Top 6 Detox Tips to Safeguard Thyroid Health

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

Safeguard Thyroid Health #Tip 1 Clean up with a natural thyroid diet

When it comes to protecting your thyroid health research confirms choosing organic produce whenever feasible is the way to go. This is due to the fact that most conventionally grown fruits and vegetables harbour an array of pesticide residues.

Pesticides are toxic by design and are created specifically to eradicate living organisms such as insect pests, noxious plants and fungi. Pesticides also pose health dangers to humans, particularly the thyroid.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) provides cutting edge research to help consumers make healthier food choices. The EWG recently released their Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce.

Dubbed the ‘dirty dozen’ the fruit and vegetables the EWG found to have the highest levels of pesticides included; apples, strawberries, grapes, celery, peaches, spinach, capsicums, nectarines, cucumbers, potatoes, cherry tomatoes and hot peppers.

When given a choice more and more people are opting for organic fruits and vegetables. Your decision to purchase good quality organic produce can significantly lower your pesticide intake. The EWG Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce is a great place to start your research.

Safeguard Thyroid Health #Tip 2 Get green cleaning

Household cleaning products can host an array of hazardous chemicals. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) think keeping your home clean shouldn’t be a health risk. Their Guide to Healthy Cleaning shines the spotlight on cleaning products. One of the key concerns raised by the EWG is the lack of disclosure regarding the numerous ingredients found in household cleaning products.

For example; a lemon fresh or pine scent isn’t necessarily healthy or natural. Fragrances are often synthetic aromas engineered by combining dozens of chemicals. The EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning will help you sidestep harmful cleaning products and find environment friendly alternatives.

Safeguard Thyroid Health #Tip 3 Bathe in clean water

Shower filters reduce exposure to fluoride, chlorine and other water impurities that are readily absorbed via the skin. Chlorine is very drying so when you shower in chlorine free water you will notice your hair becomes softer and your skins becomes more radiant. In addition I suggest you stay out of pools and spas as they contain high levels of chlorine. Chlorine and fluoride both block thyroid activity.

Safeguard Thyroid Health #Tip 4 Choose natural beauty care products

Most companies gloss over the use of chemicals in their products. This is despite the fact that hidden toxins from perfumes, cosmetics and personal care products are inhaled or absorbed rapidly and entered into the blood stream directly. Remember…anything going on you, goes in you.

Once a chemical is in the bloodstream it eventually washes through the thyroid as this gland has a rich blood supply. Find out what is in your product and discover safer alternatives to dangerous cosmetics at the Safe Cosmetics website.

Get Your Free Makeup Brush Here

Safeguard Thyroid Health #Tip 5 Make your home your health sanctuary

Your home is your health sanctuary. Encourage a ‘shoes off at the front door’ policy to reduce the amount of dirt and toxic particles that are tracked into your home.

Replace chemical air fresheners with freshly picked flowers or mix a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle and use this as a natural room deodoriser. It goes without saying that visitors should not smoke in your home.

Safeguard Thyroid Health # Tip 6 Improve indoor air quality

Clean and vacuum regularly to remove dust and dirt that builds up indoors. Cleaning with clove oil is a simple step to ensure your home remains mould free.

You could also use the power of nature to help clean the air indoors by adding in some plants. However if air quality is a particular concern you may need to invest in a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to help purify the air.

Watch these videos below

Thyroid Problems, Diet and Toxins: Do You Need a Thyroid Detox Part 1

Thyroid Problems, Diet and Toxins: Do You Need a Thyroid Detox Part 2

Thyroid Problems, Diet and Toxins: Do You Need a Thyroid Detox Part 3

Thyroid Health & Toxins Detox For Thyroid Boost

Cleanse & Detox Your Liver for Hypothyroidism

Read the following related articles:

10 Hypothyroidism Diet Tips to Help Heal Your Thyroid

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil for Thyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Skin Deep. Do Cosmetics Harm the Thyroid?

What is the Best Way to Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Should You Get a T3 Test If You Find It Hard to Lose Weight?

Why Knowing How to Calculate Your Reverse T3 Ratio Helps to Assess Overall Thyroid Health?

How to Lose Weight with an Underactive Thyroid?

Author Bio:

Louise O’ Connor, the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.

The Natural Thyroid Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details, Click on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com

Your 5 Action Steps to Natural Treatment for Thyroid Nodules

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

Thyroid nodules often appear as a lump, or some type of abnormal growth in your thyroid.

If you have one or more nodules you may be aware of swelling at the front of your neck, or you may feel pressure or discomfort when swallowing.

Thyroid nodules are very common. The vast aren’t serious and do not cause symptoms

Investigating Thyroid Nodules

Thyroid nodules can be solid or filled with fluid. Some nodules can be easily felt during a physical examination, while others are hidden deep within the thyroid tissue.

Thyroid nodules are thoroughly evaluated for two main reasons. Firstly, it is important to determine if the nodules are causing any type of thyroid dysfunction.

Secondly, it is crucial to rule out cancer as the cause. Fortunately, the vast majority of nodules are benign (non-cancerous). When nodules are found to be cancerous, or even highly suspicious they are surgically removed.

Hot vs. Cold Thyroid Nodules

A scan using radioactive iodine can establish if a thyroid nodule is hot or cold.

Hot nodules are usually non-cancerous.

Cold nodules are non-functioning and show up as defects in the scan. A cold nodule carries a higher risk of cancer. Cold nodules are more likely to be cancerous as cancer cells do not accumulate the radioactive iodine as well as normal thyroid tissue.

What Causes Thyroid Nodules to Develop?

Thyroid nodules can develop due to low iodine and selenium intake, chronic inflammation, or cancer. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a common cause of hypothyroidism and is associated with an increased risk of developing nodules.

The ‘Watch and Wait’ Medical Approach

When thyroid nodules are benign most people are advised to have regular check-ups to monitor for any adverse changes. The ‘watch and wait’ approach is not ideal. Trouble is brewing in the thyroid so it is best to get proactive with healing your thyroid.

Natural Treatment for Thyroid Nodules. {Your 5 Action Steps}

There is no specific natural treatment method to help shrink thyroid nodules. Addressing the underlying cause and restoring overall health of the thyroid is the goal. Here are five action steps you can take straight away.

1.   Speak to your doctor. Find out as much information as possible about the features of your thyroid nodules and what may possibly be causing them. This will help you chart a course of treatment.

2.   Eat well, stay active. I provide detailed food guidelines in The Natural Thyroid Diet. The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly. This treatment plan will help protect and heal the thyroid tissue.

3.   Get your thyroid tested. This includes a test of TSH, free T4 and free T3. Ideally your TSH result is below 2.0 mIU/L, T4 is between 14-20 pmol/L and T3 is greater than 4.5 pmol/L. Check for the presence of thyroid antibodies. A high level indicates an autoimmune flare up within the thyroid which creates swelling and tenderness.

4.   Get your vitamin D3 checked. This nutrient controls the way in which cells grow and divide. A drop in D3 makes you more susceptible to developing nodules.

5.   Consider a good quality thyroid supplement. Look for one that provides an adequate amount of iodine, zinc and selenium. These minerals support ongoing thyroid hormone activity.

Watch this Video Below Here – Best Natural Remedies for Thyroid Nodules Explained

Read the following related articles:

10 Hypothyroidism Diet Tips to Help Heal Your Thyroid

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil for Thyroid Health?

5 Important Stepsfor Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Skin Deep. Do Cosmetics Harm the Thyroid?

What is the Best Way to Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Should You Get a T3 Test If You Find It Hard to Lose Weight?

Why Knowing How to Calculate Your Reverse T3 Ratio Helps to Assess Overall Thyroid Health?

How to Lose Weight with an Underactive Thyroid?

Author Bio:

Louise O’ Connor, the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.

The Natural Thyroid Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details, Click on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com

How to Lose Weight with an Underactive Thyroid?

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

It’s often a struggle to lose weight when you have hypothyroidism. So this then becomes a common question….‘ how to lose weight with an underactive thyroid?’

Firstly, let’s do a quick recap of how your thyroid works…

You may already know your thyroid is one of the most important glands to regulate your metabolism.

The thyroid produces crucial hormones that are released into circulation to generate activity in every organ and body system. These vital thyroid hormones help your body use energy, stay well, keep warm, and ensure your digestion, brain, heart, muscles, and other organs keep working properly.

As these hormones spark energy production they influence your metabolism. In effect, they run how efficiently your body burns calories for energy.

Your Thyroid Could Be Slowing Your Metabolism

Your thyroid is your metabolic control center. When your thyroid is working below par your metabolism slows down. It then becomes extremely difficult to lose weight. You may even feel too tired to even try. And as your energy dips you could also start to crave sugary foods for energy.

A sluggish thyroid may also lead to a long list of symptoms such as fluid retention, mood swings and an overwhelming feeling of being exceptionally run down.

Triiodothyronine (T3) + Weight Loss

When it comes to weight gain T3 deserves a special mention. T3 is your most potent thyroid hormone.

T3 is the thyroid hormone that really revs up your metabolism. In fact, far greater amounts of T3 are converted from thyroxine (T4) when your body wants to step up metabolism.

Low T3? You will continue to find it hard to lose weight…

For many people with a low thyroid the body is not properly converting T4 to T3. Only a check of both free T4 and free T3 will reveal if this is occurring.

The standard reference range for free T3 is 4.0-8.0 pmol/L. This provides a very good clue that you ideally want to see your free T3 test result above 4.0 pmol/L. If your free T3 is below 4.0 pmol/L you are more likely to find it hard to lose weight.

How to Lose Weight With An Underactive Thyroid

First and foremost it’s very important to get your thyroid checked properly to gain a better understanding of how your thyroid is functioning.

I recommend getting the top 5 thyroid blood tests done. Here is a quick checklist of the most important thyroid tests; thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4, free T3, reverse T3, and your thyroid antibodies. If your doctor won’t do comprehensive testing, consider finding one who will.

Secondly, once you have these results it’s very important to investigate WHY your thyroid is not functioning properly.

Once you discover why you have a thyroid problem you can start to solve it. This could save you years of suffering and heartache.

A holistic perspective seeks to find the underlying root causes and then treats all aspects of your health. Rather than simply treating your thyroid symptoms, an individualized treatment plan will help you get your health back on track.

As your thyroid recovers your metabolism will pick up. This will help you lose weight, and you will finally begin to live with vibrant health and vitality.

Watch these 2 video clips – How to lose weight with an underactive thyroid & 5 weight loss tips for people with an underactive thyroid

Read the following related articles:

10 Hypothyroidism Diet Tips to Help Heal Your Thyroid

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil for Thyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Skin Deep. Do Cosmetics Harm the Thyroid?

What is the Best Way to Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Should You Get a T3 Test If You Find It Hard to Lose Weight?

Why Knowing How to Calculate Your Reverse T3 Ratio Helps to Assess Overall Thyroid Health?

Author Bio:

Louise O’ Connor, the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.

The Natural Thyroid Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details, Click on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com

Why Knowing How to Calculate Your Reverse T3 Ratio Helps to Assess Overall Thyroid Health?

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

When compared to thyroxine (T4) the thyroid hormone known as triiodothyronine (T3) is much more potent.

T3 helps ‘rev’ up your body. It increases the rate at which you burn calories for energy.

Under normal conditions T4 converts to both T3 and ‘reverse T3’ which is the inactive form of T3. The body maintains a healthy T3 to reverse T3 ratio to control an optimal metabolic rate. Reverse T3 is quickly eliminated if it is not required to slow metabolism.

What happens when too much T4 is shunted towards production of reverse T3 and this thyroid hormone pools in the body?

Excessive amounts of reverse T3 will block the effects of active T3. Ongoing excess production of reverse T3 leads to a low thyroid disorder called ‘reverse T3 dominance’. Reverse T3 dominance is associated with many of the typical symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Testing for reverse T3

Only a specific blood test for reverse T3 (rT3) will identify high levels of this inactive form of T3. Most importantly, an assessment of reverse T3 takes on far greater meaning when the total amount of reverse T3 is compared to the total amount of ‘free T3’. A drop in free T3 can be accompanied by an increase in reverse T3.

There is a simple equation to work out your reverse T3/T3 ratio. You will need your blood test results for both free T3 and reverse T3 to do this.

Watch this Video Below Here – Understanding Thyroid Function Tests

How to calculate your reverse T3/T3 ratio

To work out your reverse T3/T3 ratio divide the total free T3 by the total reverse T3 and multiply this by 100.

As of July 2016, Australian pathology labs are using a reference range of 1.200 – 2.200.

If your reverse T3/T3 ratio is at the lower end, or below this range it indicates you have a thyroid hormone imbalance.

Your thyroid blood results can be a little confusing. Here is a real example to help explain how you can calculate your own reverse T3/T3 ratio.

The free T3 test result is 4.3 pmol/L and reverse T3 is 704 pmol/L. To work out the reverse T3 ratio divide 4.3 by 704 then multiply this by 100. The result is 0.610 which is well below the healthy range, and indicates this individual is dealing with reverse T3 dominance.

Watch this Video Below Here – Thyroid Lab Testing - Thyroid Lab Ranges - Hypothyroid Patterns

Is single T3 thyroid medication ideal?

There is no one size fits all approach to reducing high reverse T3 levels. A combination of T4/T3, or a single T3 medication may be appropriate for you. It is important to work with a healthcare practitioner who understands your thyroid issues.

Care needs to be taken with taking too much T4 as this provides the body with a greater amount of T4 with the potential to create even more reverse T3. This can perpetuate the cycle of reverse T3 production.

Thyroid medications may take a little while to work as it takes time for the excess reverse T3 to clear from the body. To properly treat reverse T3 dominance it is very important to look at the individual factors that are causing this thyroid disorder.

You can read what causes high reverse T3 on thisblog post.

Read the following related articles:

10 Hypothyroidism Diet Tips to Help Heal Your Thyroid

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil forThyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Skin Deep. Do Cosmetics Harm the Thyroid?

What is the Best Way to Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Should You Get a T3 Test If You Find It Hard to Lose Weight?

Author Bio:

Louise O’ Connor, the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.

The Natural Thyroid Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details, Click on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com

Should You Get a T3 Test If You Find It Hard to Lose Weight?

Click HERE to Find Out How You Can Achieve Thyroid Levels within a Short Period of Time

Triiodothyronine (T3) and weight loss are often discussed together for good reason!

T3 is the most potent thyroid hormone that naturally revs up your metabolism. Far greater amounts of T3 are converted from thyroxine (T4) when your body wants to step up metabolism. Low T3 is associated with sluggish metabolism and many of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Adequate T3 assists fat burning which is important for weight loss. It can also reduce many of the other symptoms of an under active thyroid. This thyroid hormone is also involved in stimulating energy production and protects against heart palpitations.

In fact, low T3 can have far-reaching effects in the body. Reduced T3 activity is often associated with a slow heart rate, lower than normal body temperature, thyroid hair loss and chronic fatigue.

A single T3 test of your T3 level therefore provides the best clue as to how your thyroid is working.

If you are finding it hard to lose weight it is a good idea to discuss doing a free T3 test with your health practitioner.

Should you get a T3 test?

Getting a diagnosis of hypothyroidism has sparked an ongoing debate on what thyroid hormones should be tested and the levels that will reveal a thyroid hormone deficiency.

A single test of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is often the preferred test used by medical practitioners to diagnose a thyroid disorder.

TSH is not actually produced in the thyroid. It is a hormone made by the pituitary gland which is located in the brain. When the pituitary releases TSH this hormone travels to the thyroid to stimulate the release of the thyroid hormones. The thyroid responds by getting busy making your thyroid hormones.

When TSH is high this indicates the thyroid is functioning below par and therefore requires more stimulation than usual.

The problem lies in defining a ‘normal’ range for TSH. I have found that even when TSH is considered ‘normal’ many individuals experience symptoms of hypothyroidism. A TSH test result should ideally be less than 2.0 mIU/L.

Watch this Video Below Here – Interpreting Thyroid labs, part 1.Low TSH. Saul Marcus Naturopathic Doctor

An accurate assessment of thyroid health can only be achieved by testing 5 key thyroid hormones. A measure of both T4 and T3 along with TSH is therefore essential.

When discussing a T3 test with your doctor it is best to specify testing free T3. The majority of T3 in the blood is carried by a protein compound called thyroxine binding globulin. A small amount of T3 is unattached and ‘free’ to do its job. A T3 blood test usually measures both bound and free T3. When you test free T3 you are measuring the active component.

Watch this Video Below Here – Interpreting Thyroid labs, part 2: T3, T4 & Reverse T3.Saul Marcus ND

Your T3 blood test result - What is considered a good number?

The standard reference range for free T3 is 4.0-8.0 pmol/L. This provides a very good clue that you ideally want to see your free T3 test result above 4.0 pmol/L.

If you are experiencing the typical signs and symptoms of an under active thyroid but your TSH, free T4, and even your free T3 appear to be normal you may want to consider checking your reverse T3.

Should you test thyroid antibodies?

A measure of thyroid antibody levels will rule out Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is a common thyroid autoimmune disorder that tends to run in families and affects women more than men.

If you have swelling or discomfort around your throat your healthcare practitioner should also perform a physical examination. If required a thyroid ultrasound will provide a more in depth investigation of your thyroid.

Read the following related articles:

10 Hypothyroidism Diet Tips to Help Heal Your Thyroid

Warnings: 4 Types of Toxic Cookware to Avoid & Why

What is really The Best Cooking Oil for Thyroid Health?

5 Important Steps for Hypothyroidism Treatment Success

Hormone Problem? Here’s Your Hormone Imbalance Checklist

Are Iodine Supplements For Thyroid Health Really Safe?

What is Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis?

Skin Deep. Do Cosmetics Harm the Thyroid?

What is the Best Way to Diagnose Hypothyroidism?

Can Basal Temperature Testing Help Diagnosis A Thyroid Problem?

Author Bio:

Louise O’ Connor, the author of The Natural Thyroid Diet –The 4-Week Plan to Living Well, Living Vibrantly, who is a specialist in Thyroid Health. She is a highly regarded Australian Naturopath and founder of Wellnesswork.

The Natural Thyroid Diet goes beyond diet advice and offers practical and effective ways to achieve healthy thyroid levels within just a short period of time. For more details, Click on The-Natural-Thyroid-Diet.com