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Tuesday, April 18, 2017

How effective is thyroxine for hypothyroidism?

Thyroxine is the most widely prescribed medication to treat hypothyroidism. It is a synthetic form of thyroxine (T4), one of your key thyroid hormones.

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



Thyroxine is the most widely prescribed medication to treat hypothyroidism. It is a synthetic form of thyroxine (T4), one of your key thyroid hormones.

How effective is thyroxine for hypothyroidism?

Many individuals fail to experience improvements in their hypothyroid symptoms by taking thyroxine.

They continue to suffer with the frustrating symptoms of a low thyroid.
Looking at the role of the different thyroid hormones it becomes clearer why a single prescription of thyroxine may be inadequate.

The thyroid normally manufactures and releases two main hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine(T3).

While T4 does have some effects, it is considered the ‘storage’ thyroid hormone. T4 is converted to T3 by the cells of the body when a greater thyroid response is required.

T3 is more potent than T4 and has far greater effects on your overall health and vitality.

This means T4 needs to be converted through to T3 to be the most effective.

The same scenario applies when you are taking a prescribed T4-only medication. The effects are more noticeable when the T4 is efficiently metabolized to T3.

Low T3 leads to a range of low thyroid symptoms.

If your T3 has been low you will notice significant improvements in your hypothyroid symptoms when your body is able to convert a larger portion of T4 to T3. T3 helps stimulate your body’s ability to burn calories for energy which has far reaching effects in the body.

T3 helps spark energy production, weight loss and can help fire up brain activity to improve memory and concentration. This scenario also applies to prescribed thyroxine; the effectiveness of this drug is more noticeable when the body is able to convert the T4 to T3.

It is widely assumed the body will efficiently convert a T4 based thyroid medication without any problems. This assumption seems to go unquestioned by many medical practitioners. However this fails to occur for many individuals. You do not get the full benefit of your T4 medication when it is not being converted to the active T3 form.

Do you have a T4 to T3 conversion problem?

The process of converting T4 to active T3 is dependent on optimal amounts of zinc and selenium. When there is a deficiency of either of these two minerals you will experience far less activation of your T3.

Lowered conversion of T4 to T3 also occurs in response to dieting, stress, toxicity and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Many thyroid health experts advocate the use of a T4/T3 combination medication, or even a T3-only medication. Using a combination of T4/T3 or single T3 can compensate for the body’s reduced ability to effectively convert T4 to T3.

The most commonly prescribed T4/T3 medication is called Armour Thyroid. This alternative thyroid medication contains a precise mix of T4 and T3.

A Naturopathic viewpoint

From a Naturopathic viewpoint there is a broad range of factors that influence thyroid health. To see real improvements in thyroid health it is important to identify and address the underlying root causes.

Stress, an unhealthy diet, specific nutrient deficiencies, long term illness, chronic infections, food sensitivities and environmental toxins really take a toll on thyroid health.

A nutritional product that provides a comprehensive range of nutrients to assist healthy thyroid hormone activity is recommended. A good quality product features at the very least iodine, zinc and selenium.

Note: Leveothyroxine medication is typically advocated for life and requires ongoing monitoring. Do not discontinue or change your medication without the informed consent of your prescribing medical practitioner.

Watch the following videos













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



Monday, April 17, 2017

Levothyroxine - Thyroxin Medication for Hypothyroidism

Levothyroxine is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4). It is the drug of choice to treat hypothyroidism. It is also the standard medical treatment for goitre, or an enlarged thyroid.

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



Levothyroxine is a synthetic form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4). It is the drug of choice to treat hypothyroidism. It is also the standard medical treatment for goitre, or an enlarged thyroid.

Levothyroxine hormone replacement therapy is only available with a doctor’s prescription. Brand names include; Eutroxsig®, Oroxine®, Synthroid® and Levothroid®. This thyroid medication can range in strength from 50 to 200 micrograms.

Levothyroxine dosage + side effects

Levothyroxine is normally first prescribed using a dose at the lower end of the dosing range. Thyroid function tests are routinely performed to check that the dose is adequate to meet individual requirements.

Dose adjustments are done gradually until the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) drops down to the lower end of the standard reference range.

Changes to the dose are minor to reduce the risk of side effects. Too much levothyroxine is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a fast and irregular heartbeat. This is a side effect you would expect if your thyroid became overactive.

When first starting levothyroxine medication it can take three to four weeks to take effect. Once stopped, the medication will continue to have effects for one to three weeks.

The half-life of a prescribed medication is discussed in relation to how long the medication will take to clear from the body. In technical terms it refers to the time it takes for just one half of a given dose to be eliminated from the body.

The half-life of levothyroxine is six to seven days. This means it takes at least six to seven days to clear around one half of this thyroid drug from your system.

Given that levothyroxine stays in the body for a considerable length of time doctors are advised to make small adjustments to the dose at three to four week intervals.

For pregnant women or women considering having a baby their levothyroxine dose is closely monitored. The dose is often increased during pregnancy as healthy thyroid hormone activity is particularly crucial at this time. A maternal thyroid deficiency during pregnancy can impair healthy development of the baby’s brain and nervous system.

How effective is levothyroxine?

For many individuals they fail to experience improvements in their thyroid symptoms after taking leveothyroxine for months, or even years. They continue to suffer with the frustrating symptoms of a low thyroid. Looking at the role of the different thyroid hormones it becomes clearer why a single prescription of levothyroxine may be inadequate.

The thyroid normally manufactures and releases two key hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). While T4 does have some effects, it is considered the ‘storage’ thyroid hormone. T4 is converted to T3 by the body when a greater thyroid response is required. This means T4 needs to be converted through to T3 to be the most effective.

When conversion of T4 to the more potent T3 takes place it is usual to notice significant improvements in symptoms. T3 helps stimulate metabolism which has far reaching effects in the body. This includes sparking energy production, weight loss and firing up brain activity to improve memory and concentration.

This scenario also applies to prescribed levothyroxine; the effects are much more noticeable when the body is able to convert the supplemental T4 to T3.

It is widely assumed the body will convert levothyroxine, the synthetic form of T4, to the biologically active T3 when it needs more of this hormone. This seems to go unquestioned as a medical fact. However for many individuals this fails to occur.

Do you have a T4 to T3 conversion problem?

There are two nutrients necessary to support ongoing conversion of T4 to T3. They are zinc and selenium. Reduced conversion of T4 to T3 occurs when there is a deficiency of either of these two minerals.

Lowered conversion of T4 to T3 also occurs in response to dieting, stress, toxicity and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Many thyroid health experts advocate the use of T4/T3 medications. Using a combination of the two key hormones can compensate for the body’s reduced ability to effectively convert T4 to T3. An example of this is Armour Thyroid medication. This alternative thyroid medication contains both T4 and T3.

A Naturopathic viewpoint

From a Naturopathic viewpoint there is a broad range of factors that influence thyroid health. To see real improvements in thyroid health it is important to identify and address the underlying root causes. Stress, an unhealthy diet, specific nutrient deficiencies, chronic illness, food sensitivities and environmental toxins really take a toll on thyroid health.

A nutritional product that provides a comprehensive range of nutrients to assist healthy thyroid hormone activity is recommended. A good quality product features at the very least iodine, zinc and selenium.

Note: Leveothyroxine medication is typically advocated for life and requires ongoing monitoring. Do not discontinue or change your medication without the informed consent of your prescribing medical practitioner.

Watch these videos







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



Friday, April 14, 2017

What is Goitre & What Causes Goitre Which is a Common Thyroid Problem

A goitre refers to an abnormal enlargement of your thyroid. When you look in the mirror you may notice a lump around your throat, or a visible band of swelling around the base of your neck. Women over 40 are at far greater risk of developing a goitre. Read on here to understand how you can treat goitre.

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



A goitre refers to an abnormal enlargement of your thyroid. When you look in the mirror you may notice a lump around your throat, or a visible band of swelling around the base of your neck.

Women over 40 are at far greater risk of developing a goitre.

The common signs of a goitre

A goitre may not cause any physical discomfort, or it may cause difficulty with swallowing along with a range of other symptoms depending on the extent of the swelling. The signs of a goitre may include:

·         noticeable lump in the throat region
·         sensation of a lump in the throat
·         difficulty drinking and swallowing food
·         hoarseness of the voice or difficultly speaking
·         breathing problems due to swelling
·         dizziness when arms are raised above the head
·         visible veins in the neck

Secondary hypothyroid symptoms are common as a goitre will reduce healthy thyroid function.

What causes a goitre?

+ Worldwide a goitre is one of the earliest and most visible signs of an iodine deficiency.

+ If you are not low in iodine then the formation of a goitre could be due to a thyroid autoimmune disorder such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

+ A goitre can also be due to nodules growing on the thyroid and in some circumstances a goitre can develop due to thyroid cancer.

Get an accurate diagnosis

Any type of abnormal swelling in the neck or throat should be checked by your doctor. Your doctor will do a physical examination and order blood tests to check your thyroid hormone levels. They may also recommend an iodine clearance test.  Due to the limitations of a physical examination most doctors refer patients to an imaging clinic for a thyroid ultrasound.

How is a goitre treated?

Treatment depends on the extent of the swelling, your symptoms and the underlying cause. Uncovering the cause is very important so you can commence with the most appropriate treatment.

The standard medical approach includes:

+ ‘Watchful waiting’. If the goitre is small and not bothering you it’s likely your doctor will not recommend any type of treatment and instead opt to for regular monitoring. However it is a very good idea to get proactive and find effective ways to deal with the underlying cause.

+ Thyroid medication. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy is commonly prescribed to treat the associated hypothyroid symptoms.
Thyroxine is the most widely prescribed medication to treat low thyroid function. It is a synthetic form of thyroxine (T4).

+ Iodine supplementation. Iodine is prescribed if the goitre is due to an iodine deficiency. Low iodine intake causes enlargement of the thyroid. A good quality iodine supplement is an effective strategy to reduce thyroid swelling.

+ Biopsy. A biopsy sample of your thyroid tissue may be required if there are large nodules within the thyroid. A biopsy is taken to also rule out thyroid cancer.

+ Surgery. Removal of the thyroid may be recommended if the goitre is large and causing difficulty with breathing and swallowing. If all of the thyroid is removed you will need to take thyroid hormone replacement therapy for the rest of your life.

Here are some recommendations you can get started with today…

+ Avoid dietary goitrogens. Some foods contain substances that interfere with uptake of iodine by the thyroid and are therefore known as goitrogens. The term is derived from the word ‘goitre’. Soy, millet and cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, turnips, bok choy, kale, cauliflower and broccoli are the most common. In their raw state these vegetables are very goitrogenic.

+ Eat a wholesome, thyroid nourishing diet. Fresh, natural foods supply a wide range of nutrients to help you recover your thyroid health.

+ Avoid thyroid disrupting toxins. Ongoing research reveals toxic environmental chemicals pose a serious threat to your thyroid health.

+ Filter your water. Most urban water supplies have fluoride-like compounds added in. Fluoride blocks thyroid function and is best illustrated by the fact that it is used as a thyroid suppressing medication for hyperthyroid conditions.

Watch this Video Below Here - Natural Treatment for Goitre


Read the following related articles:


















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


Thursday, April 13, 2017

Why Cruciferous Vegetables Should Be Strictly avoided if you have Thyroid Problems?

Cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts are full of nutrients that help keep you healthy. However if you have thyroid problems and are taking vital steps to recover your thyroid health you may want to strictly avoid these vegetables, especially in their raw state. Read on to find out why.

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



Cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts are full of nutrients that help keep you healthy.

However if you have thyroid problems and are taking vital steps to recover your thyroid health you may want to strictly avoid these vegetables, especially in their raw state.

What’s the go with cruciferous vegetables?

Cruciferous vegetables are also known as Brassica vegetables. These green vegetables are members of the Cruciferae, or mustard family. Their name is based on the shape of their flowers which have four equal sized petals that form the shape of a crucifix.

The most commonly consumed cruciferous vegetables include; kale, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, broccolini, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, radish, mustard greens, collard greens, choy sum, horseradish, turnips, rocket and wasabi.

The health protective effects of cruciferous vegetables

One of the unique things about cruciferous vegetables is that they are rich sources of glucosinolates. These sulphur containing compounds give these vegetables their pungent aroma and spicy taste.

Glucosinolates break down into several biologically active compounds that are being studied for their promising anti-cancer effects. For most people consuming cruciferous vegetables may help lower their risk of developing cancer.

However for people with thyroid problems or a low thyroid these vegetables should be strictly avoided, particularly in their raw state or in excessive amounts.

Cruciferous vegetables block healthy thyroid activity

The word ‘goitrogen’ is derived from the word ‘goitre’, a condition in which the thyroid gland becomes enlarged. The term is also used to describe a food that interferes with proper thyroid function. The most common goitrogenic foods are vegetables from the cruciferous family, and soy foods.

Goitrogenic foods may not necessarily cause a goitre, but they do have the potential to block proper thyroid activity by inhibiting the action of iodine and causes thyroid problems. This goitrogenic effect is far more noticeable when a person has an iodine deficiency.

The kale craze and green smoothies

Kale has become a very popular ingredient in freshly prepared green smoothies. This means some health conscious individuals could be consuming kale on most days. The fact is, consuming too much of this cruciferous vegetable can shut down the thyroid and causes thyroid problems.

Whenever you over consume one vegetable you are also taking in a greater quantity of the anti-nutritional factors of that particular plant. Plants have different chemicals to deter animals, including plant eating humans, from over grazing on them.

Can you return to eating cruciferous vegetables?

When your thyroid health is restored it is possible to re-introduce small amounts of a variety of cooked, or lightly steamed cruciferous vegetables to your daily diet. This should be done along with providing your thyroid with the nutrients it requires to function properly.

One of the most important nutrients to support ongoing thyroid health is iodine. Zinc, selenium, tyrosine and B group vitamins are also very important.



Read the following related articles:

















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



Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Why Soy Foods Should Be Avoided if You Have Thyroid Disorder?

Soy is goitrogenic, a term used to describe many foods and environmental compounds that have a serious potential to block normal thyroid activity and causes thyroid disorder. Read on to find out more.

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



Western societies are now consuming an increasing amount of soy that is unfermented and highly processed.

The reason?

Food manufacturers favour soy as a cheap and versatile ingredient. It’s added to a wide range of human food products and is also routinely used in the animal feed industry.

You really need to become a vigilant label checker to discover if a food contains some type of soy ingredient. Soy is now found in bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, crackers, margarine, chocolate, sauces and soups.

Soy is also used to make soy milk, baby formula, soy protein shakes, soy cheese, soy ice cream, vegetable stock, texturised vegetarian soy protein, soy flour, soy protein bars, soy lecithin and soybean oil.

Soy protein products and infant formulas often contain soy protein isolate. This is not something that you can make in your kitchen. This soy ingredient is made in high tech chemical processing plants.

The extraction process utilises high temperatures and the soybeans are bathed in hexane, a toxic chemical solvent despite the usage of hexane is being prohibited when processing organic soy foods.

The safety of soy based infant formula is hotly debated as these products naturally contain a class of plant compounds called isoflavones. The primary isoflavones are genistein and daidzein. These isoflavones are referred to as phytoestrogens because they are found in plants (phyto) and they have the ability to mimic estrogens in the body.

It is well recognised infants are sensitive to estrogen exposure as they progress though different developmental stages. This makes infants more likely than adults to be vulnerable to the estrogen-like effects of the phytoestrogens found in soy. There is also research to show that genistein and similar isoflavones can compete for iodine when iodine stores are low.

Further, infants fed soy containing formula in early life have a higher risk of developing autoimmune thyroid disease. For infants fed soy formula their rate of exposure to phyotestrogens is much higher which may a negative impact on both their thyroid health and hormonal balance.

Soy + Asian cultures

In Asia, small quantities of whole bean soy products are considered a traditional staple of the diet. From the simple soybean comes a variety of foods including tofu, natto, miso, tempeh, and boiled soy beans (edamame). These foods are prepared using traditional methods to make these otherwise inedible foods nutritious.

Soybeans like other beans, nuts, and seeds contain naturally occurring enzyme inhibitors. Termed phytic acid or phytates, these compounds make soy difficult to digest and also have the potential to bind to minerals in the digestive system.

In this way phytic acid acts as an ‘anti-nutrient’ to prevent the absorption of important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc.

Soybeans contain a much higher phytic acid content than most other grains and legumes. If you have been over doing soy products you may be low in these minerals.

Thyroid Disorder: Does soy harm the thyroid?

An incredible amount of hype has accompanied the meteoric rise of soy as a popular ‘health’ alternative. Once reserved as a staple for vegetarians’ soy is finding its way into the shopping baskets of more conventional consumers in various forms, usually disguised as a refined soy ingredient.

When it comes to thyroid health and if you have thyroid disorder, processed soy foods and foods containing soy ingredients should be strictly avoided.

Soy is goitrogenic, a term used to describe many foods and environmental compounds that have a serious potential to block normal thyroid activity and causes thyroid disorder.

Highly processed soy products are not normally manufactured using the phytic acid reducing techniques used in traditional cultures such as soaking or long slow cooking.

This makes these foods harder to breakdown in the digestive system. Overt time this can lead to digestive distress and lowered micronutrient intake.

This is not good news for thyroid health as the thyroid is particularly sensitive to nutrient deficiencies. For example; iodine, zinc and selenium are three minerals critical to aid ongoing thyroid hormone activity and prevent thyroid disorder.

Globally soybean oil has become the most widely used dietary oil. This soy derived oil is routinely used in margarine and shortening. It is also used in salad dressings, mayonnaise, frozen foods, commercially baked goods and simulated dairy and meat products. Soy oil along with palm oil and canola oil is often deceptively referred to as ‘vegetable oil’ on food labels.

Food manufacturers label dietary oils as ‘vegetable oils’ to make them sound healthy. However this is far from the truth. They are neither nutritious nor healthy.

The long term consumption of these oils has the potential to harm the thyroid and causes thyroid disorder. As more of these oils are incorporated into the thyroid cells their goitrogenic effects becomes more obvious.

The environmental impact of soy

The biggest shift in farming methods occurred over the last century, particularly with the introduction of ‘monocultures’. These are large scale farming areas dedicated to a single crop. Soy crops are monocultures favoured by multinational agribusiness to supply a growing demand.

As traditional farming methods are lost and the modern monoculture system of production emerges there is an increasing susceptibility of crops to insects and disease. This then pushes up the use of toxic agricultural chemicals.

Large soy plantations are viewed by environmentalists as a growing menace. Intense soybean cultivation threatens fragile ecosystems and is taking a significant toll on deforestation of the globe.

Soy + genetic engineering

Genetic engineering is the process of using biotechnology to transfer specific traits or genes from one organism into a different plant species. The result is a genetically modified (GM) food. The safety and potential long term health risks of these ‘frankenfoods’ is regularly questioned.

Soy, canola and corn are the most prevalent GM ingredients and are used in many food products. The first genetically engineered soybeans were planted in the USA in 1996. Now more than 90% of the USA soy crop is GM.

As the GM industry grows there has been a corresponding demand for food labels to clearly state if GM plants or microorganisms have been used in production.

In the European Union all food, and any ingredients directly produced from a GM source must be labelled even when the GM ingredients may be undetectable in the final product.

The ‘Roundup Ready’ soybean controversy

The GM soybean known as the Roundup Ready (RR) soybean was developed by the biotech giant Monsanto based in the USA. This crop variety was developed to make it resistant to the Roundup herbicides products which are toxic to conventional soybean plants. Apart from the issue with genetic engineering this GM soy is contaminated with pesticide residues which can easily find their way into the food supply.

Watch this Video Below Here - Soy Myths Exposed: The Dangers of Soy


Read the following related articles:
















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



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