Thyroid Day Quotes

I tend to think of human beings as huge, rubbery test tubes, too, with chemical reactions seething inside. When I was a boy, I saw a lot of people with goiters. So did Dwayne Hoover, the Pontiac dealer who is the hero of this book. Those unhappy Earthlings had such swollen thyroid glands that they seemed to have zucchini squash growing from their throats. All they had to do in order to have ordinary lives, it turned out, was to consume less than one-millionth of an ounce of iodine every day. My own mother wrecked her brains with chemicals, which were supposed to make her sleep. When I get depressed, I take a little pill, and I cheer up again. And so on. So it is a big temptation to me, when I create a character for a novel, to say that he is what he is because of faulty wiring, or because of microscopic amounts of chemicals which he ate or failed to eat on that particular day.

department store, but because your body requires high-quality nutrients

When I flew back to Chicago that fateful day in 1954, I had a freshly signed contract with the McDonald brothers in my briefcase. I was a battle-scarred veteran of the business wars, but I was still eager to go into action. I was 52 years old. I had diabetes and incipient arthritis. I had lost my gall bladder and most of my thyroid gland in earlier campaigns. But I was convinced that the best was ahead of me.

Reproductive hormones aren’t the only hormones that affect how you look and feel and think. Among the most influential are the hormones produced by your thyroid gland. Too little thyroid, and you feel like a slug. Hypothyroidism makes you feel like you just want to lie on the couch all day with a bag of chips. Everything works slower, including your heart, your bowels, and your brain. When we perform SPECT scans of people with hypothyroidism, we see decreased brain activity. Many other studies confirm that overall low brain function in hypothyroidism leads to depression, cognitive impairment, anxiety, and feelings of being in a mental fog. The thyroid gland drives the production of many neurotransmitters that run the brain, such as serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. A

I threw hollowed self at your robust, went for IV drips, mercury detoxes, cilantro smoothies. I pressed my lips to you, fed you kale, spooned down coconut oil. I fasted for blood sugar, underboomed the carbs, chased ketosis, urine-stripped and slip-checked. Baked raw cocoa & mint & masticated pig thyroids. You were contemporary, toxic, I can’t remember what you were, you’re in my brain, inflaming it, using up the glutathione. I read about you on the Internet & my doctor agreed. Just take more he urged & more. You slipped into each cell. I went after you with a sinking inside and medical mushrooms for maximum oom, I plumbed you without getting to nevermore. O doom. You were a disease without name, I was a body gone flame, together, we twitched, and the acupuncturist said, it looks difficult, stay calmish. What can be said? I came w/o a warranty. Stripped of me—or me-ish-ness— I was a will in a subpar body. I waxed toward all that waned inside.

Endometriosis, or painful periods? (Endometriosis is when pieces of the uterine lining grow outside of the uterine cavity, such as on the ovaries or bowel, and cause painful periods.) Mood swings, PMS, depression, or just irritability? Weepiness, sometimes over the most ridiculous things? Mini breakdowns? Anxiety? Migraines or other headaches? Insomnia? Brain fog? A red flush on your face (or a diagnosis of rosacea)? Gallbladder problems (or removal)? — PART E — Poor memory (you walk into a room to do something, then wonder what it was, or draw a blank midsentence)? Emotional fragility, especially compared with how you felt ten years ago? Depression, perhaps with anxiety or lethargy (or, more commonly, dysthymia: low-grade depression that lasts more than two weeks)? Wrinkles (your favorite skin cream no longer works miracles)? Night sweats or hot flashes? Trouble sleeping, waking up in the middle of the night? A leaky or overactive bladder? Bladder infections? Droopy breasts, or breasts lessening in volume? Sun damage more obvious, even glaring, on your chest, face, and shoulders? Achy joints (you feel positively geriatric at times)? Recent injuries, particularly to wrists, shoulders, lower back, or knees? Loss of interest in exercise? Bone loss? Vaginal dryness, irritation, or loss of feeling (as if there were layers of blankets between you and the now-elusive toe-curling orgasm)? Lack of juiciness elsewhere (dry eyes, dry skin, dry clitoris)? Low libido (it’s been dwindling for a while, and now you realize it’s half or less than what it used to be)? Painful sex? — PART F — Excess hair on your face, chest, or arms? Acne? Greasy skin and/or hair? Thinning head hair (which makes you question the justice of it all if you’re also experiencing excess hair growth elsewhere)? Discoloration of your armpits (darker and thicker than your normal skin)? Skin tags, especially on your neck and upper torso? (Skin tags are small, flesh-colored growths on the skin surface, usually a few millimeters in size, and smooth. They are usually noncancerous and develop from friction, such as around bra straps. They do not change or grow over time.) Hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia and/or unstable blood sugar? Reactivity and/or irritability, or excessively aggressive or authoritarian episodes (also known as ’roid rage)? Depression? Anxiety? Menstrual cycles occurring more than every thirty-five days? Ovarian cysts? Midcycle pain? Infertility? Or subfertility? Polycystic ovary syndrome? — PART G — Hair loss, including of the outer third of your eyebrows and/or eyelashes? Dry skin? Dry, strawlike hair that tangles easily? Thin, brittle fingernails? Fluid retention or swollen ankles? An additional few pounds, or 20, that you just can’t lose? High cholesterol? Bowel movements less often than once a day, or you feel you don’t completely evacuate? Recurrent headaches? Decreased sweating? Muscle or joint aches or poor muscle tone (you became an old lady overnight)? Tingling in your hands or feet? Cold hands and feet? Cold intolerance? Heat intolerance? A sensitivity to cold (you shiver more easily than others and are always wearing layers)? Slow speech, perhaps with a hoarse or halting voice? A slow heart rate, or bradycardia (fewer than 60 beats per minute, and not because you’re an elite athlete)? Lethargy (you feel like you’re moving through molasses)? Fatigue, particularly in the morning? Slow brain, slow thoughts? Difficulty concentrating? Sluggish reflexes, diminished reaction time, even a bit of apathy? Low sex drive, and you’re not sure why? Depression or moodiness (the world is not as rosy as it used to be)? A prescription for the latest antidepressant but you’re still not feeling like yourself? Heavy periods or other menstrual problems? Infertility or miscarriage? Preterm birth? An enlarged thyroid/goiter? Difficulty swallowing? Enlarged tongue? A family history of thyroid problems?

Soy Even though a wide range of products made from soybeans have been marketed as a health food in recent years, research proves that (unfermented) soy is extremely unhealthy. Most soy products in the United States are not fermented. Unfermented soy is a problem for the following reasons: 1. It contains dangerous quantities of antinutrients, which are substances that block the body from absorbing important nutrients. The most notable are hemagglutinin, goitrogens, and phytic acid. Hemagglutinin promotes unhealthy blood clotting and blocks oxygen. Goitrogens prevent iodine from reaching the thyroid. Without iodine, the thyroid can enlarge and malfunction. Phytic acid blocks the body's absorption of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. 2. It has lots of phytoestrogens, which do damage by mimicking estrogen inside the body. 3. It contains lysinoalanine, a known toxin, and nitrosamines, which are known carcinogens. 4. It has harmful levels of the mineral manganese and dangerous amounts of aluminum from being processed in aluminum containers. 5. It has a high risk of contamination with mycotoxins. 6. It is almost always genetically modified. As you can see, soy has pretty much everything going against it. Fortunately, it's easy to avoid processed soy in the United States because it must be listed as an ingredient on product labels. Most soy in Asian cuisine is different because it's been fermented. Fermentation greatly decreases the antinutrient and phytic acid levels. Fermented soy products include tempeh, miso, and natto. Most of these products are still highly processed and artificial, though, and soy sauce naturally contains MSG. To avoid GMO soy, make sure that any fermented soy product you eat is organic, or better yet just don't eat it at all. Even in areas of the world like Asia where fermented soy is common, people actually don't eat much of it. A 1998 study found that Japanese men eat only about eight grams of soy per day (a teaspoon or two). The average misguided American consumes far more than this when he drinks a glass of soy milk or eats a soy burger (and these soy products aren't even fermented).

Another class of fats that warrant concern are polyunsaturated fatty acids, also known as PUFAs. Excessive intake of PUFAs, (found in industrial oils such as canola, corn, safflower, and soybean; margarine and buttery sprays and spreads; and assorted baked, frozen, packaged and processed foods) can also compromise health. These fats also oxidize easily and may contribute to systemic inflammation, as the immune system tries to deal with the oxidation. They may be a major factor in arterial oxidation and inflammation. Your endocrine system is especially sensitive to PUFA consumption, which can lead to symptoms such as a slowed metabolism, low energy levels, and sluggish thyroid function.

I first met this young client when he was eight years old. He was very shy with a calm disposition. He had been diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder and his parents had hired a special tutor. His mother and father were already clients of mine, and his mother was very conscientious with his diet. She was most concerned about his extreme fatigue, how difficult it was to get him up in the morning, and how difficult it was for him to fall asleep. He was also falling asleep at school. In addition, she was concerned he was having difficulty remembering his schoolwork. With sensory processing disorder, children may have difficulty concentrating, planning and organizing, and responding appropriately to external stimuli. It is considered to be a learning disorder that fits into the autism spectrum of disorders. To target his diet and nutritional supplementation, I recommended a comprehensive blood panel, an adrenal profile, a food sensitivity panel, and an organic acids profile to determine vitamin, mineral, and energy deficiency status. His blood panel indicated low thyroid function, iron deficiency, and autoimmune thyroid. His adrenal profile indicated adrenal fatigue. His organic acids test indicated low B vitamins and zinc, low detoxification capacity, and low levels of energy nutrients, particularly magnesium. He was also low in omega-3 fatty acids and sensitive to gluten, dairy, eggs, and corn. Armed with all of that information, he and I worked together to develop a diet based on his test results. I like to involve children in the designing of their diet. That way they get to include the foods they like, learn how to make healthy substitutions for foods they love but can no longer eat, and learn how to improve their overall food choices. He also learned he needed to include protein at all meals, have snacks throughout the day, and what constitutes a healthy snack. I recommended he start with a gut restoration protocol along with iron support; food sensitivities often go hand in hand with leaky gut issues. This would also impact brain function. In the second phase of his program, I added inositol and serotonin support for sleep, thyroid support, DHA, glutathione support (to help regulate autoimmunity), a vitamin and mineral complex, fish oils, B-12, licorice extract for his adrenals, and dopamine and acetylcholine support to improve his concentration, energy, and memory. Within a month, his parents reported that he was falling asleep easily and would wake up with energy in the morning. His concentration improved, as did his ability to remember what he had learned at school. He started to play sports in the afternoon and took the initiative to let his mom know what foods not to include in his diet. He is still on his program three years later, and the improvements

Alpha-lipoic acid is safe, but more than 1000 mg per day may decrease thyroid hormone. I recommend 300 to 600 mg per day with food. It combines well with the next supplement, myo-inositol.

Two men, who on the previous day had lost their appendices, writhed from their beds and tried to get at the constable and his father with a view to murdering them. A chap with a broken thigh struggled to release himself from the blocks and tackle in which he was imprisoned and do the same. And a fellow of fifty who that day had had half his thyroid taken away started shouting for his mother.

Since both too little and too much iodine can have a negative effect on thyroid function, taking 150 micrograms a day is sufficient and protective.

When you add to the picture the common themes of insufficient sleep and overly stressful lifestyle patterns with insufficient downtime, you have a high-stress approach that puts you at risk of total operating system failure: blowing out your thyroid, frying your adrenal glands, picking up a mysterious autoimmune illness, or landing with other world-of-hurt conditions that often escape the diagnostics of Western medicine.

Vitamin C contributes to the production of thyroid hormones. It’s commonly known to be found in citrus foods, but broccoli, bell peppers, and Brussels sprouts are also very high in vitamin C. If you are not eating these foods regularly, supplementation with 500mg to 3,000mg daily can be beneficial.

One of the most important choices you can make is to choose to love yourself instead of choosing to attack yourself.

In addition, you’re eating tons of soy—again, on the advice of your doctor. You’ve probably been led to believe that soy is a health food—but in reality, it’s a hormone disruptor that may cause your thyroid, the “conductor” of your body’s hormones, to become underactive.

Nutritional compounds for the “Repair” phase include: •     Nutritional compounds to support gastric inflammation, increase mucous formation, and maintain healthy gastric lining. Key ingredients include deglycyrrhizinated licorice root, glutamine, flavanoids (catechin), bismuth citrate, gamma-oryzanol, rhubarb officiniale, and mastic gum. • L-Glutamine powder: 1,500 mg three times a day

Consider Completing a Food Diary I find that putting together a food diary can be valuable. After all, certain foods can act as triggers, or can make someone more susceptible to Hashimoto’s by increasing the permeability of the gut. I would recommend putting together at least a one-week food diary because a person’s eating habits can vary depending on the day of the week. For

Essentially, you want to follow a strict AIP diet for a minimum of 30 days, and then after 30 days, you can choose to reintroduce certain foods one at a time, every three days, and pay close attention to symptoms. Another benefit of the elimination/reintroduction diet is that it is more cost effective than doing food sensitivity testing. Testing for food allergens can be expensive, which would be fine if the information provided was completely accurate. However, as you’ll read shortly, food sensitivity testing is far from perfect.

Since neither an elimination diet nor food sensitivity testing is a perfect method for detecting food sensitivities, in some cases, it might make sense to combine both. You can choose to do a food sensitivity panel initially, and combine this with an elimination diet. For example, before starting the elimination diet, the person would get the blood draw for the food sensitivity panel. Then, while waiting for the results, they can follow an elimination diet for 30 days, and then upon receiving the results of the food sensitivity test they would stop eating any foods they test positive for. For example, if they tested positive on the food sensitivity panel for broccoli, carrots, and a few other “allowed” foods, they will not only stop eating these foods, but they won’t reintroduce these foods until their gut has been healed.

In simple terms, we must eliminate the things that make the immune system believe that we are in danger and that we need to conserve energy and resources.

Some scientists will go as far as to say that all autoimmune conditions are the same condition but with a different target.

New research in autoimmune disease suggests that intestinal permeability always precedes autoimmunity.

people with Hashimoto’s and chronic hives often have the gut protozoa Blastocystis hominis and that eradicating the protozoa can resolve hives, IBS, and even Hashimoto’s. Scientists in Bosnia first published this connection in 2015, though I’ve seen it clinically since 2013.

New research also supports the fact that autoimmunity is reversible. If one of the three factors is removed, a person will no longer present with autoimmune disease.

The two antibody tests with elevated results in cases of Hashimoto’s are: •​Thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO antibodies) •​Thyroglobulin antibodies (TG antibodies)

new research suggests 10 to 50 percent of people with Hashimoto’s may not test positive for antibodies. In

In Hashimoto’s, the thyroid gland is not sluggish at putting out hormones; rather, the immune system has identified thyroid cells as foreign or harmful substances and has developed antibodies to attack these cells. This attack leads to inflammation and damage of the cells that produce thyroid hormones. As the thyroid cells are damaged and destroyed by the immune system, thyroid hormones that are usually stored inside of the cells are released into circulation, leading to an excess level of thyroid hormones. This causes a transient hyperthyroidism and may even cause a toxic level of thyroid hormone in the body (known as thyrotoxicosis or Hashitoxicosis). Eventually, the extra hormone is cleared out of the body, and the person becomes hypothyroid as the damaged thyroid gland has a difficult time making enough thyroid hormone.

A big part of changing your perception has to do with truly getting to know yourself and then honoring yourself for who you are rather than feeling guilty about who you may or may not be.

Monitoring and Supporting Hashimoto’s ​• ​After Hashimoto’s is assessed with a positive TPO and/or TGB serum antibody test, establish TH-1 or TH-2 dominance with an immunological serum test. Look at the percentage values, not the total. ​• ​A TH-1 serum profile includes interferon, IL-2, IL-12, interferon-gamma, and TNF alpha. ​• ​A TH-2 serum profile includes IL-4, IL-13 and IL-10. ​• ​If the TH-1 cytokines are high, then modulate the autoimmune condition by supporting the TH-2 pathway with TH-2 stimulators. ​• ​If the TH-2 cytokines are high, then support the TH-1 pathway with TH-1 stimulators. ​• ​A CD4/CD8 (T-suppressor cell/T-helper cell) ratio of 2 or higher is an indication that an active antigen is driving the autoimmune response. This test is also a baseline from which to monitor overall progress. ​• ​If an active antigen or hapten is at work, then stimulate the dominant TH pathway to eradicate the antigen or drive it into remission. ​• ​If both TH-1 and TH-2 stimulators make you feel worse, a hapten may be driving the autoimmune condition. In that case, restore the immune barriers. ​• ​In all instances, modulate immune T-helper cell response with therapeutic doses of emulsified vitamin D plus cofactors, fish oil, and liposomal glutathione and superoxide dismutase cream. Have a licensed healthcare practitioner qualified to work with vitamin D therapy prescribe the appropriate dose. ​• ​Add in nutritional compounds individually every three days to monitor response. ​• ​Remove gluten and possibly dairy from the diet and support other systems, organs, and functions in the body.  (Managing blood sugar, digestive function, and adrenal health using functional medicine principles is explained in later chapters.) ​• ​Monitor whether support is effective with follow-up TSH, CD4/CD8, and TH-1 and TH-2 cytokine tests.

2. Eliminate the mycotoxins from your body. This can be accomplished through either prescription drugs or natural agents. Cholestyramine. This is an FDA-approved medication used to lower elevated levels of cholesterol. Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker accidentally discovered how cholestyramine binds to mycotoxins in the small intestine (along with cholesterol and bile salts). The recommended dosage is 9 grams, taken four times per day on an empty stomach. Some forms of cholestyramine include aspartame, so you might want to consider getting a compounded form. Constipation is a common side effect; thus, you want to make sure to stay well hydrated and to consume plenty of fiber. Here are some natural treatment options for binding mycotoxins: Bentonite clay, zeolite, and activated charcoal. These natural agents can bind to aflatoxins,[1] which we’re commonly exposed to through the food. However, according to Dr. Shoemaker, these natural agents aren’t effective when binding to other mycotoxins. Thus, while you can always start by taking these natural binding agents, if you don’t notice a significant improvement in your symptoms, then you should consider taking cholestyramine.

The Role of Prokinetics in Preventing a Relapse Prokinetics help to stimulate the MMC, and, since most cases of SIBO are caused by a dysfunctional MMC, taking prokinetics can be important to prevent a relapse from occurring after receiving treatment for SIBO. The MMC works in a fasting state; thus, while many people in general eat regularly throughout the day, those with SIBO probably shouldn’t snack in between meals, and should go at least 12 hours overnight without eating. Here are some of the prokinetics that can be used: Iberogast Ginger 5-HTP Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) Low-dose erythromycin Low-dose Prucalopride

The recommended daily intake of iodine is 150 mcg, which is what is in about two sheets of nori,31 the seaweed that’s used to make sushi. There are all sorts of seaweed snacks on the market now, but most, if not all of them, seem to have added red-light ingredients. So I buy plain nori and season the sheets myself by brushing them with jarred pickled ginger juice and lightly sprinkling on wasabi powder before recrisping them at 300°F for about five minutes. Sprinkling just a half teaspoon of the seaweeds arame or dulse onto dishes you’re preparing may also get you your iodine for the day. Dulse is sold as pretty purple flakes you can just shake onto your food. I do caution against hijiki32 (also spelled hiziki), because it has been found to be contaminated with arsenic. I also caution against kelp, which may have too much iodine; just a half teaspoon of kelp could exceed the daily upper limit. For the same reason, you shouldn’t get into a regular habit of eating more than fifteen sheets of nori or more than a tablespoon of arame or dulse a day.33 Too much iodine can cause excessive thyroid gland activity.34

As for how much selenium you should take daily, this varies from person to person. When taking a selenium supplement, a common dose recommended by healthcare professionals is 200 mcg/day. What type of selenium supplement should you take? Although I commonly recommend selenomethionine to my patients, whole food selenium supplements are also something to consider, and evidence suggests that taking a yeast-based selenium supplement is more bioavailable than either selenomethionine

Most cases of Hashimoto’s are Th1 dominant conditions. However, this isn’t always the case, and the only way to know for certain is to test the cytokines. A few years ago, such testing was more common, as many natural healthcare professionals would test the cytokines through the blood to determine if someone was Th1 or Th2 dominant and then recommend specific nutrients or herbs to balance these pathways. Although some healthcare professionals continue to do such testing on their patients, cytokine testing isn’t as commonly utilized these days.

What causes hypochlorydria (low stomach acid)? Some of the different factors that can cause low stomach acid include nutrient deficiencies, hypothyroidism, and intestinal dysbiosis, including SIBO. Signs of a HCL deficiency: sense of fullness during or after eating, bloating or belching immediately after eating, undigested food in the stool, one or more nutrient deficiencies (especially iron and vitamin B12), and brittle fingernails Recommended dosage of betaine HCL: 350 to 3,500 mg/day Note: If taking betaine HCL, please make sure you do so with meals high in protein (at least 15 grams). You also want to start with a low dosage (i.e., one capsule with each meal), and if you experience heartburn or any other type of burning sensation, this is a sign that you are taking too much and should decrease the dosage.

I had always been a person who put everyone else’s needs before my own, so naturally I was drawn to the healing professions, but sadly my care for others led me to put off my own care.

Natural Ways to Help Depression Depression is not one illness. Like anxiety, the pandemic spawned a whole new level of people being diagnosed with depression and placed on antidepressant medication, without ever getting a proper evaluation or trying simple fixes. Here are nine common things I do for patients before prescribing antidepressant medication. 1. Check for and (if necessary) correct thyroid hormone abnormalities. 2. Work with a nutritionally informed physician to optimize your folate, vitamin B12, vitamin D, homocysteine, and omega-3 fatty acids. I’m convinced that without doing these nutritional fixes, patients are less likely to respond to the medications. 3. Try an elimination diet for three weeks. 4. Add colorful fruits and vegetables into your diet. 5. Eliminate the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts). See days 22, 116–117. 6. Exercise—walk like you are late for 45 minutes four times a week. This has been found to be as effective as antidepressant medication.[1] 7. Add one of the following supplements to your daily routine: Saffron 30 mg/day; curcumin, not as turmeric root but as Longvida, which is much more efficiently absorbed; zinc as citrate or glycinate 30 mg (tolerable upper level is 40 mg/day for adults, 34 mg/day for adolescents, less for younger kids); or magnesium glycinate, citrate, or malate, 100–500 mg with 30 mg of vitamin B6. 8. Consume probiotics daily. 9. Try morning bright light therapy with a therapeutic lamp of 10,000 lux for 20–30 minutes. If someone comes to me with depression, I order screening labs, teach them not to believe every negative thought they have, give them basic supplements (saffron, zinc, curcumins, and omega-3s), and encourage them to exercise. Many people never need medication if they follow through with the program. If the above interventions are ineffective, I’ll try other nutraceuticals or medications targeted to their specific type of depression (take the test at brainhealthassessment.com).

Rabbit & Chicken Combo Ingredients: 3¾ pounds ground rabbit (ground rabbit typically includes the meat/bones/head which includes the heart, liver, and thyroid gland – check with your supplier) ¾ pound chicken thigh meat and skin (no bone) 14 oz chicken hearts (if not using – add 14 oz chicken meat/bones to recipe and add 4000 mg taurine) 0 or 7 oz chicken livers (if the ground rabbit contains liver – do not add) 2 cups water 4 egg yolks (raw egg whites contain avidin which depletes biotin in the body) 4000 mg wild salmon oil (never cod liver oil) 200 mg vitamin B complex 800 IU vitamin E 0 or 1.5 teaspoons lite iodized salt (if the ground rabbit contains the thyroid gland – do not add) 4000 mg taurine additionally, if freezing for more than a week Directions: 1. Rinse the meat, under cold running water, to remove surface bacteria. 2. Chunk up most of the chicken muscle meat with poultry shears. 3. Grind the rest of the chicken muscle meat, skin, liver (if using), and heart (if using) and add to ground rabbit. Stir well. 4. Measure two cups of water into a bowl and whisk in the egg yolks, salmon oil, vitamin B complex, vitamin E, lite iodized salt (if using), and added taurine (if using in place of hearts and/or adding because of freezing). 5. Mix the chunked meat, ground mixture and supplement mixture together. 6. Fill containers. Leave room in the containers for expansion from freezing. Mark the containers with the contents and date and freeze. Makes approximately 6¼ pounds (100 oz). Cats eat about 4-5 ounces per day. This recipe is not recommended for cats with chronic renal disease.

Karen admitted to Levenkron she was taking an unfathomable number of laxative tablets—eighty to ninety Dulcolax a night. The ingestion of large quantities of laxatives did not surprise Levenkron. In fact, it was a common practice for many anorexics. “For quite some time, I was taking sixty laxatives at once,” admits Cherry O’Neill. “Mainly because that was how many came in the box. . . . I would ingest the entire contents so as not to leave any evidence.” What did stun Levenkron was Karen’s next casual disclosure. She was also taking thyroid medication—ten pills a day. He was shocked, especially when she explained that she had a normal thyroid.

To keep your thyroid from turning up your thermostat and burning away those hard-won calories, make sure you include at least one serving of iodine-trapping foods every day in your diet.

Furthermore, many of the same toxins that squeeze the life out of the thyroid affect other systems in the body—weight control, blood sugar balance, even proper brain/body function. These toxins, mostly endocrine disruptors, appear in hundreds of cosmetics, plastic bottles, metal cans, toys, and the pesticides on food that isn’t organic. They interfere with production, release, transportation, activity, and elimination of natural hormones, such as thyroid, insulin, estrogen, and testosterone—and as a result may cause a wide range of problems with the brain and body.

Cutting carbs, protein, and fat to the extent that you get insufficient total calories and overall nutrition is a bad deal. Our genetics are highly averse to overexercising; the frequent depletion and fatigue is perceived to be a matter of life or death, as it was in primal times. Consequently, our appetite and reproductive hormones rage in response to the extent that we not only overeat, but also that we direct those calories to be stored as fat instead of burned. When you add to the picture the common themes of insufficient sleep and overly stressful lifestyle patterns with insufficient downtime, you have a high-stress approach that puts you at risk of total operating system failure: blowing out your thyroid, frying your adrenal glands, picking up a mysterious autoimmune illness, or landing with other world-of-hurt conditions that often escape the diagnostics of Western medicine.

It takes time to create change in a system as big as our medical system.