
Kelp / Seaweed
Contains chlorophyll.
Contains naturally chelated minerals.
Contains the only rich natural source of vegetable Vitamin D.
Contains 25 vitamins including Folic Acid, Vitamins A, B12 and D, often lacking in vegetarian diets. Contains sodium alginate, which actively helps remove radioactive elements and heavy metals from the body. Contains sterols, which are reported to exhibit anti-hypercholesterolemic activity, as has B-Sitosterol in humans.
The decision by the prestigious Institute of Medicine, the health arm of the National Academy of Sciences, could put some brakes on the nation’s vitamin D craze, warning that superhigh levels could be risky.
Most people in the U.S. and Canada, from age 1 to 70, need to consume no more than 600 international units of vitamin D a day to maintain health, the report found. People in their 70s and older need as much as 800 IUs. The report set those levels as the “recommended dietary allowance” for vitamin D.
That’s a bit higher than the target of 400 IUs set by today’s government-mandated food labels and higher than 1997 recommendations by the Institute of Medicine that ranged from 200 to 600 IUs, depending on age.
But it’s far below the 2,000 IUs a day that some scientists recommend, pointing to studies that suggest people with low levels of vitamin D are at increased risk of certain cancers or heart disease.
A National Cancer Institute study last summer was the latest to report no cancer protection from vitamin D and the possibility of an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in people with the very highest D levels. Superhigh doses (above 10,000 IUs a day) are known to cause kidney damage, and the report sets 4,000 IUs as an upper daily limit – but not the amount people should strive
Based on the past decade of the research, there are three primary reasons for the high rate of hypothyroidism that we now have in this country.
Estrogen-like Compound Pollution
Another factor that has generally been overlooked by the medical community is the recent introduction of estrogen-like compounds into our environment. These compounds make their way into the body through respiration, ingestion of contaminated food, and skin contact. Once in the body, they block thyroid hormone production and contribute to hypothyroidism. These compounds include such environmental pollutants as PCBs, dioxins, and pesticides such as lindane or dieldrin.
Besides increasing the risk of estrogen-dependent cancers, these estrogen-like pollutants block the production of thyroid hormones. Unfortunately, these pollutants can now be found in both our food and drinking water supplies. This is one of the primary reasons we are seeing problems like hypothyroidism showing up in our children. This is also one of the primary reasons for the use of a distiller for drinking water. Filters simply can’t remove all of these substances, and chlorine has no effect on them.
Iodine Deficiency
The major problem stems from a lack of iodine in the diet. Iodine is one of the essential components of thyroid hormones. Without sufficient iodine, the production of thyroid hormones is limited. NOTE: Potassium Iodide, laced into the salt supply, and food supply, IS NOT IODINE!
Iodine consumption has dropped dramatically in this country over the past 20 years. This drop is due in part to the depletion of our soils.
Selenium Deficiency
The second factor contributing to hypothyroidism is selenium deficiency. You might have heard how important this mineral is to your immune system, but chances are you haven’t heard how important it is to proper thyroid function. That’s unfortunate, because the effects of a selenium deficiency are very serious.
BACKGROUND: In this paper we examine some of the evidence linking iodine and selenium to breast cancer development. Seaweed is a popular dietary component in Japan and a rich source of both of these essential elements. We hypothesize that this dietary preference may be associated with the low incidence of benign and malignant breast disease in Japanese women. In animal and human studies, iodine administration has been shown to cause regression of both iodine-deficient goiter and benign pathological breast tissue. Iodine, in addition to its incorporation into thyroid hormones, is organified into anti-proliferative iodolipids in the thyroid; such compounds may also play a role in the proliferative control of extrathyroidal tissues. Selenium acts synergistically with iodine.
Other Thyroid-Related Problems:
Sales of the new wonder drug Viagra wouldn’t be quite so brisk if doctors paid more attention to thyroid imbalances. Normal sexual function requires normal thyroid function. In males, too little thyroid hormone depresses libido, while too much causes impotence. In females, too little thyroid hormone depresses libido and results in irregular periods with excessive and frequent menstrual bleeding (including miscarriages in extreme cases). Too much can reduce menstrual bleeding and even stop the menstrual cycle. Additional symptoms that can be associated with hypothyroidism include:
Decreased heart rate and cardiac output
Increased weight (pot belly)
Pain where the ribs meet the sternum
Memory loss
Unexplained crying
Morning headaches and dizziness
Loss of hair, especially outside of eyebrows
Constipation
Ringing in the ears
Allergies
A frog-like husky voice
Muscular sluggishness and weakness
Many of these problems stem from hypothyroidism’s
Next Article…
JUL
