EMF's: Invisible Forces Wrecking Havoc On Your Health

I'm asking you to consider something that could forever change the way you look at the world. 

Are you brave enough to continue reading and consider this following topic as a probable reason as to why we're feeling more tired, supposedly aging faster, feeling anxious and generally unwell for no apparent reason?

If your energy is deteriorating, you struggle to focus, or motivate yourself to get out of bed, perhaps you haven't considered the significance of this...

There are now a multitude of studies clearly revealing there is a connection between man-made electromagnetic fields and human health. In fact over 25,000 articles have been published on this topic in the past 30 years!

I became interested in EMF's (electro magnetic fields) because I'm curious about causes of illness and contributing factors that we may not be aware of. After all, we are electrical beings, just consider our beating heart!? 

If you are like me and are living with a chronic illness I'm sure you share my journey and are always looking out for better ways to help yourself. I can't help but wonder how much money, time, searching and possible needless suffering I have spent on my search.

I must admit tho, that every discovery has forced me to let go of a version of 'reality' I thought was correct.

Have you ever experienced this??

Years ago I had heard the term elecro hypersensitive but I didn't quite piece the whole puzzle. 

 

I had always felt generally unwell around prolonged computer use, under fluorescent lights, in an 'artificial environment' or after excessive mobile phone use. My arms at first tingled when I held a mobile phone, and then ached all the way up to my shoulder.

I began to notice my energy drop, I felt irritated, confused, anxious, got heart palpitations, and heard a strange buzzing in my ears in certain environments.

After a while, it certainly got my attention. It would take me hours to recover from being overly stimulated in an artificial environment.

My available energy for the day had been depleted to the point where I just craved silence and to be in nature. 

 

But I hadn't known too many people who could relate to what I was saying. 

 

I dreaded going into the city, what I always remember Bob Marley describing as 'the concrete jungle'. 

I must admit there were times where I wish I could enjoy the energy of a big, busy city like I perceived others to be enjoying. I didn't want to be a 'party pooper' either so I was always convincing myself that I was having a good time, but my body was telling me otherwise.

Wandering around large department stores didn't appeal to me either, and shopping was rarely seen as a pleasurable experience for me. I just went in to get what I needed, and got out!

So its a relief to finally get validation that my body was giving me correct signals that something was up, even if I didn't have 'science' validate it at the time.

What is electromagnetic hypersensitivity?

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), a consultative body of the European Union, has recognized electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) as a syndrome that could cause biological and functional problems and permanent disability and could seriously impact on quality of life. That sounded like something serious for me to pay attention to!

It listed possible symptoms of EHS as, ‘headaches, chronic fatigue, recurring infections, difficulties concentrating, memory loss, inexplicable unhappiness, dermatological symptoms, irritability or sleeplessness, heart problems, poor blood circulation, disorientation, nasal congestion, reduced libido, thyroid disorders, eye discomfort, tinnitus, increased need to urinate, listlessness, capillary fragility, cold hands and feet, and stiff muscles.’

For even more extensive info about EMF's you can have a read here..

http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/science/guidetoemfs.asp

What causes electro hypersensitivity? Does it affect everybody?

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are generated in the vicinity of power lines, mobile phones, wi fi devices, power boxes, mobile phone towers (also known as GWEN towers), broadcast towers and similar transmitters. 

Whether or not electromagnetic fields from all these sources can harm human health is no longer a controversial issues. Research is confirming evidence of alarming detrimental effects.

 

Take for example the comprehensively investigated issue of power lines being linked to cancers (such as leukemia).

CELL TOWER aka GWEN TOWERS

Some researchers maintain that EMF generated by power lines have frequencies which are too low to influence living cells or harm DNA. However other researchers disagree. They suggest that EMF from power lines can cause significant changes in the human body.

Scientific standards have been developed to limit public exposure to power-frequency EMF, but what is the 'safe' and tolerated range? Until what happens to us physically?

It absolutely blew me away when I read that in Sweden electro hypersensitivity (EHS) is actually recognized as a reason of disability?!? Wow. Read more here...

http://www.org.feb.nu/index_int.htm 

Are you exposed to the 'limit'?

Let's face it, the amount of electromagnetic stimulation we are currently exposed to is unlike any other time in human history. Only time will tell. We are all being experimented on. 

Remember, public health is not a priority for a telecommunications company, marketing and sales are!

  

I believe that in 20-30 years time, this issue of electromagnetic exposure will be just like the issue of cigarette smoking back in the 1950's. 

Back then everybody was smoking, even doctors advertised Camel's, it was accepted on a mass scale. 

Until incidence of lung cancer, blindness, and amputation became too staggering to ignore. Now cigarette smoking comes with warnings and is discouraged at all cost.

I have since met many people who do experience what I just described, I'm no longer alone. 

I'm starting to conclude that those of us who are hypersensitive to EMF's are the 'canaries in the coal mines'.

Please do yourself and your family a favor and watch this 3 minute trailer of the award winning documentary Take Back Your Power.

This clip shows live blood analysis of people standing in the proximity of a smart meter, and its effects on their blood.  

The conclusion of this test revealed that regardless of whether you feel physical symptoms or not, your blood is showing clear evidence of deformity and inflammation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAjX6Ap02dU

And what impact does this have on children??

   
According to an Australian 60 Minutes segment in 2009, an international team of surgeons and doctors stated that 'prolonged use of mobile phones could double the risk of malignant brain tumors'. 

Whenever I see small children on i Phones or playing with an iPad, I wonder why parents weren't educated bout the possible implications this could have on their child's brain development. We will look back on this technology and perhaps realize it wasn't Smart at all.

Some European countries have banned the use of WiFi and WiFi devices in schools!? Surely there must be a serious enough reason for them to put these measures in place.

How much are you exposed to? How do you know?

Look around at how many wireless devices that are widely used in offices, shopping centers, schools and most homes? Do we know the implication of long-term exposure? How many devices are we actually exposed to if we live in a multi level apartment or office?? There are ways to find out!

If you are suffering from an autoimmune disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fibromyalgia, or any other chronic disorder you can't afford to disregard this causative factor for much longer.

Long term and constant exposure does cause stress on the body. If you're struggling with inexplicable symptoms and declining health despite all the dietary changes, therapies, supplementation, could it be the EMF's??

And if leading health authorities are now saying that ALL degenerative illness stems from inflammation, does it now make common sense that EMF's could be the predominant cause that we aren't looking at? 

 

The EMF Scientists Appeal to the United Nations...

A message from 191 scientists from 39 nations was submitted to the United Nations, in the ‘EMF Scientists Appeal’ that stated that EMFs are harmful to people and the environment and international standards are not sufficiently protective. 

"Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans," the Appeal states

Not only does exposure adversely affect humans, the document claims, but it can harm plants and animals as well. According to the appeal, current standards do not protect public health because they address neither long-term nor non-heating (athermal) effects of exposure.

‘The various agencies setting safety standards have failed to impose sufficient guidelines to protect the general public, particularly children who are more vulnerable to the effects of EMF.’

How can you protect yourself and your family?

There are ways in which we can all protect ourselves and minimize the potential damage of exposure to EMF's is doing to us. But first we have to recognize that this is a serious concern to begin with!

 

Awareness is always the first step toward making any change for the better. 

So now that you know, I hope its raised a few red flags and you're connecting the dots. It is our responsibility to make more conscious choices for ourselves and those we love.

In my next blog I will address what measures we can take, how effective they are, and what you can do to minimize your risk.

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Don't Buy Another Fish Oil Until You Read This!

There are certain compulsory things you must know before you buy yet another omega 3 fish oil! With Australian sales of omega 3 supplements exceeding $200 million annually and growing at a rate of more than 10% per year, you may have a few legitimate questions.

Such as: is the supplement you're buying a 'good' brand? And how can you tell whether it really is a 'good' brand? What's an effective dose? I certainly want to know what I'm spending my money on and what I'm actually investing in. If you too feel the same, then allow me to share some astounding facts regarding fish oils with you.

Be aware that despite assurances from manufacturers, many fish oil supplements do contain toxins, and if you are not choosing a superior product you could be poisoning yourself unknowingly. 

This may sound a bit dramatic but with increasing toxins in our environment, radiation from the Japanese Fukushima plant leaching daily into our oceans, sources of quality of fish oils aren't like they used to be!

Eating fish now days is risky and you need to be conscious of your choices. Tuna is actually one of the largest sources of mercury exposure in Americans’ diets! And farmed salmon has half the amount of omega 3 than wild salmon. Studies show that 70-80% of fish marked as 'wild' are actually farmed!

So how do we get safe doses of omega 3? And if supplementation is the only safe way to go, what should you be looking out for in a brand that you're considering to buy? 

A study published in 1998 revealed that when testing 44 different fish oil supplement brands sold in 15 countries, between 1994-1995, it clearly indicated appreciable quantities of organochlorines (included PCBs and pesticide residues)
  

When choosing an omega 3 supplement use a brand that has been independently tested and guaranteed to be free of heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead, and other environmental toxins including dioxins, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls  (PCB's). Many cheaper brands could be doing you more damage than good! 

Upon opening, if the product you purchased smells 'fishy' this means its gone rancid and has oxidized, this is not good and must be thrown out!

Many people buying retail products frequently don't get relief of symptoms. Either the dose is too low or the product was inferior because it was oxidized (gone rancid!), or the stated dose on the bottle was inconsistent. If your symptoms are not being alleviated over the duration of 4-6 week supplementation then you may be falling in this category!

Because fishing practices all over the world a mostly unregulated its important to only buy from reputable companies that support sustainability, source supplies with awareness and responsibility.
 
How much should I be taking?

Most standard fish oil capsules contains 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA. What you need to be looking for is a higher amount of these essential fatty acids to get to a therapeutic dose.  

The American Heart Association recommends that people with heart disease take 1 gram EPA+DHA per day, and individuals with high triglycerides, 2–4 grams per day. Raffaele De Caterina, n-3 Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Disease, New England Journal of Medicine 2011; 364: 2439–50

Always take omega 3 supplements with food, not on an empty stomach. This will help those people who find it 'repeats' or you get the fishy burps! If this is an issue, then remember to take break up your doses into 2-3 smaller daily doses, instead of just one big dose.

Keep in mind, for inflammatory conditions look for a product that is predominantly higher in EPA as this is the inflammatory component. 

Fish oil has also been called 'brain food'. That is because of its effect on mental health, behavioral, mood, and brain issues. If this is an area that you would benefit from, choose a product higher in DHA, as this is the fatty acid that is required by the brain. DHA is linked to dopamine and serotonin production.

If you've wondered why fish oils also tend to contain a small amount of vitamin E it is because it prevents oxidation, or spoilage. 

Krill vs fish oil

Krill oil has also been found to be a rich source of omega-3. Krill has a similar overall fatty acid composition as fish oil. Some krill oil companies claim the phospholipid fats in krill make it more effectively absorbed and therefore more powerful than fish oil. There are also claims that the addition of antioxidant astaxanthin found in krill makes it more beneficial. 

But the jury is still our whether krill oil really is much more beneficial than fish oil. I'd say try it for yourself and come to your own conclusions. All that matters at the end of the day is that you find a product that alleviates your suffering, works for you, and is affordable in the long run.


Check with your health practitioner and be mindful if...

If you are taking anti coagulant medications such as Coumadin (warfarin) for thinning the blood, have allergies to fish, are scheduled in for surgery, or have had a hemorrhagic stroke. In some sensitive cases fish oil can affect blood clotting.

Can we eat fish instead? Which types to avoid?

Small fish such as anchovies, sardines and krill that are at the bottom of the food chain are generally considered a better choice ecologically than large fish. They are much less likely to be contaminated with mercury and other environmental toxins.

Fish labeled as 'Atlantic Salmon' is most likely farmed so its best to avoid it. Alaskan Sockeye Salmon is protected and thus cannot be farmed, so that is a much better choice. Unfortunately, as much as 70-80% of the fish marked "wild" salmon were actually farmed. 

If you're still regularly eating canned tuna, think twice. Read more here about Dr. Mercola's findings and advice regarding consuming fish...
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/08/31/tuna-fish-labeling.aspx

So what's so bad about farmed fish?

They contain approximately half of the healthy EFA's of wild fish. Higher levels of contaminants are also found in farmed fish and, they are fed genetically modified ingredients such as corn and soy?! And that is just scratching the surface regarding the detrimental effects of this common practice. 

The Norwegian Health Department actually warned the public against eating farmed fish. That should be of significance to the rest of the world also!

Health-wise, how omega 3 deficiency could be affecting you..

It's imperative that we are switched on about the importance and quality of omega 3. For even further information about how omega 3 deficiency impacts health please ready my previous blog 
http://journey-thru-wellness.blogspot.com.au/2015/06/the-staggering-effects-of-omega-3.html 

and for more extensive government information on omega 3, have a look at  Medline, USA's National Library of Medicine
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/993.html

In conclusion

I know what its like to waste money and time suffering, whilst patiently waiting for any sign of relief. As a person living with a chronic illness I have trialed many brands over an extensive length of time. After observing myself and many others in practice, I highly recommend Nordic Naturals.

Nordic Naturals have been at the forefront of supplying the worlds best sources of omega 3 for over 20 years, adhere to strict international standards for purity, offer third party proof of quality, are a research driven company, guarantee optimal absorption levels, are extremely environmentally conscious, and surpass international pharmaceutical standards. They also provide vegan and vegetarian options! 

For more information about Nordic Naturals and why they are considered and recognized as the best, read here
https://www.nordicnaturals.com/en/About_Us/Why_Nordic_Naturals/595#pharmStandards

They may cost more than retail brands however once you understand that you are investing in a reputable product, you will realize most other brands cannot compete with the research and quality they offer.

After much of my own research I found a brilliant supplier in iherb. It is a fantastic online health site which delivers internationally to over 100 countries, is extremely competitive with pricing, and offers a $10 discount to all new customers! You can take advantage of this offer by clicking here..
http://www.iherb.com?rcode=JOV897 

or check out  Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega capsules here!

With new research and information coming out every day it can be overwhelming to keep track of how to take care of ourselves in the best, most cost effective, conscious, and quickest way. With prevalence of degenerative illness on the rise, Omega 3 is something I think we will all need to be aware of. 

I'm appreciative that we can all learn, share and help each other though our findings too. I'm grateful for the people who have dedicated their lives in finding innovative ways we all can better the quality of our lives. I hope this small contribution can spark interest in maintaining your health, alleviating symptoms, and choosing consciously to only buy from companies that support the health of our environment also.

If you have found an exceptional brand of omega 3 I'd love to hear from you and your experience with it. Please share in the comments below!

For further insights on maintaining health, making more conscious choices, and tips on healing, please subscribe to my blog and You Tube channel by clicking on the icons at top of this page!

The Staggering Effects Of Omega 3 Deficiency: Are You Getting Enough?

Omega-3 is considered one of the most important essential nutrients out there today. There are more than 27,000 published studies on EPA and DHA omega-3s! Every single cell in the body needs essential fatty acids, and deficiency has a profound effect on health that you must be aware of! 

Are you getting enough? How exactly can it help you? What health conditions does it ease? Find out more here..

The American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition published three studies in 2008, which investigated the role of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids in elderly populations.The study found that low concentrations of these essential fatty acids resulted in an increased risk of death from all causes, as well as accelerated cognitive decline.
As we are all aging, should that not raise our interest?? 

Many studies looking at longevity and health, conclude that populations that eat fish regularly live longer and have significantly less chronic disease than populations that do not.

Studies also reveal now that ALL chronic degenerative illnesses are actually linked to inflammation. And omega 3 is known to have a powerful anti inflammatory effect!

If you or someone you love has diabetes, high cholesterol, recurrent infections, heart disease, arthritis, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, ADHD, cancer, allergies, Alzheimer's, is battling obesity, or you want to prevent these conditions then keep reading!

Did you know?

• omega 3 deficiency is recognized by many integrative doctors and specialists as a common underlying factor for cancer and heart disease? 
• deficiency causes and contributes to serious mental conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, suicide, aggressive behaviour, and schizophrenia?

• globally MOST people, don't get enough omega-3 and are thus predisposing themselves to death and unnecessary suffering?

• omega 3 improves hair, skin, and nails

• reduces blood pressure

• aids in prevention and treatment of arthritis

• lowers triglyceride and cholesterol levels

• reduces risk of stroke, and blood clot formation

• heals candida, eczema, psoriasis

• boosts learning, concentration, and memory

• eases pain of inflammation so indicated for ALL inflammatory conditions

• promotes healthy immune system, necessary for recovery from recurrent infections   

What is omega 3?
It is considered an essential fatty acid (EFA) because your body can't make it, so it must be supplied via the diet. 

EFA's are essential for rebuilding and producing new cells, and producing hormone like substances called prostaglandins, that act as chemical messengers and regulators of many body processes. 

In what foods is omega 3 found?
Omega 3 can be found in both animal and plant sources. 

Omega 3 constitutes three essential acids; 

• EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) found in salmon, tuna, krill, herring, trout, sardines, anchovy and some other cold water fish

• alpha linolenic acid (ALA) which can be found in flax seeds, chia seeds, cabbage family, walnuts, hemp, dark greens and pumpkin seeds.

ALA (alpha linolenic acid) is converted into EPA and DHA in the body however, the conversion rates are very poor. So if you have been consuming flax seed oil for a while and still have inflammatory symptoms, this may be the reason you're not getting relief (or because of excessive omega 6!). Most people have trouble converting ALA into EPA/DHA.

Also, most of the health benefits that have been linked to omega-3 fats are linked to the animal-based EPA and DHA, and not the plant-based ALA. So if you have a chronic condition it's probably safe to say that vegetarian options won't supply a high enough dose if you're looking for fast relief of symptoms. 

If however, you're wanting to maintain your current health or prevent these common inflammatory illnesses then vegetarian sources of course, are a fantastic daily addition that will deliver long term benefits. Understandably, with the world's current environmental issues and toxins abounding in our food chain, most people would want to make the most conscious choices.


Fascinating finds about omega 3
An Italian study of over 10,000 heart attack survivors found that people who supplemented with fish oils markedly reduced their risk of another heart attack, stroke, or death.

Omega 3 essential fatty acids are particularly concentrated in the brain—an organ composed of nearly 60% fat. DHA constitutes 20% of the total fatty acids in the cerebral cortex, which is the area involved in processing information, memory and attention span. So if you can't think straight then consider if you may benefit from more omega 3.

Fish oil has been used at a daily dose of 1-3gm to help alleviate the symptoms of ADHD in children. This is something parents would keenly want to be interested in!

Pregnant and breastfeeding women require omega 3 as their babies brain, nervous system and eye development is dependent on sufficient supply of their mothers resources. And women suffering post partum depression can find tremendous relief by supplementing with omega 3.

The more grains, processed food, sugar, factory farmed meats we consume, the more imbalance we cause. Our entire Western diet is geared toward producing inflammation and global statistics of inflammatory diseases, clearly indicate we have done this.

By becoming aware of the importance of omega 3's we can prevent and treat many of the previously mentioned conditions and start tipping the balance toward our recovery of health.

If this topic has sparked your interest then stay tuned. In my next blog I will be addressing the very common questions about supplementation. With our environment becoming more toxic every day, what brand is 'good'? How much do you need to take to feel an effect? How long for? What about krill oil as a source of omega 3? Are there effective vegan/vegetarian options? What to look for in a company that supplies top quality omega 3's? 

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Spiritual Partnerships: Why HSP Are Evolving From Traditional Relationships

Have you noticed how the entire human relationship experience is in transition? Perhaps you have noticed in yourself, or others, that we are expecting so much more out of relationships than we settled for before? We are no longer satisfied with remaining in stagnant or destructive relationships for the sake of security or survival.

HSP are driven by purpose and meaning, without it, we wither.

Although it seems as if women are initiating this transition, there are more and more men who also long for a spiritual partnership. So what is the difference and why should anyone be alert to these global changes in consciousness?

A spiritual relationship can be defined as:

A partnership between equals whose purpose is spiritual growth. Spiritual partners crave meaning, equality, harmony, sharing, passion, a shared purpose, and a reverence for life.

We are now more than ever, searching for partners with whom we can grow spiritually rather than just accomplish common and expected goals of society.

We are realizing that there's so much more to life than getting married, having a family, and paying off the mortgage. We hunger for deep connection, someone who 'gets us', someone who inspires us to become the best we can be.

It's like we are evolving from five sensory to multi sensory.

We are seeing past the short lived glitz and glamor of ego. Men and women now seem to have access to so much more awareness.

Instead we are drawn to people who are grateful, patient, caring, creative, fulfilled, loving, fully present in interactions, and evolving. These are common longings of HSP. We yearn for something much more than just physical attraction, or the ability to provide security.

Spirituality is a pilgrimage into self awareness and self responsibility. We eagerly seek to enter into meaningful and significant relationships that nurture spiritual growth of both partners. 

A spiritual partnership can be likened to friends, who are students learning the same subject at school and they help one another with their homework, which is spiritual growth. They are fellow travelers bound for the same destination. They are each responsible for their shared journey, and they are each committed to completing it. They only stay together as long as they are growing together.

Spiritual partners understand that the other person doesn't cause them pain but rather may trigger sources of it within themselves. They are seen as messengers showing us what wounds still need healing. They look inside themselves for causes of pain or suffering, rather than blame the other person, or external causes. They are willing to take full responsibility for the parts they bring into this partnership.They support each other in transforming their past wounds into wisdom.

Human consciousness is changing rapidly. Relationships of the past based on inequality, control, blame, dependence, and traditionally accepted roles are growing old, fast. Many of these relationships are coming to an end.

Many HSP are stepping up, and setting a higher standard for their experiences of relationships.

And that is empowering because we need to let go of the old and ineffective to make room for the new and deeply satisfying.

We can no longer silence our hearts because the voice of our Soul is growing louder. We can no longer pretend or lie to ourselves.

We find overwhelming joy in meeting like minded travelers, and when we find each other there is peace, joy, and a sense of 'knowing' unlike we have experienced ever before.

Spiritual partners encourage each others expression of uniqueness, and discovery of each others Soul purpose.  There's a shared agreement to be present for each other during life's challenging times.

This profound change is beginning with each of us, and our seeking a deeper commitment to our own spiritual growth. Unlike ever before, these kind of partnerships enable us to transcend our family history, dramas, and tragedies to grow spiritually and evolve.

We are growing tired and bored of discussing repetitive relationship problems and are more keen to find solutions.

We are losing interest in partners that are not interested in growth, or choose to stay 'unconscious', victims, who are irresponsible for their actions, words, and energy.

We are also accepting that to truly love someone, sometimes it may mean that you do have to let them go, because it is the most loving thing to do for ourselves, and them. We understand that some people can remain in our heart, but not in our life.

We are beginning to trust that everything will come to us at exactly the perfect time, including a spiritual partnership.

If we want to participate in changing the world, this is how we do it. With one conscious choice at a time.

Regarding partnerships, choose what is worthy of your interest, attention, and investment, and what is not. For every mindful and lovingly intentional choice you make, you personally contribute to raising consciousness at this time.

Depth, authenticity and purpose are fast becoming non-negotiable for many HSP. We are would rather be alone than participate in self betrayal.
 
For more empowering insights for HSP please connect via YouTube here.

What Every Exhausted & Overweight Woman Must Know About Her Thyroid

Having a basic awareness about the thyroid gland, what it does, how it works, and what it requires nutritionally, can have a huge impact on quality of life for many women! Undiagnosed low thyroid function can feel like an endless experience of frustration and madness.

I'm passionate about raising awareness about the importance of healthy thyroid function because I have personally seen many women suffer silently for 20-30 years. Every woman owes it to herself to become aware of her own body, and join the dots regarding thyroid health and common symptoms that may be presenting. For the purposes of this basic blog I will just be discussing hypothyroidism.

Hashimoto's disease, also known as autoimmune thyroiditis, is recognized as a common cause of hypothyroidism. It's classified as an autoimmune condition where the immune system cells attack the thyroid gland, causing inflammation. This reduces the thyroid's ability to make hormones.

Here are some staggering statistics. According to the American Thyroid Association:  More than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime.

• An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease.
• Up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.
• Women are five to eight times more likely than men to have thyroid problems.
• One woman in eight will develop a thyroid disorder during her lifetime.

These statistics are for Australia, provided by by Thyroid Australia Ltd.. These statistics show the prevalence of spontaneous hypo and hyperthyroidism. Its astounding for women aged between 51-60 the incidence is over 11%, and the rates keep going up with age. Is this not significant enough for people to be aware of?? Clearly by these statistics, as we get older we need to become more aware of our thyroid needing support.

Australian Prevalence - Spontaneous Hypo- and Hyperthyroidism
Age	Female		Male		Female to Male
	Number	%	Number	%
20 & Under	16,065	0.60%	4,055	0.14%	3.96
21 to 30	26,891	1.91%	7,856	0.55%	3.42
31 to 40	50,631	3.46%	16,361	1.06%	3.30
41 to 50	83,833	6.28%	23,349	1.74%	3.59
51 to 60	107,289	11.25%	25,563	2.59%	4.20
61 to 70	136,747	19.30%	25,247	3.68%	5.41
71 to 80	166,344	29.22%	21,869	4.85%	7.61
Over 80	123,815	41.85%	9,504	6.26%	13.03
TOTALS	711,614	7.56%	132,831	1.43%	5.36

Hypothyroidism results from altered or under secretion of thyroid hormone. It can present as  extreme and constant tiredness, slow metabolism, weight gain/ inability to lose weight, intolerance to cold, muscle weakness, recurrent infections, poor memory, brain 'fog', decreased concentration, depression, water retention, chronic constipation, dry skin, loss of hair and coarse hair, muscle and joint pain, high cholesterol, irregular periods, infertility, diminished sex drive, and slow healing are symptoms women can suffer from for decades. If you are experiencing more than a few of these symptoms, then perhaps its time to consider whether your thyroid needs support.

Hypothyroidism often goes undiagnosed or unrecognized. Women can take medication for depression, take  laxatives for constipation, endlessly apply expensive moisturizers for dry skin, go on 50 diets to reduce stubborn weight gain, suffer with painful fibrocystic breasts, and take diuretics for water retention. This becomes a very expensive search! Every measure could prove ineffective because this requires treating the cause, NOT just the symptoms.

So why is the thyroid gland so important? And what's the iodine connection? Consumption of iodine has fallen drastically since the 1970's. Iodine is absolutely essential for the thyroid gland, and for the creation for T3 and T4 (iodine rich hormones which are released from the gland and transported all over the body).

T4 is a pro-hormone, a pre-cursor to T3 which is ready to be activated in cells of peripheral tissues, liver, and pituitary gland.

Its important to know that when T3 reaches the nucleus of these cells it initiates energy, heat production, oxygen usage, glucose uptake, makes insulin receptors more sensitive to insulin, creates protein, and creates our 'happy hormones' such as serotonin and dopamine. So you can see the impact this has on how your whole body's metabolism!

Other very interesting facts about iodine is that iodine is a powerful sterilizing agent, helps fight off infections, it is anti parasitic, anti cancer and is an antioxidant. Iodine is essential for a healthy immune system!

Iodine deficiency can cause havoc on your whole body, not just thyroid problems and goitre (enlaged thyroid gland). It can also cause mental retardation, cretinism, some forms of cancer, including thyroid cancer, cysts on glandular tissue, such as ovaries and breasts. 

It appears that iodine deficiency is a risk factor for both breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease.

Painful fibrocystic breasts often reverse with sufficient iodine replacement. Supplementation with therapeutic doses of iodine has also been found to be very effective at totally eliminating ovarian cysts. The reason for this is because of iodine's effect on estrogen. It actually helps metabolize estrone (an estrogen which promotes breast cancer cell growth)

 
Women can endure debilitating symptoms for years, be misdiagnosed or sent away repeatedly with 'we cant find a clear problem so it must be all in your head', because their thyroid tests came back as 'normal'.
 
Thyroid tests need to be comprehensive and include these 6:

1. TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)
2. TPO Antibodies (thyroid peroxidase antibodies)
3. Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TG antibodies)
4. Free T3
5. Free T4
6. thyroid ultrasound.

If you have thyroid issues, are using supplements or adding dietary iodine be aware of this: bromide, fluoride and chloride are all chemicals that compete for absorption with iodine!

In the 1980s, bromine (a bromide derivative) replaced iodine as a bread dough ingredient. Bromine is a known breast carcinogen. In addition, to brominated vegetable oils (BVO's) commonly used in commercial baked goods, bromide can also be found in soft drinks (especially citrus like Fanta, Moutain Dew, Gatorade Orange, Sunkist pineapple, Powerade.

Read more here:http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/cocacola-drops-brominated-vegetable-oil-from-powerade/story-fnkgdftz-1226905582553

Methyl bromide is also a pesticide used mainly on strawberries. So, unknowingly consumption of these could be deeming your iodine supplements ineffective! Regular consumption of these products could slowly and silently be degrading our thyroid function. Our exposure to bromide is inescapable but knowledge gives you options to make better choices for yourself, and your family.

Bromide, chlorine and fluoride are often also included in water for swimming pools and spas. It takes approximately 15 seconds of washing your hands in chlorinated water for it to absorb through your skin! Unless you have a 'good' shower filter, most people absorb chlorine on a daily basis via inhalation while showering. If you're serious about healing your thyroid issues, please aware be of this. Its the daily small habits that accumulate and slowly cause bigger health issues later down the track.

There has been a lot of controversy regarding fluoridation of water but truth about the toxic effects on human health far outweigh what the public has been told. Skeptics can't deny that fluoridation IS mass medication because nobody can actually answer HOW MUCH fluoride we are ingesting daily via drinking tap water. Fluoride is found in most cities tap water and toothpastes, so if you have thyroid issues, be aware of what you're exposed to every day that could be halting your recovery. Smoking can also decrease thyroid hormone secretion.

The good news however is that if iodine is present in sufficient amounts, bromide, fluoride, and chlorine cannot affect the thyroid and are excreted from the body. Iodine has also been shown to increase the excretion of other toxic heavy metals such as mercury and lead.

One my favorite iodine supplements is Lugol's, which can be bought from a compounding pharmacy. For more empowering information about iodine and history of Lugols's read this..

http://www.altcancer.com/lugols.htm

Goitrogens also block iodine's function. Goitrongens are present in the Brassica family of food, and include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, mustard greens, spinach, radish, Brussels sprouts, kolrabhi, and horseradish. So perhaps reduce your ingestion of these if you are suspecting your thyroid is struggling.

Other nutrient deficiencies such as essential fatty acid, zinc and selenium can negatively affect thyroid function. So it's important that your body has optimal amounts of these nutrients if you're healing your thyroid function and need help with symptoms.

Find a practitioner who understands and supports your intention to heal. Someone compassionate who knows the frustration of searching for answers. Someone who can either empower you, or point you in the right direction of someone else who specializes in restoring thyroid health. There's some brilliant therapists emerging now because women are asking more questions.

I hope the brief information presented in this blog has shed some light on what your next step needs to be. Your quality of life depends on your level of awareness.


I highly recommend the book Running On Empty by Robyn Koumourou. She is a current board member of the support organization Thyroid Australia. This book is for any woman who's sick and tired of being sick and tired, and who finally wants to make sense of the madness. Very empowering and educating.

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