Introducing Dr Weston Price - a name you will want to remember!

I am excited. 

I am very excited! 

I have purchased a ticket to one of the most interesting health conferences in Europe and the time cannot pass quickly enough till it’s here. In the mean-time however, it allows me an opportunity to introduce you to the man whose research founded the organisation running this event and one of my strongest influences when it comes to nutrition and diet.

Let me introduce you to….Dr Weston A Price

The Man: Dr Weston Price was a dentist working in Ohio, USA in the 1920’s where he noticed a great decline in dental health within his practice. There seemed to be ever increasing numbers of dental decay and crowded teeth  - so being a diligent man, he decided to investigate. Not just locally but worldwide…and his findings are simply incredible.

The Mission: He travelled the world to find groups of people who had been isolated from modern foodstuffs such as white bread, sugars and preservatives. He looked at people who ate traditional foods and discovered that the world over, these people had great facial structure (no crowding) and very healthy teeth. The diets of these people were far higher in minerals and fat soluble vitamin content than the modern diet.  He also found that the groups he studied were resilient with high natural immunity to diseases such as TB. They were happy and healthy – two things that ultimately go hand in hand as he was to discover.

Dr Price compiled his research in a book called NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL DEGENERATION, which is a fascinating read so I would urge you to get a copy and take a look for yourself but for a brief review of his research and some amazing pictures of the people he studied please read here.

The Legacy: In 1999 the Weston A Price Foundation was set up by Sally Fallon Morrell (she is one of the speakers I am very much looking forward to hearing at the event) to share the information from Dr Prices research about nutrition and how it so crucially affects human health. It provides continual research to support what these people instinctively knew so long ago and helps guide people on health issues.

The foundation runs annual conferences worldwide and the one I am attending in London next year gives me two day’s worth of talks and workshops with an array of speakers from Sally Fallon Morrell (founder of the foundation) to Chris Masterjohn PhD (expert on hormones and cholesterol) to Natasha Campbell McBride(creator of the GAPS diet as treatment for autism, ADHD/ADD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression and schizophrenia).

So perhaps you can start to see why I am excited. This conference is big and it seems to be getting bigger each year. 

Introduction to the Works of Dr Weston A. Price - Sally Fallon Morell from Wise Traditions London on Vimeo.

 

Want to get involved? For more information and to book tickets, visit: westonaprice.org/london.

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Fluoride

I really believe everyone should have an awareness that thyroid function exists in a delicate balance, whether you have a thyroid condition or not. It is affected by what you eat, drink, smoke and in general how you conduct your life. Trust me when I say, its something you want to look after.

You may be aware through my blog and others, that diet plays a huge role in maintaining good thyroid function. The same can also be said for good supplementation of vitamins and minerals, even if your diet is squeaky clean. For example, taking a 200mcg selenium supplement daily has many benefits such as aiding hormone conversion from T4 to T3 and reducing thyroid antibodies by about 21%. Anyone who suffers low thyroid cannot ignore their selenium intake and would do well to supplement. But what I want to write about today is not what you can do to aid thyroid function, but what you might be doing that is hindering your thyroids good work.

Yes, its not just about eating well, supplementing well and all that jazz, you need to be aware of what could be inhibiting hormone secretions, conversions and uptake. Because...build as much thyroid hormone as you like, release into your blood stream at will, but if you are struggling to convert T4 to T3, and use the associated energy then you are no better off than the rest of us.

In general it pays to look after your liver (as discussed HERE) because it works hard for your hormone conversion so try to avoid a huge toxic burden on it, and regardless of how you manage that, it is always good practice to detox with a good liver tonic regularly. I use one with milk thistle extract and it is very powerful, I always feel energised and refreshed after a good liver detox.

But what I wanted to share today is some information about fluoride. The stuff that helps make up your toothpaste, is possibly in your water supply and in your dentist treatments. Some people believe it is good for dental health, some believe it is a poison. But regardless of your thoughts it is important to know that it will inhibit your thyroid function and therefore, I believe, should be avoided.

In days gone by fluoride therapy was used as a way to control overactive thyroid glands as it prevents the uptake of iodine - which is the building block for your thyroid hormones. A relatively small dose was used over several months to good effect but what I found of interest is that the levels prescribed in the 1950s are the same as is now found in fluoridated water areas suggesting that people are now inadvertently slowing down their own thyroid gland.

And its not just the water from your own tap you need to be wary of, processed food and drinks have been found to contain fluoridated water, conventionally produced fruit and vegetables may have been sprayed with pesticides containing fluoride, even the pans you cook in may be increasing your fluoride consumption. The non-stick Teflon coating we are all used to seeing is made from a fluorinated chemical and has been shown to contaminate food cooked in it with fluoride, again increasing our everyday consumption.

So what to do? It can seem like a minefield, I know, but it is worth tackling whether or not you have an existing thyroid condition to ensure your own good health.

• I started my journey slowly and I am still working on reducing our fluoride intake.We have a water filter jug but I know it is not suitable for removing fluoride so it is on my 'to-do' list. I am perhaps a little lax on this particular item since in 2004 the Scottish parliament voted against fluoridation of our water supply but in other areas of the UK and all over the world this is not the case. Have a look here at WIKI for your country's water status. 
• We try to eat organically where possible and where we can afford it (local box schemes are often cheaper than over-priced supermarket fruits and veg). Some fruits and vegetables have higher levels of pesticide residue and these are known as the 'dirty dozen'. If I cannot get these organically, I don't get them at all. And in the same thread there is the 'clean fifteen' which we buy non organic without too much concern. Have a look HERE, take a note and stick it on your fridge door.
• We use a fluoride free toothpaste. These do not seem to be available in any supermarkets I visit so instead I buy mine from our local health food shop. There are some interesting flavours like fennel or aloe vera but I like original mint.
• Finally, one by one we are getting rid of our non stick pans and replacing them with stainless steel ones. I have one, seldom used pan left to replace now.

So that, my friends, is that. I hope you have found this useful and can start to take action as part of your own thyroid therapy. Until next time, share your story and say hello at www.facebook.com/mythyroidtherapy

5 Things I Love in my Hypothyroid Life

Welcome back after the summer holidays!! I hope you are all well and rested and treating your thyroid to the life she deserves. Anyway, a light-hearted post to get me back into the swing of things.

As you know, since commencing on my own thyroid therapy I have stumbled across a number of ideas and lifestyle changes that have made my life better. BUT, if my thyroid were healed tomorrow these are the top 5 things I would not change.

1. BUTTER - life tastes better with butter so put back that chemical ladened margarine and pick up some proper, hard-in-the-fridge, soft-on-the-table, free range/grass fed butter for your home. Delicious on vegetables, in mash, fry your soup veggies in it for a superior taste!!
Butter is packed full of fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin A which is crucial for thyroid function. With too many benefits to name here it is truly a health food that will not only nourish your thyroid but your whole body. And it will keep you fuller for longer. So now you know.

2. GIVING UP GRAIN - I am not grain free all of the time but my initial 2 month period without grains helped my gut heal considerably and I then introduced white rice or oats weekly. But we are certainly wheat/gluten free and I will never go back to it. Yes, I will admit that once or twice a year I miss crusty french loaf but for me the health risk is simply not worth it. Nothing tastes as good as being well feels. In my house, we all feel and function so much better this way so we won't be going back to our wheaty ways.

3. JELLY - As part of my healing mission we eat a lot of gelatin in the form of bone broths (stock), so our soups, stews and casseroles all taste amazing! Honestly you should definitely try this at home for an incredible flavour to your meals! But I won't stop there to ensure high gelatin intake, oh no. I also like to make fruit jelly and panna cottas to serve after a meal. I cannot tell you how delicious they are, we love them. I will NOT give these up. They heal me. They will heal you.

4. SUGAR - What a relief it was when I discovered that sugar is not the evil terror threat it is made out to be in many food circles. I mean, I need it!! In my coffee, in my fruit, in my meringues :) Gosh, it certainly gets a hard time but when you start to think of it as a valid energy source, a ready source of fuel for your cells then all becomes good in your relationship with sugar. And I am not talking about eating lots of sugary sweets, candy, biscuits and cakes (aside from the wheat content in most!!) I am talking about fruit sugars in delicious ripe fruit and fresh fruit juices, a spoon or 2 of table sugar in your coffee. Sugars in milk - when was the last time you enjoyed a glass of milk? I love it. And don't think you are escaping sugar by eating a diet with bread, pasta, vegetables.....They all break down to the same thing when in your gut - sugars. It is needed and easily used by your body so don't deny yourself the pleasure.
There is always a huge backlash when it comes to sugar so it is worth pointing out that research currently shows that a diet of high starch is closely linked to diabetes and obesity. Give me a glass of orange juice over a slice of toast any day.

For further reading on the great sugar debate please check the articles linked below by these awesome folk:

Ray Peat
Danny Roddy
Ark of Wellness

5. COFFEE - I LOVE my coffee. It gives me a boost in the morning before I head out the door with my little one and I know I can sustain the playtime once I've had it. I drink it with hot full fat milk, a large sugar and a scoop of coconut oil for additional pro thyroid benefits, energy and satiety but it really adds an edge of deliciousness previously unknown to me. However, the health benefits are amazing too, better brain function, clearer skin, more resistant to disease. All this from coffee??? Oh yes and more! I found an excellent article from Dr Ray Peat and he had this to say, "Caffeine has remarkable parallels to thyroid and progesterone, and the use of coffee or tea can help to maintain their production, or compensate for their deficiency." So if you can tolerate coffee, you can now relax and enjoy a few cups of the good stuff for better thyroid health!



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Grain grain go away...be prepared for another day

I thought it was about time I posted an update on what I've been eating because I always seem to be talking about it.

As I have mentioned before, the biggest change in my diet has been the elimination of wheat and for the most part gluten (gluten can be found in barley, rye and oats as well as wheat) which some think might be restrictive but really it is just about making little changes here and there until you get to where you want or need to be with it.

The reason I took wheat and gluten out of my diet was to stop my body attacking my thyroid gland as part of an autoimmune response. (For an excellent video explaining how this works please click HERE and watch to the end, I got lost a few times but persevere with it - it's worth it). Now, I have to say I believe that  even if you do not suffer with an autoimmune (AI) condition you would benefit from cutting out the wheat and gluten you consume but this is especially important for those who suffer from an AI condition....indeed any AI condition. Simply because gluten is seen as 'the enemy' by the immune system and it will trigger an attack.

As for the other grains that are still kicking around in my pantry like rice, oats and barley - well, I seem to be in a continuous cycle with them. I go from cutting them out of my diet altogether, to adding them in here and there, to them being in our weekly menu plan on a regular basis and then back to the beginning where I am cutting them all out again. BUT, I have been doing myself some learnin' and while I still go through this cycle, I no longer feel the guilt over eating the occasional grain.

This is all because fairly recently I attended a dedicated foodie/health type course - a first for me but I sincerely hope it's not the last. It's called NEWtritious Delicious and has the very accurate strapline; ‘Bridging the gap between food and medicine’. Now, I am lucky enough  to know some of the people involved in the course and we are all very much on the same page with regards to health and such things so I was really excited to go and find out more information on the things I already had an idea on and to get a heads up on other new and exciting health principles. And that I did....

For the duration of the course we were treated to samples of their amazingly tasty meals, cups of gorgeous green and white teas, rounded off  perfectly with some sumptuous desserts. And all the while being taught the health properties of each food, pointers on how to prepare dishes and guidance on what to absolutely avoid at all costs. All the recipes are in the handouts so you can get cooking as soon as you get home. The food was all carefully thought out and all very PRO THYROID!! There cannot be many, if any, food and nutrition courses who can lay that claim. It was pretty special.

So back to my grain guilt, one of the things we were taught about, is that proper preparation of food goes a long way in health terms. This is especially important when it comes to grains like that rice and those oats I have kicking about my pantry. And the reason I no longer feel bad about eating these on occasion is that I now know how prepare them properly before I eat them. I soak them. It helps break down the anti nutrients and phytic acid that lurks within them and therefore they are not quite such a burden for my healing body to process. So as a special treat, and as any good highlander should, I will share with you the best porridge recipe in the world (well, certainly in my world anyway) adapted, with very kind permission from the NEWtritious Delicious team.

Soak your oats (a good handful should do a serving) overnight in some milk (a little squeeze of lemon juice will help the 'breaking down of bad stuff' process)
In the morning heat the oats and bubble them for at least 3 minutes, up to 7 minutes but do not let it stick to the bottom of the pan..
Once cooked add a big lump of butter and/or coconut oil
Drizzle some raw honey and sprinkle cinnamon to serve.
Get stuck in.

So to conclude – I no longer feel so guilty about having a hearty bowl of porridge now and again or tucking into rice when the recipe calls for it because I have learned that preparation is the key to eating these foods. And preparation means a few minutes the night before breakfast to soak your oats or the morning before your evening meal to soak your rice.

P.S
If you ever have an opportunity to go on this course then take it, live in the Kent area? Book one! If you are planning a trip to London, try and squeeze this day course in.I'm not just saying that because I know the girls, I am saying it because it truly is a fabulous course. It takes healthcare and healthy eating to a whole new level. And so could you. Email  Admin@newtritiousdelicious.com

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Have you taken the test?

Wowsers, it's been a long time coming - this post I mean. The busy weekends and looking after a toddler makes such demands on my time that I simply cannot always get around to doing the things I want to do, like writing my blog. Such is life, I don’t like to complain (too much). But today I decided to ignore the ironing pile to allow me time to type out a few lines. I say am ignoring the ironing, truth is I am hiding in another room because it is so large  it is practically dominating the skyline through there. So here we are.

And how are you all? Absorbing as much information on the thyroid as you possibly can? Taking on board all of the things I do to help my little gland out and maybe even trying a few things yourself? I really hope so. Because over the past month or two I have spoken to so many people who are affected by their thyroid gland and do not know what to do about it, especially when it comes with a blood test to verify the fact that they are 'fine'. So today I want to give everyone a bit of a heads up on what I suspect is going on here...

"The doctor took blood to test my thyroid but said it is fine."

First off, we will just run through that blood test since it is the ‘proof’ that you do not have low thyroid function. Here comes the science:

It is most likely that your doc would have requested a test on how much Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is in your blood, possibly a check on your t4 and antibody levels too. The amount of these hormones in your blood is what your doc intends to use to diagnose you as hypo or send you on your way (or check for other things like M.E, fibromyalgia and other things that I believe are actually symptoms of low thyroid).

It would be useful if I explained that TSH is a hormone released by the pituitary gland when it receives hormonal messages that there is not enough thyroid hormone going round the body. The TSH sends a message to the thyroid gland telling it to secrete more t4, t3, t2 etc. If all is working well, your thyroid will respond to these signals and release more hormone into the blood stream. This will in turn send signals back to the pituitary to confirm all is fine and then the pituitary cuts back on the TSH – this goes on in a continuous cycle and is known as a feedback loop - this is how it rolls. Except for when your thyroid stops working properly. What happens then is that the pituitary gland is getting the messages that there is not enough thyroid hormones in circulation, so it releases more TSH to try and encourage the thyroid to release more of the good stuff. Unfortunately the dang thyroid ain't working like it should and those life giving hormones are not being sent out in the numbers needed. The TSH levels in your blood are going to creep up and up now and if your bloods are taken at this stage….well you could still be classed as normal.

The current guidelines for doctors state that if TSH levels are between 0.5 and 5 then thyroid function is classed as normal. And would you believe it, I am going to suggest that these levels are too high a range (in the US I think the upper level is 3 – still too high for me but let’s not go there today). Everyone is different and for some people TSH at 1 might be too high! So to clarify, you may be tested for TSH hormone and be told it is fine when in fact the TSH level may be too high for you but within the set 'normal' range.

The other problem that we have is the fact that your TSH might be fine, your T4 levels may also show fine. You are likely to be told your thyroid function is fine. But what happens if ytour body is not doing a great job at converting the T4 hormone into the very valuable and active form – T3, this will not be picked up by only testing for how much T4 and TSH there is in the blood.You would still have symptoms but your blood work is....fine. Fine. Fine!

So, people, there you have it. A little insight into some of the reasons I think the TSH test your doctor uses to ‘prove’ you are feeling fine is a load of codswallop. And just one of the reasons I think you should lead your life in a pro thyroid way – regardless of your test results. More later......Why not keep in touch via facebook!

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Talking about a revolution...

As I research other posts about more intense thyroid stuff I want to take this opportunity to kick off our next revolution. Yes, you heard that right – I want to start a revolution….. in the kitchen. And I want you all to do the same. I promise it will change your life forever. We will start with the meat on your bones.

I began making my own stock regularly a few months ago and the main purpose of such an undertaking was to get more gelatin into our diet. “Gelatin?” I hear you ask. Yes, gelatin.

Gelatin has a funny reputation, certainly I thought it was bad for you at one point, well it is used to make jelly and anything as tasty as jelly has to be bad for you right? But before that was the sheer horror that it had come from cows feet or pigs trotters (groooooosssssss – my younger self would have said).  But for my baby boys first birthday last year I made jelly using gelatin leaf from the shops and that all turned out fine, not gross at all! Especially the fizzy wine adult jellies…..but that’s a tale for another day. My point being, I had not yet started my healing journey and was not aware of the wonder stuff that is gelatin. And broth.

(Before I go any further I just want to clarify - gelatin is what makes the broth set and go jelly-like when cooled). 

Anyway, perhaps it’s because I am a highlander but simply hearing the word ‘broth’ is healing to me. It is such a soft and soothing word. Thinking of broth conjures an image of a deep, steaming bowl of tasty scotch broth with veggies, barley, peas, lentils and a piece of meat somewhere tucked away in there. Hot, sweet, soupy goodness. (I have to stop and get a pan on soon before I salivate over my keyboard I think…)

So you get the picture. I already think broth is good.

The revolution comes when I make my pan of broth with actual bones. Stock that I have prepared myself by simmering the animal bones in the slow cooker for around 24 hours. Forget your stock cubes or your boullion. Get the bones from your butcher and fire them in the slow cooker for a day. Real food and real tasty too – you will not taste anything as good EVER, I can assure you.

Now the added bonus – what it does for your health. 

Well for a start…bone broth heals your insides (remember I talked about them – your insides – in my Food for thought post – it got pretty technical). The broth will start to mend your gut lining and that of your intestines. This could lead to an easing of food allergies or intolerance's.

Broth provides you with the basic building blocks for your body – boiling down the bones releases all those minerals that built them up so strong. And you get to consume that – nourishing your own body.

Suffer with sore joints? Consuming bone broths is shown to be anti-inflammatory so as well as healing your stomach, it will heal the other areas of your body where inflammation can occur like your joints. 

Specifically for thyroidians like myself, bone broths will aid liver function and boost your metabolism. Need I say more? No, but I will.

Bone broth, or more specifically as in all these cases - the gelatin in broth, is full of protein so you can cut down the amount of meat in these dishes if you need to keep costs down.

And at the end of the day, I find it very therapeutic. There is something deeply satisfying about creating such a nourishing and wholesome food for your family. From scratch, just like your parents, grandparents and/or great grandparents would have done (though perhaps they didn’t use a digital version with two heat settings, a timer and a warming function)

So that’s the latest – get your bones on. Start the revolution!

If you are interested in reading more I have listed a few articles here on the subject. Bone broth is a huge subject and everyone has their own methods - tell us how you make yours! www.facebook.com/MyThyroidTherapy

Some great articles on broth:

www.westonaprice.org/food-features/broth-is-beautiful

undergroundwellness.com/top-5-reasons-why-bone-broth-is-the-bomb/

www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/the-crucial-reason-you-need-more-gelatin-in-your-diet/