Oprah's Thyroid Issues: Over-Looked, Secret Culprits

Oprah's Thyroid Issues: Over-Looked, Secret Culprits
By Makeisha Lee, Health and Nutritional Advisor
Thyroid problems are on the rise. Sadly, while Oprah’s bout with thyroid imbalance makes global news, the other 5 million people in this country that suffer from hypothyroidism go virtually ignored. There are 50,000 new cases of thyroid imbalances that arise each year – 90% are women. One expert, Dr. Christiane Northrup, whom Oprah turns to for advice, gave some great insight on dealing with thyroid imbalances while on her show. However, many wonder if it has helped Oprah much.
If not, perhaps secret culprits behind thyroid imbalances like hypothyroidism may have been overlooked, and possibly not addressed. Here are the top three:
1) Environmental toxins like fluoride:
Did you know that the fluoridated water that we are drinking, bathing in, and ingesting through certain food products are damaging to the thyroid along with other vital organs? According to Health Investigator, Daniel Stockin, MPH of The Lillie Center Inc., the chemical fluoride blocks uptake of Iodine into the thyroid, especially in people with Iodine-deficient diets. The body furnace temperature drops a degree, you burn less energy, and experience impaired emotional functions and gain weight.
2) Stressed adrenal glands:
Long term stress affecting adrenal glands-which are vital for weight control, sleep, immunity and more directly affects the thyroid. Experts agree that stressed adrenal glands and a poor diet contribute immensely to thyroid imbalances. The thyroid glands themselves are overloaded beyond their capacity to create required hormones, when there is a build-up of poisons and body wastes that flood into the body.
3) Nutritional deficiencies:
When the body is not being nourished properly with the right nutritional supplementation, combined with the mental and physical stresses of environmental toxins; it has been proven that certain anti-bodies from the immune system will attack the thyroid and disrupt proper hormone production.
If you, like Oprah have experienced weight gain and exhibit any symptoms associated with thyroid imbalance, you should immediately get screened and tested for such by an appropriate health practitioner. There are several safe, natural alternatives to drugs and surgery. By not overlooking any possible culprits, and by making the effort to satisfy all imbalances within the body, you can regain control over your thyroid and overall health!