin
• Brittle hair
• Cold hands and feet
• Hoarse voice
• Depression
• Muscle aches and pain
• Joint pain
• Poor memory

How to find out if a thyroid problem is causing your high cholesterol

If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol and suffer from any of the symptoms listed above, your thyroid may be behind your cholesterol problems.

Ask your doctor to run a comprehensive thyroid panel to check your thyroid function.  Just checking your TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) level is not enough.

You need to request a full blood panel that includes your TSH, total T4, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, Thyroglobulin antibody (ATA), and Thyroid Peroxidase antibody (TPO) to check for underlying conditions that could be damaging your thyroid function.

You can’t always rely on your doctor to know and run the tests you need. As my colleague Jedha Dening recently shared, doctors don’t always listen, especially to women. So be your own advocate and request the exams yourself.

You should also consider the importance of iodine on the health of your thyroid.

Source:
Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

The post The sneaky gland causing cholesterol problems appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But treatment with statins has come under fire — for good reason…

For starters, there’s the effect statins have on muscle cells, causing the pain anyone that’s taken them knows all too well. The drugs can also threaten your kidneys, even leading to diabetes — not to mention the potential to double your dementia risk!

And according to research, the idea of targeting cholesterol with statins might not get to the root of what’s raising your cholesterol. That’s because your cholesterol problems could lie in a tiny, butterfly-shaped gland that produces some of the body’s most important hormones — instead of your blood vessels.

The connection between thyroid hormones and cholesterol

Several previous clinical studies have demonstrated an undeniable connection between the butterfly gland in your neck and cholesterol levels.

In fact, scientists have found a direct effect of thyroid hormones on lipid levels. And they’ve even shown that treating patients with thyroid hormones can change their lipid levels for the better.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “Hypothyroidism may also be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, primarily because high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or ‘bad’ cholesterol, can occur in people with an underactive thyroid. It is not unusual that when low thyroid function is addressed, (high) cholesterol will often return to normal levels.”

The most recent research indicates that thyroid hormones affect other metabolic pathways via a two-way feedback loop. When this loop is working and thyroid hormones are optimal, everything functions well.

But when there is a dysregulation of this feedback loop, problems related to liver function, bone development and cardiovascular problems can occur. And that last one has a lot to do with your lipid profile — otherwise known as cholesterol levels.

A team of scientists from the Department of Cardiology at Peking University analyzed the genotype data of thousands of people from two genome-wide association studies and found that two specific thyroid levels are associated with cholesterol problems.

Specifically, when TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels are low, cholesterol levels suffer. And if the FT3:FT4 ratio (ratio of free triiodothyronine to ratio of free thyroxin) is off, you can end up with elevated levels of total cholesterol, as well as LDL (or bad cholesterol).

Addressing thyroid issues

So if you think you’re doing everything right but your cholesterol levels aren’t budging, it might be time to get your thyroid checked.

Be prepared to be persistent, since there are reasons your doctor may miss your thyroid issues completely.

Ask specifically to have your TSH checked and your FT3:FT4 ratio.

What else can you do?

The most important step to optimize your thyroid function is to feed it what it needs.

Specific nutrients support healthy thyroid function, so it’s essential to eat a diet that can help you get adequate levels of them, including:

• Iodine – This nutrient fuels your body’s ability to create the critical T3 and T4 hormones.
• L-Tyrosine – A powerful amino acid, L-tyrosine partners with iodine to help make the T3 and T4 hormones your body needs for healthy weight maintenance.
• Selenium – This naturally occurring trace mineral helps convert relatively inactive T4s to the active thyroid hormone T3.
• Zinc – This essential mineral helps convert the T4 hormone to the more active T3, which helps support healthy metabolism. It also releases the vitamin A stored in the liver to help support a healthy thyroid.
• Copper – This trace mineral is important for healthy thyroid function. It helps stimulate the thyroid and protects the body from too much thyroxine building up in the blood.
• Ashwagandha Root – A potent antioxidant, ashwagandha helps protect the thyroid, allowing it to function better and produce more T4.

The foods richest in these nutrients include:

• Pastured beef
• Eggs from free-range chickens
• Fish and shellfish
• Cheese and dairy
• Leafy greens
• Colorful vegetables
• Grains such as brown rice, oats, and buckwheat
• Healthy oils like olive oil

Doctors who diagnose and treat thyroid problems are endocrinologists. If your doctor cannot order a thyroid panel of tests for you, ask for a referral to one that can.

Source:

Genetic analysis technique finds missing link between thyroid function and lipid profile — EurekAlert!

The post Is your thyroid causing your cholesterol trouble? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, these man-made chemicals are now found at detectable levels in almost every person in the United States.

And it’s no wonder since manufacturers load them into everything from non-stick cookware to ‘eco-friendly’ takeout bowls, cosmetics, the anti-fogging sprays we use on our glasses and more.

A whopping 19 million Americans are even stuck with drinking water that comes from systems known to be contaminated with PFAS.

And if you think this chemical danger is something new, you’d be wrong. PFAS have been around since the 1940s.

That means, based on findings from the Keck School of Medicine, most of us have been around long enough to have experienced a certain window of time in which PFAS do their damage and set us for disease later in life…

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The truth behind their ‘forever’ name

But before we jump into those dangers, let’s go over just what these man-made time bombs truly are.

PFAS are carbon atoms, surrounded by fluorine atoms. Because carbon plus fluorine is one of the strongest chemical bonds known in nature, they simply never break down.

And that’s not an exaggeration.

Once PFAS are in your bloodstream, they are truly there to stay. In fact, over time they even continue to accumulate in your body.

The window when PFAS damage sets up disease

So how do these toxic chemicals lead to disease? Those Keck researchers answered that question…

The team used blood samples collected from 312 adolescents and 137 children to determine which PFAS were in their bodies, and what exactly they were doing to their natural biological processes.

PFAS are already known to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals, meaning they alter how hormones are meant to function.

And because children and young adults are going through critical stages of development, they may be more susceptible to the negative health effects of PFAS exposure. It is also during this time that many diseases that manifest in adults take root, so it provides a clear picture of how these toxins can lead to disease.

Overall, the researchers found that all the children and adolescents had a mixture of several common PFAS in their blood including PFOA and PFOS (which have earned a water health advisory from the EPA).

“Our findings were surprising and have broad implications for policy makers trying to mitigate risk,” said Jesse A. Goodrich, PhD, assistant professor of population and public health sciences and lead author of the study. “We found that exposure to a combination of PFAS not only disrupted lipid and amino acid metabolism but also altered thyroid hormone function.”

This was especially concerning because changes in thyroid hormones play an important role in child development during puberty, which can have significant effects on disease risk later in life.

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Is PFAS protection possible?

The question then becomes whether or not there’s anything that can be done to protect yourself from forever chemicals.

The first step is to cut down on exposure…

For example, look for personal care products and cosmetics made without these chemicals whenever possible. For help on products and safer choices visit The Environmental Working Group website.

Skip take-out boxes, fast food wrappers and even microwave popcorn. Make fresh food at home instead, using an old-fashioned iron skillet rather than a non-stick pan.

Next support your body’s detox systems. Exercise and sweat on a regular basis. Eat cruciferous vegetables to put up resistance against estrogen mimickers and support your thyroid function.

While you might not be able to avoid PFAS completely, the threat is too serious not to try.

Sources:

Keck School of Medicine study finds “forever chemicals” disrupt key biological processes — EurekAlert!

Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS — EPA

The post How forever chemicals set you up for disease later in life appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Because they do not bind chemically to the material they’re added to, so they’re oh-so-easily absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream.

Phthalates, like several other synthetic chemicals, are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).

That means they disrupt the workings of the hormones that control pretty much every function in your body.

And because of the intimate nature of many of the personal care products these chemicals are used in, women are especially hard hit…

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Studies have shown that women with high levels of phthalates experience menopause earlier than women with lower levels. Early menopause increases a woman’s risk for cognitive decline and all-cause mortality.

Studies have shown they also interfere with the production of thyroid hormones. A urine analysis of 1,660 study participants found the higher the phthalate levels in the body, the lower their thyroid levels.

But the phthalate assault on women doesn’t end there…

Phthalates raise women’s risk of type 2 diabetes

Research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism shows that the phthalates found in shampoo and makeup can dramatically raise a woman’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

In the study conducted by scientists at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, about 1300 women without diabetes were followed for a period of six years.

During that time, periodic urine samples were taken that measured the amount of phthalate metabolites present.

Women with higher levels of phthalates in their urine were up to 63 percent more likely to develop diabetes.

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How to cut down on phthalate exposure

Fortunately, some manufacturers of personal care products realize the dangers of phthalate exposure.

I began using phthalate-free shampoo and conditioner as soon as they hit the market. And now they are easy to find in most stores.

The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Skin Deep® cosmetics database and Guide to Healthy Cleaning are also great sources to find personal care and cleaning products that are free from phthalates and undisclosed fragrances, as well as other harmful chemicals.

But, because phthalates are everywhere chemicals, please follow these other tips to minimize your exposure:

• Never heat food in plastic containers.
• Avoid processed foods whenever possible.
• Eat organic meat, especially organic chicken. Researchers have found evidence of phthalates in the meat of non-organic chickens that they believe originally came from the chicken feed fed to these animals.
• Do not use plastic cups when you drink hot beverages.
• If you use sanitary napkins or pads, look for phthalate-free brands.

Sources:

Chemicals found in shampoo shown to raise women’s risk of diabetes by two thirds – study — express.co.uk

Phthalates and Incident Diabetes in Midlife Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) — Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism

Pthalates: the everywhere chemical — National Institutes of Health

Phthalates may increase diabetes risk in women, but which women and why? — Medical News Today

The post Thyroid, menopause and diabetes: The phthalate danger to women appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But just how different are we?

In the U.S., we focus a lot on career advancement, high salaries, big homes and new cars. Of course, a job is important anywhere, but in Europe, their attitude is “work to live, don’t live to work.” That may be why they report less stress than Americans.

But one of the biggest differences between us and them is the food we consume…

In Europe, when a food additive is found to have the potential to make consumers sick, promote tumors or cause disease, regulators err on the side of caution.

But in the U.S., our government allows additives and chemicals in foods manufactured in America that European regulators have outright banned. And those experts believe it’s making us sick.

In fact, the four such ingredients I’m about to tell you about would never be served to an American in Paris — or London, Rome or Madrid, for that matter…

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The trouble with certain food chemicals

In an interview shared by CBS news, professor Erik Millstone, an expert on food additives at England’s University of Sussex, said most Americans were likely unaware they were being exposed regularly to substances in their food that are viewed as dangerous in Europe.

For instance, potassium bromate is added by some U.S. food manufacturers to strengthen the dough used in more than 100 packaged breads and baked goods — even some marked as “healthy.”

The FDA has told media outlets that when used properly, potassium bromate converts into a harmless substance during the food production process. However, the agency acknowledges that not all of the chemical used in any given recipe may convert during processing, though control measures are used to minimize the amount in the finished product.

Despite the FDA’s claims of safety, potassium bromate was banned in Europe, China and India because it’s a suspected carcinogen.

Unfortunately, potassium bromate isn’t the only food additive banned in Europe but fed to Americans…

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Dangerous food: from DNA damage to skin irritation

If you’ve ever read the ingredient list on a bottle of sunscreen, you may have seen titanium dioxide listed there. But what you may not know is that a food-grade version of titanium dioxide is used as a color additive in foods like candy, chewing gum, cheese and condiments.

Even though the titanium dioxide used in foods and personal care products is reportedly benign, some research shows it’s anything but…

Studies have found this chemical can cause DNA damage in mice and disrupt their gut bacteria. It also can increase inflammation, decrease the ability of intestinal cells to absorb nutrients and lower the immune system’s ability to fight pathogens. It’s even been linked to type 2 diabetes.

Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is used to keep the citrus flavoring from floating to the top in sodas and fruit drinks. One animal study cited by the FDA suggests ingestion of BVO can cause increased tissue levels of bromine, and at high levels can potentially cause negative health effects in the thyroid. Also, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) says that BVO can cause neurological harm.

Ever used a yoga mat or worn foam flip-flops? Then you’ve come into contact with azodicarbonamide (ADA). This industrial chemical distributes tiny gas bubbles throughout plastic, making it stronger, lighter, spongier and more flexible.

Unfortunately, ADA shows up in the food supply, too. Bread manufacturers use ADA as a dough conditioner to make the bread both fluffier and tough enough to withstand shipping. According to the EWG, ADA is listed as an ingredient in more than 130 bread, stuffing and snack products. And as is the case with potassium bromide, it sometimes shows up in products considered “healthy.”

Even though the FDA has deemed use of ADA safe at up to 45 parts per million, workers who handle large volumes of ADA have reported respiratory symptoms and skin irritation.

Prophylparaben (or propylparaben) is a manmade chemical used as a preservative in personal care products as well as some foods like pastries and tortillas. This chemical is a known endocrine disruptor and, according to the EWG, can cause developmental and reproductive harm.

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Kicking those chemicals out

Clearly, the first step to avoiding these chemicals is not to buy the foods that list them as an ingredient. You can read the labels yourself, or you can use the EWG’s handy Food Scores site to check the safety of the products you want to buy.

Better yet, instead of buying packaged breads, pastries and tortillas, you can make your own. The best thing about doing your own baking is that you can control the ingredients you use.

But the next step may be detox.

The body has an effective system for removing toxins. But despite the best efforts of our organs of elimination including the liver, kidneys, skin, immune system, lungs and GI tract, many toxins remain lodged in the body. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals get stored in our fat cells, not only making the chemical difficult to lose but the fat too.

An organic diet emphasizing whole, unprocessed foods, lots of green vegetables and plenty of filtered water and herbal teas, also provides critical detox support and supplies important phytonutrients to protect the body’s vital systems.

But natural chelators — substances that are able to bind to some toxins — can be very helpful to the elimination process. EDTA chelation can remove heavy metals. There are also foods, herbs and spices that have a detoxifying effect.

There are also a number of therapies that can help clear the body’s detox channels and support overall health. Infrared saunas or regular saunas encourage sweating, one of our most important detox pathways.

Sources:

U.S. food additives banned in Europe: Expert says what Americans eat is “almost certainly” making them sick — CBS News

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) — U.S. Food and Drug Administration

EWG’S Dirty Dozen Food Chemicals: The top 12 to avoid — Environmental Working Group

Propyl Paraben — Environmental Working Group

Nearly 500 ways to make a yoga mat sandwich — Environmental Working Group

The post Are banned food additives making Americans sick? appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

And based on some research I’ve been doing, I’ve requested a few additional blood tests, specifically related to my thyroid levels.

I’ve discovered that about one woman in five over the age of 60 — that’s a full 20 percent of us — have some sort of thyroid problem.

And, if you’re over 75, whether male or female, you have that same 20 percent chance of having hypothyroidism, or low levels of thyroid hormones.

In women, hypothyroidism is often misdiagnosed as either depression or menopausal symptoms.

But there’s one symptom I’ve just learned about, and it’s the one that’s finally made me ask for those additional blood tests. Once you hear about it, you might want to get tested, too…

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Signs of low thyroid levels

Your thyroid regulates a lot in your body. And I do mean a lot.

It regulates the production of energy throughout your body. That includes your heart, brain, skin and bowels. It also regulates body temperature.

Clearly, a lot can go wrong if your thyroid isn’t working correctly.

Yet the symptoms of low thyroid hormones are often mistaken for other complaints, especially in post-menopausal women, who are more likely to have hypothyroidism, as mentioned above.

These symptoms include depression, fatigue, constipation, unexplained weight gain, “brain fog,” and feeling cold all the time.

But it’s your feet that might give you your first sign that something is wrong with your thyroid.

What hypothyroidism does to your feet

If you have three or more of the following symptoms, it’s worth getting your thyroid levels checked.

• Dry, flaky, cracked feet (especially the heels) with calluses
• Itchy feet
• Cold feet
• Swollen feet
• Foot pain and cramping
• Foot infections
• Smelly feet
• Yellow soles
• Toenail changes

Getting the right tests for hypothyroidism

There are two different thyroid tests available, and it’s important that you get both.

Most doctors will order a test of your TSH levels if they suspect a thyroid issue.

But a TSH test only tells you how well your pituitary gland is “talking” to your thyroid, telling it when more of the thyroid hormone T4 is needed.

It doesn’t measure actual levels of T4.

There are blood tests available that give a more complete picture of how well the thyroid is producing T4, how well that T4 is being converted to T3 (which does the “heavy” work) and whether there are anti-thyroid antibodies present.

To get a complete, accurate picture, you’ll want the test that measures your T4 levels.

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How you can keep your thyroid healthy

Research shows that exposure to BPA and phthalates cause low thyroid hormone levels. You’ll want to avoid canned foods; the linings of most cans contain BPA. And read product labels carefully to check for these chemicals.

Eating foods high in B vitamins, selenium, iodine, vitamin D and zinc will support a healthy thyroid. Here’s a guide to foods that are rich in these thyroid-supporting nutrients, as well as four foods you should do your best to avoid.

Step out with a healthier thyroid — your feet will thank you!

Sources:

Are Your Feet Warning You of a Thyroid Problem? — Care Plus

10 your feet are warning you about a thyroid problem — Hypothyroid Mom

The post Is your thyroid OK? Check your feet appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Despite the herbicidal qualities that make glyphosate an optimal tool for pest control, the substance’s health hazard potential has long been suspected and documented through a growing body of clinical research. A recent UCLA study of long-term pesticide use in California uncovered a worrying correlation between residential exposure to glyphosate and thyroid cancer.

Links to thyroid cancer and hormone disruptions

Located at the base of the neck under the Adam’s apple, the thyroid is a gland shaped like a butterfly that produces hormones which regulate bodily functions like heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, oxygen consumption, and metabolism. When thyroid cells suffer DNA changes that increase their growth rate, they can accumulate into cancerous tumors.

Thyroid cancer (TC) is usually asymptomatic and highly treatable in its early stages, with some individuals not even realizing they suffer from the condition until it advances and causes more obvious signs and symptoms like:

• Neck swelling and pain (sometimes accompanied by lumps)
• Voice change and hoarseness
• Trouble with swallowing and breathing

Notably, while TC’s causes are not entirely understood, the condition is 3 times more prevalent in women, usually diagnosed at earlier ages (40s and 50s) than in men (60s and 70s). The most common risks associated with thyroid cancer include inherited genetic factors, low-iodine diets, higher body mass index, and exposure to radiation. The American Cancer Society estimates that 43,800 cases of TC will be diagnosed in 2022, with 2,230 expected fatalities.

Although research into the precise causes of TC is ongoing, exposure to pesticides has long been suspected as a contributing factor. One chemical of particular concern is glyphosate, the primary compound in Roundup and other similar herbicides, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) listed as probably carcinogenic to humans in 2015.

The 2022 case-control study from UCLA analyzed TC cases reported in California from 1999 to 2012 and examined residential exposure to over two-dozen agricultural pesticides known to produce genetic damage and hormonal (endocrine) disruptions. Chronic exposure to glyphosate was associated with a 33 percent higher risk of thyroid cancer.

The study’s results are especially concerning given the increasing rate of TC fatalities in California and the condition’s consistent 3 percent annual increase over the past three decades in the US. Recent studies also indicate that exposure to low concentrations of Roundup (deemed acceptable) resulted in significant thyroid cell death and that glyphosate exhibits 8 out of 10 characteristics of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Furthermore, the positive correlation between higher glyphosate use in US agriculture and rising TC incidence has been noted in even earlier research analyzing the pesticide’s hazard potential.

Exposure to glyphosate is associated with a broader range of diseases, including several types of cancers like non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (41 percent increased risks). Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, manufacturers have long maintained their glyphosate-based products’ safety, even though recent discoveries indicate they were aware of the compound’s health risks since the 80s.

A pledge to replace glyphosate-based products in 2023

After Bayer purchased Monsanto in 2018 for $63 billion, the German-based company also took on the legal ramifications of owning Roundup, spending $10.9 billion to settle tens of thousands of claims by 2020. On July 29, 2021, the growing wave of litigation determined Bayer to announce it would replace glyphosate-based products intended for the US lawn and garden market with new formulations in January 2023, a promise that the company so far seems to be on track to fulfill.

Still denying links to cancer, Bayer’s decision to pull Roundup off the market for residential use is made exclusively to manage litigation risk. Meanwhile, the replacement of glyphosate in a narrow range of products meant for residential use dismisses the more pronounced risks of Roundup’s commercial agricultural applications.

Even though Bayer hasn’t officially disclosed the alternatives considered for its new formulations, possible options may include pelargonic acid, acetic acid, or glufosinate-ammonium.  However, even if these potential substitutes might seem safer options, they carry their own inherent exposure risks, with the World Health Organization actually categorizing glufosinate-ammonium as more dangerous than glyphosate.

Until further regulations are elaborated to reduce glyphosate’s widespread use for commercial purposes, exposed individuals are more likely to benefit by transitioning to greener, non-toxic approaches. Farmers can employ ecologically-friendly and sustainable practices like regular crop rotation, companion planting, and opting for pest-resistant plant strains, while mechanical weeding and organic biopesticides are recommended non-toxic alternatives for residential gardening and lawn care.

The post Glyphosate and thyroid cancer: Too little too late appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

I told you about a dozen different chemicals known as endocrine disruptors.

Your endocrine system consists of all of your hormones — including insulin, thyroid hormones, estrogens, androgens and more — responsible for regulating every biological process in your body, including digestion, metabolism, reproduction, body temperature and blood sugar.

So, when any of them are disrupted, the potential for anything to go wrong, health-wise, is huge.

Unfortunately, endocrine disruptors are everywhere — from the food and water we consume to the cookware we use and the furniture that fills our homes.

And now, research has revealed that a particular type of endocrine-disrupting chemical is connected to more deaths than ever thought…

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Heart disease deaths connected to phthalates

A newly published New York University study warns that daily exposure to chemicals called phthalates, used in the manufacture of everything from plastic containers to makeup and perfume, may lead to roughly 100,000 premature deaths among older Americans each year.

“We already know phthalates mess with the male sex hormone, testosterone, which is a predictor of adult cardiovascular disease,” lead author Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP, told CNN.

But the latest research makes the connection crystal clear…

“Our findings reveal that increased phthalate exposure is linked to early death, particularly due to heart disease,” says Dr. Trasande.

“Until now, we have understood that the chemicals connect to heart disease, and heart disease, in turn, is a leading cause of death, but we had not yet tied the chemicals themselves to death.”

In a cohort study, data on about 5,000 adults aged 55 to 64, was chosen from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2010. Survey data was then linked with mortality data in 2015, and those with higher concentrations of phthalates in their urine were more likely to die of heart disease.

Similarly, people in this high-exposure group were more likely to die of any cause than those in low-exposure groups.

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Protecting yourself from phthalates

Phthalate exposure is believed to occur through the buildup of these toxins as consumer products break down and are ingested.

Phthalates are heavily used in plastics — where they are used to make the material more durable. In food packaging, it appears that the phthalate particles can migrate to the food it makes contact with.

Considering that this research found the association with premature deaths and heart disease was mainly driven by exposure to di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), a certain type of high-molecular weight phthalate commonly used in industrial food processing and medical devices, this is the first place to start making changes.

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Phthalate particles from other sources in our homes and offices can make their way into the air we breathe, the dust in our homes and the water we drink, simply because they are so widespread in our environment.

In fact, the more you learn, the more shocked you’ll be to find you’re probably getting a helping of phthalates daily from multiple sources.

Avoiding phthalates certainly won’t be easy — but for your heart’s sake, it’s certainly necessary to cut down on exposure. You can find some tips here, from my colleague Margaret Cantwell.

You can also support your hormones against phthalate assault…

• Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables regularly. They contain a compound known as called Di-Indole Methane, or DIM for short, that’s been found to support normal hormone balance. Endocrine disruptors cause estrogen dominance, a dangerous imbalance where the amount of fake estrogens in the body outnumber testosterone or progesterone. Both men and women can suffer the negative effects.
• You can also support your thyroid hormones naturally with zinc, selenium, copper and of course iodine.
• Last, but not least, support your liver. The liver is not only responsible for secreting at least four important hormones or hormone precursors, including insulin-like growth factor, it’s the one organ that can filter toxins from your body. A high-fat diet can negatively impact its detox function.

Sources:

Deaths linked to ‘hormone disruptor’ chemical costs billions in lost US productivity — Eureka Alert

Widely used chemical linked to 100,000 US deaths per year: study — msn.com

How to Avoid Phthalates (Even Though You Can’t Avoid Phthalates) — Huffington Post

Toys, Shampoo, Makeup—Dr. Leonardo Trasande Is Exposing the Dangerous Chemicals in Everyday Products — NYU Langone Health

Exposure to Certain Phthalates Tied to All-Cause, CV-Related Death — Medpage Today

The post Common chemical found to drive heart disease and early death appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

When women see their doctors, they are far more likely to get the short end of the stick and have their symptoms ignored.

It’s been proven time and time again…

Research has shown that women are more likely to die from heart failure and heart attack than men, but doctors don’t pay attention to the warning signs.

Sleep apnea is an underdiagnosed danger for women.

And when it comes to Parkinson’s, women are far more likely to receive a delayed diagnosis even though they’re also more likely to have an earlier onset of the disease than men.

So is it any surprise that doctors are still telling women they’re depressed or menopausal when the truth is their thyroid is to blame?

One woman’s thyroid journey

Veronica was just 24. And while she used to be confident and outgoing, the last months had left her so depressed that she told her mother she no longer even wanted to be there.

Her body ached, her energy was in the toilet and her skin was dry and cracked. And in just two years, she had packed 42 pounds on her once slender frame.

So what do you think happened when she went to her doctor desperate for help?

You guessed it…

Veronica was told she was just depressed and offered a prescription for anti-depressant medication.

Luckily, Veronica wasn’t buying into the Big Pharma solution and instead opted for talk therapy. And finally found real help.

The mental health professional, rather than just scheduling Veronica for appointments and cashing her checks, ordered blood work that proved Veronica’s symptoms weren’t just in her head.

They were caused by a low thyroid, something her primary doctor failed to even look for.

And after receiving treatment that addressed her true health problem, Veronica was able to drop close to nine pounds in just three weeks and was down 12 in three months.

Even better, her body aches disappeared and her depression lifted.

Why do doctors so frequently misdiagnose thyroid issues in women?

According to Dr. Salman Razvi, a consultant endocrinologist and a senior clinical lecturer at Newcastle University, the problem is partly down to the fact that the definition of “normal” thyroid function is a “minefield.”

And though Dr. Razvi practices medicine in the U.K., hypothyroidism, or low thyroid, is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed conditions in the U.S.

There are likely a number of factors that may be to blame…

For starters, the reference range doctors use to determine whether or not your thyroid is in a good place is really broad. It’s based on a mathematical equation that doctors appear to give more weight to than patient symptoms.

Another issue is that what’s truly normal for one person, might be abnormal for another. So you could have problems with your thyroid function and still fall into the “normal” range on a test. One suggestion to avoid this trap is to have baseline thyroid tests done annually. That way it may be easier to determine your “normal.”

Doctors may also be erring on the side of caution. Older patients prescribed a common medication for low thyroid, levothyroxine, may be vulnerable to side effects including osteoporosis and atrial fibrillation.

Giving the thyroid the support it needs

If you’re experiencing thyroid symptoms but your doctor has dismissed the condition as a possibility, it’s time to be your own advocate.

If your doctor is unwilling to test or retest you, you can ask to be referred to an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid problems and can dig deeper into your issues.

Finally, you can support your thyroid with the nutrition it needs. The following nutrients support normal thyroid function:

• Iodine
• L-Tyrosine — an amino acid important for metabolism.
• Selenium — A naturally-occurring trace mineral.
• Zinc — An essential mineral that supports metabolism.
• Copper — A trace mineral, copper helps stimulate the thyroid.
• Ashwagandha Root — An immune modulator with anti-inflammatory properties.

Sources:

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) – Mayo Clinic

An age-old question: Why are so many women told they’re depressed or menopausal when it’s actually their thyroid? And why are others prescribed drugs for the condition when they don’t even need them? – DailyMail.com

The post Why low thyroid is so often misdiagnosed as depression or menopause appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Or looking into the mirror and wondering if you’ll ever be able to lose the weight around your belly, hips and thighs — no matter how much calorie counting you’ve done.

Is it your diet? Are hormones to blame? Or could it be something much sneakier — like the air you breathe?

That last one may seem ridiculous, but according to researchers from the University of Michigan, the air you breathe may not be high in calories — but it’s high in something else that can pack on the pounds…

Weight gain in every breath

Researchers delved into data from close to 1,700 women with an average age of 50, tracking them for approximately eight years.

Specifically, the team kept tabs on the women’s body mass index (BMI), weight, waist circumference and body fat, comparing it to the annual air pollution in the area where each lived.

And sure enough, the scientists discovered that being exposed to increased levels of pollution can tip the scale toward obesity.

The results showed that exposure to air pollution was linked with higher body fat, a higher proportion of fat and lower lean mass.

In fact, air pollution caused an increase in body fat of 4.5 percent or about 2.6 pounds.

But how can simply being in a more polluted area cause you to pack on the pounds?

It all has to do with obesogens.

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Obesogens — a recipe for weight gain

Obesogens are chemicals that actually tip the balance and development of lipid metabolism to the dark side by disrupting your thyroid and liver function.

Your thyroid stops pumping out the hormones that keep your metabolism revved and your body burning off calories. And your liver becomes clogged with fat cells packed with those nasty chemicals.

When this happens the systems that normally regulate your body weight stop working the way they should and it can become virtually impossible to keep your weight at a healthy level.

To top it off, obesogens even send signals to your body that prompt it to make new, supersized fat cells, so that it’s easier for your body to store more fat and the pounds to accumulate.

It’s the perfect storm that stops you from losing weight and instead can keep you gaining.

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Beating the obesogen problem

Luckily, there are things you can do, even if you live in an area with high levels of air pollution.

First, the study that discovered the problem also found a potential fix.

After exploring the interaction between air pollution and physical activity on body composition, the researchers found that high levels of physical activity can mitigate the damage done by air pollution.

In other words, exercise, exercise and more exercise.

You can also support your liver. In addition to clearing contaminants from your body, your liver is responsible for breaking down fat, converting some for energy stores while synthesizing other fat, like cholesterol.It can’t adequately do all those jobs and fight toxic obesogens.

But certain foods and supplements can help take the load off the liver by helping cleanse and protect your body from pollutants.

It’s also important to improve your home’s air quality in order to minimize the pollutants you’re exposed to daily.

And don’t forget to hydrate. Water is vital to support your body as you eliminate the obesogens that make fat stick like glue.

Sources:

Air pollution tips the scale for obesity in women – ScienceDaily

The post It’s not your diet: Why breathing is making us fat appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Your thyroid gland helps regulate many functions in the body by working to keep a steady flow of thyroid hormones circulating in your bloodstream.

One very important job those hormones manage is your metabolism. That’s why often if someone just can lose weight no matter how hard they try, it’s often chalked up to a hormone or thyroid problem.

But an underactive thyroid can cause problems far beyond adding a few extra pounds to your middle.

In fact, according to research by scientists at Brown University, it could put you in extreme danger of dementia.

The link between hypothyroidism, age and dementia risk

When scientists compared the rates of thyroid problems in 7,843 seniors recently diagnosed with dementia against the health records of the same number of people without dementia, they found something concerning…

While living with hyperthyroidism (an overactive gland) did not affect dementia risk, the same could not be said for those with an underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism.

In fact, of the people with dementia, 68 people, or 0.9 percent, had hypothyroidism, compared to 34 of the people without dementia, or just 0.4 percent.

After adjusting for other factors that could affect the risk of dementia, such as sex, age, high blood pressure and diabetes, the researchers say that this means that people over the age of 65 with hypothyroidism are a whopping 80 percent more likely to develop dementia than people the same age without thyroid problems.

But the disturbing link doesn’t end there…

When researchers looked only at people who took medication for their hypothyroidism, they found they were three times more likely to develop dementia than those who did not take medication.

“One explanation for this could be that these people are more likely to experience greater symptoms from hypothyroidism where treatment was needed,” said study author Chien-Hsiang Weng, MD, MPH, of Brown University.

Luckily, there is good news…

“In some cases, thyroid disorders have been associated with dementia symptoms that can be reversible with treatment,” says Weng. “While more studies are needed to confirm these findings, people should be aware of thyroid problems as a possible risk factor for dementia and therapies that could prevent or slow irreversible cognitive decline.”

Supporting your thyroid to support your brain

Now, you may already know that two-thirds of people living with cognitive decline are women. I don’t think it’s any coincidence either that the risk for thyroid conditions is roughly 10 times higher for women than men.

For these reasons, I urge every woman to know the signs that her thyroid is in trouble. If you suspect yours is not functioning up to par, talk to your doctor about testing.

But don’t be surprised if he comes back and says everything looks fine. The symptoms mimic those of so many other conditions and standard thyroid tests often miss the mark. I believe that’s why it took me years to get a proper diagnosis for Hashimoto’s.

I didn’t wait, however. My research led me to simple nutrients the body requires to support the health of the thyroid gland. Here’s my list and how the research shows they help…

• Iodine from sea kelp — This naturally-derived iodine delivers the fuel your thyroid needs to create the critical T3 and T4 hormones.
• L-Tyrosine — A potent amino acid, L-tyrosine partners with iodine in T3 and T4 creation.
• Selenium — Selenium is a trace mineral that helps convert the relatively inactive T4 hormone to the active version – T3.
• Zinc — Similar to selenium, zinc is necessary for the conversion of T4 to T3 hormone.
• Copper — This trace mineral stimulates the thyroid and is vital for healthy gland function.
• Ashwagandha Root — A potent adaptogen, ashwagandha helps regulate autoimmune inflammation that can cause under-active thyroid.

It’s no secret that women have to be persistent when it comes to matters of health. Don’t let anyone tell you that your symptoms are “all in your head” or chalk them up to menopause or other “female” problems. Stand up and take care of yourself.

Sources:

Thyroid problems linked to increased risk of dementia – EurekAlert!

The post This thyroid condition could raise dementia risk 80 percent appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

If so, you’re like most of us and believe that the secret to staying skinny is exercise.

After all, you can eat as much as you want, as long as you burn it off, right?

But according to research from a team of scientists at the University of Aberdeen, it’s time to rethink that strategy…

Calories consumed, not calories burned

The team spent two weeks, delving into the diets and energy expenditures of 150 people who were considered ‘super-lean’ and comparing them to those of 173 people with a normal weight.

For reference, those super-lean participants had an average BMI of just 17 (below 18.5 is classified as underweight). And those normal-weight participants had a BMI between 21.5 and 25.

To avoid discrepancies with keeping a food diary, the researchers calculated every participant’s calorie intake by measuring how much energy they burned off using a urinalysis. Then that was compared to their physical activity.

What they found was surprising…

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‘It was a big shock to me that the super-lean individuals were much less active than people in the normal BMI range,” said Dr. Sumei Hu, co-lead author of the study. “I always thought super-lean individuals must be really active to keep their low body weight, but our results showed the opposite.”

In fact, they found that the super-lean people were 23 percent less physically active compared to the other group and spent 96 percent of their day in sedentary activities or in ones that required only light physical activity.

So, why didn’t they gain weight?

Well, the researchers found the answer to that one as well…

They ate less.

The team determined that naturally slender people consumed an average of 12 percent fewer calories than those at a normal weight.

And there was one more thing…

Despite their low body fat levels, the thinner group had a metabolic rate approximately 22 percent higher than expected due to higher levels of thyroid hormones, which can help make people feel less hungry and keep them trim.

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Losing weight the smart way

So, if you’re looking to trim down, remember to focus on input rather than output since it turns out it’s the calories you consume, not the ones you burn, that count.

One way to do that is by trying the Satiating Diet, which emphasizes high-quality foods that make you feel full faster and longer so that you naturally eat less.

It offers more flexibility than other diets and can help you stick to your weight loss program more easily.

And consider getting your thyroid levels checked. Even if the doctor doesn’t think your levels are clinically low enough for medication, a sluggish thyroid can lead to weight gain and low energy.

However, much research has proven the health benefits of exercise, so don’t think you can get off that easy.

Pssst… and I’ve got a tip that most of the skinny people don’t even know about. It’s a mineral that can help you live longer, lighter!

Sources:

The secret to staying skinny is eating less… not exercising more, study finds – DailyMail.com

The post Is exercise the secret to being skinny? Think again! appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

If something goes wrong — surgery is risky. But if you absolutely must have your thyroid removed, there is one very important thing you must ask your surgeon…

And that’s how many thyroidectomies he’s performed in a year’s time.

The best answer: The more, the better.

And here’s why…

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Thyroidectomies and complications

Thyroidectomy is one of the most common operations Americans have. Reasons for the surgery vary from cancer to an over-active thyroid to an enlarged thyroid — but 51 percent of surgeons who perform this surgery only do one per year.

That lack of experience doesn’t add up to anything good for you.

“This is a very technical operation, and patients should feel empowered to ask their surgeons how many procedures they do each year, on average,” said Julie A. Sosa, M.D., chief of endocrine surgery at Duke.

“Surgeons have an ethical responsibility to report their case numbers. While this is not a guarantee of a positive outcome, choosing a more experienced surgeon certainly can improve the odds that the patient will do well.”

Dr. Sosa was the lead author of a study that evaluated data from 16,954 patients who had thyroidectomies between 1998 and 2009 and were enrolled in a national database from the Health Care Utilization Project.

In analyzing the case volumes of 4,627 surgeons, she and fellow researchers found an association between the number of procedures surgeons performed each year and rates of complications. Notably, patients of surgeons who performed fewer than 25 thyroidectomies a year were 1.5 times more likely to experience complications.

“Thyroid nodules, which can give rise to thyroid cancer, are a growing health issue, partly because we have better imaging and are able to discover them more easily. As many as 68 percent of healthy adults have thyroid nodules, and this, in part, has significantly increased the number of biopsies and surgeries performed in the U.S.” says Sosa.

“Surgeon volume is one factor doctors and patients should consider as we talk about value-based care — helping patients get appropriate care at an optimized cost and with fewer complications,” she adds.

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Boost your thyroid health

But let’s hope you don’t have to have surgery. One thing you can do is eat the foods and take the supplements that will boost your thyroid health.

Supplements that support the thyroid include:

• Iodine — Provides the fuel your body needs to make your thyroid hormones
• Zinc — Helps convert T4 to the active thyroid hormone T3
• Selenium — Along with zinc, is critical to the conversion to T3
• Tyrosine — Partners with iodine to create T4 and T3 hormones

Certain foods can as well:

1. Seaweed, including kelp, nori, and wakame, are naturally rich in iodine.
2. Salted nuts, like Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts and hazelnuts are excellent sources of selenium.
3. Fish, like salmon, tuna, trout, cod, sea bass and halibut are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and selenium — both of which decrease inflammation. Here’s a great list of fish and their omega-3 content.
4. Dairy products including yogurt, ice cream and milk contain iodine. Enjoy the occasional treat!
5. Eggs contain healthy amounts of selenium and iodine. But be sure to eat the whole egg, as most of the nutrients are concentrated in the yolk.

Avoid goitrogenic foods that can cause you problems, like cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, turnip, Chinese cabbage, kale, spinach, rapeseed, common radish, horseradish, rutabaga, wasabi, capers, mustard oil, papaya, watercress, and other less-known plants.

Sources:

Total thyroidectomy complication rates and costs are lower if surgeon performs 25 or more cases yearly — Science Daily

The post The ONE question to always ask a thyroid doctor appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Adequate thyroid hormone is essential for clear thinking, intestinal function and optimal blood pressure and cholesterol levels as well as a healthy immune system. It also helps improve the function of other endocrine glands so they’re better able to produce their hormones — including cortisol and sex hormones.

It can be difficult for doctors to diagnose hypothyroidism, a condition where the thyroid isn’t producing enough hormone to properly regulate these functions. Symptoms of low thyroid function are varied and can be associated with several other conditions.

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For instance, people with hypothyroidism often report sensitivity to cold, or cold hands and feet, which can point to poor circulation. They sometimes have high cholesterol, which is normally associated with cardiovascular issues. They can experience stiff or painful joints, which can indicate arthritis. Their memory and concentration difficulties could be attributed to cognitive illnesses like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. And if they’re having symptoms of depression or anxiety, it could be ruled purely a mental health issue.

There’s another symptom of low thyroid function that is often overlooked or misattributed to other causes — one that many people can be reluctant to talk to their doctors about….

Is your thyroid killing your sex drive?

Because the thyroid controls the way your cells use energy, when it’s not working right, those problems could show up in the bedroom for both women and men.

For instance, if your hypothyroidism is causing you to feel fatigued and depressed, it can lower your sex drive. It can also lead to low testosterone, another contributor to reduced libido. And even though testosterone is usually considered a male hormone, women produce it too. So low levels of testosterone can hurt the sex drive in both men and women.

As far as women go, thyroid dysfunction could reduce vaginal lubrication, making sex painful or uncomfortable. And this can lead to a reduced desire for sex.

And for men, there are a couple of additional sex-related issues hypothyroidism can cause. One is delayed ejaculation, which is when a man either cannot ejaculate at all or can only ejaculate after having sex for 30 or 40 minutes or longer.

Then, there’s the issue of not being able to get or maintain an erection. Erectile dysfunction can result from the hormonal imbalance created by hypothyroidism.

Healthy thyroid, healthy sex drive

Fortunately, all these problems can be resolved by treating hypothyroidism. If you’re having any of these issues, you should talk to your doctor about them and have them test your thyroid function.

If you’re diagnosed with hypothyroidism, the doctor will prescribe medication to supplement your thyroid. That should get your thyroid hormone levels back to normal.

But what if the test shows your thyroid is functioning normally? Unfortunately, doctors usually rely on a blood test to determine thyroid function, and this test can often miss more subtle indicators of sluggish thyroid function.

If you’re suffering from sexual problems combined with any or all of the symptoms of low thyroid function listed here, it might be a good idea to combine a series of basal body temperature measurements with urine testing of your thyroid hormone level. If your basal body temperature is consistently below the range of 97.8 to 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit, and your urine thyroid hormone level remains low over a 24-hour period, you likely have low thyroid function.

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Supporting your thyroid naturally

If your thyroid function is low, but not low enough to warrant thyroid hormone treatment, there are steps you can take to help support it.

First, take a good look at your diet and make sure you’re getting enough iodine, which is essential for proper thyroid function. As long as you’re eating a healthy diet that includes iodine-rich foods like iodized salt, fish and seafood, seaweed and dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese, your iodine levels should be fine. However, if you don’t consume these foods because of dietary restrictions or allergies, you may want to consider supplementing.

It’s also important to get enough selenium since the thyroid has the highest concentration of selenium in the body. Too little selenium is associated with hypothyroidism and difficulty producing thyroid hormones. Some rich sources of selenium include Brazil nuts, fish, meat, poultry, cottage cheese, eggs, brown rice and sunflower seeds.

Also, there are a number of foods that contain substances known as “goitrogens” that can interfere with both iodine absorption and thyroid function. They include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, as well as turnips, kale, spinach, papaya and radishes. Other foods found to slow thyroid function include pine nuts, peanuts, flax seeds, millet, sweet potatoes and some fruits like strawberries, peaches and pears.

Sources:

How Thyroid Problems Might Be Hurting Your Sex Life — Penn Medicine

Iodine — National Institutes of Health

The post Low sex drive? It may be your thyroid appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

The thyroid plays a crucial role in regulating the body’s metabolism, influencing weight gain and related metabolic issues such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and fatty liver disease.

Left untreated, low thyroid can lead to obesity, infertility and heart disease. The standard treatment includes thyroid hormone replacement, such as levothyroxine, to compensate for an underactive thyroid.

Nutrition can help support your thyroid function. Here are five foods rich in key thyroid-benefiting nutrients that are particularly beneficial for individuals with a low thyroid function…

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5 foods that are good for your thyroid

According to Dr. Raphael Kellman, M.D., a doctor of functional medicine and author of The Microbiome Diet, “Vitamins and minerals can help fight the underlying causes of thyroid disorders, such as autoimmune processes and inflammation, and help improve a dysfunctional thyroid.”

Those key nutrients include:

B vitamins

Iodine

Selenium

Tyrosine

Vitamin D

Zinc

Below are foods that are good dietary sources of these nutrients…

Chicken

Most nutrition plans recommend choosing lean protein sources, such as chicken, over beef and pork. And chicken’s also a great choice for thyroid health.

A three-ounce serving of dark meat chicken contains 22% of the daily recommended value (DV) of zinc, a trace mineral that helps the body produce thyroid hormones. White meat chicken has less zinc than dark meat, but it’s still good for thyroid health.

Chicken is also a source of tyrosine — which, when accompanied by iodine, produces thyroid hormone.

Eggs

You’ll find two crucial trace elements in eggs: selenium and iodine. Both of these trace elements can help improve overall thyroid function and control the activation of thyroid hormones.

One large egg contains 27% of your DV of selenium and 17% of your DV of iodine. If you sprinkle a little iodized salt on your eggs, you’ll likely be getting all the iodine you need to protect your thyroid.

Eggs also contain approximately 32% of the RDA for vitamin D. However, recent reports suggest that the RDA may be set too low.

Nuts and legumes

Nuts and legumes, such as cashews and lentils, are high in selenium. Brazil nuts are an especially rich source of the trace element, with one ounce containing nearly 1,000% of your DV of selenium. However, you’ll only want to eat a few servings of Brazil nuts a week to avoid selenium toxicity.

Oysters

When it comes to foods rich in zinc, oysters are No. 1. One serving of oysters gives you 673% of zinc’s DV.

Like most seafood, the oyster is also a great source of iodine. Just three ounces of cooked oysters provide nearly two-thirds of the iodine you need each day.

Tuna and sardines

Tuna and sardines are second only to Brazil nuts on the list of foods rich in selenium. Tuna contains 167% of the nutrient’s DV, while sardines come in at 82%.

Tuna is also a relatively good source of iodine, though it doesn’t have as much as oysters. A three-ounce serving of tuna contains approximately 11% of the daily value (DV) of iodine.

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4 foods to avoid if you have hypothyroidism

Some foods aren’t good for thyroid health because they contain substances that can interfere with thyroid function when eaten in large quantities. If your thyroid is underactive, you should either minimize or avoid consumption of the following foods….

Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages

Drinks containing alcohol and caffeine can affect your thyroid in different ways. Alcohol can suppress your thyroid function, especially if you drink it regularly. And it’s possible caffeinated beverages can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb your thyroid medication, though research hasn’t completely proven this.

Since coffee, green tea and alcohol can all irritate your thyroid gland, it’s best to drink them in moderation. Consider limiting your coffee intake to one cup in the morning and reserving your alcohol consumption for special occasions.

Cruciferous and leafy green vegetables

This one is tricky. After all, fresh veggies are critical for good health. But if you have hypothyroidism, you should limit excessive consumption of cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and spinach. These tend to be higher in thyroid-interfering goitrogens than other vegetables. However, experts say as long as you eat them in moderation — and cook them first — you should be fine.

Millet

Some research has shown that millet can reduce thyroid function, even when consumed in moderate amounts. So you may want to avoid this grain altogether if your thyroid is underactive.

Soy-based foods

Some experts suggest that soy-based foods, such as tofu, soy milk, and edamame, may interfere with the absorption of thyroid medication. If you plan to eat these foods, do so in moderation and wait several hours after taking your thyroid medication.

Sources:

The best diet for hypothyroidism — The Checkup By SingleCare

20 Foods Rich in Selenium — Healthline

Zinc & Selenium and Their Effect on Thyroid Health — Genesis Performance Chiropractic

Top Foods High in Iodine — Nourish by WebMD

The post Low thyroid? Keep these 9 foods on your radar appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Your thyroid is no small player when it comes to your health. This tiny, butterfly-shaped gland that surrounds your trachea controls the metabolic rate of every cell in your body. It influences nutrient delivery and waste removal in every one of those cells, too.

As you can imagine, when your thyroid isn’t working properly, lots of things can go wrong.

That’s why it’s so disturbing to learn that a COVID-19 infection can throw your thyroid out of whack… not just for a few months, but for up to a year or more.

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Thyroid inflammation three months post-infection…

Early in the pandemic, Italian researchers found that the virus which causes a COVID-19 infection has a more far-reaching effect on the thyroid than other viruses do.

Dr. Ilaria Muller of the University of Milan wanted to determine if the thyroiditis connected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, follows the same pattern as that caused by other viruses.

She began monitoring patients at Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Policlinico Hospital in Milan who were hospitalized for moderate to severe COVID-19 disease.

Every three months, thyroid function was checked and routine blood and ultrasound testing was done, both to monitor function and to check for any signs of inflammation.

Dr. Muller discovered that there was, indeed, a difference in the way thyroiditis (thyroid inflammation) showed up in COVID-19 patients.

This included an absence of the typical neck pain, as well as a higher frequency of occurrence among men.

After three months, these patients showed normal thyroid function, although about a third of them still showed signs of thyroid inflammation.

A year later and it hasn’t gone away

Just last month, at the 24th European Congress of Endocrinology Dr. Muller and her colleagues presented updated research on how severe COVID-19 infection affects thyroid function.

Turns out that the effects last a lot longer than three months.

In about half of the patients in their study, regions of thyroid inflammation were still present one year after the COVID-19 infection had resolved.

In addition, in four out of six people, testing showed that the thyroid’s uptake of iodine was still reduced after nine months, indicating the presence of low-level thyroid inflammation.

As of now, the long-term health consequences of this extended period of thyroiditis are unknown. But we do know that thyroiditis can result in either over- or under-production of essential thyroid hormones.

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Taking care of your thyroid

Thyroid trouble can be hard to detect, but often these symptoms present:

• Fatigue
• Constipation
• Sensitivity to cold
• Weight gain
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Memory problems

If you’ve had COVID and suspect a thyroid problem, your doctor can run some tests. But regardless of COVID, you’ll want to do everything you can to safeguard this small organ with big responsibilities.

Like most things, you can start with your diet.

In this article, my colleague Dr. Michael Cutler gives a comprehensive summary of foods and supplements that boost thyroid function.

Dr. Isaac Eliaz also provides some good information on the signs of a thyroid problem, as well as minerals that will help, and one food to avoid if you have thyroid issues.

Did you know that ingesting too much fluoride can destroy your thyroid? Most states add fluoride to their water. But you can access information here to see how much may be in the water in your community.

And finally, be aware that the phthalates hiding in plastics and personal care products are waging warfare on your thyroid gland.

Sources:

Effects of COVID-19 infection on the thyroid gland still present after one year — Medical Express

COVID-19 can cause atypical thyroid inflammation — Medical Express

What Is a Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test? — Web MD

The post A year after COVID infections, thyroid troubles persist appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Yet, most people have no idea why they get those migraines in the first place.

Yes, we all know that women are more likely to end up with these crippling headaches than men (three times more likely). And, we understand that a family history of migraines means we’re at higher risk. But, the truth is that neither of those things actually explains the why behind the pain.

So, if you, like me have been living with migraines, you may be wondering what in the world is driving the condition that drives you to a dark room and into bed.

And, the answer might just be an endocrine disorder.

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The endocrine-migraine link

Put simply when you hear the term endocrine system, it means any of your glands and organs that make the hormones that help your body function properly. This means that everything from your thyroid and adrenal glands to your pancreas (which makes insulin) is part of your endocrine system.

And, this system and the hormones it’s responsible for have a big impact on your health and as it turns out, a big impact on whether or not you end up with migraines.

A report published in the journal, Cephalalgia, adds further evidence that having an endocrine-related condition is likely to increase your risk of migraine headaches. That means there could be a potentially serious condition behind your migraines.

In fact, four endocrine disorders have now been linked to the development of migraines and we’re going to count them down for you…

#1 – Prediabetes

You don’t end up with diabetes overnight. In fact, it’s a condition that can take years to develop and the beginning stage is known as prediabetes or insulin resistance.

And, if you fall into that category, you have a five times greater risk of migraines than those with normal sensitivity to the hormone.

Surprisingly enough, it’s been found that once you tip over into full-blown type 2 diabetes, that link goes away. Of course, that’s not how you want this to go, though. Your doctor can help determine if you are prediabetic. There are also signs you can look for as well so you can take steps to turn that trajectory around.

#2 – Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism or low thyroid is also linked to chronic migraines in what researchers call a “bidirectional association”.

This means that if you have low thyroid function, you’re more likely to develop migraines. And, if you have migraines, you’re more likely to end up with low thyroid function.

It’s certainly something to ask your doctor about. In the meantime, you can read about what’s behind low thyroid, here.

#3 – High or Low Body Weight

Your endocrine system and your weight are inextricably intertwined since so many of your hormones affect your metabolism and therefore how much you weigh.

This means that keeping a normal body weight could help you stave off migraines.

On the other hand, both obesity and low body weight can up your chances of migraines significantly (a 27 percent higher risk for those who are obese and a 13 percent higher risk for those with low body weight).

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#4 – Metabolic Syndrome

If you haven’t heard of metabolic syndrome before, here’s a quick crash course.

The syndrome isn’t actually a disease in and of itself. Instead, it’s a cluster of other issues that increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. These include:

• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar
• Excess body fat around your waist
• Abnormal cholesterol levels

And, the syndrome has now been linked to the development of migraine, especially migraines with aura. Metabolic syndrome is serious business.

What all of this means is that migraines are not necessarily an isolated disorder.

And, in order to find relief from your migraines, you have to address all aspects of your health (especially your endocrine system). Have your insulin and thyroid checked and monitored regularly, keep track of your body weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, and take steps to improve these issues, including diet and exercise.

Sources:

1. Migraines Coexist with Endocrine Conditions: What to Know, What to Do — EndocrineWeb

The post Migraine may signal one of these four endocrine disorders appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Those are fantastic first steps toward keeping yourself and your family safe from the potentially dangerous toxins.

But the problem with chemicals like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and phthalates is they’re annoyingly inescapable.

Just when you’ve neutralized one potential exposure, they pop up somewhere else in your daily routine. And some sources of exposure are more dangerous than others….

Like anything that comes into contact with your lady parts.

You may not know this, but your genitals are highly absorbent when it comes to chemicals. In fact, the rate of chemical absorption in your genitals is 300 times higher than the rate of absorption in your feet.

Unfortunately, research has shown that several products used in this sensitive area, like sanitary pads, tampons, bladder leak pads, pantyliners and diapers (adult and child versions), are filled with VOCs and phthalates. And these chemicals are seeping into reproductive systems like nobody’s business.

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Most pads and diapers contain problematic chemicals

In 2017, South Korea media outlets uncovered a disconcerting story you may have missed….

Sanitary pads were causing strange symptoms in women, like menstrual irregularities, infections, rashes, and bad cramping. Eventually, more than 15,000 women filed a class-action lawsuit against a sanitary pad company called Lillian. But the story doesn’t stop there…

This sudden and alarming issue with sanitary pads in South Korea prompted researchers in the U.S. and other countries to explore the dangers of pads further. And what they uncovered is unsettling, to say the least…

Most of these kinds of products contain dangerous chemicals like VOCs and phthalates. And we’re placing them near one of the most absorbent areas of our body.

‘Personal’ care danger

A study published in the journal Reproductive Toxicology tested 11 brands of sanitary brands and four brands of diapers from a variety of countries, including the U.S.

All 11 brands of sanitary pads contained two types of phthalates and the VOC xylene. Nine brands also contained the VOC toluene and two brands contained the VOC methylene chloride.

All four brands of diapers tested contained two types of phthalates (one contained three). Plus, they all contained the VOCs toluene and xylene.

Now, VOCs raise the risk of asthma, several types of cancer and reproductive problems. And phthalates are tied to endocrine disruption, cancer and birth defects. So, why on earth would you want these chemicals in close proximity to your sensitive and highly-absorbent nether regions?

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Protecting yourself and loved-ones from dangerous pads and diapers

Research has estimated that tampon use could be responsible for 15% of our total phthalate exposure. Pantyliner use could be contributing nearly 10% and pads roughly 3% of our overall phthalate exposure.

Whether you’re at the age where you’re menstruating or not, this study likely applies to you. Many menopausal and post-menopausal women continue to use some of these products.

Besides, you’ve probably used pads or tampons for much of your life. That means your body has been exposed to these chemicals for decades and the repercussions could still affect you, even if you don’t use them anymore.

One study analyzed urine samples of over 1,660 people for both urinary phthalate metabolites and BPA and compared them to the thyroid hormone levels in their blood. They discovered that the more BPA and phthalates in their body, the lower their thyroid levels.

In other words, the more of these chemicals — phthalates and BPA — you have in your body, the less likely your thyroid will work properly.

If you’re looking for chemical-free options for yourself or your loved ones, there are quite a few clean products on the market. The Honest Company sells organic pads, tampons, and diapers.

Sources:

1. Diapers and Pads May Be Leaching Chemicals Into Our Bodies — Sierra Magazine
2. Sanitary pads and diapers contain higher phthalate contents than those in common commercial plastic products — Reproductive Toxicology
3. How diapers and menstrual pads are exposing babies and women to hormone-disrupting, toxic chemicals — Environmental Health News
4. Rate of Absorption — The Center for Construction Research and Training

The post The chemicals seeping into your most sensitive areas appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Some of us experience more acne breakouts and skin rashes when we wear them…

They make our noses itch…

And maybe our oxygen levels are just fine, but it certainly makes it feel like it’s harder to breathe.

But if you wear glasses you have to deal with another annoying problem… foggy glasses.

Because masks cause glasses and sunglasses to fog up, many of us have turned to anti-fogging sprays and clothes to keep our vision clear.

That may not be such a good idea though. In an effort to avoid exposure from the pandemic threat, using those chemical sprays exposes you to a very real toxic danger…

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The toxic secret in anti-fogging sprays and cloths

Duke University researchers tested four top-rated anti-fogging sprays and five top-rated anti-fogging cloths sold on Amazon, they found all nine products contained toxic chemicals that can wreak havoc on your health.

Those toxins included fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and fluorotelomer ethoxylates (FTEOs), two types of polyfluorinated alkyl substances or PFAS.

So what’s the issue?

Well, PFAS are known as “cancer-causing forever chemicals”.

They’re chemicals that have leached into our water supply, lurk in our dental floss and hide in our cosmetics. And they are now found in the blood of 99 percent of Americans.

And exposure to some PFAS, particularly perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is associated with not only cancer but also impaired thyroid and immune function, and other health disorders.

Research suggests that once the FTOHs that the researchers found in all of the anti-fogging products have been inhaled or absorbed through the skin, they could break down in your body to PFOA or other long-lived PFAS substances that are known to be toxic.

“It’s disturbing to think that products people have been using on a daily basis to help keep themselves safe during the COVID pandemic may be exposing them to a different risk,” said Heather Stapleton, professor of environmental chemistry and health at Duke, who initiated the study after reviewing the ingredient label on a bottle of anti-fogging spray she purchased for her 9-year-old daughter.

“Ironically, it was advertised as safe and nontoxic,” Stapleton said. “It said to spray it on your glasses and use your fingers to rub it around.”

Safe and non-toxic?

Not when they are packed with cancer-causing forever chemicals!

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What else can you do?

I’ve seen some information online about using a vinegar solution to keep your glasses fog-free. But manufacturers claim vinegar is bad for the material that most lenses are made from. Of course, they are the same ones selling the anti-fog sprays, though.

It may take extra work, but adjusting your mask and glasses can cut down on the fogging:

• Adjust your glasses to sit higher on your nose so they’re farther away from air flow from your nostrils and mouth.
• Pull you mask higher on your nose and use you glasses on top of the mask to hold it in place.

They also suggest washing your glasses at home with warm water and dish soap. The dish soap leaves a film on the glasses that helps prevent them from fogging up. But to find a dish soap that doesn’t contain forever chemicals, access the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning database.

Finally, to learn more about how to lessen your toxic load in general, follow these five steps from longtime health researcher and editor of Easy Health Options, Virginia Tims-Lawson.

Source:

High levels of PFAS found in anti-fogging sprays and cloths, study finds – ScienceDaily

How to keep glasses from fogging up when wearing a mask – Visionworks

The post The surprising mask danger no one’s talking about appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Carrying excess weight is now associated with a higher risk for 13 types of cancer, including breast, ovarian, thyroid and liver cancer — the second deadliest form of cancer.

Even though studies have linked excess weight to specific types of cancers, there haven’t been any statistics showing just how many cases of a particular type of cancer can be associated with being overweight or obese.

But one country has done the numbers where thyroid cancer is concerned, and they don’t look good for those who carry excess weight — especially men who see their risks surpassing a disease that typically is 2.9-times more common in women…

Excess weight contributes to thyroid cancers

According to a recent study, one in five future thyroid cancer cases in Australia can be linked to being overweight or obese.

“This finding translates to close to 10,000 thyroid cancers in the next 10 years,” says study lead Dr. Maarit Laaksonen, a senior lecturer in data science at UNSW. “Obesity explains 75 percent of this burden in Australia.”

This is worrying since the obesity rate in Australia has doubled over the last two decades. About 75 percent of Australian men and 60 percent of Australian women are now classified as either overweight or obese.

The U.S. is in the same fix. An estimated 43 percent of U.S. adults are obese, with another 31 percent coming in as overweight. That means almost three-quarters of Americans are carrying excess weight and are likely facing the same advanced risk for thyroid cancer.

According to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, being overweight is a risk factor for a number of different cancers, including thyroid cancer. Therefore, preventing obesity and excess weight gain should be a priority for thyroid cancer prevention.

The UNSW-led study is the first to evaluate the thyroid cancer burden in relation to current levels of overweight and obese adults. It also is the first to break down and compare this burden by sex.

By doing this, the study discovered that being overweight or obese explains two in five thyroid cancer cases in men, compared with only one in 10 cases in women. This is interesting because thyroid cancer normally is two to three times as common in women as in men.

“It is still not well understood what causes the sex difference in overweight/obesity-related thyroid cancer risk,” Laaksonen says. “But our findings add evidence to the urgent need to halt and reverse the current global trend in weight gain, especially obesity and especially in men.”

More research is needed to determine precisely what might be causing the remaining four in five thyroid cancers not related to weight. Some other factors known to increase thyroid cancer risk include iodine deficiency, exposure to ionizing radiation, and genetic factors and family history.

“Thyroid cancer is a bit like prostate cancer that its risk factors are not yet very well understood,” Laaksonen says.

Laaksonen has previously studied preventable lung, colorectal, breast, endometrial, ovarian, pancreatic, kidney, bladder and head and neck cancers. She plans to conduct a study on the preventable burden of stomach and esophageal cancers, as well as a summary paper on preventable cancer burden in Australia across all cancers.

How being overweight impacts cancer risk

While the exact mechanism has yet to be found, we do know excess body weight can affect cancer risk in several ways. Being overweight can increase inflammation and impair immune system function. It can also wreak havoc with certain hormone levels such as insulin and estrogen, as well as factors that regulate cell growth and proteins that influence how your body uses certain hormones.

Obviously, the best way to reduce your risk of thyroid and other cancers is to lose weight. Even losing 5 percent of your body weight can help reduce inflammation markers and in turn lower your cancer risk.

It can be tempting to look for a quick and easy weight loss solution. But for shedding weight and keeping it off over the long term, it’s best to stick to the tried-and-true formula of eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise.

A good meal plan to follow for weight management is the Mediterranean diet — particularly its “green” form, which eliminates red meat, emphasizes plenty of fruits and vegetables and includes green tea and plant-based protein.

Previous research has also found that the keto diet can help men lose weight and balance their hormones.

Sources:

One in five future thyroid cancers linked to excess weight — UNSW Sydney

Key Statistics for Thyroid Cancer — American Cancer Society

Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Severe Obesity Among Adults Aged 20 and Over: United States, 1960–1962 Through 2017–2018 — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

IARC identifies eight additional cancer sites linked to overweight and obesity — International Agency for Research on Cancer

The post Why more men are getting thyroid cancer appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Low blood pressure isn’t something we pay as much attention to … but we should.

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, comes with its own set of troublesome symptoms. And, just like high blood pressure, it may also be a signal of other things going wrong in the body.

Here’s everything you need to know about the causes, symptoms and treatment of hypotension.

What causes low blood pressure?

There can be several reasons behind low blood pressure. Some of them serious and others, not so much.

Widening of blood vessels (vasodilation) is one possible cause and can result from a problem with medication dosage or a few other issues.

Just as high blood pressure is a result of constricted blood vessels that offer less room for blood to move around, low blood pressure can result from the widening of blood vessels.

Normal healthy blood vessels constrict and open wide to “push” blood through the body. So, vasodilation is a good thing. There’s more room for blood to spread out, so blood exerts less pressure on the vessel walls.

Medication taken for hypertension can cause vasodilation. But if the dosage is wrong it may work too well.

This is why if you’re on medication, it’s important to work with your doctor to monitor how it’s affecting you, and to never take more medication than you’ve been prescribed.

Other things that cause more vasodilation than is warranted include nerve damage from a spinal injury, serious bacterial infections, and Addison’s disease, which weakens the adrenal glands.

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Less blood. If you’re not drinking enough, or if you have anemia, you could have low blood pressure. Adequate hydration can take blood volume back up. Anemia should be treated based on its cause.

Diuretics are medications commonly taken to reduce swelling and high blood pressure. If your dose is off, they will work a little too well and result in dehydration and hypotension.

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Many people don’t realize that thyroid hormones have an effect on the force and speed of your heartbeat and blood pressure. This condition can slow the rate and cause both higher blood pressure and low blood pressure.

Hypothyroidism can be especially hard to diagnose. I’ve written previously about why thyroid tests sometimes miss the mark.

Orthostatic hypotension. Older adults are more prone to feeling lightheaded and dizzy when they stand too quickly. They’re more likely to have a lower volume of blood in the body. It takes longer to get more blood to the head to replace the blood needed in the lower body for standing. Even mild dehydration can make this effect more pronounced.

Heart problems. If your heart isn’t pumping quickly enough, your blood pressure could be reduced. This could signal other conditions that need to be taken care of, such as hormonal problems, valve damage or misfiring electrical signals. Your doctor would need to perform tests and diagnostics to check out these possible causes.

How do I know if my blood pressure is low?

If your blood pressure reading is lower than 90 over 60, your doctor will likely tell you that you’ve got hypotension.

But more often, it’s the symptoms of low blood pressure that are the first clue.

You may feel dizzy and nauseous. You’ll experience a lack of energy, possibly a feeling of depression, and you’ll find it hard to think straight (better known as “brain fog”).

Other possible symptoms include blurry vision, clammy skin, rapid breathing and chest pain.

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What to do about low blood pressure

Clearly, if you are having any of the symptoms mentioned above, you’d want to head straight to your doctor to make sure nothing is seriously wrong.

If you’re on medication, he may need to double-check to dosage and also decide if further tests are needed depending on your medical history, including checking for anemia, a B12 deficiency and checking for heart problems.

But there are some of us who just have low blood pressure, and I’m one of them.

These are tips I follow that have been shown to help low blood pressure:

• Salt is known to raise blood pressure. Check with doctor to see if he thinks adding extra to your diet could help.
• Unless your fluid intake is restricted for a health reason, try drinking more water. It can help push your blood volume up which, in turn, raises blood pressure
• Alcoholic drinks are dehydrating. Avoid them or drastically cut down.
• If your pressure drops after eating, eat several smaller, low-carb meals throughout the day instead of the big three.
• Try compression socks to improve your circulation.

Sources:

Visual Guide to Low Blood Pressure — Web MD

10 Essential Facts About Orthostatic Hypotension — Everyday Health

Everything You Need to Know About Low Blood Pressure — Healthline

12 signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism–Medical News Today

The post Weird causes and signs of low blood pressure appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

After all, we know that those cheeseburgers, tacos, chicken nuggets and grilled cheese sandwiches that are so tempting are also full of fats, salt, grease and other compounds that have a negative impact on our waistline and our health.

But what’s the harm in the occasional indulgence?

Well, you might be surprised to learn there’s far more lurking inside that greasy bag you get in the drive-thru than just anti-nutrients that pack on the pounds.

According to researchers at George Washington University, when you grab your favorite fast food, you’re also getting a side of dangerous chemicals that have been linked to heart disease and premature death.

Cheeseburger, fries and an order of endocrine disruptors

The chemicals we’re talking about are known as phthalates.

Phthalates and replacement plasticizers are chemicals used to make plastics soft and can migrate out of plastics into the food, which is ingested. Some sources of plastics include food handling gloves, industrial tubing, food conveyor belts and the outer packaging used to wrap fast food meals available in restaurants.

But that’s not all… phthalates are known endocrine disruptors.

This means that they can alter the production of any of the hormones that are made by your body’s endocrine system — a system that regulates every single vital process in your body like your metabolism, blood sugar, digestion and more.

They can send your insulin spinning out of control, tell your body to pump out too much or too little, and completely disrupt the balance of your thyroid and sex hormones, including estrogen and testosterone.

So you would think they would be banned in anything that comes into contact with the food you eat, right?

Well, supposedly at least some of them are. But I use the word supposedly for a reason…

They’re still showing up in our food

George Washington University tested fast food items for 11 types of phthalates and other plasticizers and found that a whopping 81 percent of the food samples contained a phthalate called DnBP.

Additionally, 70 percent contained DEHP — another phthalate.

Both these chemicals have been linked in numerous studies to fertility and reproductive problems in humans. And they’ve also been shown to increase risk for learning, attention and behavioral disorders in children.

Not to mention heart disease and early death.

Are your favorite fast foods the worst or least contaminated on the bad list?

• Foods containing meats, such as cheeseburgers and chicken burritos, had higher levels of the chemicals studied.
• Chicken burritos and cheeseburgers had the highest levels of DEHT. The researchers noted that food handling gloves collected from the same restaurants also contained this chemical.
• Cheese pizzas had the lowest levels of most chemicals tested.

It’s time to clear out the waste

So what can you do to guard yourself against these dangerous chemicals?

First, limit your fast food consumption.

It’s clear that despite the claims that they’ve improved the safety of these items, it’s simply not true.

Next, you must support your liver.

It’s not just your largest organ. It’s the organ that’s responsible for clearing toxins, such as phthalates from your body. And that’s why it’s important to support the health of your liver.

Alpha lipoic acid is one of the best supplements to help keep fats from accumulating in your liver and destroying its function. And to guard liver cells against oxidative stress consider turmeric.

So, don’t be fooled by tempting fast foods hiding those dangerous chemicals. Skip the drive-thru whenever possible and give your liver the support it needs to take out the trash.

Sources:

Potentially harmful industrial chemicals detected in US fast foods — ScienceDaily

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But scientists are still exploring the way thyroid hormone interacts with the cells of the body. In doing so, they have uncovered a fascinating aspect of the thyroid’s mechanism that until now hasn’t been clearly understood…

The subtlety of thyroid function

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that the thyroid operates less like an on/off switch and more like the dimmer that gradually adjusts the brightness of your light fixture.

“We were able in this study to show that thyroid hormone doesn’t just turn things on or off, as the canonical model suggests, but instead more subtly shifts the balance between the repression and enhancement of gene activity,” says principal investigator and Penn Medicine professor Dr. Mitchell Lazar. “Yet, as people with hypothyroidism know, the lack of thyroid hormone can have profound effects on the body.”

The study focused on TR-beta, the main receptor in the liver. TR-beta regulates some of the thyroid hormone’s most important metabolic effects, including the lowering of cholesterol levels.

When thyroid hormone binds to TR-beta, it can function as a sort of dimmer switch, shifting the balance in favor of more gene activation at some sites and more gene repression at others — instead of simply turning the entire network of genes on or off, as once thought.

The researchers say more work needs to be done to clarify why thyroid hormone acts in this more subtle way when binding to TR-beta. But they believe the findings are a significant advance in understanding thyroid biology, and that they can be used to develop more precise medicines targeting a number of metabolic diseases.

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What’s the right level for thyroid treatment?

If your doctor suspects your thyroid may not be working properly, they will likely start by testing your level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). According to the American Thyroid Association, adults with a TSH level of 0.4 to 4.0 milli-international units per liter (mlU/L) are considered to have normal thyroid function.

TSH levels under 0.4 mlU/L indicate you could have hyperthyroidism, a condition where your thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone. Symptoms include heart palpitations, tremors, disrupted sleep, frequent bowel movements and unintentional weight loss. Untreated hyperthyroidism can contribute to abnormal heart rhythm and worsen osteoporosis.

When your TSH levels measure above 4 mlU/L, you likely have hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. Your TSH levels are abnormally high because your body is producing more TSH in an effort to get your thyroid to release more thyroid hormone.

Signs your thyroid is underactive include weight gain, fatigue, thinning hair, stiff or painful joints, memory issues and increased sensitivity to cold. Left untreated, hypothyroidism can lead to obesity, infertility and heart disease, so doctors will usually prescribe a thyroid hormone replacement medication like levothyroxine.

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Most physicians won’t prescribe thyroid medication unless TSH levels surpass the 4 mlU/L mark. However, the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry has recommended beginning treatment at 2.5 mlU/L or higher, especially if the patient has cardiovascular risk factors. One study recommends clinicians consider gender, age, pre-existing conditions, symptoms and quality of life when deciding whether to prescribe thyroid medication to patients whose TSH is above 2.5.

If your TSH levels are in the 2.5-to-4.0 range, and you’re at higher cardiovascular risk and/or experiencing some or all of the symptoms of an underactive thyroid, you may want to talk to your doctor about whether you should begin thyroid hormone replacement.

It’s also a good idea to support good thyroid function with nutrients like iodine, copper, selenium and zinc. The thyroid needs iodine to produce thyroid hormone, so it’s important that your diet includes plenty of iodine-rich foods. Some good sources of iodine include organic yogurt, cranberries, iodized salt, navy beans and sea vegetables like kelp and wakame.

Be aware that it gets more difficult for your body to absorb iodine as you get older, so you may need an iodine supplement to ensure you’re maintaining healthy levels of the nutrient. Also, combining iodine with the amino acid L-Tyrosine can increase thyroid hormone efficiency.

Sources:

Discovery Illuminates How Thyroid Hormone ‘Dims’ Metabolism — Penn Medicine News

Interpreting Thyroid Levels Tests — Healthline

The Normal TSH Reference Range: What Has Changed in the Last Decade? — The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

What do different TSH levels mean? — Medical News Today

Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) — Mayo Clinic

What Your Hypothyroidism Test Results Mean — Everyday Health

The post The health impact of ‘thyroid dimming’ appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

Also, studies have shown COVID-19 infection can do long-term damage to the body, including the lungs, kidneys, heart and nerves. It can leave behind swollen and inflamed tissue, impaired blood flow or clots and gangrene.

Now, there’s another part of the body to add to the list of areas that COVID-19 can impact over the long term…

COVID-19 can affect the thyroid

A study recently presented at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting indicates that some patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 appear to experience thyroid inflammation that’s different from that caused other viruses.

Researchers found one-third of study participants still showed signs of thyroid inflammation after three months, despite their thyroid function having normalized. The study is following these patients to see if this ongoing inflammation will lead to permanent thyroid problems.

In spring 2020, 15 percent of the COVID-19 patients hospitalized at Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Policlinico Hospital of Milan in Italy showed altered thyroid hormone caused by a number of factors, including thyroid inflammation. By comparison, thyroid hormone alterations occurred in only 1 percent of hospitalized patients during the same period in 2019, prior to the pandemic.

People with thyroiditis, or thyroid inflammation, that’s been triggered by other viruses usually recover thyroid function in the short term. But their risk of permanently reduced thyroid function is elevated over the long term thanks to late-onset effects of viral infection or the immune system attacking the thyroid.

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Lead researcher Dr. Ilaria Muller of the University of Milan in Italy wanted to determine if the thyroiditis connected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, follows the same pattern as that caused by other viruses. To do that, she began a program to monitor the thyroid function of patients every three months after they were hospitalized for moderate to severe COVID-19 disease. Routine blood and ultrasound testing is done to monitor their thyroid function and check for any signs of inflammation.

Muller discovered the thyroiditis in people with moderate to severe COVID-19 differs from typical thyroiditis in several ways, including a lack of neck pain, the presence of mild thyroid dysfunction and higher frequency among men. After three months, patients’ thyroid function has normalized, but signs of thyroid inflammation were still present in about one-third of patients.

“We are continuing to monitor these patients to see what happens during the following months,” Muller says. “It is important to know whether SARS-CoV-2 virus has late-onset negative effects on the thyroid gland, in order to promptly diagnose, and eventually treat, the condition.”

Best diet for the thyroid

Since low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) often occurs with thyroiditis, doctors usually prescribe a thyroid hormone supplement to allow the thyroid time to rest and recover. If the patient is experiencing thyroid pain, they’re advised to take a mild anti-inflammatory medication like aspirin or ibuprofen.

But if you have had COVID-19, there are other natural ways you can help support your thyroid function and avoid thyroiditis. Make sure your diet is low in processed foods, gluten-containing foods and added sugars, all of which can contribute to inflammation.

Instead, try eating plenty of leafy greens, green beans, colorful vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and non-gluten whole grains such as brown rice, oats, buckwheat, quinoa, cornmeal, sorghum and amaranth — all of which support thyroid function. Your diet should also include animal protein from pastured beef, eggs from free-range chickens, mercury-free fish and shellfish, cheeses, eggs and dairy.

If you do develop thyroiditis, you may want to avoid eating too many cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, cauliflower and cabbage, because they can interfere with thyroid function.

There are some nutrients you can take that can help with thyroid function. Iodine can help, but only if you’re deficient in the mineral, so it’s a good idea to get your levels checked by your doctor before taking a supplement. Vitamin D also supports the thyroid and is considered anti-inflammatory. Most of us don’t get enough, though there are a few ways to increase levels: you can get vitamin D through diet, supplements or exposure to sunlight for at least 20 minutes a day.

As far as herbs go, ashwagandha can raise blood levels of thyroid hormone. But you need to use it with care; if you take too much ashwagandha, it could lead your body to produce too much thyroid hormone.

Sources:

COVID-19 can cause atypical thyroid inflammation — EurekAlert

Thyroiditis — American Thyroid Association

Supplements And Foods That Boost Your Thyroid — And What To Avoid — Easy Health Options

The post The link between ‘long COVID’ and your thyroid appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

This convenience comes with a lot of negative health effects. Research on exposure to artificial light at night suggests it can increase risks for obesity, depression, sleep disorders, breast cancer and diabetes, among other illnesses. Now, another potential risk can be added to that list….

Thyroid cancer and night light

An observational study has found a possible connection between high levels of outdoor artificial light at night and a higher risk of thyroid cancer. This is in line with the association between higher levels of nighttime light and an elevated breast cancer risk, since some breast cancers may share a common hormone-dependent basis with thyroid cancer.

Researchers looked for a connection between light at night and later development of thyroid cancer among participants in the 1995-96 NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, which recruited American adults ages 50 to 71. They analyzed data from satellite images to estimate levels of night light at participants’ residential addresses, then identified thyroid cancer diagnoses through 2011 using state cancer registry databases.

Among the 464,371 participants who were followed for an average of 12.8 years, 856 cases of thyroid cancer were diagnosed — 384 in men and 472 in women. Here’s what they found…

• The highest quintile of light at night was linked with a 55 percent higher risk of developing thyroid cancer compared with the lowest quintile.
• This association was stronger in women than in men and was mainly driven by the most common form of thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid cancer.
• In women, the association was stronger for localized cancer that had not spread to other parts of the body, while in men the association was stronger for more advanced stages of cancer.
• Association was similar across tumor size, sociodemographic characteristics and body mass index.

According to the researchers, additional epidemiologic studies are needed to confirm their findings. If confirmed, it will then be important to understand the underlying mechanisms of the relationship between light at night and thyroid cancer.

For instance, night light may disrupt the body’s circadian rhythms, a risk factor for various types of cancer. And light at night suppresses melatonin, an antioxidant and estrogen modulator that may have important antitumor effects. Melatonin also induces sleep, strengthens the immune system, lowers cholesterol and supports the functioning of the thyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes and adrenal glands.

“As an observational study, our study is not designed to establish causality,” says Dr. Qian Xiao of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health. “Therefore, we don’t know if higher levels of outdoor light at night lead to an elevated risk for thyroid cancer; however, given the well-established evidence supporting a role of light exposure at night and circadian disruption, we hope our study will motivate researchers to further examine the relationship between light at night and cancer and other diseases.

“Recently, there have been efforts in some cities to reduce light pollution, and we believe future studies should evaluate if and to what degree such efforts impact human health,” Dr. Xiao adds.

Controlling light use at night

It’s not realistic to completely stop all use of artificial light at night, and you certainly can’t control the amount of artificial light used outside your home. But there are steps you can take to better control your own night light use.

Block the blue: Researchers find that exposure to blue light at night is especially harmful to our health. Unfortunately, blue light is everywhere, from energy-efficient LED and compact fluorescent lightbulbs to computer screens, TVs, mobile phones and other electronic displays.

The American Medical Association recommends shielding all of your outdoor light fixtures and only using lighting with 3000K color temperature and below, such as a bulb that produces a soft, warm white or yellowish light. You can purchase LED bulbs at this color temperature or use incandescent bulbs. At the very least, make sure your bedroom lights have this type of bulb to encourage healthier sleep.

As for electronics, you can use an app that filters the blue light at night, turning it into a less harmful warm, yellow light. Most computers and smartphones are now equipped with this function, but if yours is not, you can download F.lux, Lux or Twilight for your device.

Another way to combat the blue light emitted by TVs or devices is to wear glasses designed to filter it out. You can find a list of some of the best blue-light blocking glasses here.

Keep outdoor light outside: If you live in an area with a lot of outdoor lights, you’ll want to take steps to block that light from shining inside your home and disturbing your nights. Blackout curtains are one solution, as are thick window shades or exterior shutters. Make sure the curtains or shades you install are the proper size to completely cover the window so that they eliminate as much outside light as possible.

If installing blackout curtains, shades or exterior shutters is not an option, you can try using a sleep mask at bedtime to keep the outside light from disturbing your sleep. Pick a sleep mask that fits tightly enough to block out all light while still being comfortable enough for you to sleep in.

Sources:

Study Links Exposure to Nighttime Artificial Lights with Elevated Thyroid Cancer Risk — Wiley

Human Health — International Dark-Sky Association

What does 3000k, 4000k, 6000k LED Bulbs mean? — RG Alternatives

Ways to Block Outside Lighting — SFGate

The post The link between nighttime light and your thyroid appeared first on Easy Health Options®.

But still, some think thyroid conditions are just “hormone problems” and may not take them as seriously as they should.

The hormones released by the thyroid gland affect every major organ in your body including brain development, digestive function and your mood, among others.

So, it’s very important to get a proper diagnosis and proper care for thyroid conditions, like hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Grave’s disease and of course thyroid cancer.

But there’s another serious condition that can erupt for people with thyroid conditions — a thyroid storm.

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What is a thyroid storm

The term thyroid storm has been around for decades, but information on why it happens and how to treat it have been lacking. Here’s what we know…

Anyone who has been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid is at risk of a thyroid storm, though according to recent estimates, it affects less than one person in every 100,000 yearly in the U.S.

Thyroid storm, a severe form of thyrotoxicosis (or thyroid crisis), occurs when the thyroid gland, located at the base of your neck, releases large amounts of thyroid hormone suddenly.

This causes systolic blood pressure (top number, when your heart is contracting) to rise, while diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure plummets.

When this happens, a person’s heartbeat may speed up, they may have difficulty breathing. This quickly becomes a medical emergency that could lead to multiple organ failure, heart failure, or other related causes.

Some signs that may precede include a fever of 100 degrees or more, systolic blood pressure of 130, unusual or unexplained changes in consciousness, diarrhea, vomiting and jaundice.

Causes and latest recommendations

Because the condition is rare, Takashi Akamizu, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at Wakayama Medical University in Japan, and other doctors have felt much more information was needed to properly handle this condition.

He and a team of researchers decided to review existing studies as well as the results of surveys they conducted in Japanese hospitals to compare to the existing 2016 guidelines for managing thyroid storm.

His review article was published in the journal Thyroid, and for the first time, proposed guidelines based on solid evidence which were endorsed by the American Thyroid Association (ATA).

The guidelines present specific key points that Dr. Akamizu says those with hyperthyroidism need to know about thyroid storm:

• While surgical removal of the thyroid was linked to a greater risk of developing thyroid storm, he says that ”nowadays, thyroidectomy itself rarely causes the storm if thyroid function is preoperatively controlled [with the strategy your doctor orders].”
• The most common trigger for thyroid storm was inconsistent use of prescribed antithyroid medicines or stopping the medication use without any discussion with or agreement of the doctor.
• Infection, especially of the upper respiratory tract, was the next most common trigger.
• Both iodine and antithyroid medications, given to normalize thyroid hormone levels, can be given at the same time. Other guidelines suggest giving the drugs first, then the iodine. Dr. Akamizu cites research findings that indicate taking both simultaneously helps thyroid levels return to normal more quickly.
• In those with congestive heart failure, the commonly used drug, propranolol, should be used with caution.
• Aspirin should not be taken because it could increase thyroid hormone levels above what is desirable.
• Be aware of these signs and symptoms of thyroid storm and get medical help right away.

Currently, there is no specific laboratory test that can diagnose a thyroid storm. But blood tests are often ordered as part of the evaluation to look for high levels of thyroid hormones in the blood. The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test can also provide additional information about what is going on in the body.

Once thyroid storm is recognized, physicians start medical interventions immediately. Common treatments for thyroid storm include antithyroid medications, potassium iodide, beta-blockers to control heart symptoms, and steroids. Once the patient is stabilized and has made steady improvement, maintenance therapy is applied with measures to prevent a recurrence of thyroid storm.

Thyroid conditions can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be easily confused with other conditions. Common conditions include:

• Anxiety/irritability
• Depression
• Aches and pains
• Muscle weakness
• Hair loss
• Unexplained weight loss or weight gain
• Carpal tunnel or tarsal tunnel syndrome

If you suspect thyroid troubles be persistent with communicating with your physician about any problems you’re experiencing.

Sources:

Thyroid Storm: What to Know — Endocrineweb

What to know about thyroid storm — Medical News Today 

Overactive thyroid — NHS

Endocrine and Metabolic emergencies: thyroid storm — Sagepub.com

What is a Thyroid Storm or Thyroid Crisis?  — WebMD

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