Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Foods and supplements that heal the thyroid
by Michael Edwards
(NaturalNews) Fresh, raw, organic produce heals. Produce heals everything. Other than that, foods high in iodine and foods that are high in selenium are known to aid thyroid function.
The thyroid gland requires iodine to function. Iodine taken by itself or ingested through fortified salt can be problematic. Good food sources include: meat, seafood, yogurt, milk, and eggs, but there are vegan sources as well.
Vegan Food Sources of Iodine
- Blackstrap molasses
- Seaweed
- Himalayan sea salt
- Navy beans
- Cranberries
Vegan Food Sources of Selenium
- Brazil nuts
- Shiitake/white button mushrooms
- Lima/pinto beans
- Chia seeds
- Brown rice
- Seeds (sunflower, sesame, and flax)
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Spinach
Supplements For Hypothyroidism
A number of vitamins and minerals are critical to thyroid health, and many herbs can help boost thyroid function as well. Due to the fact that thyroid conditions are associated with inflammation, anti-inflammatory herbs can aid in thyroid healing as well.B Vitamins
Vitamin B12 is found in every cell of the body. It is required for cellular metabolism and energy production, so obviously, without B12, the thyroid can't function optimally. B12 deficiencies are very common with hypothyroidism. A lack of B12 can cause and worsen hypothyroidism. Even though most people actually consume enough vitamin B12 in their diets, a deficiency occurs in many due to an inability to absorb the nutrient in the blood. This goes back to gut health. The body cannot absorb and assimilate nutrients properly with a poorly functioning digestive system.In addition, if the liver is not up to par, this radically inhibits the body's ability to utilize B12. Unless a knowledgeable naturopath recommends it for a limited amount of time, do not take vitamin B12 alone. We recommend a B vitamin complex with extra B12.
Vitamin D
Over a billion people worldwide do not get enough vitamin D. A recent study showed that vitamin D levels were significantly lower in people suffering from hypothyroidism than the general population. While vitamin D deficiencies and hypothyroidism do tend to take place together, a lack of vitamin D and pretty much every other disease coincide as well. It's unlikely anyone's hypothyroidism is primarily caused by a lack of vitamin D, but it's a certainty that the body will not fully heal without enough vitamin D.Vitamin A
We all know vitamin A is required for good vision. We also need vitamin A for the immune system, hormone synthesis, and the production of T3. Without enough vitamin A, thyroid hormone levels drop quickly.Bromelain
Bromelain is the enzyme that makes pineapple the superfood that it is. Bromelain helps reduce inflammation.Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that has many benefits, including the ability to significantly improve liver function, and it can help stabilize cortisol levels. This helps stimulate T3 and T4 hormone synthesis.Licorice Root
Licorice root can benefit the thyroid and adrenal glands for people who have low cortisol (adrenal fatigue).Reishi Mushroom
Reishi mushroom is a good source of selenium, and it has a ton of other benefits including boosting the immune system.Schisandra chinensis
This is another adaptogenic herb that helps the thyroid and has many other health benefits.Selenium
Selenium is the major cofactor for the key thyroid enzyme 5'deiodinase. This enzyme converts T4 into T3 and can help normalize the thyroid hormone balance.Zinc
A zinc deficiency has been shown to inhibit T3 production. Zinc also contributes to immune modulation, which may reduce thyroid antibody levels. Additionally, like selenium, zinc also contributes to 5'deiodinase activity.Iodine
A lack of iodine inhibits the body's natural detoxification, leads to cancer cell growth, and causes hypothyroidism. The thyroid absorbs iodine and, in doing so, replaces other toxins it has accumulated.It's also important to avoid excessive iodine intake for anyone with Hashimoto's or hyperthyroidism. As stated above, we highly recommend that any iodine consumed come from whole food sources.
Traditional Asian Herbs
- Coleus forskohlii(Indian coleus)
- Melissa officinalis(lemon balm)
- Ningpoensis(Chinese figwort)
- Prunella vulgaris(common selfheal)
- Radix scrophulariae(xuan shen)
Conclusion
If the gut is healed and the diet is healthy, in most cases, the thyroid will eventually heal. Unfortunately, it can take a very long time, often many months. With desiccated thyroid, the process is much faster, and relief from hypothyroid symptoms are immediate. But again, you must fix the gut! Be sure to check out How to Kill Candida and Balance Your Inner Ecosystem to heal the intestinal tract. And see Understand Hypothyroidism - Prevention and Natural Remedies for more information, including a specific supplemental protocol.Sources:
http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com
http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com
http://www.organiclifestylemagazine.com
http://www.naturalnews.com
About the author:
Michael Edwards is the founder, owner, editor-in-chief, and janitor for Organic Lifestyle Magazine and Green Lifestyle Market. At age 17, Michael weighed more than 360 pounds. He suffered from ADHD, allergies, frequent bouts of illness, and chronic, debilitating insomnia.
Conventional medicine wasn't working. While he restored his health through alternative medicine he studied natural health and became immersed in it.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Sunday, March 8, 2015
China defence budget 10 pct rise to defy slowing economy
BEIJING
Soldiers from China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) march ahead of the opening session of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at Tiananmen Sqaure in Beijing, March 3, 2015.
Credit: Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Parliament spokeswoman Fu Ying told reporters the actual figure would be released on Thursday, when the annual session of the largely rubber-stamp National People's Congress opens.
Last year, defence spending was budgeted to rise 12.2 percent to $130 billion, second only to the U.S. Pentagon's proposed $534 billion base budget.
The official Xinhua news agency said the 2015 target - which would put defence outlays at around $145 billion - would represent the slowest growth in military spending in five years.
China has logged a nearly unbroken two-decade run of double-digit budget increases, though many experts think the country's real defence outlays are larger than stated.
The military build-up has rattled nerves around the region, particularly as China has taken an increasingly robust line on its territorial disputes in the East and South China Seas.
Asked about China's defence spending, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan was concerned the figure "lacks transparency."
"It is true, regardless of China's defence spending, that the security situation in the region surrounding Japan is severe for various reasons," he added.
"On top of our own efforts in the field of diplomacy and defence, it is extremely important for our country to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance."
The U.S. Army's commander in Asia told Reuters China's rapidly increasing defense spending would only be a cause for alarm if Beijing used its resources to be provocative - as had happened in some parts of Asia.
General Vincent Brooks cited "bullying behaviors that happen in the sea and in the air," or "pressuring that's being done in bilateral dialogues with countries to be prepared to make a choice between the relationship with the U.S. and the relationship with China."
Other examples include "extraordinary maritime reclamation work" by China in the South China Sea, he said in an interview.
Brooks said China was investing in defense at a pace "that really no one can keep parallel with" and this showed the need for closer U.S. interaction with Beijing's military.
INDIA LAGGING
India is working to narrow the military gap with China, which has unnerved New Delhi with forays into the Indian Ocean.
An Indian defence official looking at regional security issues said the double-digit rise was no surprise.
"There was some talk it could slow down in view of the economic slowdown, but our sense was modernization will remain on track," the official said.
India has announced a $40 billion defence budget for 2015-16, representing a 7.9 percent rise over the allocation for 2014-15. Defence analysts said it may not be enough to acquire fighter planes, submarines and warships all at once.
In addition to the Obama administration's proposed $534 billion base budget, it also wants to spend $51 billion in war funds as it urged Congress to end cuts it says erode U.S. military power.
Fu said China faced greater challenges in modernising its military than "great powers".
"We have to rely on ourselves for most of our military equipment and research and development," Fu said.
"Fundamentally speaking, China's defence policy is defensive in nature. This is clearly defined in the constitution. We will not easily change this direction and principle."
Serving and retired military officers have said pervasive graft has undermined the armed forces' prowess and morale among the rank and file, a problem robust spending may help alleviate.
Former top military officers have been among the most powerful people ensnared as Chinese President Xi Jinping has pursued corrupt officials in all walks of life.
While Beijing keeps the details of its military spending secret, experts have said additional funding would likely go towards beefing up the navy with anti-submarine ships and developing aircraft carriers beyond a sole vessel in operation.
NAVAL SHOPPING LIST
"Carriers have definitely got to be on the list," said John Blaxland, Senior Fellow at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University in Canberra.
"But also we've seen a massive surge in the number of submarines, and of course everybody loves submarines. The intimidatory effect of a submarine is hard to beat."
Money would also likely go into cyber capabilities and satellites, Blaxland added.
China's leaders have routinely sought to justify the country's military modernisation by linking defence spending to rapid GDP growth. But growth of 7.4 percent last year was the slowest in 24 years, and a further slowdown to around 7 percent is expected in 2015.
"We have achieved so much success with reform and opening up, we have not relied on gunboats to develop roads, but instead we have relied on complete and mutual beneficial cooperation," Fu said.
"We have been successful on this road, the road of peaceful development."
U.S. military and diplomatic "rebalancing" towards Asia and Xi's crackdown on corruption in the People's Liberation Army, are among the other factors keeping military spending high, experts have said.
Beijing also says it faces a threat from Islamist militants in the far western region of Xinjiang, and is drafting an anti-terror law that will create a legal framework for sending troops abroad on counter-terrorism missions.
(Additional reporting by Sui-Lee Wee and Ben Blanchard in Beijing, David Brunnstrom in WASHINGTON; Matt Siegel in SYDNEY, Manuel Mogato in MANILA, Sanjeev Miglani in NEW DELHI and Kiyoshi Takenaka and Takashi Umekawa in TOKYO; Editing by Alex Richardson, Mike Collett-White and Christian Plumb
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