Treating Seasonal Allergies Naturally

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Seasonal Allergies

As spring continues to move into summer, the weather change bringing the seasonal allergies we all dread. Runny nose, sore throat, red and itchy eyes – the list of symptoms can go on and on. Your first move has always been to go straight towards over-the-counter medicine to treat your symptoms, but have you ever thought of a natural approach to treating your seasonal allergies?

Understanding Allergies: What Are They?

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, an allergy is “when the body’s immune system sees a substance as harmful and overreacts to it.” Some of the most common allergies are to mold, pollen, dust mites, animal hair, food, and the environment. Seasonal allergy symptoms typically include “sneezing, itchy eyes, nose, or roof of the mouth, runny or stuffy nose, and watery, red, or swollen eyes.” However, many find themselves experiencing seasonal allergies for longer periods of time and at a more intense rate.

Why Treat Allergies Naturopathically?

Instead of trying to suppress the symptoms with pharmaceutical medicine, our holistic approach of treating allergic symptoms goes deeper to the cause as to why a person’s immune system is overreacting. Using herbs, homeopathy, and nutrients, naturopathic doctors aim to find and treat the root of your problem, instead of prescribing our patient’s medicine that will only temporarily treat the symptom.

Holistic Approaches to Treating Allergies

  1. Improve your diet – identify and take out food sensitivities and food allergies. This lowers the burden on the immune system reducing the allergic threshold of the immune system, thus making you more resilient to the allergy season. Avoiding trans fats can help as well.
  2. Integrate nutrients to stabilize the immune system, such as magnesium, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin B5 and B1.
  3. Support the stress system- when stress is high, the immune system is taxed and allergies can get worse. Adrenal support can help make you and your immune system more resilient.
  4. Hesperidin, a nutrient from citrus fruits, has been shown to reduce symptoms of allergies.
  5. A good quality probiotic is essential to supporting healthy immune system and allergy resilience.
  6. Try correcting hypothyroidism- balancing the thyroid has shown to improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis.
  7. Quercetin in high dose has been shown to be effective at stabilizing mast cells- 100mg twice daily. 

Dr. Escobedo has had great success helping her patients improve their immune health, reduce allergy symptoms and identify and eliminate food triggers. If you are suffering from allergies, or think you may have food or environmental allergies, come in and get your blood test today. If you’re interested in learning more about the services provided at Wild Women Wellness, you can visit our website or give us a call at (650)-271-9453 today!

 

The Vibrant Future of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy

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psychedelic-assisted therapy

The great thing about our modern medicine in today’s world is that new discoveries are being made everyday through research and new forms of thinking. Practices that were under-researched and deemed taboo decades ago are now being re-examined with a new perspective and research, with the hopes of finding new leads and cures to diseases. One in particular that is making waves and holds a promising future in the medical world is psychedelic-assisted therapy to help treat anxiety and depression.

What is psychedelic-assisted therapy?

The official definition of psychedelic-assisted therapy is “therapeutic practices involving the use of psychedelic drugs, particularly serotonergic psychedelics such as LSD, psilocybin, DMT, MDMA, mescaline, and 2C-B, primarily to assist psychotherapy.” Currently, medicine such as LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin are Schedule 1 after liberal use in the 60s. Recently MAPS has entered phase 3 trials using controlled doses and settings and under the care of doctors and psychiatrists. The results are impressive, Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which historically has had poor treatment outcomes is showing promising results after treatment with MDMA. And terminal cancer patients are finding peace and improved quality of life after a session with psilocybin (magic mushrooms).

Why is this important?

Put aside all your preconceived notions of what you know of psychedelics, and ask yourself if there is a medicinal value to these compounds. Doctors, psychiatrists, and scientist are diligently conducting experimental trials and gathering concrete data. Properly treating mental health diseases remains a struggle for the U.S. health system, and psychedelic-assisted therapy is the next road we are traveling down for help. The conversation about mental illness has been shifting, through social media campaigns to break-out TV shows surrounding teen mental health, and the societal change in its belief that vulnerability is not weakness. The stigma around mental health has completely changed, let’s shift the stigma around psychedelic so we can be open to new potential very effective medicine

What are the benefits?

Along with data comes personal anecdotes of patients who have had positive experiences with psychedelic-assisted therapy, including a musician sharing his experience with micro-dosing LSD and the positive effect it had on his life. Micro-dosing is the practice of taking small, incremented doses of psychedelic medicine on a consistent schedule to improve mental health or access creativity. People are sleeping better, eating better, and have a more mindfulness experience of life. This practice significantly alters one’s ability to process emotions, in the hopes of decreasing anxiety and depression in patients.

So what does the future look like for psychedelic-assisted therapy? It’s bright, full of color, hope, and the ability to help change lives for the better. With the proper research and doctors committed to the practice, there will be a new and improved way to help treat and cure mental illness.

For more information on our services at Wild Women Wellness, you can visit our website or give us a call at 1-650-271-WILD. For more information on psychedelic-assisted therapy see the Trip Treatment article in the New Yorker and MAPS.org.

Kava Kava and L-theanine – Natural Anxiety Remedies

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Kava Kava

With anxiety on the rise many people are looking for natural treatments to help alleviate symptoms. L-Theanine and Kava Kava are two supplements that show a lot of promise in giving sufferers relief without pharmaceutical intervention. Not only are these used for home use, they are also gaining headway in the social scene on the west coast.

L-Theanine: The Relaxation Amino Acid

Black tea is rich in L-theanine, an amino acid that helps promote the release of alpha brain waves which are linked to both physical and emotional relaxation. Research studies have associated L-theanine with a reduction in both psychologically and physiologically stress responses, easing the symptoms of anxiety.  How can you enjoy these benefits today? Enjoy brewing up your favorite green or black tea. A longer brew time of black tea can yield about 27mg of L-theanine and green tea about 7mg. A therapeutic dose is about 200mg daily and can be taken as a supplement away from food for the best result.

Kava Kava: An ancient root that promotes euphoria

Known as the “root of happiness” Kava Kava is a root used ceremonially in Pacific Ocean cultures. Traditionally it’s prepared by grinding the root and mixing with water. Kava has sedative, euphoriant, and entheogenic properties when ingested and anesthetic properties when applied topically. Typically kava is prepared as tea, and also comes as a powder, capsule or paste. Studies have shown it can provide significant relief from anxiety .

Kava usage guidelines

  • Liver toxicity – there has been some debate over the years of the safety of Kava and liver toxicity. However the root has been ingested in indigenous communities for over 1500 years with no indication of liver toxicity and recent review and research has established that ingestion of Kava is not linked to liver toxicity or long term liver damage.  I recommend consuming Kava in the traditional prepared form- as tea, powder or capsule, not as a tincture or alcohol extraction.
  • Alcohol – Kava kava should not be used with alcohol. It also should not be taken by individuals with a history of alcoholism.
  • Purity – Be sure the kava product you are taking contains only kava root.
  • Other medications – Let your healthcare provider know about all medications you are taking to ensure there are no drug interaction risks.

Kava Kava

Kava Bars: The New West Coast Craze

Kava Kava has become extremely trendy on the west coast – so much so that “kava bars” are popping up everywhere. MeloMelo in Berkeley is the bay area’s first exclusive kava kava bar and provides its patrons a place to get together and enjoy the incredible effects of the miracle root. Kava Lounge SF is a kava bar in the San Francisco area offering the same euphoric effects. Instead of hitting the club, skip the alcohol and try a Kava lounge for an amazing time.

It is important to work with a healthcare provider who can give you proper dosage and usage instructions when using any type of supplement. Contact Dr. Escobedo at Wild Women Wellness to discuss your health needs.

 

Anti-Anxiety Secrets of Natural Medicine: GABA & Phenibut

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Phenibut

Suffering with anxiety can be lonely and difficult. Utilizing traditional treatments can create even more apprehension as patients are left with a host of side effects from prescription medications. Naturopathy utilizes nature to help restore balance and a sense of calm. Neurotransmitter GABA and a derivative of GABA called phenibut can have a significant effect on mood based on how high or low their levels are in the body.

GABA & Phenibut in the Body

Low levels of the neurotransmitter GABA have been associated with panic and anxiety disorders, depression, alcoholism and bipolar disorders. GABA is not directly absorbed into the brain, taking GABA is not the best way to restore levels. Phenibut combined with activated B6 can be taken orally and has been shown to provide relief within an hour. Phenibut, which can cross the blood-brain barrier, will bind to GABA B receptors and have an anxiolytic effects. Phenibut is valuable as it is able to lower stress levels without adversely affecting an individual’s performance.

Yoga: The Secret Weapon

Physical activity is a great all-natural way to help the brain produce the feel good endorphins. Even a short exercise session of 20 minutes can help create a sense of calm and improve overall mood and outlook.  While all exercise can increase GABA, yoga, in particular, can act as a powerful catalyst to increased GABA levels.

There is substantial evidence that supports the correlation between yoga practices and GABA levels in the brain. A study was performed with 8 yoga practitioners and 11 control subjects. The yoga practitioners did 60 minutes of yoga posturing and breathing while the control group read quietly for an hour. Following the experiment, MRIs showed 27% increase in GABA compared to the control group. A second study compared 19 yoga practitioners with 15 walkers. The participants did yoga or walked for an hour three times a week for 12 weeks. In the end, Yoga practitioners had improved mood and anxiety compared to those who walked, and MRI results showed increased GABA in the thalamus.

Visit Wild Woman Wellness for Guidance & Support

Dr. Tanya Escobedo of Wild Woman Wellness is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in Redwood City, California. She uses special testing to safely evaluate neurotransmitter imbalance, and uses natural treatments to restore balance by addressing the root cause – without using drugs or causing adverse side effects.  Contact her today for your complimentary 15 minute phone consult.  

 

 

Pumpkin Pie Recipe

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Copyright: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/profile_tbralnina'>tbralnina / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Healthy, gluten free, home made pumpkin pie!

Yield: One 10-inch deep dish pie or two 8 or 9-inch shallow pies

Ingredients: 

  • 1-2 Pie Pumpkins
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 tbsp of fresh chopped ginger or 1tsp of dried ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional, I don’t use any)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1.5 cans coconut milk from the can

Directions.

Cut pumpkins into quarter and steam in a pot on the stove until soft. Let cool, then separate the pumpkin meat from the skin.

Combine the cooked pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, ginger, salt, eggs and coconut milk to food processor or Vitamix. Blend on high until smooth- start at low speed then work up or it will explode into a pumpkin disaster!

Pour into a Udo’s gluten free pie crust or your favourite pie crust.

Bake at 425 F (210 C ) for the first 15 minutes, then turn the temperature down to 350 F  ( 175 C ) and bake another 45 to 60 minutes, until a clean knife inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Recipe adopted from:

http://www.pickyourown.org/pumpkinpiejackolantern.php#zC27muHeZYzVsX0s.99

Erectile Dysfunction: What you need to know!

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Natural treatment for erectile dysfunction.

Men represent about 90% of my practice with Helix Mobile wellness and many of them report their erections are not what they used to be. We have good success improving erections with testosterone therapy, but it’s not always that simple. Erectile health is multifactorial and requires a systemic approach. The causes usually include a combination of psychological, pharmacological, vascular, neurological, and hormonal factors. The National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on Impotence (December 7-9,1992) defined erectile dysfunction as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance for at least 3 months. It’s estimated about 30 million men in the US struggle with erectile dysfunction1. Healthy erections are dependent on healthy circulation, healthy nitric oxide release, healthy hormones, healthy diet, and a sufficient amount of exercise. When evaluating why your erections are not healthy three factors must always be considered:

Medications: The Major Players

  • Antidepressants: Prozac
  • Blood pressure medications: Hydrochlorothiazides, Metoprolol
  • Anti-seizure medications: Gabapentin
  • Antihistamines: Cimitidine, Benadryl, Zantac.
  • Muscle relaxants
  • Pain medications: Oxycodone, Codeine, Gabapentin
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs): Naproxine, Ibuprofen
  • Other medications: Estrogen, Propecia
  • Drugs: nicotine, cocaine, alcohol

There are many other medications in these classes that cause ED, these are the most commonly prescribed.

Cardiovascular disease

Arteriosclerosis, damage to arteries, or narrowing of the vessels can lead to poor circulation. Poor circulation can interfere with erections becoming fully erect. Often erectile dysfunction is an early sign of cardiovascular disease. In my practice I work with two different cardiovascular labs that do extensive testing to evaluate the health of my patients cardiovascular system. We can pin point what, where and why there are imbalances in the cardiovascular system. For more information on these labs and getting yourself tested see: Boston Heart and Singulex.

Diabetes Type II

Diabetes Mellitus is a health condition where blood sugar levels are too high for too long, and is largely effected by diet. These chronically elevated blood sugar levels cause damage to arteries, vessels and tissues, leading to lack of blood flow and erectile dysfunction. Have your fasting blood sugar, insulin and HbA1C checked.

What can you do?

Improve your Diet

Cut the carbs. Avoid all simple carbs, refined carbs, and sugars such as cookies, pastries, pastas, breads, cereals, quick oats, white rice, packaged foods. Whole grains like quinoa or wild rice are fine in moderation.

Increase Anti-oxidant rich foods: berries, pomegranate, dark leafy greens, greens powder. Foods rich in color are rich in anti-oxidants!
Chose organic meats and dairy to avoid adding extra harmful hormones to your body. Keep red meat lean and no more than 3x per week, remove skin from chicken. Chose more wild fish like salmon, cod, and halibut.
Cut the caffeine. Watch out for those energy drinks, pre-workout drinks and other caffeinated beverages. Caffeine increases estrogen in men, as men age they already have a tendency to make too much estrogen. Too much estrogen is not good for your erections, your testosterone levels, your cardiovascular health or your prostate!  Keep coffee to no more then 3 cups per week.

Ask your doctor about your medications.

Be pro-active, know what you’re taking, is it working for you, and what are the safe alternatives. Be sure to consult with your doctor before discontinuing any medications, as rebound effects can be harmful if you’re not weaned off properly.

Natural Herbs & Nutrients

  • Gingko biloba: Increases circulation to body, brain and penis.
  • Tribulus terresteris:  Increases vasodilation and testosterone.
  • Lepidium peruvianum (Maca): Useful for those on SSRI anti-depressants, Lepidium increases testosterone release.
  • Garlic: Improves cholesterol, cardiovascular health and increases circulation.
  • L-Argenine + L-Citruline: increases nitric oxide causing vasodilation and better erections, like a natural viagra. Dosing is important: 1.5 grams of each daily for at least 6 weeks.
  • DHEA: can help optimize free testosterone and support healthy hormones.
  • Zinc + Copper: Helps to boost testosterone and sperm production
  • Omega 3 & 6: fish oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil all help to build testosterone, improve cardiovascular health and keeps the blood viscous thus helping circulation.

Balance your hormones

Have your sex hormones (testosterone, DHT, DHEA, estrogen) tested. If they come back low have a qualified doctor treat and monitor you on a well rounded bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (bHRT) program. Including testosterone therapy. For more on testosterone health see my men’s health blog here. 

Evaluate your thyroid and adrenal health. Stress and thyroid play a big role in overall hormone health.

(1) Nunes KP, Labazi H, Webb RC. New insights into hypertension-associated erectile dysfunction. Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension. 2012;21(2):163–170.

Why your thyroid medication may not be working for you!

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Artist: Ginger Slonaker. Used with permission

Artist: Ginger Slonaker. Used with permission

Are you taking Synthroid or Tirosint (levothyroxine)? Levothyroxine is the thyroid hormone T4. Did you know that the most active thyroid hormone in your body is T3. T3 is converted from T4 in the liver, kidneys and muscles. This conversion requires an enzyme called 

5’deiodinase, and the nutrients selenium, zinc, copper, vitamins A, B2, B3, B6,and C. If you are not converting your natural T4 or T4 medication to T3 you may not be getting enough circulating thyroid hormone. Factors that reduce conversion and will interfere with the efficacy of your thyroid medication include:

  • Stress
  • Environmental toxins (plastics and heavy metals)
  • Inadequate protein intake
  • High carbohydrate diet
  • Elevated cortisol 
  • Chronic illness
  • Decreased kidney or liver function
  • Inflammation
  • Medications (Birth control pills, Propanolol, Premarin….) 
  • Nutrient deficiencies
    • Iodine (high in Seaweed)
    • Iron (high red meat, mushrooms, kale)
    • Selenium (high in brazil nuts)
    • Zinc (high in shellfish)
    • Vitamins A, B2, B6, B12


Dr.E finds her patients feel much better one a T4/T3 combination treatment or a Natural thyroid alternative such as Nature-Throid or WP Thyroid. Ask your doctor to test your Free T3 levels, thehealthy range is 3.0-3.4ng/L and deficiency below 2.4ng/L. If you suspect your thyroid medication is not working for you ask Dr.Escobedo to evaluate your labs. 

Healthy snack ideas for kids

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ginger-slonaker-snack-ideas-kids

Artist: Ginger Slonaker. Used by permission

Choose snacks that are free of artificial food colorings, dyes, sweeteners, ones that are not genetically modified, and are low in sugar. The best snacks are tasty, balanced, and accessible. Balanced snacks are ones that combine fruit and or vegetables with proteins, fiber and fats. Such as apples and cheese, nuts and fruit, veggies and hummus. Choose whole fruit over fruit juice. Soda is not an acceptable snack for kids, ever. 

  • Fruit kebabs. Buy some kebab skewers and create colorful strawberry, pineapple, grape, kiwi, and apple kebabs which kids can grab and go.  Kids have fun making them, as well.
  • Frozen grapes. They have the consistency of mini-popsicles, yet no added sugar and plenty of flavonoids.
  • Ants on a log. Take celery sticks and smear them with almond butter and sprinkle with a line of raisins or dried cranberries.
  • Raw nuts & dried fruit: almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews with unsweetened dried apricots, peaches, mangos, dates, or apples. Nuts, especially walnuts, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Seeds. Seeds are a rich source of vitamin E and some, like pumpkin seeds, have omega-3 fatty acids. Roast seeds yourself for extra crunch and less refined salt. 200F for approx. 7 minutes.
  • Veggies and dip. There is no excuse for not having fresh vegetables on hand.  Buy pre-chopped, pre-washed, bagged veggies if necessary.  Any trans-fat free dip is fine. Children need high quality fat for neurological development, and fat helps you absorb many nutrients from vegetables. Carrots and hummus are a delicious combination. Hummus is available in most grocery stores and is rich in protein, or try carrots dipped in nut butter or a tablespoon of fresh avocado.
  • Rainbow melons. Slice honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon to make a candy-colored natural treat.
  • Nut butter (almond & hazelnut butters) on pears or apples.
  • Apple or pear slices with cheese.
  • Root fries.  Slice yams, sweet potatoes, rutabagas, beets, parsnips into wedges, place them in a glass baking dish, mix with extra virgin olive or a few dollops of coconut oil, spice with salt, pepper, rosemary, dill, etc. and bake at 375F for 45 minutes, or until crisp but not burnt.
  • Mix a bowlful of seasonal berries, including blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries.  Whip up some heavy whipping cream, add a splash of vanilla and 100% maple syrup.  Serve a bowl of berries with a scoop of the homemade whip cream for a delightful treat.
  • Roll ups. Layer thinly sliced turkey breast (ideally nitrate free), spinach leaves, mayonnaise (ideally soybean oil free) on a sprouted grain or whole grain tortilla.  Roll up and slice into tasty disks.  Roll ups also work with tuna salad, refried beans, and spreads such as hummus.
  • Fruit leathers. A much wiser choice than the exceedingly popular fruit snacks and fruit roll-ups without the added sugar.  Available in bulk quantities at Costco. Beware the “fruit juice” sweetened fruit snacks, if you read the label you will see that there is still a lot of sugar in these—another misleading marketing tool.
  • A spoonful of avocado, goat cheese, or cottage cheese with salt & pepper or just plain.
  • Brown rice cakes with nut butter and banana slices onto.
  • Whole plain greek yogurt with fresh squeezed lime. Even makes a good substitute for sour cream.
  • Raw energy balls
  • Leftovers.

For more healthy recipe ideas see The Whole Life Nutrition website. 

5 things you can do to survive the cold & flu season

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supplement

Cold and flu season is approaching, but don’t fret, there are lots of natural ways to stay healthy this year. The sooner you nip that sniffle in the butt the better. Here are 5 simple things you an the family can do to prevent the cold and flu season getting the best of you!

1. Sleep! Ever notice how after a long weekend of debauchery with your friends you get sick. The reason for this is we use sleep to for repair.  When we deprive ourselves of that vital restorative time, our immune system can get tired and we fall sick easily.  If you feel yourself starting to get sick the best thing you can do is go to bed early and get a good 8-10hrs of sleep.  

2.  Garlic. Garlic is nature’s anti-biotic, anti-fungal, and immune booster! But make note: to get the most of garlic’s natural healing properties you need to prepare it properly.  Chop up about 2 cloves of garlic, let sit for 5 minutes, this activates the allicin or medicinal constituent in garlic, then enjoy it raw or mostly raw. I like to sprinkle the raw garlic on a piece of toast with olive oil and salt.  Enjoy this immune boosting garlic bread, when you first feel a cold or flu coming on to prevent it from taking hold. Or once you are sick have up to 4-5 cloves per day, but don’t over do it if you are on blood thinners like warfarin.  

3.  Vitamin C.  Vitamin C has been shown to shorten the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms.  It has also been shown to boost the immune system to so you have a fighting chance! It’s good to take a maintenance dose of vitamin C throughout the cold and flu season, about 500-1000mg per day for an adult. Or 1000-2000mg if you need a boost while you’re sick.  Chose a vitamin C derived from a whole food source, with an equal amount of citrus bioflavonoids to citric acid, and one without a bunch of fillers and binders.    

4. Echinacea. Echinacea is an immune booster and has been shown to be especially helpful in prevention of upper respiratory tract infections (ie. Bronchitis).  You will benefit most from echinacea if you use it as soon as you feel that tickle in your throat or upon the first sign of impending flu doom!  Echinacea comes in three popular forms: E. purpurea, E. angustifolia, and E. pallida.  When choosing your liquid tincture of echinacea chose one with a mix of E. purpura whole plant, and E. angustifolia and E. pallida root for the best immune boosting effects. Echinacea is best taken short term (12 days or less) and at the onset symptoms.  

5. Avoid sugar. Sugar suppresses the immune system and will not serve you if you are trying to fight off the cold and flu.  This includes ingredients in many cold and flu medications on the market. Read ingredients and be picky about what you choose to nourish your body with.  

Good health to you and your family this season! 

Is Your Thyroid Slowing you Down?

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Your thyroid is one of the largest glands in your body, and is located just over your windpipe at the base of your throat. The thyroid produces thyroid hormone T3 and T4, these hormones increase the metabolic activity of your cells. The function of your thyroid includes:

  • Boosts metabolic activity of cells causing fat and carbohydrates to be burned for energy.
  • Decreases body weight.
  • Decreases cholesterol and triglycerides preventing atherosclerosis.
  • Increases basal body temperature and blood flow so you feel warm.
  • Helps secrete digestive enzymes so you can break down your food and assimilate nutrients properly.
  • Helps your muscles to contract and relax normally.

As you can see having a healthy balanced thyroid is an important part of good health and managing a healthy weight.  Subclinical hypothyroid is chronically under diagnosed in the traditional medical system. The best way to find out if your thyroid is healthy, is to to have a full thyroid workup: Total T3 and T4, free T3 and T4, TSH, reverse T3, iodine, Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase antibodies all checked by your healthcare provider.  The challenge is most doctors will only check your TSH, which doesn’t give us a complete picture of your thyroid health.  

Signs your thyroid is slowing you down if you are experiencing:

  1. Fatigue
  2. Difficulty losing weight despite healthy diet and being active
  3. Low mood or depression
  4. Dry skin and hair, nail break easily and hair falls out
  5. Constipation

 

You can also try this home test:

Take your oral temperature at 11am three days in a row. Menstruating women take your temperature on day 3,4, and 5 of your menstrual cycle.  Men and postmenopausal women can take your body temperature anytime of the month. A basal temperature between below 98.6F is a good indicator of low thyroid function. 

Healthy foods for your thyroid:

  • Red meat, spinach, mushrooms, and sea vegetables provides the body with iron which is needed to convert the amino acid phenylalanine to tyrosine a building block for thyroid hormones.  Sea vegetables, organic yogurt, grass fed cow’s milk, and eggs are an excellent source of iodine, the thyroid uses iodine to build thyroid hormone.
  • A targeted supplement protocol designed by your Naturopathic Doctor can significantly improve your thyroid and help maintain a healthy metabolism.