50% of the U.S. population has thyroid problems, most of which go undiagnosed. I don’t have worldwide statistics, but I can’t imagine they differ by much, if at all.
And the numbers keep heading up! Yikes!
And the thyroid never suffers alone. When one endocrine gland, such as the thyroid, goes down, the rest–adrenals, pancreas, gonads, etc.–all jump in to help out. If the problem goes on long enough, they all go south.
So let’s look at just a few of the unexpected causes of thyroid malfunction.
• Fluoride and chlorine: The thyroid needs iodine, a normal part of thyroid hormone, to work. Fluoride and chlorine push iodine out of the way and take it’s place, but they don’t work. You’re producing enough hormone, but you become functionally hypothyroid because the hormone is corrupt. However, blood tests can’t tell the difference between real thyroid hormone (i.e., with iodine) and phony thyroid hormone (i.e., without iodine), so the doc says you’re good to go.
• Bromine: Like fluoride and chlorine, bromine pushes iodine away from its appointed rounds. And virtually all bread, cookie, etc. makers (except Pepperidge Farms) use bromine as a dough conditioner. That’s one of the reasons the FDA-approved food pyramid wreaks such havoc.
Adding to the problem, your government in action requires that bromine be used as a fire retardant in children’s PJs. A little PBandJ on whole wheat whilst in their pajamas, and the poor little tykes almost need resuscitation!
• Birth control pills and HRT: Synthetic hormones replace our real estrogen, but, again, the pretenders can’t get the job done. Our estrogen has no place to go. And progesterone, the great balancer? In the tank. Estrogen, progesterone and testosterone are all part of endocrine function. And, as I said, when one gland gets in trouble, all the rest jump in to help, and thyroid problems can result.
If your thyroid, adrenal et al problems are relatively mild, you’ll feel worse and wonder why. But if your endocrine problems are significant, synthetic estrogen and progestin spell disaster.
• Concussions: Most people who experience even a mild concussion end up with pituitary damage, often permanent. The Pituitary Network Association says 20% of us have pituitary problems, many from concussions. Since the pituitary controls the endocrine system, everything’s affected. And if you think getting thyroid issues diagnosed is a problem, try pituitary. Doctors not only don’t test, they refuse to test. They don’t want to hear about your symptoms, either. As you might guess, I have pituitary problems, and I can hop up on my soapbox in less than a trice.
Well, I could go on. MSG, aspartame, soy, processed foods, high fructose corn syrup, etc., etc., etc. Gloryosky, there’s a war going on! And all the weapons are pointed at us!
But, war or not, life is what it is. You could just give up, which strikes me as a loser option. Or you could plan to avoid as much bad stuff as you can while providing your body with the nutrition to handle what you can’t avoid. That’s my choice, and it’s why I go on so about vitamins and minerals.
Our bodies are being assaulted on all sides. We have to give them the ammunition to fight back.
Bette Dowdell is not a doctor, nor does she purport to be one. She's a patient who's spent the past 30+ years studying, with great success, how to handle endocrine problems. Her best credential is that doctors tell her she’s doing ‘too well’ for somebody with pituitary problems. Subscribe to her free e-zine and get plugged in to her information at http://TooPoopedToParticipate.com. If you’re dragging your patooty, but the doctor says you’re just fine, this is the place to get some answers.