Please note that this post is based on a recent radio broadcast from Naturopathic Pharmacist Ben Fuchs. You can listen to him week days at www.brightsideben.com on Genesis Communications Network. This post in no way is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or counsel you. If you have a medical symptom you are advised to consult with your qualified medical practitoner. This post is for your information and entertainment only.
This posting is sponsored by the World Health Team, distributors for Kyani International and Youngevity. Order your Kyani products for chronic illness recovery and high sports performance here . Order Youngevity products including the Beyond Tangy Tangerine and the "Mighty 90" essential nutrients here.
Part 2)
Estrogen is a stress hormone. This family of hormones can affect every aspect of our health. In the body only a few drops of Estrogen are made. However, those few drops act as the controllers for thousands of bodily functions. If you create an imbalance of hormones there will be malfunctions in the cells of the body. Now, pay attention. If you want to learn how to reverse chronic illness, maintain mental agility, avoid obesity, keep your sexual health vibrant you had better understand these simple health strategies. If this information sounds confusing that is because it is rarely touched upon by the mainstream information sources.
Estrogen is in the environment around us in plants and synthetics. Plus your body makes it. If you want to retain your health you must learn how to cope with too much estrogen in your environment and counteract its effects. Otherwise, you run the risk of being overwhelmed by all sorts of illnesses and conditions including: migraines, hot flashes, man boobs, obesity, excessive cell growth, fibromyalgia, digestive problems, cancer, inflammation, high blood pressure, heart problems, acne, hair loss, and more.
The front line defense against too much estrogen is Vitamin E (mixed mixed Tocopherols and Tocotrienols). According to research conducted by Dr. Barrie Tan, an advisor to Kyani, one should never take Tocopherols and Tocotrienols together because they tend to cancel each other out. See the "white paper" at this blog about that. Of the two forms of Vitamin E the Tocopherols are derived from animals and the Tocotrienols are derived from plants. Tocotrienols are far more active than Tocopherols and are more useful than the Tocopherols in protecting you from cellular damage. Both forms of Vitamin E come in Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma structures. That means that the Tocopherols and Tocotrienols have 8 forms all together. Of those 8 forms Delta and Gamma Tocotrienols are the most beneficial to the body with Delta being the most protective form of all. The Kyani "Sunset" product which is derived from the Anatto Bush is made with 100% Delta Tocotrienols.
Curcumen a is another major protecter against too much Estrogen. It is derived from Turmeric which is another important natural ingredient in the fight to counteract Estrogen. Curcumen can be used as a spice and is available from Youngevity in the "Cell Shield" product which also contains Resveratrol, Quercetin and Turmeric. Both Curcumen and Tocotrienols have been implicated in the effective termination of Cancer cells as well as other health benefits for the heart, brain, blood vessels and organs. Curcumen also protects against other environmental threats such as radiation, heavy metals and pesticides.
Iodine may be the most important element in protecting the body against excess Estrogen. Two billion people on the planet are deficient in this critically important element. Iodine deficiency in America of this element has risen by more than 300% in the last few years leading to significant increases in diseases such as Breast Cancer, Endometrian Cancer, Prostate Cancer and Thyroid Disease.
No element is more effective in the remediation of too much estrogen than iodine. Iodine is especially helpful in reducing Estrogen in the breasts. For this reason women in Japan have a low incidence of Breast Cancer. Japanese people get 10 times more iodine on a daily basis than Americans. Iodine has successfully been used to treat Fibrocystic Breast Disease. There is also evidence in the medical literature that supports the effectiveness of iodine to protect against Breast Cancer as well as all Cancers.
Iodine has been used to treat Fibromyalgia. According to Dr. Jonathan Wright Estrogen plays an important role in helping the body maintain a proper hormone balance. This balance is not only important in women but men as well. Estrogen is implicated in Prostate health and in the protection against Prostate Cancer.
Estrogen dependence and Iodine Deficiency illnesses are on the rise. Despite the obvious correlation between Estrogen and iodine deficiency there is much dispute between those who decide the "minimum daily recommended dosage for iodine" and researchers and clinicians who estimate the amount needed to be as much as 100 times more than the published minimum daily requirement.
Iodine is easily leached out of the soil. That means that if you do not live near an Ocean or eat a lot of seafood or are supplementing you are most likely deficient in iodine. One of the most misunderstood matters is the notion that Iodine is required solely for the functioning of the Thyroid. In fact, there are many critical roles that Iodine plays in the body.
Iodine is critical for mental function. According to researchers writing for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Iodine Deficiency can prevent children from attaining their full intellectual potential. According to the World Health Organization over one third of the children on the planet are Deficient in Iodine. Iodine Deficiency in adults can lower IQ's by as much as as 15%.
Iodine protects against Bromine absorption. Bromine is toxic. It is found in pools, hot tubs, disinfectants, fire retardants, mattresses, carpets, clothing, furniture, electronics, bleached foods, cereals, breads, pastas carbonated drinks and more. The problem is that Bromine has a similar structure to iodine chemically speaking. Therefore, if you are deficient in iodine your body may take in Bromine more readily as a substitute for Iodine. Where as Iodine is beneficial to the body, Bromine is toxic. By making sure that the body has enough iodine the body is protected from inadvertent Bromine.
Fluoride poses a similar problem to the body as Bromine. That is its molecular structure is similar to Iodine and can either be readily absorbed as a replacement to Iodine or adequate levels of iodine will lessen the chances of its harmful absorption. Iodine will protect the body to a certain extent from Fluoride absorption. The Thyroid and the Pineal Gland are both particularly vulnerable to Fluoride absorption.
SSKI or Lugol's solution are effective sources of Iodine and require a prescription.
Alternatively, you may buy "Ioderol" over the counter. Youngevity also offers iodine in a plant derived colloidial form. Order Beyond Tangy Tangerine or the Ultimate Classic from Youngevity. You will also find concentrations of iodine in seaweed, sea vegetables, kelp and to lesser extent in eggs. Organ meats such as liver and heart are good sources of Iodine in low amounts. Iodine is not found in a lot of food.
N.B. As with all minerals if you have any fat malabsorption issues you will not be able to absorb Iodine or other minerals such as Zinc, Strontium, Selenium, Magnesium, Calcium, etc. The same is true if you have had your gall bladder removed, a history of gall stones, liver health issues, pancreatic issues. If you are diabetic, have intestinal problems like Crohns Disease, Celiac Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome you may have trouble absorbing fats. (Be sure to consult with a qualified health professional if you have any of these symptoms and before taking any supplements.) If you are not absorbing fats you will not be able to effectively absorb minerals. This means you will not be able to absorb iodine. Symptoms of fat absorption problems are: if you are uncomfortable in any way after eating fatty meals, if you have gas, bloating, nausea, burping, cramping, GERD, indigestion, heart burn, constipation, diarrhea, etc.
If you have trouble absorbing fats you may need to:
- Take your minerals with meals
- Use liquid minerals such as The Ultimate Classic, Beyond Tangy Tangerine, OsteoFx, OsteoMag from Youngevity
- Use liquid Iodine products such as SSKI or Lugol's solution
- Use digestive enzymes such as Pancreatin, Lecithin, etc.
- Use Apple Cider Vinegar to acidify the stomach. Braggs is the best
- Use a good probiotic such as Nightly Essence from Youngevity
Iodine can be helpful for people who have autoimmune diseases of the thyroid. Two excellent websites about iodine are:
http://www.optimox.com/
and
http://www.theiodineproject.webs.com/.
The following is a from http://www.theiodineproject.webs.com/
What is Iodine? Why do we need it? How much do we need?
Why many people are iodine deficient
" First of all, most of us don’t consume enough iodine. On top of that, we consume many substances that block iodine absorption in our body. There are halogens in our water including fluoride, chlorine, and perchlorate (rocket fuel). Goitrogens also block iodine uptake. There are some notable goitrogens in our food supply. One of them is bromide which is in most commercial bread, as well as some soft drinks (Mountain Dew for example). One of the biggest goitrogens in our food supply (and it’s everywhere in our food supply) is soy. Soybean oil is in salad dressing and mayonnaise. It’s in commercial baby formula. It’s in almost all packaged cakes, candies chips, and crackers. And pretty much every meal you eat at a restaurant cooks their food in soybean oil. Not only that, but most of the cows, poultry and pigs in this country are fed a diet of industrial corn and soybeans. So even if you think you’re not eating lots of soy, you probably are". Health conscious people expect conventional produce to be grown in soils deficient in essential minerals. They may be surprised to find out that organic produce is also often lacking sufficient amounts of iodine.
Iodine has many actions in the body
A shortage of iodine can cause changes to the thyroid gland that directly lead to poor function of metabolism and immunity. Iodine deficiency promotes free radical damage in the thyroid gland that puts the gland itself at risk. Iodine blocks various compounds from binding to and accumulating in the thyroid gland, such as fluoride, perchlorate, and goitrogens. Environmental pollution significantly aggravates an iodine lack and displaces iodine in the body.
Iodine is in high concentration in the ovaries and breast tissue, acting as a buffer to the growth stimulating effects of estrogen and as a promoter of proper estrogen metabolism. Iodine assists the functioning of hormone receptors throughout the body, helping hormones communicate more effectively. Thyroid hormone governs the rate of other hormone formation, and thus governs sexual function.
Iodine is essential for proper brain development and cognitive ability. There have been many studies showing the importance of iodine during gestation when cognitive potential is formed. A mother with adequate iodine levels will be more likely to produce a child with superior brain development.
Therapeutic Uses of Iodine Prior to World War II and Different Forms of Iodine
Dr.
Abraham started this Iodine Project around 1998 when he became aware of
the many benefits of treating patients with iodine using doses far
beyond the 2 mg a day, which most physicians consider to be potentially
toxic. He noted that starting in the 1820s, the French physician Jean
Lugol used these higher doses to treat a wide variety of conditions. Dr.
Lugol combined elemental iodine (5 %) and potassium iodide (10%) with
85 % water. Since iodine kills infectious agents, Dr. Lugol successfully
treated many infectious conditions with this solution, which became
known as Lugol’s solution, and which is still available today by
prescription. Prior to World War II, many American and European
physicians used Lugol’s solution to treat thyroid conditions, using
doses higher than 2 mg daily without apparent significant adverse
effects.
Dr.
Abraham notes that research has shown that the thyroid gland prefers to
utilize the iodide form of iodine, while other organs, such as the
breast and ovaries, prefer the elemental form of iodine. Both of these
forms are present in Lugol’s solution and in the preparations discussed
below. After World War II, the use of Lugol’s solution came to a
grinding halt due to the publication of the Wolff-Chaikoff paper
mentioned above and for other reasons discussed in Abraham’s papers. Dr.
Abraham then suggests that the disease known as “Iodophobia” developed,
which he describes as the irrational fear of prescribing iodine in
dosages that had previously been used successfully by physicians for
decades. He points out in his preface to Dr. David Brownstein’s book Iodine: Why You Need It; Why You Can’t Live Without It:
Recent research documents the importance of proper iodine levels
A study reported in the September edition of Endocrine Review noted that iodine is critical for the biological effects mediated by thyroid hormone. Iodine containing enzymes important to the action of the thyroid were also found to increase or decrease thyroid hormone signaling in a tissue-and temporal-specific fashion, independently of changes in thyroid hormone serum concentrations. It was clear to the researchers that these enzymes play a much broader role than was once thought, with great ramifications for the control of thyroid hormone signaling during vertebrate development and metamorphosis, as well as injury response, tissue repair, hypothalamic function, and energy homeostasis in adults.
The September 3 edition of Cancer Causes and Control reports a review of literature focused on risk factors for thyroid cancer. The researchers found that at present, the only recognized measures for reducing thyroid cancer risk are avoiding ionizing radiation and iodine deficiency, particularly in children and young women.
The European Journal of Nutrition, August edition, reports it widely accepted that the rapid rate of growth of the brain during the last third of gestation and the early postnatal stage makes it vulnerable to an inadequate diet. A deficiency of iodine during this critical period in brain development is associated with reduced intellectual ability.
The August 12 edition of Medical Hypotheses reports the World Health organization showing iodine deficiency to be a worldwide health problem. As iodine status is based in median urinary iodine excretion, even in countries regarded as iodine sufficient, a considerable part of the population may be iodine deficient. Iodine deficiency traditionally results in hypothyroidism, goiter, and cretinism. Researchers hypothesized that iodine deficiency may also give rise to subtle impairment of thyroid function leading to clinical syndromes resembling hypothyroidism or diseases that have been associated with the occurrence of hypothyroidism. They described several clinical conditions suspected to be linked to iodine deficiency, including obesity, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), psychiatric disorders, fibromyalgia, and malignancies.
Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, August 6, reports that the trace elements iodine and selenium are essential for thyroid gland functioning and thyroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism. While iodine is needed as the eponymous constituent of the two major thyroid hormones T3 and T4, selenium is essential for the biosynthesis and function of small numbers of selenocysteine containing enzymes that control thyroid hormone turnover.
The August 1 edition of Lancet reports that 2 billion individuals worldwide have insufficient iodine intake, producing adverse effects on growth and development due to inadequate production of thyroid hormone. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of preventable mental impairment worldwide. The researchers recommended iodine supplements be used to remediate deficiency.
The Alternative Medicine Review, June edition, reports that iodine deficiency is critical in pregnancy due to the consequences for neurological damage during fetal development as well as during lactation. The safety of therapeutic doses of iodine above the established safe upper limit of 1 mg is evident in the lack of toxicity in the Japanese population that consumes 25 times the median intake of iodine consumption in the United States. Japan's population suffers no demonstrable increased incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis or hypothyroidism. Studies using 3.0 to 6.0 mg doses to effectively treat fibrocystic breast disease may reveal an important role for iodine in maintaining normal breast tissue architecture and function. Iodine may also have important antioxidant functions in breast tissue and other tissues that concentrate iodine via the sodium iodide supporter.
Determining iodine deficiency and proper dosage
Due to the fact that iodine deficiency can have serious consequences, it is important for people to use iodine supplementation if they are not regularly getting adequate amounts from food. Good food sources of iodine are dairy products produced from cattle fed iodine-supplemented feed and salt licks, seafood, saltwater fish, seaweed, and kelp. It may also be found in asparagus, garlic, lima beans, mushrooms, sesame seed, spinach, chard, and summer squash. Some foods block the uptake of iodine into the thyroid gland when eaten raw in large amounts, such as cabbage, kale, peaches, pears and spinach. Though you may try to get a high enough iodine intake from eating the foods listed above, due to the mineral depletion of soil, content of mercury in sea products and the fact that you need 12.5mg per day you should consider iodine supplementation. An excellent supplement is Iodoral which you can purchase.
Pregnant women, the elderly and adolescents are more predisposed to iodine deficiency. More women than men are short on iodine. In addition to low thyroid functioning, symptoms of iodine deficiency include depression, weight gain/loss(in cases of hyper), weak heartbeat/ rapid heartbeat(hyper), extreme dry hair and skin, swelling of the legs, decreased ability to concentrate, muscle cramps, puffiness or swelling of the eyes, insensitivity to light (adrenal), insatiable appetite for sweets or salts(adrenal), and chronic aches and pains. Fatigue is a common symptom, characterized by the urge to fall asleep when not active. Hypersensitivity to cold, or cold hands and feet is another frequently reported symptom. When the metabolism is not up to par, there is less energy and heat produced." (adaptation from http://www.naturalnews.com/024566.html)
Expert: More Iodine Is Better
"Iodine Nutrition -- More Is Better," is the title of an editorial accompanying the Teng study. Editorialist Robert D. Utiger, MD, is a thyroid expert at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.Utiger says that Teng and colleagues' conclusions are overcautious.
"Low iodine intake is more worrisome than the slight risk at the higher levels of intake," Utiger tells WebMD. "To eliminate iodine deficiency even in a small percentage of the population, the intake for the whole population has to be high. I am willing to pay the price of a few cases of mild symptoms at the high end to get a reduction in the very severe consequences at the low end."
Too much iodine does not worry nutritionist Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Iodine is not just good for whole body health because it belongs in every cell, it helps your body excrete the toxic heavy metals that accumulate in your body. Check out this awesome study done using 8 random patients to test iodine suffiency and excretion of heavy metals. (scroll down to the graph)
In the 1930's they did a study on animals to test iodine deficiency in regards to goiter, they learned that insufficiency of iodine causes the thyroid to atrophy!
Check out the full list of symptoms to see just how much the deficiency of this mineral wreaks havoc on your body.
# # #
To recap, Estrogen is produced in the body. Estrogen is not just one hormone but a family of hormones. There are over 20 forms of Estrogen in the human body. Excess Estrogen can be produced due to stress both psychological and physical. Estrogen is in our environment. It is in our food. The body makes it. People who take contraceptives are taking Estrogen. There is no way to get away from it. Too much Estrogen must be counteracted otherwise the consequences can be dire.
Hormones regulate every function of the body. Whether big movements like movement of arms and legs or small movements like the opening and closing of blood vessels, hormones regulate the entire system. As the body is in an ever changing environment so must the body be able to adjust to variations in temperature, humidity, acidity, oxygen, food conditions and more. Hormones are the key substances that allow this adjusting to happen. While they can be extremely beneficial they can also be misused to cause trouble.
Basically, hormones act in opposition to each other. This is apparent in the Serotonin / Melatonin link, the Glucogon versus Insulin link, Cortisol a stress hormone versus all growth, repair and healing hormones, etc.
Likewise Estrogen the anti-pregnancy hormone is opposed by Progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone of pregnancy. It is generally believed that estrogen is the hormone of youth. In actual fact, Progesterone is the hormone of youth. Not only does Progesterone counter the contaceptive effects of estrogen but it actually reverses the negative effects of estrogen in the body such as anxiety, insomnia, acne, heart problems, obesity, cancers, uncontrolled cell growth, hot flashes, .
For example: estrogen turns on the growth of breast tissue, cysts, fibroids and tumors. Progesterone calms down breast tissue growth. It protects against fibroids and tumors. In the European Journal of Cancer, Progesterone was shown to inhibit the growth of Breast Cancer cells and increase the incidence of spontaneous cancer cell apoptosis.
"Progesterone encourages cell apoptosis". According to Dr. Neal Rousier, author of "Progesterone and Cancer" the highest breast protection against cancer is at the end of pregnancy when Progesterone secretion is at its maximum level...
Progesterone is not very toxic. It is gentle to the body. Estrogen has serious toxicity problems. Anyone dealing with excess Estrogen, people who have digestive problems, gall bladder removal, gall stones, liver problems, intestinal problems, etc. may have trouble eliminating Estrogen from the body. For those persons Progesterone may be very beneficial. Every estrogenic problem can be balanced out through Progesterone.
Progesterone will act in opposition to any of the effects of Estrogen. Where as Estrogen promotes fat gain, Progresterone reduces fat gain. Along with Testosterone, Progesterone is one of the most important fat loss hormones the body makes. Estrogen increases water retention and salt retention. Progesterone is a diuretic. Progesterone helps the body process salt. Estrogen reduces the production of Thyroid Hormone. Progesterone can facilitate the action of the Thyroid. A poorly functioning Thyroid can lead to poor circulation and cold hands and feet. Progesterone is one of the most thermogenic chemicals the body makes. It increases metabolism, improves circulation and reduces blood clotting. It helps thin the blood. Estrogen is anti-libido. Progesterone stimulates sexual functions and increases sexual desire.
Estrogen makes it more difficult to control blood sugar. The insulin response becomes compromised. As a result the body pumps out more insulin leading to type 2 Diabetes. The higher the Estrogen the higher the insulin production and the less effective insulin will be. Excess Estrogen not only predisposes you to diabetes but it can lead to insulin resistance, cancer and heart disease not to mention the damage caused by sugar in the blood to the blood vessels, brain and other organs.
Estrogen also causes the loss of zinc. If the Zinc levels go down the Copper in the body will tend to go up. Zinc is involved in hundreds of functions in the body especially handling blood sugar, and hormonal balance. Zinc is important for the immune system. Loss of Zinc accelerates the aging process, causes wrinkles, dark spots, etc. Zinc loss can also lead to Osteoporosis.
On the other hand Progesterone supports the activity of insulin so that the body does not have to make as much. It helps the body retain Zinc. Because of this Progesterone can help improve the aging process and reduce the likelihood of age related diseases.
To Be Continued
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